2 Years Of Blogging: Lessons Learnt + Tips + What Next

Gift Collins Blog clocked two years old a couple of days ago, on the 12th of May to be precised.

It was a very nostalgic experience for me and I spent the day thinking back on my blogging journey so far.

I still remember vividly how my baby sister ( see pics below), pushed me to open my blog. I’ve always wanted to start a blog but I knew next to nothing about blogging and so that thought made me hold myself back. At least until early May 2017.

As a final year student of the University of Port-Harcourt then, I was already planning my post graduation moves. I thought of what I could start up, so when I eventually leave school, I won’t be completely lost. My baby sister was over at my apartment then, we talked about it and she reminded me how badly I’ve always wanted to start blogging.

I gave it another thought and decided maybe I should ignore my fears and take the big step. Luckily, my friend and blogging mentor- the adorable Sam of Nextnaijaentrepreneur.com came to my aid and helped put me through the set up process.

On the 12th of May, 2017, I wrote my first blog post and ever since then it’s been an amazing experience- overwhelming at times but nonetheless it’s been so freaking awesome and profitable.

Lessons Learnt From Blogging

1. Hardwork Pays

The true key to getting it right as a blogger in Nigeria is to put in the works. Spend your first couple of months to a year building a formidable foundation for your blog. Write relevent posts, write as many as you can and build a community of loyal readers.

2. Community over Competition

This trended the whole of 2018 but while I totally agree that community should be over Competition especially in this blogging world, I’ve also learnt that within the “community” lies your “competition”. So you have to tread carefully and most especially stay true to yourself and your purpose.

3. Stay True to yourself

This has to be one of the hardest lesson I learnt in my two years blog journey. You will come across so many reasons that may prompt the feeling of “I want to belong” but the truth is, you are better off as yourself than as someone else’s. The pressure will come, it will get to you, but don’t let it control you.

4. Do it

I’ve got nothing much to say than “Just Do It’. Stop with the self doubts, stop with the procrastination, just do it.

Related: Always Big Dreams But No Action

5. Never stop learning

Like never ever stop learning. Life is always evolving, so does blogging trends. You’ve got to keep up with what’s relevent to your blogging growth and the best way to do that is to never stop learning.

Blogging Tips For New Bloggers

1. Invest in your blog wisely

As a new blogger, it can be quite challenging. You might even be completely overwhelmed. I advise new bloggers to always invest in their blogs but invest wisely. You mustn’t buy/pay for every course/class, you mustn’t use the fanciest of themes etc. Those to me aren’t wise investment. Why spend $50 or N18,000 on a course/class when you can find same information on Google or YouTube FREE OF CHARGE.

2. Treat your blog like a business not a hobby

Immediately I wrote that out, my conscience pricked me. When I started out, I was totally dedicated to blogging, but as time went on, I began to treat it as a hobby. Please don’t do this! I’ve seen what harm it has caused me and honestly, if I could turn back the hands of time, I won’t make such grievous mistake.

Related: 10 Things Blogging Has Taught Me

Try as much as you can to treat your blog as a business, show it the same dedication, diligence and love as you would any other business.

3. Build a relationship with your readers.

As far as it goes, your blog grows mainly because of your readers, so it’s only sensible to build a good relationship with them. There are several ways via which you can get to relate with your readers, from the comment section to social media and my all time favourite-Newsletters. Your readers are the ones who will stick it through this blogging journey with you, they are very important, treat them well.

Related: One Year Of Blogging: The Storm Before The Calm

What’s Next

Growth! I am always open to changes, good kind of changes. I renewed my blog hosting for the next 3 years, so you bet I ain’t going anywhere anytime soon. I enjoy owning this space, I enjoy sharing it with y’all, I enjoy the many opportunities I’ve got via the blog and I don’t take any of these for granted.

I am also going to recommit myself to making Gift Collins Blog, my business rather than a hobby.

So stick around, subscribe to our newsletters, follow me on Instagram and let’s continue this journey together.

Thank you for two years and cheers to many more.

Yours Always,

Gifty!