1,000 Impressions Later: What I’ve Learned About Starting a Blog

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From “Maybe Someday” to Published Blogger

Blogging was always something I vaguely knew about—but not something I truly understood. I thought of it as an online journal, mostly filled with thoughts on fashion, parenting, or cooking. I had no idea blogging could become a legitimate source of income or even a full-time career.

a screenshot of Pinterest analytics

The Spark Behind the Blog

If you’ve read my About Me page, you may have noticed one of my favorite quotes: “The things that excite you are not random. They are connected to your purpose. Follow them.” That quote has always resonated deeply with me. I’ve always loved words – it’s been a thread in my life since childhood. As a child, I loved journaling, crossword puzzles and games where you make as many words as possible from a single word. Even now, few things bring me more joy than walking through a vintage bookstore.

Still, I dismissed the idea of being a writer. Writing a whole book? Too intimidating.

Exploring Ideas (and a Few Dead Ends)

So in early 2024, I set a goal to develop a new income stream—one that I could truly enjoy and grow with. Something that might even allow me to leave the corporate world someday.

I explored options like book narration—which aligned with my love for reading. (I even spent weeks researching equipment and the ideal recording space for that path.) But then I stumbled across blogging.

To be honest, I was hesitant. I was open to trying something new, but wary of scams and oversold promises. I joined a few free webinars about affiliate marketing and high-ticket sales, but none of them felt quite right.

Something in me kept saying, “This isn’t it.”

Finding a Blogger I Could Trust

Eventually, I came across a blogger whose content felt real and down-to-earth. There are so many great bloggers out there, but something about her voice stood out to me. I signed up for her email list and later bought her book on how to launch a blog.

Now, just a little over a month since going live—and having hit my first 1,000 impressions—I wanted to share a few reflections. If I could go back and give myself advice at the start, here’s what I’d say:

1. Don’t wait too long to hit Publish—just go for it!

Once you’ve crossed all your T’s and dotted all your I’s with the technical setup, hit that publish button. There’s something powerful about seeing your blog live. It makes the dream feel real in a way that planning never could. In my case, it gave me a fresh wave of motivation to keep going. For the longest time, I built it up in my mind like it had to be this perfect, polished launch moment—but truthfully, no one even knew my blog existed yet! I wish I’d hit publish sooner and let that momentum carry me forward.

2. Take your time reading through the guide and don’t rush the setup.

I’m proud of how carefully I followed the guide I bought. Nothing was overly complicated, but the details matter-like installing the right plugins to prevent spam. I actually did a great job pacing myself, reading through every detail in the setup guide, and following it closely. Taking my time on the set up gave me peace of mind knowing the foundation of my blog is solid.

3. Write a bunch of content before launching the Pinterest business account.

Looking back, I wish I had taken more time upfront to write at least 20 blog posts before setting up my Pinterest business account. At the time, I was so excited to move things forward that I didn’t fully realize how much pressure it would create to keep posting daily once my Pinterest business account was live. (Pinterest rewards consistency.) If I’d written more ahead of time, I could’ve worked from a place of inspiration rather than urgency—especially while juggling parenting and a full-time job. I spent a little too much time questioning whether or not I had a strong niche. What I know now is that had I just written freely – my real passions would naturally emerge and help shape my blog’s direction.

4. Do a little keyword research before you get too deep into writing.

I also would’ve told myself to pause and do some Google searches around my niche before writing so much content. What are people actually looking for? What questions are they asking? I think having those insights early on would’ve helped me shape a few more blog posts that directly speak to future readers.

5. Create Pinterest templates before things get busy.

Creating Pins from scratch daily? Exhausting. If I could rewind, I’d spend time playing around in Canva and designing templates that reflect my brand and style. That way, daily posting wouldn’t feel so overwhelming. Now that I’m posting daily, I’m creating new pins from scratch each time, which takes up more time than I expected. If I had a handful of go-to templates ready, I could be so much more efficient—without sacrificing the personal style I care about.

6. Investing in myself was the right call.

When I found a blogger who felt real and trustworthy, I took a leap—and I’m so glad I did. Purchasing her course felt like a big move, but it was a calculated leap of faith (emphasis on calculated, lol). I actually bought her book over a year ago and spent a full year going through it at my own pace.

To be fair, I was pregnant for most of 2024 and welcomed a newborn, so I intentionally gave myself space to take it slow. And honestly? That was the right call. I kept the dream of blogging gently moving forward while also fully experiencing one of the most beautiful seasons of my life. It doesn’t always have to be a sprint—sometimes, steady is just right.

Looking Ahead

Reaching 1,000 impressions might be a small milestone to some, but for me, it’s a big deal. It’s proof that showing up, even imperfectly, matters. I’m learning as I go, following what lights me up, and trusting that with time, consistency, and heart, this blog will become something really meaningful.

If you’re standing where I stood just a few months ago—curious, uncertain, maybe a little overwhelmed—I hope this reflection reminds you that it’s okay to start small. Just start. You never know what those first 1,000 impressions might lead to.

One Last Thing

If you’re waiting for the perfect time to start your blog, here’s your sign: it doesn’t exist. Hit publish. Write messy posts. Let your blog grow alongside you. And if you’re anything like me, maybe one day you’ll look up from your keyboard, see 1,000 impressions staring back at you, and think, Wait a minute… is this actually working?

So here’s to steady growth, learning curves, and celebrating every milestone—especially the ones that come with late nights, sticky toddler hands, and lots of coffee. My next goal? 10,000 impressions… and a Canva board that doesn’t stress me out.

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