Today Stacie Raye turns 9 years old! I’ve actually been blogging a lot longer, since 2009 to be exact, but this is quite an accomplishment for me!
When I started out I was into couponing and saving money on everything. Of course I still like to save money, but my blog focus has changed since those early The Coupon Sista days.
Blogging has also changed drastically since I started out years ago and being an influencer has taken a big chunk out of the blog space. I’ve often thought about calling it quits as the online community interests have changed and less people have been visiting blogs.
Never the less, the need for your own online space is important. None of us own Facebook nor Instagram which could shut down at a moments notice. However you do own your blog and no one can take that away from you. So I’ll continue to keep at it until I’m ready for something different.
What I’ve learned about blogging so far
People will always have an opinion on what it takes to make a successful blog. The Internets are full of folks sharing tips to make blogging easier or how to get traffic to your blog. But today, I’m going to share three of my most important tips on what I’ve learned through the years.
Stay relevant
Boy have I learned this the hard way. You really need to stay abreast of the industry trends and listen, they change constantly. You need to subscribe to newsletters and blogs that specialize in keeping up on blogging trends. One of my favorite resources for all things social media is Later.
Invest in your blog
If you want to be a blogger or an influencer, you will need to make some necessary investments. For example, a good DSLR camera or use your smartphone camera, photo editing software like Lightroom. You’ll also need to learn photography, SEO, social media marketing and a host of other things. Yes, it can be expensive but most of these can be learned with little to no money at all. Recently, one of my favorite black mommy influencers said that you need to become a student of YouTube and get your degree from YouTube University. Ain’t that the truth!
Make sure you are blogging for yourself
Over the years I have heard different opinions about how to be successful at blogging. You need a niche, you don’t need a niche, blog for your readers, blog for yourself. Truth be told, it’s all true to some extent. All you have to do is use what applies to you and leave the rest.
What’s next for Stacie Raye
I look forward to continuing to creating fresh content on the beauty products that you love, everyday fashion ideas, quick dinners and home decor tips as well as more glimpses into my life. Be sure you’re following me on Instagram where you can see more of me!
It’s looking good over here! I love all the changes and growth I’m seeing. I know I cheat by only visiting on Instagram, but I’m so glad to be able to keep up with you that way. Congratulations on 9+ years!