My Blogging Story – Sharing My Blogging Journey With You

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Every now and then, there are times which we need to look back and recap what we have done. It is one years and two months since i started my first blog in October 2009. I have briefly touched on how i start my blogging journey in my previous posts. I intend to go deep into detail to share with you my feelings and thoughts about my blogging journey till now.

Starting my first blog:

Blogging to me is an unfamiliar term in the last thirty over years. I am never a tech guy. Unlike most guys, i don’t have much interest doing the hard work of going behind a computer to meddle those software and hardware stuff. Computer to me is just a tool for receiving/sending emails, making use of Microsoft office and playing computer games. That’s it. The thought of making an income online never appear in my mind before.

Findmyblogway is not my first blog. My first blog is a blog talking about my favorite game Football Manager. Football fans should find it familiar. The idea of setting up a blog came to me when i come across few FM blogs. To share the same passion with other FM fans simply fascinate me.

Blogger is the first blogging platform i used to set up my first blog. There was no consideration whether the blog will become an earning tool at that time. I just want a platform which is  simple and easy to use.  Within five minutes, my blog is ready and set to connect with the rest of the FM fans.

Migrating to WordPress:

The interest in blogging keep on developing and i spent a huge amount of time understanding what blogging is all about. What’s so great about the internet is you are able to assess large pool of information that you can think of. Soon i knew there is another blogging platform call WordPress. They have both hosted and self hosted platform.

I got to know about how self-hosted WordPress is able gives me more control for my blog. The additional features and plugins that one can used to enhance the blog kept me thinking whether i should switch to WordPress. At that time, i never think of it from a business point of view. The excitement of learning something new and having control on my own blog were my considerations.

Setting up Findmyblogway.com:

I am glad i made the switch. Digging the most popular blogging platform deeper reaffirm my interest in the blogging niche. After nine months from my first blog, Findmyblogway was born in July. People are saying blogging niche are saturated and you shouldn’t blog about blogging if you want to earn money online.

I think there is some stubbornness nature deep inside me. I never listen and just go ahead on working my idea into a reality. Blogging is a popular niche to make money online for bloggers. Why? Because there is a demand. No matter what niche you are in, you will love to read the latest blogging news.

Financial gains is definitely not my consideration when i found Findmyblogway. From my first FM blog, i know it is extremely difficult to make a decent income online. I insert Google adsense code to my first blog before, i probably only see a few cents in few months.

My main motivation is if i develop an interest in a topic, what is the best way to learn more about it? You need to get your hands dirty and start doing it. I wanted Findmyblogway to be my learning media in blogging. As l progressed, i will share with you what i have learnt along the way.

Why “Findmyblogway”:

Why did i choose such a long domain name? I believe each and every of us has our own personality and there is no way we can find two persons with identical character. It means every blogger should have his own way of blogging. While you are blogging, you are finding your way to achieve success, that’s why i named this blog Findmyblogway.

You can take ideas from others but you need to tune it using your own words. It’s never wise to imitate any of the successful bloggers and hoping that you are able to match their achievements.

Thoughts of earning an income surfaced:

As i was searching for information when i was starting my first blog, the blogs of Darren Rowse, Daniel Scocco, John Chow, David Risley and Yaro Starak came to my knowledge. Forgive my ignorance, from that onwards i knew there are people who are pro-bloggers by profession. The thoughts of earning an income online is way out of imagination for me. “How can people earn money by blogging” this was the first question that came to my mind.

Like a small kid discovering some candies, you would expect me to search topics on “making money online”. I will come across numerous sales pages promising you they have a secret strategy to help you make thousands of dollars in a month. I am a cautious person. As an mature adult, i know this can’t be so simple. Where is the poor guys if everybody can make thousands easily just by following your secret strategies.

However,  thinking that it was easy to make money online, i started to try out every ways and sign up for numerous affiliate products. The mentality of thinking money will just come rolling my way as i insert the ads code and ad banners on my FM blog soon overtaken. The excitement and enthusiasm turn into disappointment in a short period. It was a wake-up call for me.

It told me making an income online is not easy, in fact it is harder to earn few cents than your normal full time jobs.  Research has to be done and to choose a niche that you have plenty of things to talk about. You need to provide value to people so that they will trust your recommendation. I believe blogging itself is a profound knowledge. It seems easy for people who are making it. For people who can’t make it, we are still trying to look for that key to the door of internet lifestyle.

I am enjoying more than ever:

You may be asking why? It’s definitely not because of financial gains. I am yet to earn any penny online. This is also the reason why i never talk about making money tips here in Findmyblogway. How can i produce any tips to you if i am unable to make money here.

The reason why i am enjoying blogging more than ever is because of the blogging community. Your visits, comments, tweets and mails are the sole enjoyment for me to stick me to this blogosphere. If blogosphere is a big online company, i am prepared to work inside for life.

In every organisations, you can find bad eggs that are just giving the bad headlines and produce a bad image. I am lucky that i have not meet any yet. The people whom i met are awesome. Besides awesome, i really can’t think of a better word. What i need most, encourage, advice and assistance are always there for me. You are the ones who makes me realize that blogging can be so much fun.

My blogging journey becomes smoother because of you. I am unable to list everyone of you. Readers, visitors and my blog friends. Just want to say a big “THANK YOU”. Thanks for keeping me addicted and my enthusiasm in blogging.

Besides “THANK YOU” i also want to say “SORRY” to my blog friends. Sorry that i am not able to reciprocate that much but i am certainly not taking things for granted. I may not be giving comments as much as i would like but i read every of your post.

Sharing the lessons and harsh truth:

I certainly hope you are not bore by the long story. I am going to share with you some of the harsh truth and lessons learnt along the way.

You must have real passion on the topic you blog about – There are no two ways about it. People may tell you to research a profitable topic to blog about but can you last the hurdle. Till now, my FM blog is still up and alive. Though i never managed to earn any money but the real passion in me and the opportunity to connect with other football fans keep me going even though at the price of domain and web hosting fees.

Financial gains should not be your primary concern: Every blogger has a dream to make it big online. Yes we all do. But how many of us could actually make it. Talent, skills and creativity all play a part to your success. Are you going to give up if you could not make it? If you keep on focus on financial side, most likely you won’t be able to see out your blogging journey.

Start with self hosted WordPress – Whether you are leisure or serious blogger, go ahead and start a blog with WordPress. It comes with a reason why it is so popular among most bloggers.  Nobody can predict the future. Your blog may be your leisure initially but who knows it may become another big blog in the making. The cost of a domain name and web host fee is much affordable today. You save the hassle of switching in future.

Build a community you are proud with – This is what keeps you going. Remember you are not blogging alone. Whatever you learn about networking, commenting, tweeting and sharing. Go and apply them. There are only benefits if you do that. Network with as many bloggers as possible. I am guilty of not expanding my horizon and i need to connect with more bloggers from now on.

Enjoying your blogging – Are you feeling happy or feeling stress when you blog? I can’t resonate with us being stress by blogging. It should be something we enjoy doing and bring us joy. It shouldn’t be something we need to stress ourself and affect our real life.

You still won’t be earning anything after you have done your best – People may tell you earning an income is possible if you have given your best. Not really. Blogging really depends on your knowledge and skills towards your specific niche. You may have given your best. However, if you best is just average, how are you going to compete with the other bloggers who is simply more talented and skillful than you.

Learn to accept the truth – Harsh truth is always hard to take. If you can’t make it, learn to accept it. One year, two years, three or even five. If you are still seeing a part time income, it means you are not cut out to see money coming in while you are sleeping or sun tanning by the beach.

Don’t be afraid of purchase things, but be very afraid if you fail to apply – It’s not scary at all to purchase things online. You can go ahead to purchase courses or ebooks, join premium memberships or attend courses. You just have to know these purchases are from reliable and trusted source. Make sure your mind is set on applying the teachings that these purchases bring to you else your money spent will be in vain.

Rally your confidence – Are you lacking of confidence when you are procrastinating in making a purchase online. You keep worrying that you are wasting your money. I have that kind of mentality too before i switch to Headway theme, worrying i couldn’t come out with a decent design. This is a good example of lacking of confidence. I managed to overcome it  and click on that purchase button. I am glad that i did as i am enjoying the process of customizing my own blog now.

Mistakes is your best friend in blogging – I never come across anyone who doesn’t make mistakes. If you do, please tell me. Nobody is perfect. Treat your mistakes as your best friends. It will let you know everytime you shake hand with them. It always remind you that you can only meet them once and you will never get to see them again.

Finally, i will continue the journey by myself but i know i am with company. I always love the motto of Liverpool Football Club - “You’ll never walk alone”. Here is the lyrics of their anthem.

When you walk through the storm
Hold your head up high
And don’t be afraid of the dark
At the end of the storm
There’s a golden sky
And the sweet silver song of the lark

Walk on, through the wind
Walk on, through the rain
Though your dreams be tossed and blown
Walk on, walk on, with hope in your heart
And you’ll never walk alone
You’ll never walk alone

Walk on, walk on, with hope in your heart
And you’ll never walk alone
You’ll never walk alone

Are you enjoying your blogging journey so far? Walk with me to tell me about it. I will be glad to lend my ears.

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