I think you should do it. I think you should open up the WordPress account, write about the things you care about, and post those thoughts out into the world. And here’s my story about doing the same.

4 years ago today, I started this blog. At the time, I had 3 kids under the age of 6, I had recently sold an online retail business, and I was looking for a creative outlet that made me feel like I was providing something to my followers and the world outside of what I was doing as a stay at home mom. I love being a stay at home mom, and the Lord is graciously showing me how to love it more each and every day, but the drive and desire to create and provide value outside of that role is still very much alive and well in me, so blogging has given me that opportunity while keeping my feet firmly planted in this season of motherhood. And while it’s not the highest ranking blog of all time, and it’s not generating an impressive income or being published across other media outlets, it’s this little corner of the internet that’s my contribution to a vast digital space full of good, bad, and yes, plenty of ugly. I hold the opinion that if you have something positive to contribute to the world (and I know you do), it should be shared because the more light that we bring into this digital space, and the more positivity that we can share with our words and our interests, the more opportunities you give people to productively use their online time.

Some might argue that it’s just adding to the noise to start another blog. Isn’t the blogger market already oversaturated? And here’s what I say to that. The best time to start a blog or website was yesterday. The second best time is today.

Over the last four years, my posting regularity has varied as much as a toddler’s mood on any given day, but it’s always been a space that I know I can come to whether that’s to share my heart on a deep and sensitive topic, or to tell you what I’m loving on Amazon at the moment, or share the books I’ve been loving (or not loving at times), and everything in between. It’s my own little space, and I think anyone who desires that should have it.

Here are 5 reason I think you should go for it; take the jump; press publish on your first post.

1. Blogging is a fun creative outlet. No matter what you write about, there is SOMEONE out there who cares just as much about that topic as you do. Love natural, clean products? Are you an avid reader? Do you have a passion for fiddle leaf fig propagation? Whatever it is, share about that, from the depths of wherever that passion comes from! It doesn’t have to be salesy, either, but you never know what kind of doors may swing open for some extra revenue if you start sharing in an authentic way. Which leads me to my next point…
2. You can earn some money doing it. There are a bunch of ways to monetize your blog, many of which I do and many which I don’t do (for instance, you don’t see any banner ads on here at all, but of course I always provide affiliate links to products I am sharing). And guess what? You can do the same! Pretty much anyone can become an Amazon Affiliate and share from the millions of Amazon products thereby making a small commission when someone buys off your link. Or maybe you love fashion and are interested in applying to link your photos via the LikeToKnow.It platform (if that’s the case, reach out to me and I can help get you started with a referral). And now that anyone can use the coveted link sticker on Instagram, it’s even easier to start earning those commissions. It doesn’t have to be a full time job to be an income, either. Don’t get all caught up in making it your job if that feels too intimidating. But also, you shouldn’t feel bad about earning a commission when you research, buy and then share a product. That’s just being a savvy resource to the people around you, and you SHOULD be compensated for the legwork you’ve done!
3. A blog is your internet real estate that you own. Do you realize that Instagram and Facebook could be gone tomorrow? Have you been investing all of your efforts to build a brand or business in those spaces, which are nothing more than borrowed property? Then maybe it’s time to stop just being a free loader and invest in some property you own. By establishing a blog, newsletter or a website, you are building up a property that is far more hacker-resistant, and custom tailored to YOUR style, aesthetic and posting preference. And if your Instagram ever gets hacked as I keep hearing more and more commonly, you’ve still got all your content in one place and your audience knows it.
4. You are building an internet resume. Plenty of opportunities have come my way because of linking my Instagram account back to my blog. Even though I am far more active on my Instagram than I am on the blog, the blog serves as a resume where I can showcase exactly what I want to showcase to a potential brand partner, podcast host, or organization. I’ve gotten speaking opportunities, unique partner collaborations, photography gigs for large companies, and professional inquiries all because I had the website as a landing page where these companies could come and see who I am, which legitimized me as a professional and someone they would like to work with. Having a home on the internet allows people to see you’re more serious about your niche than simply running a free Instagram page about it.
5. You can share more on your blog than you would in an Instagram post. Most people start scrolling after about one sentence of a caption on Instagram. It’s a fast food app that sometimes those of us with a lot of words try to treat like a fine dining experience, but in reality, people just want quick bites on IG. On your blog, however, you can go into far more detail and depth. Maybe people will read the whole thing, maybe they’ll skim it and just scroll to the links or photos. That’s their prerogative. But the point is, you have an unlimited word count and you can really let your creative heart soar in the posting process. Since I am a lover of words (with no shortage of them), I have loved having this as an outlet. It keeps me sharp, keeps me curious as I look for new content to share, and keeps me engaged in something outside of my full time role as a stay at home mom.

I may not be the best or most consistent blogger, but I am proud of myself for taking the risk to do something I’m still learning about every single day. To not be an expert at something and still enjoy it. To post about all the things that I love and that make me Courtney – the fashion posts, the faith posts, the recipes, the books… they are all little snapshots of the things God gave me that I get to share out of the very nature of how He designed me; a person who simply can’t keep a good thing to herself and is creatively energized by the challenge to wordsmith, design graphics, take photos, try new things, and then pass them on to you. If that sounds at all like you, then do it. I really think you should. Cheers to 4 years.

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