My First Year

Precisely one year ago today, I wrote my first blog post and sent it on its way into the ether.

It took me a long time to get to that point but I’m so glad I did.

It turned out that it wasn’t just my two friends that read it and that indeed it has been of interest to some people which is rather exciting and scary at the same time.

I am also delighted to have a mixed audience, although I suspect that they may be more supporters of Iron Man!

Over the last year I have fallen in love with this blog and all that it has brought.

Despite always wanting to do it, I never really knew what it would entail and the opportunities that would come my way.

I have met some wonderfully amazing people as part of this little online notepad.  Small businesses and entrepreneurs are thriving out there.  It is a joy to see.

I shall attempt to explain blogging – many people ask – many wonder why and some people think it’s well – just odd.  I did too.

For me blogging is every job I ever wanted and everything I love to do – all rolled into one.

It is an opportunity to blurt out what is on your mind, engage with others, flex your creative muscle, network with others and get involved in talking and hearing about lots of different things that you may not otherwise have heard about.  Blogging offers a multitude of opportunities and can also be paid work.  It’s also a way of using everything you have ever learned from many years of working to bring things together in one place.

It is also very hard work.  It’s not just about the writing and coming up with the idea.

Getting your blog out there takes days and hours online sending it on it’s way in order to gain readership.

You have to find your reader as it is highly unlikely in the early days that anyone will ever find you.

Most people will have no interest whatsoever in what you write – fact.  Nothing personal but that’s the way it is.

Many millions of people are doing the same thing.  Many very successfully.  It is a very competitive area.

Broad shoulders, patience and tenacity are required in abundance.

I am merely scraping the surface.

Every like, share, comment and follow is appreciated by a blogger far more than you will ever know.

Many posts will never get any comments or likes, some will get loads.  Again, just the way it is.  One also has to factor in the wonderful algorithms of social media and it’s best friend Google.

I am pleased to say that I am not deterred by any of this.

I have listened to feedback from readers and at the same time, I am expanding the blog to talk more about the things that are important to me and in turn my audience.

I will be making a few tweaks to the blog itself to incorporate personal development, lifestyle and blogging for the small business as well as general musings and, of course, parenting.

It has never been my intention to be a parenting blogger.  More of a mixed bag with a focus on things that are of interest to me.

The Kid has just reached her 10th year and my blog is not a space where I wish to invade her privacy so you probably won’t hear too much about her unless it is particularly relevant.  I will only share things that are comfortable for all of us.

Iron Man will not be getting off quite so lightly!

The most important thing about blogging is to be authentic.  Stepping out of your comfort zone is another.  There is also a delicate balance between sharing and over-sharing and this is something that is always at the forefront of my mind.

It is my dream to turn my passion into work through this blog by writing about things that resonate and appeal to me and that are in line with the content of my site.

I am happy to enter into working collaborations with brands and people that are relevant to this content and to the ethos of my site.    I am also happy to consider reviewing products and services that may be of interest to my audience, without my site becoming overly promotional.

Equally, I am able to provide content for others.

So another step into the unknown, more learning, lots of writing, treble the leg work and more, even scarier, stepping out of your comfort zone moments than I care to think about.

And perhaps a part-time job in the meantime to keep everything ticking over.

So time for Year 2 and I’d better get cracking as Iron Man is eyeing up the holiday brochures again!

No peace for the wicked!

A huge thank you to you all for reading, contributing, liking, debating, giving your points of view and everything else that you have done that has been supportive of this little space.

Nicky