Celebrating two years of blogging! (and some things I’ve learnt on the way)

Cheers! My blog has just turned two, which as far as I can tell, means it’s about ready to walk and talk on its own. Kindergarten is probably just around the corner.

To mark the occasion, I’ve written this shamelessly self congratulatory post (the 331st post of the site!), to celebrate the fact that my blog and I have successfully orbited a giant nuclear furnace twice.

Normally at around this point in the speech, one would turn outward and thank all the people who made this possible. Luckily that’s very easy for me, because you are right there.

It is very nice to write, but even nicer to be read, and so thanks very much for all your eyeball time, and your comments, and your general love on my facebook page. (If you’re not on my facebook page you still have time to get over there and like it by the end of the post. I have a habit of self indulgent rambling, so I’ll probably not notice you’re gone.)

Luckily this post isn’t all take and no give. I thought I may as well share some of the things I’ve figured out in this two year journey. In no particular order, here are:

Some things I’ve learnt in two years of blogging…

If you’re going to write a blog, you have to love it, first and foremost. Don’t do it for the money (there isn’t very much) or the glory (there’s not much of that either), or really, for any reason other than because you really want to. Glory and riches might come, but both are unlikely, and even if they come, they will take their time about it.
Use lots of good quality photographs. I’ve gradually been increasing the number and size of photos I use in my posts, and I’d like to think the end result is far nicer for you.
Be yourself on your blog, and well, everywhere you can.
Finding your voice is important. If you haven’t found it yet, don’t panic. It’ll come.
Decide what you want from your blog. (I’m still not exactly sure what I want, but I’m working towards figuring it out, and I’m certain that having fun with it is way at the top of my list).
Talk to other bloggers, and take the time to build up relationships with them, both in your niche and across the (horrible word alert) “blogosphere”. Do some guest posting. Share content beyond your own. If you have problems, you’d be amazed how likely it is that others have already faced and overcome them! Plus you’ll likely make some friends as you go.
If you want your blog to be a business, run it like a business. If you don’t, don’t.
Listen to the advice of others. Feel free to ignore it, because what is right for you is not what is always right for everyone else.
If you’re going to use social media, do it right. I’m not really sure what that actually means, but I think there’s something about being yourself and using it as a place to be social that should be in the rulebook somewhere. Oh, and if you have a tweet button on your site, please include your twitter handle in the code. That’s a personal pet peeve.
Write well. If you want people to be able to read your stuff that is. Paragraphs, headers, bullet points, grammar (eek!). I’m awesome at ignoring all the above and waffling on, but well. Doesn’t mean I can’t advise you not to.
Turn off for a while. It’s unlikely the internet will care. Staring at your stats isn’t going to make more people visit. Experiencing awesome things to write about, and then writing about them, is.
Stop writing the post when you’ve run out of things to say.