Blissful seventeenth KERFday! • Kath Eats

Celebrating 17 years of running a blog!

Blissful 17 KERFday!

In the present day is my weblog’s seventeenth birthday! I used to be just lately on a zoom name and informed the individual my web site was “16 or 17 years previous, I misplaced rely.” Afterwards I appeared it up – 17 years it’s!

A few of you’ve been following me since these very, very early days. You most likely keep in mind bowls of oatmeal with a peanut butter spoon floating on high earlier than I went to my PR job, the RD days after I wrote weblog posts between lessons, the Nice Harvest days, the BERF days. 

For those who haven’t been round lengthy, take a look at:

In that tenth anniversary publish, I had written 6844 posts. As of right now, that quantity is 7935 posts plus 382,493 feedback and 265,000 photographs shared. GEEZ!

In honor of 17 years, listed below are some ideas / enjoyable info / reflections about running a blog into the teenage years. 

17 Years Of Running a blog

Selection Is Key

For me, writing about a wide range of subjects is such a key part of holding issues fascinating. Lengthy-time readers know that I’m going via phases primarily based on what is occurring in my life. I went via two large child phases, loads of Residence Neat Residence phases, some entrepreneur phases. What I really like most about my weblog is that I’m not restricted to at least one area of interest subject. The specialists would inform me that’s hurting my visitors and they don’t seem to be incorrect. So it’s a very good factor most visitors shouldn’t be my finish sport. However writing in regards to the subjects on my thoughts means I’m writing creatively and never forcing it or becoming bored, which I do assume creates one of the best reader expertise. 

Construct A Life-style, Not A Firm

After I began my weblog in 2007, I used to be solely searching for a artistic outlet. I had no concept it was attainable to earn a living on the web, and I scoffed on the concept of doing so when my dad introduced up placing adverts on my web site. (He inspired me to look into it, and I’m glad I finally did!) In fact, as time went on, producing revenue to cowl my internet hosting prices and perhaps some groceries grew to become a bit extra interesting.

A couple of years in the past, I listened to a podcast interview for an additional blogger who began across the identical time as me. Within the current time, she had dozens of full-time workers working for her and a elaborate workplace. For a break up second, I had a twinge of jealousy over how a lot cash her web site should be making to assist these issues, however then I had a quick actuality test that going to an workplace on a regular basis was precisely the approach to life I didn’t need. What has at all times been most essential to me is to have the ability to put my artistic power and time into one thing that might assist or encourage others whereas additionally incomes cash to assist my household alongside the way in which. I’m eternally grateful for the flexibleness this job affords to let me greet the boys after they get off the bus every day or make a journey when the invitation arises. 

Studying to Pivot

All through the years, I’ve pivoted and branched out in methods I couldn’t have predicted coming. When my advert community contract with Foodbuzz ended. When model sponsorships moved from blogs to Instagram. After I joined Beautycounter. After I created Digital Litter and Bloom. When Beautycounter closed. And plenty of extra methods. Having variety of revenue, platform, and income channel means when one thing is down, one thing else is usually up. Who is aware of what’s subsequent! 

Running a blog Has Gotten A lot Extra Sophisticated, However Additionally A lot Simpler

A contradictory sentence? Including the above branches has actually difficult issues. Weblog pals and I usually reminisce in regards to the days once we “simply needed to weblog” 3 times a day. There wasn’t all of the social media amplification and so forth. However in some ways, issues have gotten a lot simpler. I used to take all of my photographs on a Canon Mark II that I haven’t touched in years now that iPhone cameras are so nice. Apps like Asana and YNAB have made monitoring duties and accounting so organized. Canva is one of the best app/web site EVER INVENTED! 

Flexibility Is At all times High Precedence  

Lengthy gone are the times after I would come residence from an occasion and keep up an additional hour to put in writing a publish about it. Since I worth flexibility greater than the rest, I’m working no less than a month forward on seasonal / evergreen content material. After which I write extra time delicate posts the week of or the week after the occasion. I even have the world’s finest digital assistant, Hillary, who helps me behind the scenes in so some ways, so I’m able to take time without work to journey or if my children are sick. (I wrote this publish in 2018 after I was desirous about going again into extra real-time posting.) 

Leaning On Weblog Pals

Conversations with different bloggers are at all times so inspiring. I respect Anne, Brittany, and Teri for his or her willingness to share concepts and sources all through the years. Within the earlier days, I used to be a part of a gaggle referred to as “KABU: Kick Ass Blogger Union” (haha) and we supported each other reasonably than compete. The perfect colleagues are open books. All of us do issues a bit bit otherwise, however all of us study from each other. 

Keep True To You

^^ This tremendous corny phrase actually does sum up every little thing about working a weblog for nearly twenty years. On the finish of the day, you must do you. Not everybody goes to love you – and that’s okay! You possibly can’t fear about what different individuals are doing or power their fashion onto you. You possibly can’t fear about what the trolls are going to say as a result of something you do is incorrect. You need to be genuinely you. 

Thanks

Thanks for following together with our household’s story. Thanks for exhibiting as much as learn posts, click on hyperlinks, depart feedback, and write private emails and DMs. The instances when you’ve reached out have meant a lot to me. Thanks KERF household <3