MY BLOGGING JOURNEY

Today's post is a different one. I always get asked the questions: "What made you start blogging?", "How did you get into blogging?", "How is it possible to blog for a living?"

So I thought I would start writing about my blogging journey, on one hand to document my thoughts, and secondly, with the hopes of helping those who may be interested in blogging. 

Blogging isn't something new anymore (if anything I think it's starting to become saturated), but there was never a manual, or an instruction book when I started, even now I don't think there's a real playbook. It differs for every person, and rightly so because that's what you need to be if you want to blog - different.
This is more of a general post, but if you would like me to touch on more specific topics, leave them in the comments below!

 

- GETTING STARTED -

I don't know if any of you remember the Xanga days. Oh, those were the days. I started writing about my life on Xanga when I was about 12-13 years old.  I was really into the World Wide Web and fascinated by what you could do on it. I learned so much from the Internet, such as building my own Geocities website, to learning how to code and design websites using HTML and Photoshop. I practically buried my head in my computer so much during my free time my mom got worried, but I loved it. I was on Xanga for a few years and I think that was actually my real first blog where I would document what happened each day, and gradually learned to insert photos that I took on those days. It became my online diary and there was nothing I enjoyed more. My hobbies and interests would come and they would go, but whatever changes I went through, my blog would still be there, and those changes were documented.

Fast forward to early 2000s, there was YouTube. I started off recording covers, and gradually got inspired by Michelle Phan and BubzBeauty to start my own channel about life and beauty (though everything about beauty I had actually learned from YouTube). 

- HOW BLOGGING BECAME MY JOB -

I think the answer to that is, because I never thought it would be. 

By 2010,  I was a YouTube partner and had a split of the ad revenue, but it started off being about HK$10 a month the first few months (although I was uploading about once a week), and gradually that amount grew, although to this date, not enough to survive in terribly-expensive Hong Kong. I knew that it wasn't practical to just "hope" that my videos would get more popular and thus, more Adsense money. Long story short, I got my butt out there, looked for a job, found a job, stopped blogging because I didn't have enough time, quit my job, started my own business so I could handle both (business and blog). This was over a span of about 8 years, and this year I finally closed down my business to focus on my blog. I don't have millions of subscribers, but about one partnership a month plus some of the AdSense money I am just about able to survive in this city (luckily I don't rent). 

It was definitely a journey of ups and downs but I couldn't be happier with my decision. This is something I love to do, and to be able to do it all day everyday, even if it means late nights, eye aches from editing, finger cramps from typing to much - I am still so incredibly happy and grateful. 

I think one of the reasons I am where I am now, is because I never thought or planned for it to happen. It just did. Brands that I love began contacting me about sponsorships and product trials, and it was very rewarding to me despite the negativity surrounding it. It meant that I was doing something right, it meant that people recognized my work, it meant that people see me as being an influential person. I didn't intend on having all of this nor was I blogging for these wrong purposes either. 

From a nobody, to somebody - that was the biggest reward of all. 

- WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE WISHING TO START A BLOG? -

Do it now! "Start now, think later" is what I would say. It doesn't hurt to try, and if it really is something you genuinely enjoy doing and you are passionate about it, you have already succeeded in doing something that makes you happy! It's not about the numbers, it's not about the number of sponsorships, or the quantity of products you get sent. The glamour of blogging is really just the skin of an onion. There are so many more layers underneath it (the tears, maybe, but don't let that scare you!). Just remember to find your niche, what makes you different to other bloggers. Focus on the quality, not quantity (though you will still want to be consistent). Only when you start will you truly know what blogging entails, and you can then decide whether you like it or not.

I love blogging, and I love seeing other people doing what they love and loving what they do.

If you have any more blogging-related questions, feel free to pop them down below and I can write more posts about certain topics you are interested in. 

I am by no means regarded as 'successful', but I see myself AS successful because I have already found what I love doing in life, and I get to do it 24/7. This is why I really want to encourage people to pursue their dreams, because overcoming all the difficulties and challenges to do what you LOVE, that's what makes you successful!