My successful almost first year of blogging and what I’ve learned

- osiokoye

Blogging had never really been considered at all, but suddenly at mid 18, I decided I needed something to let my thoughts and feelings out because I am most definitely not confident saying it out loud in person. I’m a coward with my feelings if it isn’t sarcasm, now that just comes out whenever it pleases.

But anyway, how has the year gone…

• I picked what I believe to be the greatest host a newbie blogger could hope for

• I grew my Instagram

• I earned over £600

• I discovered my dream job

• I became a more confident person

• I learned all about affiliate marketing and so far what not to do

• I learned what hard work is

Picking the best blog host

I must admit I didn’t give myself a lot of time to think on the host. it’s just typical me, I have an idea and I quickly jump on it. I picked Bluehost and I cannot tell you how happy I did. Later on, when I had settled, I began researching decisions already passed like host providers and I found out how incredible Bluehost really is, to the point where I recommend it to all my newbie blogger friends. It provides for all your blogging needs. I learned that your host is really important because, as a person who isn’t IT advanced, when the blog starts acting up for whatever reason, you need someone trustworthy to settle it and that’s what Bluehost certainly do and they provide you with so many security.

Growing Instagram/Twitter

I must admit, I knew absolutely nothing about the social world and how competitive it was. I saw it as a friendly space to catch up with friends until I became a blogger and saw it for the real truth it is. It was a year full of guessing, webinars and way too many YouTube videos. But it did the job. I went from scratch to over 8k followers on Instagram and over 4K on twitter. Not bad for 11 months eh.

Now what I have learned that I can share… ENGAGE ENGAGE ENGAGE!!!! Show that you care and people will too. Follow/unfollow will only get you so far. It’s a game to an extent but humans are still involved and they have feelings. They want to see an interest. You don’t need to live on Instagram but you need to use your time there wisely. Liking a thousand photos might only give you 10 likes back (from my experience alone). People need likes and comments. When you like alone, you join the battalions and what you really want to do is stand out.

There are always better ways to grow quickly but if you want authenticity, it’s going to take days and months even years but who’s got that time.

I actually earned some coins!

No one is more shocked than I am on my earnings. There’s always at the back of your mind to get something out of it. I mean blogging isn’t exactly cheap. But I never thought I’d earn that much!

I personally believe my writing is rubbish. It’s still a belief to this day, but that doesn’t mean I’m stopping, it just means more courses.

I’ve earned through ads and sponsored posts on my blog, there’s been some earning on social media but this is just on my blog. The absolute shock to me who thinks i can’t write when I receive emails for a sponsored post. It’s the most exciting thing for sure.

Ads don’t pay as much but it’s definitely something, after all, “every little helps”

I found what I want to do forever

That’s right, a little hobby drove me to a passion I didn’t know I had. Digital marketing. Growth in order words. That’s my version of digital marketing. Starting from nowhere most of the time and making a name for yourself. And in this digital age, it’s most definitely not easy. Who would have thought I would have found myself here. I went from bad employment in a course I loved (engineering) to digital marketing. Talk about a huge U-turn.

I gained confidence

I was never low in personal confidence, but I had none online. The digital world is a whole other world where quiet people aren’t favoured. I’ve shed through so much to dig out the inner diva in me. I must stand amongst the others!

I am free and happy with my Instagram. Instagram is one of the social media that requires you to be confident, or else you won’t ever like what you produce. There’s always someone who has better followers, a nicer feed and better engagement. But yours is amazing and you’re going at your pace, that’s what I’ve had to keep repeating to myself.

Affiliate marketing

I have too many YouTube videos waiting for me. I must learn this! I really want to be authentic, so I have partnered up with brands that I have already fallen in love with. Because I am not a salesperson, I barely know how to convince people to buy things I’m passionate about, how would I try to convey excitement on a product I don’t know anything about.

Help a girl out aha

• Get some gorgeous outfits at next

• Get gorgeous outfits with a budget Everything 5 pounds

• Awesome discounts at Boots

• The hoovers are awesome at Gtech

Hard work

I am by far the laziest person I know. The struggle this year was real. Financial and personal issues almost got in the way. But hard work persevered. Never thought I’d be hearing myself say that. I built my digital life from scratch and it’s all because I didn’t give up during those first few months when I was getting 1 read a week. Everyone knows what type of life they want to live. It’s normally an easy life, but hard work needs to come first before things start rolling. I’m not there yet but I sure am ready for my second year!

Thank you for reading and if you’re a newbie out there, just hang on, it gets easier. 

Osi x 

49 thoughts on “My successful almost first year of blogging and what I’ve learned”

  5. You’ve made great progress in your first year. Congratulations! The one thing I learned in my 9 months of blogging is that it’s not a get rich quick endeavor as some may believe. Keep at it, you’re doing great!

  7. Congratulations on what sounds like an awesome first year!

    There’s definitely a learning curve in blogging (as I’m discovering), complete with occasional fumbles, but it’s clearly worth the effort. Thanks for an inspiring post!

  10. Your experience is really amazing but most importantly your hard work. I’m also a big lazy person but reading your post encouraged me to do my best. I first thought that all I need was to write, but it turned out that I have to promote and learn many new unfamiliar things. But it’s worth it.
    keep it up.

  15. Congrats on one year, and all of your success! I never knew just how much I’d learn when I started blogging, but it’s a learning curve for sure. Can’t wait to see what all you accomplish this year, best of luck with everything! (:

    1. Thank you, I hope you have a wonderful blogging life. I’m always so excited for new bloggers because with hardwork, you can achieve literally anything. So I hope your blogging career going smoothingly well.

  20. It’s extremely amazing that you managed to accomplish all of that in just 1 year of blogging! A proof that hard work is needed to earn success in blogging/almost everything. I hope you’ll unlock more and more achievements this year too x

    x Rasya | nurulrasya.com

  21. Loved reading your post! It is so genuine and refreshing! For sure you have something great going on with writing and I would never doubt that agian if I were you 🙂 Good luck and if you want to join a community of female bloggers or even an Festival just let me know, I would love to have you as part of MissAdventure Community where women support women.

  23. Pingback: Let’s talk about me (again) - Awkwardly crusing

  24. Congratulations on your first year of blogging. You have done really well. Love the advice that you have given and how honest you are about your struggles – I can totally relate to the laziness. Blogging is such a wonderful thing to do.

  26. I’m so proud of you! Thanks for sharing these tips and I have one for you: Remain true to yourself and your audience. Like you said people have feelings too and once your readers know you they’ll always stick with you. Keep up the good work.

  27. Osinachi! I totally relate! Blogging is hard work but it comes with a lot of perks. You get to improve personally and learn a whole lot of things. You are not doing badly and I love your blog. More wins darling

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