Happy birthday to Casually Christiana! This summer, Casually Christiana turned one! I CANNOT BELIEVE IT (writing it in capital letters expresses my excitement). Starting Casually Christiana was an incredible decision and I have LOVED working on my blog since day one. I’ve learned so much, connected with so many wonderful bloggers and have the BEST followers and readers I could ask for (yes, I’m talking to you).
In this one year of blogging, I have learned many lessons, written many blogs, found my blogging niche and so much more. Today, I wanted to highlight some of the biggest lessons I’ve learned this year, along with some tips I’ve found to be helpful. After writing these, I realized that these tips don’t just apply to blogging, but to life in general. 🙂
Set Goals
Always set goals, with anything you do. I’ve always been a huge fan of goals, even before I started blogging. I think goals are so important for many reasons. They motivate you to accomplish something important to you and they encourage you to work hard. Therefore, one lesson and tip is to set goals. Heck – set some goals after you read this blog! There is no time like the present.
Have A Plan
You don’t need to have everything figured out, but it’s good to have some sort of plan. It doesn’t have to be an elaborate plan, but some kind of ground work is good. When I started Casually Christiana, I had a plan. I knew I wanted my blog to be a lifestyle blog. That was one thing! I also knew I wanted to talk about a variety of topics, such as wellness, books, lifestyle, DIY and so on. By having a plan, it helped me tremendously with my blog.
Be You
This one is huge. BE YOU. Don’t be like someone else, be you. I cannot emphasize that enough. A big reason I follow various bloggers is because I like reading their posts and seeing their personality shine through. If you’re trying to be like someone else in your blog, you’re not being true to yourself. Trust me, you are unique and don’t need to be like someone else. Be you, and stay true to yourself.
Work Hard & Don’t Get Discouraged
I remember when I had my first blog follower. I jumped and cheered and was so excited. I kept writing more and more blogs, and I slowly gained more followers. It can be easier to get discouraged with followers, because obviously you want people to read your hard and passionate work. However, don’t get discouraged. Keep working hard, because great things take time, hard work and effort. Keep working hard, set goals and do not get discouraged – with anything you do.
Join Facebook Blogging Groups
One big tip I have for bloggers is to join blogging groups. These groups are great for support, getting questions answered and getting to know fellow bloggers. Remember my blog and How to Travel Like an Instagram Blogger for Less? I collaborated on that post with a blogger I met on a Facebook blogging group. I love being part of different blogging groups, because they’re a great network of people who love doing what you do.
Here are some of the groups I am part of:
Boss Girl Bloggers | Bloggers Supporting Bloggers | Blogging Boost | Grow Your Blog
Collaborate, Follow & Support Fellow Bloggers
If you want other bloggers to read your blogs, you need to read theirs! It’s important to follow other bloggers, read and comment on their content – let them know you’re reading! It’s so important to support fellow bloggers out there, we are all a team. When you get to know other bloggers, you can even collaborate with them and create some great content. Also, reading other blogs may help spark an idea for your blog! It’s truly a win-win for everyone.
Acknowledge Your Followers
I love my followers and I am so grateful for them (I’m talking to YOU)! It is so humbling to know that you are reading my blog and coming back to read future posts. That’s why it’s SO important to acknowledge your followers – make sure they know YOU are grateful for them and that you’re reading their comments. Have I mentioned how grateful I am for you all?! I am so grateful. 🙂
Love What You Do
My goodness – I can’t emphasize this enough. Make sure you love what you do – whether you are blogging, in school, changing jobs… make sure you’re happy. This applies to life in general, not just blogging, because it’s crucial to love what you’re doing. Life flies by so quickly, so we need to make sure we are enjoying every moment.
Have Fun
I have SO MUCH FUN blogging. Seriously, I absolutely love it. Blogging is no doubt one of my passions and I have so much fun writing posts and engaging with my followers and fellow bloggers. Whatever you are doing in life, make sure you have fun. It’s as simple as that.
WOW. Thank you all for reading and following me on my blogging journey. Thank you to Nic for always being there to support my blog – whether it’s helping me design graphics, being part of my posts, brainstorming ideas for future topics or taking last minute photos of me for my posts – you’re the best and I love you dearly. Thank you to my friend Hannah for taking photos of me for my blogs (all the photos in this post are taken by her) and thank you to ALL of my readers for coming back, reading and commenting – it means the world to me.
I love blogging and I love that I have the BEST FOLLOWERS AND READERS EVER. Here is to many more years of Casually Christiana – this is only the first birthday of many more. There are many more exciting things ahead, folks, and I’m glad you’ll be joining me in the journey.
Love to you all!
♥ Christiana
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39 Comments
Lori Nevins
As always well done. Tho I think the secret to great blog is to be you!
casuallychristiana
Thank you so much! <3
Mike Morgan
Keep up the great work. You are very talented😉.
casuallychristiana
Thank you so much for always reading my blogs. It means so much!
Ann Morgan
Congratulations Christiana! I am enjoying your posts and learning from them too. 😊
Well Done!!!👏👍🎊🎉🍾🍷😀
Ann
Sent from my iPhone
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casuallychristiana
Thank you so much. It means the world that you enjoy my blogs. <3
Oksana K
Congrats Christiana!!! Your blogs are always a pleasure to read. Keep up the great work! ☺ 🎉
casuallychristiana
Thank you SO much! 🙂
Charnel Graham
Great post! Definitely a refresher
casuallychristiana
Thank you – I’m so glad you liked this post!
LeanneBrookes
Some excellent advice here! I’ve been blogging for years but only started taking it ‘seriously’ in the past couple of months. There’s so much to consider, but I’ve found Facebook groups and engaging with other bloggers is so important! Thanks for sharing, Leanne x
casuallychristiana
I totally agree. For the first few months, I didn’t join any blogging groups. Once I did, I realized how incredible and helpful it was. I’m glad you enjoyed this post. Thanks for reading. 🙂
Mia
Happy Blogging Anniversary! Love how you passionate you are about your work, it really shows and makes you stand out 🙂
casuallychristiana
Thank you so much! And thank you for the sweet words. It means a lot. <3
Unfiltered Mama
Happy blogging anniversary! Must be such a great feeling. Always staying true to myself, especially in my writing, has helped me thrive and continue my blogging journey!
casuallychristiana
Thank you so much! I love hearing that staying true to yourself has helped you in your journey. It really is so important. <3
alikerofthings
These are really encouraging, thank you for sharing.
Your personality comes through in your writing and it feels as though you are giving these tips as a friend, which is nice.
casuallychristiana
Thank you for the sweet words, they mean a lot. I’m so glad you felt my personality come through. Thank you for reading. 🙂
Kayli
This is great advice! I’ve only been blogging for a couple of months and it’s been pretty difficult trying to blog AND work in the crazy busy industry I work in. I’m glad you pointed out had great blogger groups are! I’ve just recently started searching and joining a bunch of these in hopes to find blogs that inspire me and a place where I can learn and grow!
casuallychristiana
I totally agree – blogging can be hard with such a busy work schedule. The blogging groups I am part of are very helpful and supportive – check them out! Thank you so much for reading! <3
Shabdita
This might sound strange but there is a sort of peace and happiness that exudes from your writing. I’m a blogger too, just starting to take my blog seriously. This is very inspiring. Thank you! 🙂
casuallychristiana
That doesn’t sound strange at all – it makes me SO happy! Thank you for sharing that with me. It means a lot. 🙂 Looking forward to checking our your blog, too!
Simone
Planning is so important in blogging. I really enjoyed this post.
casuallychristiana
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! I agree – planning ahead is HUGE!
Tanya Ince
Great tips, Christiana! Thank you for sharing your wisdom!
casuallychristiana
I’m so glad you enjoyed these tips – thank you for reading! 🙂
LaToya C
I’ve been blogging for just over a year, and I think your advice is right on! New bloggers will really benefit from this post! I’ll be sure to share!
casuallychristiana
Thank you so much – I’m so happy to hear you think new bloggers will benefit from this post. I definitely learned so much in this year and had to share. I’m excited to look at your blog, too! <3
MindCocktail
Oh, my! I cannot emphasize enough how I much I loved reading this. I think I might have even stopped breathing while reading it. 🙂 Congrats and many more years of blogging and pure joy! I love reading articles I see they are written from the heart. That warmth surely gets through to the reader and one can relate to what is reading and that is the pure joy of it! And for a blogging “baby” like me, your tips and detailed info are sooo encouraging and I could relate to so many (or even to all) of them. And this is exactly what I also planned with my blog to show: my uniqueness, my passion for writing, my passion for learning, for sharing… so many passions! 🙂 You gave me a boost of confidence that I am on the right track. And yes, that gratitude you refer to is so vivid inside, isn’t it? So, thank you! Will definitely follow you on Facebook!
casuallychristiana
Wow – thank you so much for your kind words! I am SO HAPPY to hear you found my tips helpful and encouraging. Your comment made me smile from ear and to ear. This is why I love my readers and fellow bloggers so much. Thank you! I’m looking forward to reading your blogs! 🙂
Sarah
Thank you for this! I think I quit blogging last time because it started to become not fun and just another job. This time fun is a goal!
casuallychristiana
I love that goal! 🙂 Thank you for reading!
Sosi's Mom
I like the be you ideals. It’s easy to get caught up in trying to copy others who are successful!
casuallychristiana
I agree – it’s very easy to try to copy others who are successful, but the key is to be you and create your own success. <3
DailyLifeTalk
I am just starting out… sometimes no page views, no visitors. I get discouraged so much to think that no one is reading my work. Thank you so much, Christiana. I truly needed somebody to just tell me to keep going, to be me and this is what you have done with this post. I can’t thank you enough. Happy birthday to Casually Christiana 🙂
casuallychristiana
I am so happy my blog encouraged you. It is easy to get discouraged when you’re putting so much work into posts and there are hardly any page views or visitors – I’ve been there! But in time, that changes. 🙂 I can’t wait to read your blog. Thank you for reading, and keep rocking your blog! <3
BloggerGirlXCX
Squeals!!
You seem like such a sweetheart!! I started my blog around February but so much has happened in my life since then and I haven’t managed to be a regular blogger. I decided recently to restart up my blog and try and stick to regular posting, and you really inspire me! I’m going to try and be more positive in everything I do, including blogging, because the only thing that can really overcome the negativity in my life is positivity! I hope you’re doing well!! Big Love xx
doinglifewithfaith
Such great tips for a new blogger like me!
gilesmeetsworld
Great post and congrats on the year, I recently discovered Facebook groups too and am a member of the ProBlogger group which I’ve also found great for advice and tips from the blogging community