My 11 Years of Blogging

I have been blogging for almost 11 years. Yes, you read it right. Eleven years of blogging experience and I must say it was not easy. There were days I don't feel like writing anything. There were days I wanted to give up and just delete this blog. But at the end of the day, I still choose to continue sharing a part of my life.

With that let me just share the highlights of my 11 years of blogging experience.

Creating Blog

In 2009, I created a blog under the free platform, blogger.com. My intention was just to have an online journal, an outlet, where I can share my love for arts, crocheting, do it yourself stuff and the likes. But it was only in 2010 that I finally became active in blogging.

In 2012, I finally decided to buy my own domain. When I started connecting with fellow bloggers that time, I learned that having your own domain means more blogging opportunities. So I took the risk of buying my domain and that's www.momaye.com.

Changing Blog Niche

Like what I have said, I started actively blogging in 2010 when my first son was born. That year also, I changed blog niche from crafting to parenting. This blog has been my online journal as I share my experiences as a first time/working mom. But lately, I also post topics on home and living, home improvement, saving money tips and health tips.

Accepting Product Reviews

When I had my first born, I also started accepting product reviews of baby products and the likes. Brands will contact me and send products in exchange of blog posts. I also got a chance to attend blog events whenever time permits.

Now, the trend is joining campaigns as an influencer. Brands are launching thir products through influencers and sending samples or monetary equivalent in exchange of product reviews. You use the product, give your honest review and got paid for it.

However, brands prefer social media post or video share via Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. I see fewer blog review posts now that's why more bloggers shifted to be social media influencers.

Earning Money through Blogging

Honestly, I never thought I can earn money through blogging. I just want an online journal and that's it. But when brands started to contact me and also receive blog advertisement, I realize there's money in blogging.

Advertisement like Adsense ads, accepting paid post and link placement are just few ways to earn money through blogging. I also accepts writing jobs.

Content creatorship become one of fastest-growing type of business in the online world. Brands are partnering with creators, bloggers or vloggers to promote their brands. Social media platforms like Facebook and YouTube are getting monetized. As an influencer and creator, we must explore what are the right tools that can help us reach our full business potential.

Even though the hype is in social media content, I still believe blogging is here to stay. But as a creator, we must know how to go with the flow. Find ways to engage in social media platforms and reach more people. There are so much possibilities and ways to earn through blogging.

Let me know if you have questions. I am still not an expert but still you write it down your questions 👇

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How to Customize the Blogger Page Header

If you notice, my blog just had some template tweaking. I'm still learning the template HTML and CSS codes. But I will share to you some easy blog design tutorial so you can tweak your blog design too.

First in the row is how to customize the blogger page header.

This is the blog page header of my blog before customizing.

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On Finding Blog Inspirations

Yeah, as the title implied, I need some blog inspirations.

Lately, I found my self wanting to write but I cannot write a decent post. I tend to criticize my own writing and ended up with just deleting the whole draft. Sigh!

Actually, I have so much in my mind. The problem is I can not organize those ideas. Maybe I should start with writing a daily journal. This will help me recall important events in my daily life.

But I still need some inspirations. Sure I have my family, my little boy, to inspire to write. However, I know just writing about one topic might make you, my dear readers, get bored. So I made a little effort to search some ideas to get blog inspirations.

Keep a journal

As what I have already said, this will help us organize our ideas. Jotting down ideas will let you not forget about that. A little notebook that you can carry wherever you go is already a good one to start with.

Join blog events

This is what I really can not do at this time. Most blog events are being held at the metro and they often fall on week days. But joining events will definitely give you blog inspirations as you get to know other fellow bloggers, get socialize and bring home some freebies too that you can write about.

Join blog memes and linkys

Joining blog memes and linkys will not just give you blog inspiration. You'll be able to write about a topic and get links to other blogs as well. As you get to click the links of the participants, you do blog hopping and learn from each other. From there, you can surely get more ideas what to write about in the future.

Visit other blogs

Visiting other blogs will give you ideas what other bloggers write about. But I am not saying to copy what other bloggers write about. What you can do is read, and think if such topic will be of interest to your reader.

Visit social media accounts for trending topics

If you have Twitter or Facebook, search for the trending topic. And if you something in mind to write about that topic, then do write about it. 

Share your experience about a product

You can write about a product that you just tried, like a product review  A lot of people nowadays likes reading product reviews. They search the web for reviews before buying a product. Just make sure to write about the truth and nothing but the truth, haha.

Review your blog comments

Your readers might want a topic you can write about. Or suggestions you can use to improve your blog. Remember to look at the comments objectively. Don't be too sensitive okay?

Have a quiet time to think

During quiet time, you can think clearly and you can hear what you can not hear during ordinary time. This is also the best time to write on your journal.

Share your own experiences

You will agree that we can get blog inspiration from our own experience. As a mother, I like reading other mothers' experiences too. We may not have exactly the same experience but we will be able to learn from each others' experience right?

Finally, I have finished writing a helpful post. Kidding aside, I hope I am able to help you as I help my self find blog inspirations. Let's keep on writing and blogging. Don't worry too much about your grammar as long as you can express your self. And always remember to write from your heart and be your self. 

Do you know other ways to get blog inspirations?

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Join us at the BC Bloggers Community

Two years ago, I made a post about BC Bloggers. As a newbie in the blogging world then, I was in search of a community or a group that will help me develop my writing and communication skills. But the BC Bloggers community has given more than what I wanted.

Inspiration

I get so much inspiration from my fellow BC Bloggers. Reading through their shared stories, I get ideas and more knowledge both in writing and personal life. I am more inspired to write because I know BC Bloggers will read my posts.

Comfort and Personal Connection

I have joined many online groups but it's only at BC Bloggers that I found the comfort and personal connection. BC Bloggers is not just a community for building blog stats, it's a family.

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New Blog Design + Our Bestfriend's Valentine Wedding

Hi guys! Have you noticed my new blog design? Thinking you are on the wrong blog but no it's still Momaye's Diary.

Last Monday, I started to tweak my blog template. Then yesterday, I was able to create a new blog header with social media buttons. Want to know how to create a header with clickable social media buttons? Don't worry I'll post that one of these days. Sorry I know I have so many promises but I'll do my best to make a tutorial about that.

Blog header with clickable social media buttons

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Feeling Lazy Tuesday + A Yummy Discovery

Hello everyone! How's your week so far? Me, I cannot really overcome the weekend hangover. It's always bitin e, one day lang kasi. Yesterday, I almost not completed my weekly report. It seems that I'm already losing my focus on my work. There's something missing already, or I am just hoping I can quit this job soon. Praying to be a work at home mom soon, in time it will. Sorry that I always write about that wishful thinking of mine :)

And guess what, Tuesday na but I'm feeling lazy pa din. I'm listing down a to do list for a week but I don't know where to start. Oh yeah, talking about losing my focus again. Hehe... 

The truth is, I'm more excited with tweaking my blog template. Yesterday, I have read about 10 Things that shouldn’t be on your blog. That's why I go through my blog and put out all (well, almost) that are not necessary. I'm also interested with how to make a blog template from scratch but just looking at the xml and html codes, naloka na ako. Hehe... I always want to learn how to design a blog. That's one work I should do when I'm WAHMy already. Wish-a-wish-a-wish-a-wish-wish-wish!

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Making Your Own Logo

As you all know, I am the one who is designing my blog and I do tweak my template when I am at the mood. I tried to find ready make blogger template design but I can't find ready made template that really suits me. I mean, I can't seem to find one template design that already includes all the features I want.

That's why when I am in the mood and have time, I patiently rearrange and do my own header, background, etc. I have seen blogs with badge and logo so I was inspired to make my own. It was not easy as I need to create a logo that includes all the ideas in my mind about my blog. 

Upon searching for a free software that I can download to make my own logo, I stumble upon an online logo creator. I immediately registered and tried to make my own logo and I can say the software is user friendly. It has clear options unlike other photo editors I have tried. You can add symbol and text with many fonts to choose from. You have the options to save your project for future editing and/or download the finished logo. That easy!

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Blogging Tip: Remove captchas!

If you want to get more comments, then please remove the captchas/word verification. The words are getting harder to read and so the added blurred numbers. Right?

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How to Make Money through Blogging

As I have said before, we can actually earn money online. Many are earning money online more than what they used to earn from their regular job.

I create my blog for personal use only. But then through blog hopping, I have learned that I can make money online through blogging. To start a blog, it is very important to define your blog’s Niche or subject. Choose a subject that people are interested in and you know a lot about. Decide for your blog’s name. Make it simple, catchy and easy to spell.

After creating a blog, you need to blog on a daily routine. Connect with different bloggers, build network and fill up your blog rolls through link exchange. This will help you promote your blog and build rank to get more traffic.

Then, how to make money through blogging?

Advertising. This is the most common way your blog can earn money. You can either put a CPC or CPM Ad Networks in your post and side bars. Google Adsense is a CPC Ad that pays on a click basis. Google Adsense program basically allows you to select ads related with the content of your blog and pays you based on how many readers click on the ads. On the other hand, CPM Ad pays by the total number of impressions. You can use ContextWeb, Adify, Adbrite and the likes. You can also sell ad space directly to advertisers.

Sell Other’s Product.  Another way is through affiliate program. This enables your blog to be a sales agent. Your blog will serve as the medium between the readers and online sites like Amazon.com. By displaying their products, readers can click directly from your blog to Amazon to get more information about the product. If the reader buy and pay for that product, you get paid as well.

Accept Product Review. Mommy bloggers like me often accept products for review. Either you get paid for making a review or you get some good products. Many companies are reaching out with bloggers, especially mommy bloggers because most readers value what they are saying. In this case, always be careful in accepting product reviews. You need to really try and use the product for your own credibility.

Publish Paid Articles. You can also publish paid articles in your blog. There are blogging communities like BC Bloggers that you can join. They will help you connect with other bloggers and link with your blog. Link exchange will help you to build rank and to get more traffic for your blog. Advertisers are usually more interested with blog’s of higher page rank.

Online Selling. You can actually use your blog to sell your own products. Although some online seller still use other social networks to promote their blog.

Join Blog Giveaways. Since you develop network blog connections, you can join different blog giveaways. Actually, most blogs are giving away cash usually through Paypal, to promote their blogs. Joining is just easy and sometimes they require you to have a Facebook, Google+ and Twitter accounts to complete tasks.

I am a working mom and I really aim to have a home based work so I could stay at home. The possibility of making money through blogging is really great. But again, it cannot be done overnight. You need patience, knowledge and continuous exploration of the different possibilities and ways to earn money online.

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How To Start a Blog

A question that a new blogger often has is “how to start a blog”. “Blog” comes from the word web-log, which is a web-based journal and everyone’s home on the World Wide Web in which you can publish your thoughts and opinions. Most blogs are being used for advertising, online diaries, soap boxes, journalistic ventures or internet scrapbooks. Anyone can start a blog and you can have one for free. But remember if your intention is to make money through blogging, you need to buy your own domain because free blog can be deleted anytime and that blogging services incorporated their host name in the URL address (i.e. http://momayes.blogspot.com).

I have here 5 easy steps on how to start a blog using Blogger.com.

Step 1. Identify your Niche and Name your Blog

Define the theme or subject area of your blog before creating one. Take into consideration your audience and what is your main interest like a hobby or your work. You may want it to be your personal journal or diary. After determining your subject, decide for your blog’s name. You can name your blog after your theme or subject or your own name. There is actually no limit on what your blog’s name or URL address can be. Just make it simple and easy to spell, memorable, and free of hyphens.

Step 2. Create your blog.

Ø  Go to Blogger.com

Ø  If you already have a Google Account, sign in to Blogger using your email address and password. If you do not have a Google Account, click the “Create Your Blog Now” button to get started.

Ø  You will then be directed to a screen that requests you to create an account. You will be required to enter your pre-existing email address, choose a password, choose the name that will be displayed when you publish a blog post and then accept the Blogger’s terms of use.

Ø  You will next be asked to name your blog and pick your blog’s URL address.

Ø  Then you will be directed to a screen that lets you choose a template design for your blog. Blogger has pre-made templates and push buttons that do not require technical expertise. You can select one template and have it personalized by choosing your own color scheme and layout. You may also add free blogging gadgets like buttons, images, videos, message board, etc.

Ø  After choosing your own template, you may start posting.

Step 3. Make your Blog Private or Public?

Decide whether you want any internet visitor to view your bog or just your friends and family. Blogger can help you to make your blog discreet by making only those who you approve of can view what you have posted.

Step 4. Write a Post

To test your blog and to make necessary adjustments on its layout, write few posts. Remember that you can change your template and adjust it to your desire. Maybe at first you may find it hard to figure out what to write about, but when you get into a routine of daily blogging, you will get addicted to it and ideas just keep on coming. You may write about your daily life, your work, your opinion, events, the news, and anything under the sun that interests you.

Step 5. Visit other blogs and forums

Aside from writing posts, you need to visit other blogs to build a blogging circle. Leave a comment in the posts you are interested with and add your URL address so they can visit you back. This will only work when you make your blog public.

How to start a blog is just easy. But you need to make your posts interesting to gain more readers and also make it a daily routine blogging. You may also personalize and customize your blog template and make your own header. Always check your spelling and grammar. You may not be a very good writer, but always write from your heart and be yourself always.

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