June 7, 2025
You know you’ve been blogging a long time when your first posts were written on a dial-up connection, you used “guestbooks,” and you thought “web rings” were a legitimate marketing strategy.
Yep. I’ve been blogging for over two decades. That’s longer than most influencers have been alive. Back when I started, blogs were basically online diaries that where complete with glittery GIFs, “mood” statuses, and autoplay music that would scare your soul right out of your body.
So, in honor of my internet longevity (and sheer stubbornness), here are some things I’ve learned along the way. Consider this a nostalgic trip down memory lane with a few hard truths and plenty of sarcasm.
Nobody Reads the First Post, Not Even You
Every blogger’s first post is the same: “Hi! I don’t know what I’m doing, but I’m starting a blog! Yay!” It’s awkward, it’s adorable, and it ages like a banana left on the dashboard of a car in July. But it’s a rite of passage. You write it thinking the whole internet is watching. Spoiler: it isn’t.
Your Blog Design Will Never Be “Done”
I have changed my blog layout more times than I’ve changed my hairstyle, which really isn’t saying something because I’ve basically had the same hairstyle since high school. From sparkly sidebars to minimalist black-and-white themes, I’ve been through them all. You think, “This is it. This is the perfect design.” And then two weeks later, you’re scrolling downloadable WordPress themes at 2 a.m. with a new vision and a caffeine-induced need to redo everything.
Stats Are a Blessing and a Curse
Back in the day, I had a little counter at the bottom of my site that ticked up every time anyone visited. Now we have Google Analytics, which lets us overanalyze bounce rates and compare ourselves to people who “just started blogging last week and already have 50,000 followers.” Neat.
Some days you feel like a blogging rockstar. Other days, you swear your only visitor was a Russian bot trying to sell you knockoff Ray-Bans.
Comments Used to Be Gold
There was a time when comments were king. Readers actually left thoughtful replies, sometimes even full-on conversations. Now? You’re lucky if someone throws a “love this!” on Instagram, or better yet, just likes the post without reading it. Ah, the sweet sound of validation… replaced by an echoing void.
You Will Write Some Truly Cringe-Worthy Content
If you’ve been blogging as long as I have, it’s impossible not to have a graveyard of posts that make you wince. Old poetry, questionable opinions, or that post detailing your boring, but you thought it was so cool, daily life.
Blog Friends Are Real Friends
One of the best parts of blogging is the community. Over the years, I’ve “met” people through comment sections, emails, and shared love for cats, horror movies, or weird vintage fonts. Some of these friendships have lasted longer than actual IRL friendships. So yes, internet friends are very real, even if you’ve never seen them outside their blog header.
Trends Will Come and Go, and Come Back Again
Remember when “What’s in My Fridge?” posts were the peak of content? Or the obsession with blog awards and tags? Or when everyone was reviewing beauty boxes like their life depended on it? Everything old is new again, except now it’s on TikTok and I’m too tired to keep up.
Burnout Is Inevitable
There are going to be months (or, let’s be honest, years) when you don’t want to blog. Or you think you’ve outgrown it. Or you just… forget your password. That’s normal. Blogging has always been a slow burn not a sprint. And if you’re still showing up, even sporadically, you’re doing just fine.
Your Voice Matters. Even If It’s Just for You
At some point, you realize that even if nobody reads your posts, your blog is yours. Your space, your stories, your sarcasm. It’s a digital scrapbook of your life, thoughts, and weird obsessions. And that’s something to be proud of. Unfortunately, I lost all my old posts and am starting over.
You’re Basically a Blogging Dinosaur. And That’s Kinda Cool
Twenty-plus years in this ever-changing internet circus? That makes you vintage. You’ve seen trends rise and fall, platforms come and go, and you’re still here, typing away, maybe with a cat on your lap and a half-drunk cup of tea or coffee beside you.
You’re not just a blogger. You’re a relic of the golden blogging era. And if that doesn’t deserve a sparkly “Best Blogger Ever” badge, I don’t know what does.
Here’s to the next twenty years, assuming the world doesn’t implode by then.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to update my blog theme. Priorities.