I truly cannot believe it’s been a whole year since I started this little blogging adventure. When I was deciding what kind of post to write to celebrate this momentous occasion, I decided that I wanted to start a reflection post that I could look back on each year in my blogging journey. I plan to answer these same blogging questions year after year. I want to be able to look back on past years and see how my blog has grown. I encourage you all to come up with your own questions (or use mine!) to take a step back and reflect every year. You’ve come a long way, so celebrate! If you do decide to use my questions, please add your link to the link-up below!
Before I begin, I feel like I owe you the history of my blogging journey. So, here we go.
I was inspired to start a blog because of my friend Sarah. She was getting her photography business up and running and was posting about it on social media. After a little while, she started her own personal blog where she wrote about DIY’s and posted pictures she took that weren’t related to her business. I really enjoyed reading it and realized that I could totally see myself doing the same thing.
Of course, my blog was not titled Kayla Blogs at first. My first blog name was Kayla on Campus and then I switched it to Kayla Candidly (??). Not very proud of those two choices. When I decided to purchase a domain (scary!) I wanted something that could really grow with me in whatever direction I chose to go with it. So I chose kaylablogs.com and changed the blog title to match! I had (and still have!) visions for this blog way beyond the end of my time in college. I’m planning to use it document the crazy life that is speech-language pathology grad school and then continue using it well into my professional career as a way to share tips and therapy ideas for other SLPs!
Now, it’s time to reflect on my first year of blogging…
1. Favorite blog post from this year?
My favorite blog post would have to be this one. It was my first post where I felt I had this new fire underneath me. I had been blogging off and on throughout the school year but I hadn’t had a post idea I was really excited about for a while. I was ready to get back into blogging and with this post, the ideas kept flowing. I wrote the post in one afternoon and loved every minute of it. It was a lot of work but I actually enjoyed it and felt it was worthwhile. It made me realize that I could do this blogging thing for real and here I am, making it happen (well, trying to)!
2. Right now, what inspires you to blog?
My inspiration for blog posts mostly comes from my hobbies. I fear that once the summer is over and I have to get back to schoolwork, studying, and other commitments, I won’t be as inspired to post. I hope that I can continue reading as much as I have been this summer and writing posts about my planners because I have some really big ideas for them!
3. What are some things you’d like to work on in regard to your blog?
Wellllll, I really want to re-brand. Right now, I’m feeling that my blog name is way too generic which I thought was good in the beginning but it’s really not doing anything to set me apart from other bloggers. I hope that is something I can fix within the next year. I also want to (finally) come up with my own logo and a new layout that I adore. This blog theme is really cute for now, but I’m not in love with it. I want something that screams “me” whenever I log onto the site. Hopefully I can accomplish this within the next year as well!
4. Where do you hope your blog will be next year?
I hope my blog will continue to grow at the rate it is right now. I know that it will be a lot of work, but this summer I am just proving that I can do it. I hope my blog will be a resource for college students, planner nerds, and bookaholics. I also hope to be making some sort of income (no matter how small!) from blogging. This is something I love and being able to get some income from it would be absolutely incredible.
5. What has been your biggest blogging accomplishment this year?
My biggest accomplishment this year was starting up and hosting my own Twitter chat. Blogging College was an idea that stemmed from the fact that there were really no known Twitter chats just for college bloggers. Within a few weeks, I turned it into a reality. I had no clue if anyone would even join in the chat but it was a bigger success than I could have hoped for! I hope the Blogging College community continues to grow as a resource for college bloggers to collaborate, inspire, and encourage each other.
With that, I thank you all for being a part of this journey. I can’t believe how my little corner of the internet has grown in 1 short year. Thank you to everyone who reads what I have to say. Here’s to another year of blogging, friends!
I’m closing in on my 1 year blogiversary and am super excited. I think i’m going to do something similiar to this if you don’t mind:) I really like the idea behind it. Thanks for sharing!:)
Of course!! I’d love to read your post so make sure you come back and share it with me!!
I’ve made this post a link-up so feel free to add your reflection post above!!
Congrats on one year! These are great reflections to have, so thank you for this post! Starting your own TwitterChat is definitely something to be proud of too. Way to go!
Xx
heapsofme.com
Thank you so much!!
Happy one year! Lovely thoughts you’ve provided us.
I definitely hope to have some successes when I reach my first anniversary.
I love your blog, btw.
xoxo, Jenny || Breakfast at Lillys
Ahh, thank you Jenny!! I really love yours as well 🙂
Happy blogiversary, sweet girl! Excited to see what year two will bring you 🙂 Loved getting to know more about why you started your blog. And I absolutely love the name “Kayla Blogs.” I think it could encompass so many things and go in whatever direction you like.
XX, SS || A Little Seersucker Sass
Thank you!! And yeah, I think I might keep the name for now… but if something else strikes me I might just have to run with it. We’ll see!!
Happy blogiversary! Love the questions that you asked. I think that they can apply to every blogger and I’ll be asking myself these questions tonight! You should definitely be proud of your twitter chat, they’re so much fun to host because they’re so engaging!
Alessandra | The PumpUp Blog
Yes, I absolutely love twitter chats!! Such a great way to meet new bloggers. Thanks for stopping by 🙂
Happy Blog Birthday! I really think it is important to reflect as your blog grows and changes. It seems like you’re really passionate and dedicated to blogging, can’t wait to see what your 2nd year of blogging holds for you!
Aww thank you so much, I really appreciate that. And yeah, I totally agree it’s so important to remind yourself how far you’ve come!! I am sort of a perfectionist so I’m always looking to fix things instead of just stepping back and seeing how much progress I’ve really made!! Thanks for stopping by 🙂
Happy blogiversary! Although I changed my blog design at the beginning of the summer, I really want to look into custom design. Its so hard because hiring someone for custom work is so expensive! I just have to wait until its the perfect time. I can’t wait to see how your blog changes and transforms over the next year! 🙂
Savannah from http://thealwaysblog.com
Ughh I know that’s the main thing that is preventing me from changing my layout. I’m also super indecisive so I’m scared that once I buy an expensive layout I’ll soon decide that I don’t like it as much as I thought. This design was $10 and I’ve only had it for about 3 weeks and I’m already pretty sick of it lol. I think getting a custom design would be worth it because I could customize every aspect to my liking but, like you said, they’re SO expensive!! Guess I’ll have to start a “custom blog design” fund. Thanks for stopping by 🙂
Happy blogiversary! These are so important, and I think they can be applied to every blogger! I just started blogging in May so I have a while, but I plan on asking myself these in a few months!
Thank you!! If you do decide to answer these questions make sure to send me the link, I’d love to read it!! Thanks for stopping by 🙂
Congrats on your first year! I just hit my new year mark and it truly is crazy how fast time flies. It is such an accomplishment to make it this far 🙂
Annie // Annie N Belle
Yes!! It’s been a long road, but I made it. 1 year of blogging is in the books!! Thank you so much for stopping by 🙂
Congratulations! The first year is always the toughest, trying to figure out your niche, but after that it gets easier! Jk. Sometimes… I’m only a year and a half (almost) in and it’s still tough sometimes! But I love these questions… I think this is a great thing to ask yourself once a year! I’m definitely doing this for my two-year! I have to join the twitter chat!
Lauren
The Fashionista’s Diary
Lauren, we’d love to have you in the Blogging College chat!! If you decide to do a similar post be sure to send me the link, I’d love to read it. Thanks for stopping by 🙂
This is such a great way to reflect on your year! I love this idea.. congrats on your first year! It’s such an amazing accomplishment and not one to be taken lightly 🙂 To many more years!!
Thank you so much!! 🙂
This is such a great idea to reflect on your blogging career! I have been blogging over 3 years and want to sit down and really think about these questions and my answers! Maybe you will see this on my blog soon! Thanks for the inspo!
xo Ashley
Twenties Girl
Style
You’re so welcome!! If you do decide to answer some reflection questions please send me the link!! I’d love to read your answers.
Thanks for stopping by 🙂
If you decide to write your own reflection post, be sure to add it to my new link-up above!!
I love this idea! It’s easy to get caught up in and remember the struggles of blogging but this is a great way to reflect on the good as well!
-Morgan
How 2 Wear It [] http://how2wearit.com
Yes, that’s exactly why I decided to do it!! Thanks 🙂
love this post idea! definitely going to use your questions when I hit my blogiversary. I am currently working on revamping my layout and logos too! xx, kenz
http://sincerelykenz.com
Thanks Kenzie!! Make sure to send me the link if you decide to do this. I want to read your answers!! Thanks for stopping by 🙂
If you decide to write your own reflection post, be sure to add it to the link-up above!!
Wow! Hosting a twitter chat is huge! Congrats on growing your blog!
Thank you Allison!! 🙂
This is such a good idea! I might totally have to steal your questions! If not publicly for my blog, I think it would be awesome to answer them on my own in journals! Xo
Chelsea // trendychelsea,wordpress.com
Thank you Chelsea!! I’m considering making this a link-up so if you decide to answer questions on your blog, be sure to come back and add it!
I totally feel you about re-branding. I’m considering killing one of my categories as much as it saddens me to. I think my blog will look quite different in the future but only if I ever get the chance to pay someone to design something truly ME. Anyway, I used to have a really clean design and I hated it but I decided to just embrace my girliness and go all pastel. I don’t know how I feel about my blog name… It’s xoxomake and I guess it’s unique? I had one person liking it….
I wish you success.
N @ http://www.xoxomake.com
Thanks for stopping by!! It’s hard in the beginning to find something that truly works for you. I have a friend working on a logo for me now and I’m really excited about it!! I hope re-branding goes well for you!
1. You’re my favorite
2. You should totally make this a link-up
3. <3
xx. Brittany | Southern Soul
Honestly, I don’t know how to make a link-up lol. I’m going to look into it though, that’s a great idea! <33
Never mind, I did it! This post is now a link up 🙂
Happy one year anniversary! It’s crazy how fast the time goes, huh? I love this post and agree with those who say you should try making it a link-up! I might steal the list for myself (will link back and give you credit, of course.)
I’m glad to hear I’m not the only one who hasn’t fully settled on a blog title/brand/theme. I think it takes a while before we realize what we want our brands to look like, especially because we, ourselves, are constantly evolving. It’ll all work itself out! Until then, no need to define yourself or put your blog in one specific category.
xo,
Melissa | These words are my own.
Thank you so much Melissa!! I spend way too much time worrying about if my blog fits a specific niche but I really need to stop focusing on that. I’m going to try to figure out how to make this post a link-up lol so stay tuned!!
Hey Kayla! I just found @BloggingCollege the other day and it’s really helpful. I previously used blogster and searched through blogger’s comments to find other bloggers, but never could find the right blogs to read. Not only did Blogging College help me find college blogs to read, but it encouraged me to finally start my blog! As of last night, it is up and running, I posted my first official entry today. I’ve been reading through your posts and added you to my Blog folder in my bookmarks bar. Thanks for encouraging me to start blogging!
http://campuscommuter.wix.com/blog
-Kat
Kat, you’ve seriously made my day!! I’m SO glad that the chat is helpful for you and that I have inspired you in some way. It’s truly amazing to me that there wasn’t already a place for college bloggers to get together. Make sure you join the Blogging College Facebook group as well: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bloggingcollege/
I also just checked out your blog and I love it!! There is definitely a need for college bloggers who are also commuters. Hopefully you’ll find some others who are in the same boat as you through the Blogging College chat!! Excited to have you with us on Sunday 🙂
You’ve had such an awesome year and I know you’ll continue to grow! Congratulations on starting the Twitter chat, thats amazing! Something that’s always been on my bucket list!
xo, Alicia | Alicia Tenise
Starting a chat has been a lot of fun so far but also a lot of work!! I think it’s worth it though, I’ve met so many new bloggers already!! Thanks for stopping by 🙂
Congrats on celebrating one year of blogging! I love the idea of a reflection post to mark each blogging year. I just rebranded my blog about last week (I used to be Private School Prepster, now I’m Lilly & Lemons), and it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made for my blog! I’m so happy with the change and I know that you will be happy when yours once you rebrand!
This is such a great series! Happy Blogiversary! It’s such a great accomplishment that you started your own Twitter chat!
Happy blogiversary! What an awesome accomplishment. I’m excited to see what amazing things you do with your blog in the next year. That’s so awesome that you started a Twitter chat. I’ve always wanted to start one, but wasn’t sure how. If I do, I’m definitely looking to you for advice. Congrats on all of your accomplishments this year.
Congratulations on a whole year of incredible blogging! I’m actually curious about your rebrandings in the past. I’d love to purchase a domain once my blog is bigger and more consistent, but I’m afraid that I will lose traffic (especially from current pins on pinterest that won’t have anywhere to redirect! Pinterest is my main traffic source right now). How did you deal with that, or did it affect you much?