Today is the day exactly a year ago “Some Punny Bunny” was born.
It feels like yesterday when I think of the moment I hit the publish button on my GoDaddy blog. It was a moment full of excitement, anxiety, anticipation, all kind of mixed emotions together.
We have come a long way since the original bunny blog. Looking back, I would have started this blog sooner if I hadn’t feared being judged and criticized by others was holding me back for long. But if you know me, I’m like a dog that doesn’t let go when I set my mind to something.
My need to voice my passion for writing and tell my story was way too much to ignore. Overlooking my fear and being able to come out of my comfort zone, it felt like something magical happened. Some Punny Bunny has brought that magic into my life.
What I’ve Learned
I can’t believe how much I have learned in this one year. When I started, I had zero ideas about running a blog. I had to do this all by myself, and this is a never-ending learning process.
The hardest thing to learn was to be me, and be honest is something I apply to my blog and life in general. I think many people, myself included, get really caught up in keeping up with the trends, and sometimes we lose ourselves trying to get the views. I had to learn the balance of being myself and accepting that the views aren’t the important part; being true to myself. I still follow the trends, but I do it in my own way.
I also had to learn to not be afraid to embarrass myself. My embarrassing moments can either be lessons learned or funny stories. Either way, I’m going to share it. I want people to feel inspired and entertained by my stories, experiences, and by what I have to say. Also, I lose nothing by asking if people read my blog. I have a blog the least I can do is announce that fact.
My Challenges
The challenges I had this year are what any creative person has when they want to express themselves, and they don’t know-how. I lacked knowledge of how to write a blog and any knowledge about getting a website going. But the sites I used to build a website made that stupid easy, so I don’t call that a significant challenge, but it definitely discouraged me when I started.
My biggest challenges now are being disciplined and trying to balance family and the blog. Sometimes, I become distracted by just trying to make it daily and lose my enthusiasm. Fear can be crippling some days. I feel like if I’m not writing, I’m wasting time because I fear I’m not coming up with fresh new content.
My Success
I never thought my blog would be a success. Now I know your thinking like Eryn, what success? I know I don’t have many page views, session time, subscriptions, or the number of sponsored posts. And honestly, I’m okay with that.
Having this blog for a year is a success for me. Not giving up on something when it was hard, not giving up when I switched web platforms and lost months of work.
Never in my wildest dreams did I think id get to connect with similar-minded people. People who not only understood why I needed to share my experiences but encouraged me. Getting so much love and support from numerous people all over has been my motivation to keep posting.
I didn’t realize that blogging would lead me to a whole community of people like me trying to share their stories. It still surprises me that many still don’t understand the idea of blogging and compare it to writing in a diary in a demeaning way. Not saying writing in a journal or diary is terrible, but you typically don’t want anyone to read those.
My suggestions to those who want to start their own blog
Take the leap of faith. You got two options you try, and eh, it isn’t what you thought it would be, or you don’t try and wonder about if you did. Start chasing your dreams.
Be true to yourself and be you. It is a competitive world out there, and we will see someone more successful and want to copy them. But I think just being yourself is how you grow in any field. Be authentic, and don’t compare yourself with others. Also, you’ll be happier just being yourself.
If you want to grow, expand your platforms. I thought just having my blog would be enough. Still, we have an overexposed world, so to be seen, you have to be comfortable on different social media. I recommend Instagram, Tik Tok, Pinterest, and Youtube.
I also think it helps if you know how to use social media to your advantage. If you have a small business on top of a blog, Instagram, and Tik Tok, look into Facebook. If you make DIYs and fun projects, Pinterest and youtube. If you’re like me and selling yourself and your story, use Instagram and Youtube.
Through Some Punny Bunny, I can write freely and share my thoughts and passions. The more I write, the more I realize how much I enjoy writing to share and connect. I get to connect with other women and deepen my journey as a writer.
Thank you so much for reading, following, and commenting. Thank you for being there. I wouldn’t be here without you, and my journey as a writer wouldn’t have started.
I’m so grateful that I can connect with people who resonate with me. I found a community in a time when the world seemed to be ending.
Thank you for the hope you’ve given me. I hope to continue writing until I’m old and gray.