My Two Biggest Lessons in Blogging from 2012

{Pinned by our lovely Sarah}

I’m totally getting into that period of the year where I find myself reflecting on everything that’s happened in the past 12 months in all areas of my life. One of those areas is of course this blog, which really was a game changer for me in 2012. Since Channeling Contessa turns two on New Year’s day, I’m eager to look back and share all that I’ve learned in this second year and over time with this blog. But today, instead of getting into the nitty gritty of how to grow your following, build your blog brand, and so on, I want to talk about two overarching lessons that have really become clear in my second year of running this blog. The nitty gritty stuff? Get ready for guidance around all of that and more in 2013- I have new series and content brewing in that department! But for today, let’s talk big picture:

1. There is a lifecycle to blogging. If you were to come to my site, and look at my archives, you’d think this blog was started just about two years ago. But the truth is it started six months prior to that- hopping around multiple blogging platforms. I wrote a substantial number of posts during those first six months, with photographs of food and everything! Where are those recipes now? Lost in blog land I suppose, but the point is those six months were necessary. They were part of the process- just as much as the first year and second year of my “actual” blog were part of the process. I needed time to develop my voice and curate content that was really true to me- true to my brand (which I’m now just starting to hone in on). But when you’re in the  thick of that process, and you see everyone flying by and charging ahead around you it can be so debilitating. And so easy to just say ok- forget it- I’m too late for this. But you’re not. I firmly believe the first 6-12 or 18 months of any blog are not only the hardest, but the period you simply have to work through for you. Look back at any successful blogger and notice how far back those archives go, what they’re posts used to look like- I guarantee you’ll see a huge evolution. There’s no turnkey solution to an overnight success story- growing a blog audience and brand takes patience and hard work. But take solace in the fact that the initial period of getting yourself out there is all part of the process- and if you can truly stick with it, I assure you great things will come.

2. At the end of the day, you have to do it for you- that’s the only way you’ll get to a place where the blog starts doing things for you. You have to blog about what you’re actually passionate about, you have to take the time to turn that passion into original content, you have to work at developing your own blog voice- and you have to spend a substantial amount of time doing it. I often have people say to me “Where do you find the time?? I just don’t have time to do that!” The truth is, a lot of this blog happens on the weekends! Or on the weeknights or early in the morning before I start work. The point is, there are some significant sacrifices, and if you don’t have that grounding purpose to carry you through, it will be very hard to work through the uphill battle every new blogger faces.

Those are my two cents (for today). Now two things I’d like you to share:

1. Any major life lessons you’ve garnered from blogging this year?
2. And two, getting into the nitty gritty of blogging tips- any particular areas you’d like me to cover in the new year? I’ve got lots of post topics in mind, but would love to hear from you guys!

So get to it in the comments, and I’ll see you back here on Monday. And if you haven’t already, don’t forget to check out the CC Holiday playlist I put together for you guys. Have a wonderful weekend!

Photo of Magdalena Frack by Zuza Bartek