2022 has been a weird blogging year for me. It started off on a high and then as the year progressed there were a few lows but I’m still here so that’s a good sign. I love blogging, but oh boy it sometimes gets hard to keep up with writing and reading blogs. I have been incredibly blessed to have a blogging circle that has kept me from abandoning blogging even on the days when I’ve felt like I have no inspiration to write. But it still gets hard to keep up with writing when there is so much going on in life and so much on my mind. I have learnt a lot this year from the blogosphere and here are some of my significant learnings –
LESSON #1: You are ONLY going to keep blogging if you have a blogging family that keeps you wanting to come back here.
Every time a new blogger reaches out to me, this is the first piece of advice I give them – find your blogging family. The bloggers you connect with, bloggers who will support you and motivate you on your bad days and will be the reason you keep blogging. By bad days I mean the days when your stats stink and you are seeing no growth on your blog, on those days knowing that you have a handful of lovely people always there for you will keep you going. From October onwards my stats saw a steep fall but I keep going because of my blogging friends who make it worth the while. If you haven’t found your people yet, keep looking, they are out there. (You can also drop me a comment or email and I will respond in 3-4 business weeks. JK!)
LESSON #2: You shouldn’t do for free what you can make money out of
I know this sounds very greedy but hear me out first. Over the past two years on multiple occasions, I’ve been asked by brands, blogs, and businesses to add a link of theirs to a post of mine that helps them build backlinks. I’ve always obliged if their content matches my own but then this year I got offered money to do it. So now specifically for businesses reaching out, I do not agree to do it for free. Again, there are some caveats. I write a lot about mental health so when organizations that work with mental health-related issues reach out, I usually agree to their requests.
LESSON #3: If you do not enjoy interacting with a blogger, there is no force to keep being polite
I am a pretty polite blogger – most of the time – mainly because my interaction with bloggers who aren’t friends is limited to the blogosphere. But this year, I have been curt with some bloggers just because I see no point in continuing any interaction that bugs me. This may sound rude but I have started drawing the line with people who annoy me. So from now on, I will not make an effort to be polite with people I don’t enjoy interacting with. If someone makes you uncomfortable, let them know, block and move on.
LESSON #4: Keep it real always!
A lot of people embellish things and fake things to impress their readers and honestly, I am done with such bloggers. Sorry but I’m not sorry for having this opinion.
LESSON #5: It is okay to keep writing even if no one is reading.
My stats crashed to half of what they were last year. And while I have spent many a day worrying about how many people are reading what I have to say, I don’t anymore. I know there are a bunch of people who do read what I write and enjoy it and that is good enough for me. I am not going to drive myself crazy chasing those stats.
This post was entirely inspired by Pooja’s post. Do check out her amazing post which made me want to do my own take on the post. We do have some common learnings which makes me feel like I’m doing okay in the blogging world! What were your learnings from blogging in 2022? How was blogging for you in 2022? What pearls of wisdom would you want to pass on to other bloggers reading this post? Share share!
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Happy Panda 
Salient points!! Wishing you every joy with the blog for the year ahead!
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All of this is so true!
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So true. Be true to yourself and stay healthy. All the best for 2023 😉 Maggie
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Thank you! Have an amazing 2023!!! 😊
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“You shouldn’t do for free what you can make money out of” is something I learn the hard way. And lots of people take advantage of the fact that people don’t realise this especially on blogs. Glad you created your own post with this idea, such a fun read! And thanks for the shoutout!
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Right? I used to say yes to every mail I got since I didn’t really know that I could charge for it. It’s only when people started offering me money that I even got to know. 🙈 But it’s been a good learning experience. Hoping to do better in 2023. 😊
Thank you for being around!
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Haha same here! 😂 At least we charge now 😂
Happy to!
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It’s so hard to stay motivated to blog when your stats plummet! I don’t know if blogs have lost popularity or maybe something changed with the WordPress algorithm, but I feel like this has been common for a lot of bloggers.
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I think with the world opening up again properly in 2022, a lot of people have stopped reading blogs, hence, the plummet. 😔
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So thankful I virtually bumped into you and Pooja! Yea, I don’t know how to tag yet.
I’m really enjoying the blogging community and slowly learning the ropes. Thank you, my friend. Wishing you many blessings throughout the new year!
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Really nice to meet you virtually too and add you to my list of blogger friends. 😊
Good luck with blogging. Wishing you a very happy new year!!
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I wouldn’t read anything into a steep decline. People come and go all the time. Unless new people sign up and interact, it’s a bit like running uphill. I’m going to take a long break at the end of January. I won’t completely disappear, but I’ve decided I’m only going to post once a month after I fulfill some promises I’ve made to other bloggers. No drama—I’m just ready for a more substantial break for a while.
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That’s good! Breaks are so necessary! I also plan to streamline my blogging time in 2023. Here’s hoping 2023 is a good one for all of us. 😊
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Great points, this is all so true! Having a great blogging family is a great source of motivation for sure, and being able to set some boundaries is hard but truly worth it, in the blogosphere, as well as in real life!
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Great points! I am def lacking in some of these areas but I enjoy blogging and I do it for me.
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All great points. Some don’t apply to me, but I agree with what you said. Hope 2023 is an awesome year for you.
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Nice post. Can you help me out how to make money from blogging in WordPress like how are you doing it?
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Wonderful lessons and glad that you have stuck with blogging! Wishing you all the best in 2023! ❤💛
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Those are some great lessons! I completely agree about when to charge for backlinks. Although, that hasn’t happened to me yet, it might in the future now that I’m making changes
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How do I “like” a post? I’m very new to blogging and I like this post!
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Interesting points. I agree with almost all of them. 🙂 I’ve been blogging over 8 years now. I LOVE IT and the first reason is because of the blogging family and the wonderful people I’ve “met.” I chose to not allow ads on my blog. I share my stories for my readers’ enjoyment (fiction and non-fiction), and I find it annoying when I’m reading some’s blog post and an ad pops up or uses up space at the end. So, in truth, I usually don’t stay long with that blogger. I understand for some, they can make money off their blog, and that’s their intention. It’s not mine. That said, you have a beautiful blog and posts and I look forward to reading them in the future.
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