Every
blogger starts somewhere. And for me, that was in 2024, with zero experience in
writing, SEO, or web design. Here’s how it all began and what I’ve learned
along the way.
How
it all Started - 2024
Back
in 2024, I had no experience setting up a blog or managing a website. At that
time, I was helping with my sister’s business and realized her store needed to
be searchable on Google. That’s when the idea of starting a blog sparked in my
mind.
I had no clue how to start – no background in writing, no knowledge of SEO, and no idea of what tools to use. What I only have was diligence. That alone took me further than I expected. In August 2024, I launched my very first blog using a free platform.
Even
though it was a free platform, I spent a lot of time planning everything – from
the site name to the tagline, the menu items (where you’ll find the different
buttons like Home, About, Categories, Blog/Posts, Contact Page, and
others). These might seem like simple details when viewing a site, but they
were surprisingly difficult to figure out – especially to someone like me with zero
experience!Leveling
Up - 2025
In January 2025, I applied to be a member of the Davao Blogger Society. Special thanks to Shuram dela Cruz for tagging me twice on an FB post just to encourage me to apply. I never had the confidence at that time. Sometimes, all it takes is a little push from someone to try something new.
By
February 2025, I became an official
member. Since then, I’ve signed up and participated in various product launches,
brand events, and activities organized by the DBS community, including:
·
Meet
and greet with Nadine Lustre during the 9Lives Vision Express Launch
·
Big
Bad Wolf Book Donation with Davao Blogger Society to SOS Children
·
Mahogany
South Launch by Alson’s Dev
·
Snow White Block Screening
with MayMay Entrata
·
Davao Bloggers Society General
Assembly
·
Davao
Bloggers Society Acquaintance Party 2025
·
DGT Weekend Market Food
Bizarre
·
PLDT Kadayawan Promo Launch
with Joao Constancia
Then
came a big milestone: in August 2025, I finally bought my own domain.
Transitioning from a free site to www.everybitislovely.com
meant I now had a space on the internet that was entirely mine. You have no
idea how much this means to me. That moment really makes me so happyyy.
I
am incredibly grateful for the inspiration DBS community have given me. They have
no idea how much they inspire me to do better in blogging.
Hard Truths I’ve Faced Along the Way
I
originally view blogging as a hobby and thought of it to be fun and easy.
However, I faced challenges and realized things that I need to accept to
continue blogging. Here are the things that I had to swallow:
1. No one Cares About You
and That’s Okay
No one knows who you are. Nobody cares about
your blog.
This is the kind of thought I already have
while blogging. I know it’s a tough thought for myself, but it’s where I find
comfort the most. Regardless of having an audience or not, I want to grow, I
still want to blog and share ideas. Afterall, I am blessed to have my family and
friends who’ve always supported me in this journey.
2. Creating Contents
Without Results Can Be Draining
Blogging for months and even years and not
seeing any results can feel exhausting. It takes a lot of effort and time to
create a content. There are moments when I question myself, Is this really
for me? Can I truly be a blogger? But I always remind myself that other creators
must have felt the same when they were just starting out. Hitting “publish”
gives me a sense of fulfillment, so even if it feels like there’s no results
yet, I can see my own progress and I’m genuinely happy with the improvements I’ve
made.
3. The Technical Side is
Overwhelming
Blogging isn’t just about writing. I found
myself constantly checking and editing everything – my Profile, About Me page, the
site design, widgets, the logo, the favicon, and the list keeps growing. Trying to bring my vision to life is tough as
it requires lots of technical details. It’s not just about creativity; it takes
hard work, trial and error, and money – especially when you’re doing everything
yourself.
It felt like it cost me blood and sweat since
I’m relying on a DIY method, and I have limited resources. I spend hours
researching, following every step-by-step guide, and praying I don’t
accidentally break something – like the HTML! (If you’re a web designer, you’re prolly laughing at this, lol). But even with all of these, one fix, one
late night, one “oops” at a time, I’ll get a hang of it, because I want this.
4. Building an Audience
Takes Time
This has been very challenging for me,
especially since I’m not that active online and have had more “Do Not Disturb” phases
than social moments. It takes so long to gain subscribers or followers. I even
tried using my personal Facebook account as my blog page, so I don’t have to
start from zero. But I need to create a new one which is Every Bit is Lovely
FB Page (Tell you what, I went through so many page names before I stick with
that one. I was so inconsistent and confused at first.)
Regardless of how small my audience is, I’ve decided
to keep going and continue thriving in this space. The support of the people closest
to me is more than enough to continue. Still, I know I need to keep growing my
audience by creating a quality content, learning more about SEO, engaging more,
posting on social media, tracking and analyzing my work, and importantly, to be
more patient.
5. Consistency and
Diligence are Tough but Necessary
I had to start at full speed – like being in gear
100 to 150, just to be in this position. But I know I can’t stay in high gear
all the time. There are days when I’m only at 50, 70, or even lower. Sometimes,
I find myself staring at my drafts for days, stuck at gear 20, but still, I
must keep on pushing myself to publish that content.
For now, consistency for me means posting one
blog a month. That already feels like a big achievement, especially while
working a full-time job.
6. Comparing Yourself to
Other Bloggers
Not going to lie, I’ve felt this way many
times. I love visiting other blog sites as an avenue to learn, but I can’t
ignore the feeling of comparison, and the worst is it sometimes convince me to
just quit because I’m too far from them.
And it’s true — I am. But I’m grateful for
the realization that we should never compare ourselves to anyone. I’ve come to
understand that I feel this way because I’m still at level two while the person
I’m looking up to might already be at level seventy. I’ll get there eventually.
So instead of comparing myself, I see them as an inspiration and a guide in my
blogging journey.
7. Imposter Syndrome is
Real
There are times when I feel that I’m not good
enough. Thoughts like, “I’m doing everything wrong”, “I’m not special”, “I’m
really bad at this”, echo in my head. But I’ve learned that you don’t need
to be good and be an expert right away. You must be willing to be messy, make
mistakes, and get embarrassed. Just start and learn things along the way.
Blogging after all is about long-term growth
and gratification. The progress may be slow, but every step forward counts.
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