In my blog notifications today, I noticed a little congrats from WordPress on 9 years of blogging. Hard to believe I’ve been writing on this blog for almost a decade now!

When I started this blog nine years ago, it was just a passion project. I wanted a space to share my thoughts, experiences, and mostly my frustrations of trying to figure out how to navigate my “new mom” identity. And then later as the blog grew, I started to enjoy sharing my expertise and lessons learned, both with crafty things and with blogging.

And I just kept writing, and sharing, and eventually this little project became a full-time job that I look forward to doing every day.

Except now I’m not writing every day. On some days I write, but other days a LOT of time is dedicated to fixing all the wrong stuff I did when I first started the blog. Doing things like fixing broken links, adding internal links, fixing titles and adding alt descriptions. Stuff I didn’t know a thing about for probably my first two years of blogging.

So today I’m reflecting back on 9 years of blogging and some of the lessons learned along the way.

Lessons Learned from 9 Years of Blogging

Lesson #1: People Are Actually Reading this Stuff

One of my first big blog lessons came from me being honest and airing my frustrations about a pair of Lululemon leggings that flopped down every time I wore them.

Apparently Lululemon was paying attention because the post wasn’t up two days before I got a call from the local store manager, which caused me to immediately panic at the thought that people were actually reading this stuff.

It also felt pretty good to know that, but also made me a little more careful about what I posted knowing how far of a reach it could have.

Lesson #2: Authenticity is Key

As mentioned above, of the most significant lessons I’ve learned is the power of authenticity and just being honest. The posts that resonated most with readers were the ones where I shared my true thoughts, struggles, and successes.

I didn’t sugarcoat my motherhood experience the way I kept seeing people do on social media. I didn’t tell people I was “living my best life” because I was a mom. I let them know I was hanging on by a shred just trying to keep it together half the time.

Lesson #3: Content is About Quality, Not Quantity

In the early days, I believed the myth that the more you post, the better. This resulted in a lot of posts with just a few sentences and a photo. Now I understand these don’t even show up on search engines because they’re considered “thin content.”

While consistency does matter, I’ve learned that quality will always trump quantity. A well-researched, thoughtfully written post will bring more value to readers—and more engagement—than a dozen hurried articles.

By shifting my focus from “How many posts can I publish this week?” to “How much value can I offer in each post?” I saw not only better engagement but traffic over the long term.

Lesson #4: Blogging is Constantly Evolving

The blogging landscape has changed significantly since I began. SEO strategies, reader preferences, and the WordPress platform keeps changing and I keep trying to learn to roll with the changes and learn to use them. I’m still a little salty about the whole switch to Gutenberg Blocks. I liked the old editor!

I’ve learned that adaptability is vital—not only for staying relevant but also for enjoying the creative process. And once you get the hang of the Blocks, they are ok. Sort of.

Lesson #5: Engaging with Readers Matters More Than Ever

While blogging may seem like a solitary activity, building a community around my content has been one of the most rewarding aspects of this journey. It’s rare to just have a blog these days, as it’s often social media that keeps bringing in new readers and getting their attention.

I’ve found that the more I engage with readers, the more my blog (and social media) feels like a conversation rather than a monologue.

Lesson #6: Invest in Learning New Skills

Over the years, I’ve learned that blogging is not just about writing. Photography, SEO, graphic design, and even video editing have become part of my skillset.

Investing time in learning these skills has elevated my content and kept me competitive. The digital world is constantly changing, and staying updated on new tools and techniques has allowed me to enhance my blog in ways I couldn’t have imagined when I started.

Lesson #7: My Time is Valuable

The first time I got offered something for free, I jumped on it. And that’s how I ended up writing a whole blog post about artificial bonsai trees.

I eventually learned to say no to things that would take a lot of time to cover, but not give a lot in return. It’s common for companies to want to send you something that costs a few dollars and ask for all kinds of work in return.

It became painfully obvious to me when I paid a babysitter $50 so I could go sit at Panera for a few hours and work on an article about a free phone charger I’d gotten. The charger cost $12. I would have had more money left if I’d just bought myself the charger, didn’t write an article and stayed home.

Now when I get the urge to say yes to free stuff, I factor in the time it takes to write the post and create the content.

Moving Forward: Where to Go from Here

After 9 years of blogging, I’m still learning and honing my skills. I’m seeing AI emerge in a big way, and the only way to compete with it is to stay authentic. AI can’t physically try a product and share its thoughts, but I can.

I’ve also branched out into creating other blogs, which has helped me learn to work with the Gutenberg Blocks a bit better. I did try blog mentoring for a while, to help others with blogs, but found I enjoyed writing about it better.

In the last year I’ve started taking on a lot of guest posts, so I’m thinking about resurrecting my newsletter to be able to send specific content out to people that are interested in it.

Reflecting on the last nine years fills me with gratitude for the journey. Blogging has allowed me to express myself, build a community, and continually grow.

As I look to the future, I’m more motivated than ever to create meaningful, high-quality content that resonates with readers and stands the test of time. So, here’s to the next chapter in blogging—and to never stopping the journey of learning and growth, wherever it takes me.