18 Months Of Blogging : 5 Things I've Learnt

I can't believe I'm saying this but today I had been running this blog for 18 months straight! A year and a half of chatting beauty, boots (on my feet and the store...obvs!) and even boobs! 

This time has flown by but at the same time I don't remember my life without blogging. I will hold my hands up and say it has completely and utterly taken over my life and it feels like my baby, a job and a hobby all in one!

Thinking back over the last 18months and looking at how much my blog has changed and grown I thought I would share the 5 main things I've learnt so far! My attitude towards blogging is slightly different now to when I started!

Spot the awesome pyjamas.....

1. Numbers aren't everything

If you are anything like me you may agree with this! 

When I started blogging I thought alot about how many people were clicking on my links, how many followers I was gaining every week and, I'll be honest, watching my blog grow came a bit obsessive. 

As time has gone on though I've realised that that really doesn't matter! I would much rather have 1 person click on my blog and LOVE the post I've written, write a comment/ share it than 100 people clicking on my blog, scan reading what I've put and clicking straight off again not really caring!

Obviously I'm always striving to increase my audience though, I think every blogger is, but I would honestly be happy writing posts even if I only had 10 followers who enjoyed them!

I am so so grateful for every single follower I have and watching the numbers grow over time has been totally mind boggling to me - how on earth have I managed to convince nearly 2800 of you to hit "follow" is totes crazy, I love you!

2. Blogger pals are the best

Yes we have a little community and yes 90% of the time us blogger friends have never even met each other but still - we are internet friends for now and that is fine!

Imagine talking to people who have the exact same interests as you, know the ins and outs of your hobby as well as you do and are pretty darn cool? 
The blogging community is probably online 24 hours a day so there is always someone to talk too, they are so supportive - especially when your having a "whats the point? My blog is pants" kind of day and can always help when you have any kind of trouble or need advice!
PLUS they all have blogs you can read and enjoy - duh!
Not only that but they don't have those pesky questions that non-bloggers like to ask... alot! "What's a blog?" "Why do you do that?" "You get free stuff?" "I don't get it." "What's the point?" "Do you get paid?"  haha I've lost count of how many times people have asked me these things!

I've been so lucky to make some lovely friends during the last year and a half - Kate, Liza, Megan, Estelle, Ellie, Becky, Shree to name just a few! Thank you girls for making me feel so welcome <3

3. Living on an island can suck

I live on an island and work full-time so being able to go to fabulous events is more or less always a no-no. I literally haven't been to one event or one meet-up yet and I am so disappointed with myself!
With most opportunities being in London the travel cost alone for just a 2 hour event is too much for me to justify plus most of the time I cant't get home in time for a boat which isn't 3am - which isn't ideal when I'll 9 times out of 10 have work the next day!
In 2015 I really want to try and take advantage more of all the opportunities that come my way, I feel like I miss out on so much - especially meeting other bloggers!

4. You can always say no

When I received my first e-mail from a company asking me if I would like to collaborate with them for a blog post I was over the moon and I still am every single time I receive one. 
But over time I have had some blooming random things offered to me and because of this I have learnt that saying 'no' is actually really okay, it's not rude and it's not ungrateful.
My blog is my blog so I'm not going to include anything that I don't belive in or aren't myself interesed in - for me, it's not right. 
For example a company approached me about an acne treatment - I've ever had acne in my life so I felt like it just wasn't something that was relevant to me and my life and therefore my blog, I explained this and the company was totally understanding. I don't think it's rude to decline offers, it's just honest.
There are thousands of bloggers out there so if something you know isn't for you, there will always be someone it suits!
I try my hardest to e-mail back to every e-mail I get though, even if the answer is no. (Although sometimes I am so so slow I want to punch myself!)

5. Aesthetics are key

To be honest I probably knew this when I started out just from reading other people's blogs and reading things online in general.
 A clean, neat and tidy blog/website is always going to have a more engaging audience then something that is wild, wacky and hard to navigate!
I am always looking at people's blogs and dribbling at their amazing layouts, logos, buttons, photos, collages and headers - you girls and guys have done some amazing work
I am pleased with the progress I have made when it comes to the look of A Yellow Brick Blog and it's posts. I've definitely grown from the dodgey photo editing and self-made header I started off with and am I so pleased with what it's turned into so far.
I know I have a long way to go when it comes to perfecting photography and things, in my head that's what I am seriously lacking but hopefully in the not too distant future I'll be able to invest in a new camera, some lighting and really up my blogging game!

I'm still learning with blogging and everyday I'm so glad I deciding to give it a go and pursue something I admired so many other people for! Here;s to the next 18 months!

What have you learnt so far with blogging?

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