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Dear Daisy, It is your first day at school...

Why do I blog?

When I first started to blog it was to document my pregnancy, for those that haven't followed from the start I had a bit of a bumpy pregnancy. Very sick (HG type sick) and in the early days I found it really difficult and so wanted to share my journey, more so for myself as a bit of a diary. I never thought people would actually read it and to be honest at the start I wasn't going to even share it with people. Why would anyone else want to read it anyway?



I started to share more and more as the weeks went on and the messages I had from you all made me do it even more, I couldn't believe anyone was actually reading it never mind commenting!

 It was nice that people were enjoying it and that was giving me encouragement to keep writing. A few weeks in to blogging I had some upsetting news during my pregnancy (read here) and really wanted to talk about it. It took me until I actually had my baby to open up about it and even then it was quite a few weeks or months in to her tiny life that I got brave enough. I just couldn't find the words to write it down. But once I had there was a feeling of relief that I had shared it but also I was bringing awareness to others, which can only be positive. So I guess writing can be therapeutic as well as education to others too!

So I blog for emotional reasons a bit like a diary to look back on I guess. And the more I've written the more I've enjoyed it and so I've continued. I have people ask me quite often about my blog, how they read it quite often etc but also how can they do it? 

Blogging isn't easy (or I don't find it easy anyway) as it takes time and a hell of a lot of patience!! However it is a good thing to try and attempt!

As a new mum I fit it in around Daisy and now sadly work too. It takes time to set up (especially if you aren't in to web coding and design!!), to faff and make it look good, to keep evolving it to keep it fresh, to write decent content and not just throw out posts for the sake of it, to take nice photos and edit them, to spend time testing products out properly and think about how to convey a brand, how to share the blog, social media, networking with the blogging community but also brands, continuous communication with both, the list goes on!!

If you want to do it properly you have to be able to give time to these things. But you don't have to do it all, its your little place in the internet and you do it exactly how you want to and make it what you want to make it.

I say properly lightly as you don't have to put pressure on yourself to do all of those things, but if you want to be able to work with brands and PR agencies then those things are hard work and don't come easy.



Personally I try to do what I want to do, I don't put pressure on myself and my aim isn't to make my blog solely a business. It's a hobby with benefits if I put the work in. The benefits for me are the fab comments I get from all over the place, the connections I have made with other bloggers and sometimes the nice products I get to try out if I put the work in.

I am picky with reviews because of that reason, I like to do a good job and a decent post can take anything up to a month to get right. I like to do it honestly too so will ensure I've researched and used it to give my true opinion. I haven't talked much about this part of blogging as to me it isn't important, it's just a side line that I do from time to time where I can use my marketing background if I choose to.

Bit of a rambley post today but something a little different :)

Lots of love,
Hayley xxx

I own copyright to all photographs 

14 comments

  1. Great post. It's really good to remind yourself of the reasons why you blog. Sometimes you can get wrapped up in the whole thing and lose sight of what's important. Sounds like your feet are firmly on the ground and you know exactly what you want to achieve. Great post and I'm sure a lot of people will relate.

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    1. Thank you! I think we all need a reminder sometimes! Xxx

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  2. This!! Yes! Exactly why people should be blogging. I have an emotional attachment to be mine and would be completely gutted if I ever lost it because it is a giant diary/scrap book of the past 3+ years of my life!

    Happy New Year to you and your wonderful family Hayley!

    xo

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    1. I keep wondering if there is a way we can print them?! I'm not sure there's an way way though. I've only done a year but I quite often go back to start and read back. Xxx

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    2. Lovely post I blog to make memories too so would ove to print all my posts - I'm planning on making a hardback book (a bit like the photo box photo albums) on e I work out the best way to format the pages for printing xx

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    3. That's a lovely idea! Let me know if you find a way! Xx

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  3. It's good to remember why you started. I think lots of blogs lose sight of why they started and why they first wanted to do it. You are so right and I think you get out what you put in and I think you are very wise to only review suitable bits and things that are most suitable. I love your blog and I think for me it's just a space to write about Amelia's life and what we get up to and personal things if I feel i want to share. Lovely post, looking forward to keeping up with you guys in this next year!!:)

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    1. Ahhh thank you, I love yours too :) it's a lovely way of documenting them isn't it xxx

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  4. Great post. I think we all blog for different reasons. I hope to be able to share my blog with my girls when they're older, it is a great record of their adventures.x

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    1. I'd love to show her too- hopefully we won't have embarrassed them too much!! Xx

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  5. I agree, blogging is a hobby for me too - it is quite addictive though Isn't it!

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    1. It really is! Sometimes I wish I could do more with it but for now with work and my family I just have to be realistic! Xx

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