5 Lessons I've Learnt Through 2 Years of Blogging

I've been blogging officially now for over 2 years, (Oct. 2013) and last year, when I celebrated my first year, I talked a little about my achievements and the people who impacted and supported me throughout the experience. I knew I wanted to somehow share and celebrate this special event with you, after all, I did talk about how you should celebrate your blogging milestones, it'd be wrong of me not to, but for the longest time, inspiration failed me. What could I say that hadn't already been said, either by me, or by others celebrating their own milestones? Should I thank everyone again and risk sounding repetitive, or should I just let the occasion go by? After much soul searching, I knew I wanted to share some lessons I've learnt, lessons you may not have seen previously from other bloggers, and of course, share a few snazzy statistics.

Don't Be Afraid of Changing Your Blog, Even in Big Ways

When I celebrated my first year of blogging, I was blogging on Book Badger, and within that time, I've dipped my toe into co-blogging on Beautiful Bookish Butterflies, and made the transition back into a one man band here at Nellie and Co, and those were some HUGE changes. I've had 3 blog names, 3 different designs and completely changed the kind of content I publish - all of which are scary prospects. Changing your blog name is probably one of the biggest fears in the blogging community, but if the name you have just isn't working for you, why stick with it? Same goes for blogging on your own; if you really feel that co-blogging is the right route for you (bare in mind, it's not as easy as having less responsibilities and content, you still have to work hard) then take the leap, don't feel swallowed whole by a blog you no longer love. Chances are, if you don't love your blog, it shows, and others won't either.

Don't be intimidated by the big changes that all bloggers consider at least once. Switch up your content slowly if you're unhappy with what you're posting, change your name and re-brand if you really want a fresh start, and if need be, start up somewhere else like I did with Nellie and Co. and blog how you want to. The big changes are only as scary as you let them be.

Co-Blogging is Not Easy, And You Shouldn't Think It Is

I talked in detail about my co-blogging story with Stacie when I first opened Nellie and Co. and dived into what co-blogging is like in comparison to blogging alone, but I still stand by what I said then - co-blogging is not an easy out for people struggling to stay inspired or keep up quality content. If you're not feeling blogging, don't do it, don't put pressure on somebody else to pull you out from your rut, and don't think that co-blogging is going to be a walk in part.

Yes, some co-blogging partnerships appear to work perfectly together; they're always in contact with one another, bouncing ideas of each other and just seem to have the whole co-blogging thing down-pat, but not every co-blogging relationship is like that. I would never want to put anybody off the idea, as I personally learnt a lot about myself and what I want in my blogging future because of co-blogging, just don't go in expecting easy-peasy, you could be disappointed.

Post Content You Want To Read - No Likey, No Clicky

Take a look at your most recent content; would you read it elsewhere if a blog you followed published it instead? This is a question I ask myself with almost every posts I write - if I wouldn't read this, why should I be expecting anybody else to? You have to love the content you're putting out there, and if it's not something that you would consciously click to read, then you've got a problem.

Don't publish half-hearted content; trust me, your followers and subscribers can see the attempt for what it is, an attempt, and probably won't think once about reading your post, let alone twice, whereas if you skipped the squiffy post and spent the time working on a bigger, better post with higher quality and actual worth to your readers, not only will you feel proud of what you've written, but so will others. When Mamma said quality over quantity, she meant it.

If you wouldn't read your own content, why should anyone else? Mamma said quality over quantity, and she meant it!

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What All the 'Cool Kids' Are Doing Isn't Always Better

Way back when, (when dinosaurs roamed the earth) I briefly talked about blog memes and how I felt like they were absolutely everywhere. I don't find that the case as much these days (whether that's because the blogs I've followed have changed with time, or other bloggers just thought enough was enough, who knows) but it's definitely something that still appeals to new bloggers to gain new following, and seriously, if that's what you want to do, then go for it, it's your blog, I'm not going to stop you, but what makes you different from all the other blogs out there if that's all you're doing?

Sure, the high volume of comments and views looks and feels super nice, but to me, they're not real comments, or real views. When I go to visit a blog, I don't go with an ulterior motive to gain a follow back, or a visit in return, I visit because the content is great, or the post interests me, or the blogger in question is someone I trust and have a strong relationship with, and this is what gets you a loyal following, rather than a large following.

Creating content you love and that benefits your readership is only half of the story, the other half is to equate yourself with quality, with unique, one of a kind content, and with a give, give, give attitude. Sure, blog memes might get your a surge in visitors, but I would much rather somebody actually bought from my shop, than walked in, and straight back out.

Sometimes, Less Really Is More

This is partially an extension of the previous point, but also applies to almost everything in blogging. Posting less content but making sure what you do post is amazing and of top notch quality is always, always better than just filling in the time with something on the boring side. Having an all singing, all dancing design is great, but putting functionality, simplicity and ease on the eye before big, bright and beautiful is usually the better route to go.

Let's be honest, nobody really liked my yellow monstrosity that was on Book Badger before I saw the design light and put simple, clean lines and usability before standing out. If people can use and read your blog without getting eyesore, whether it'll win design of the year doesn't matter. Even considering how you market yourself and not just your blog, how you sound through your posts, what you talk about on social media and how you come across - being a loudmouth might get you heard, but you might not be liked for it.

How Book Badger Grew Into Nellie and Co.

Now, because I've had two big blog moves, my statistics are a little more complicated than they probably could and should have been, but alas, thanks to Google Analytics and my many many spreadsheets that help me organise everything, including a sheet dedicated to reading and blogging statistics, I have been able to put together a good view of how Book Badger became Nellie and Co, with a great transition of Beautiful Bookish Butterflies in between. Lets see..

*Book Badger statistics are from Blogger rather than Google Analytics.

Book Badger	BBB (6 months)	Nellie and Co.	Total
Blog Posts: 441 Book Reviews: 74 Comments: 3,711 Bloglovin' Followers: 213 Pageviews: 58,400*	Blog Posts: 85 Book Reviews: 40 Comments: 3,337 Bloglovin' Followers: 136 Pageviews: 11,230	Blog Posts: 35 Book Reviews: 6 Comments: 485 Bloglovin' Followers: 176 Pageviews: 7,496	561 120 7,533 176 77,126

2 Years and 15 Of Your Favourite Posts

I want to thank you, the viewers, for everything

Whether you pop by every now and then to catch a post or two, regularly visit to catch up on what you've missed, or check in every day to make my day, you encourage me and motivate me to produce better content. You push me to my limits with your expectations, you surprise me with your time and attentiveness in your comments and you make the whole experience, no matter squiffy it may get, absolutely wonderful, and for that, I don't think I could thank you all enough.

There are of course special thank you's that go out to people;

• Thank you to Stacie for letting me fly the co-blogging coop
• Thank you to Charnel for still being as supportive as always
• Thank you to Cait for loving so much of what I say and do
• Thank you to Stephanie for giving the best advice possible
• Thank you to Ashley for helping increase my confidence

- and thank you to everyone who's taken time to visit and comment, especially those on Nellie and Co.

I Can't Wait to See What The Next Year Brings

Now that Nellie and Co. has finished finding it's feet in the blogging community, I can't wait to work hard and produce a brilliant future for Nellie. I've never been happier to blog, and I feel as though I've found exactly where I'm meant to be right now, and while the future may bring bigger and scarier changes, or different and unique content, Nellie and Co. will continue to be your very own resource tool for blogging and design, and throwing in a few book and film reviews from time to time too, just to shake things up a little. Huge thank you to those who have been here from the start and supported me in my complicated blogging adventure, and those who continue to find joy and entertainment on Nellie and Co. - it means an awful lot to me.

How Long Have You Been Blogging For?

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