Today . . . I am thinking about the one year anniversary of my blog. I can't believe it's already been a year! Why it seems like just yesterday when I was wondering how I would ever have enough to write about for a year, yet alone do it every week, four times a week.
Earlier this month, Kevin Reid, VP of Internet & Social Media at Amplify Public Affairs, posted an interview about my blog and blogging on Amplify's blog Blogger Relations.
Being that this is my one year anniversary, I thought you might life to read about how I got started blogging, and what things I would do differently, if I knew what I know now.
How did you get involved in blogging?
I first became a blogger 18 months ago when I signed-up for Andy Wibbel's "Write Your Book in 45 Days" teleseminar. It was one of those marathon writing seminars where a bunch of crazed writers come to the surface for weekly support and inspiration calls, and then go back under again to write in isolation. Along with these weekly lifeline calls, the other opportunity Andy created for our class was our very own writer’s blog space.
Here, after too many days spent staring glassy-eyed at my computer screen and from an impoverished place of writer’s isolation, I wrote my very first post. Driven from the abject need to connect, and with absolutely no prior instruction and a great amount of timidity, I wrote "Alkamae" in the name box and in the body of the post, something subtle like, "Help! Anyone out there?" And with that . . . my blogging career was born!
It looks like February is the one year anniversary of your blog. Has your blog met your expectations?
Because I had shunned blogging in the past, and never considered how a blog or blogging could be beneficial to my book, my business, or me; I don’t think I had any expectations about my blog.
In fact, I probably wouldn’t have set-up a business blog and begun
blogging in earnest if it hadn’t been for Yvonne DiVita at WME Books.
When I signed on with them to publish my book, one of the conditions of
their contract was that I must have a blog, and that they would help me
set one up and train me how to blog, correctly.
Yvonne is a very savvy blogger. Because of her, I got off to a very strong blogging start. Couple that with some reading I’ve done on my own and the example of other great bloggers, I now have expectations for my blog that are being met.
If you had to start your blog over again, what would you do differently?
First off, I’d design another banner. The banner I have now reflected where I was a year ago. It resonated with me then. If I had to do it over again, I’d design a banner that reflected my most forward thinking vision.
Secondly, I’d be more aggressive in how I reached out to others. I would be more deliberate in finding ways to build community by helping to promote and support others. I’d do more interviews, host more guest bloggers, do more promotional give-aways, and be more entertaining and less serious in my approach (much of which I have already begun doing).
Lastly, I would have spent more time on other people’s sites, seeing what worked and didn’t work, before I started my own blog.
You have just published a book. What role did your blog play in its development? Do the two work together?
Blogging is one of the most strategic things I have done for my book and ranks up there with one of the most powerfully expressive things I’ve ever done for myself. As I was writing my book, I’d post excerpts from my book on my blog to see what kind of response I would get. Often, reader’s comments were just the thing I needed to clarify, modify, and in some cases, jettison that part of my book.
I used my blog categories to collect my thoughts about the three main sections of my book: dealing with change, Accidental Pren-her journey, and discovering your Inner Samurai. These categories were then transferred, in whole or in part, to sub-headings in chapters. My blog posts and my writing muse worked as a team to produce my book.
Currently, the Virtual Book Tour that I am on is a further expansion of my year of blogging. Because I had been writing about my book in my blog for nearly a year before it was published, my book and its content were already "out there" in the blogosphere, being noticed and commented upon by others and picked up by search engines. Because of my blogging, my book had begun its own publicity long before it came out in print.
How do you see blogging evolving? What’s the next big thing?
Midlife entrepreneur blogging. With more than four million men and women turning 50 each year in the U.S., and nearly half the country's self-employed workers (7.4 million) 50 years and older, I expect to see a rise in midlife entrepreneur blogging.
Entrepreneurship among mid-lifers is growing as the Baby Boomer
generation redefines retirement. 
Instead of following the conventional
traditions of retiring at 65, mid-lifers are eschewing those
conventions in favor of either starting up or staying involved with
their business, continuing to contribute to society, and following
their passion. Keep a sharp weather eye out for midlife entrepreneur
bloggers — they will delight and surprise us all.
Thank you, everyone, who has read my blog this year, commented, tracked
back, and furthered it along. We are on this journey together.
In gratitude and appreciation, from my heart to yours,
I am,
Happy Birthday!! What a great idea to celebrate your achievement. Thanks so much for modeling and sharing what you've learned about blogging. It's been a joy to watch your growth this year. Here's to another successful adventure next year!
Posted by: Carol McClelland of Green Career Central | February 13, 2008 at 07:18 AM
Hi Susan, your blog is lovely and your book is wonderful. I wish your blog ... happy birthday.
I found it very interesting that one of Yvonne's / WME Books' conditions to publishing your book was that you have a blog. I know Yvonne has had great success with blogging, but that's an interesting tidbit that she considers it such an integral part of the publishing strategy that it's a must-have.
Take care, and we look forward to lots more from you! (And from your one-year old blog.)
Best,
Anita
Posted by: Anita Campbell | February 13, 2008 at 07:36 AM
Thank you Carol! And continued success to you and your newest business, Green Career Central!
Posted by: The Original Accidental Pren-her | February 13, 2008 at 07:36 AM
Congratulations! But if I remember correctly, you also have one coming up soon! Oh, to be 29 again! You look fabulous!
Posted by: Eric | February 13, 2008 at 07:38 AM
Thank you Anita! Indeed, having a blog is a "must have" over at WME Books. Yvonne did a fabulous job at opening my eyes to how blogging can be of benefit to my book and business. Of course you know that, over at Small Business Trends!
Posted by: The Original Accidental Pren-her | February 13, 2008 at 07:47 AM
Hi, Susan,
Happy birthday to your blog! Enjoy marking this milestone!
Posted by: Mary Ellen Whitaker of voiceofclarity.com | February 13, 2008 at 07:59 AM
Happy Bday Alkamae!
My blog will be 6 mo. old on Monday and I'm already planning my celebratory post.
Blogs are such a thing to be proud of because they represent so much effort. A book does that too, but blogs are great because they're constantly being added to, and readers can interact on the blog.
Posted by: Stamford Talk | February 13, 2008 at 08:04 AM
Well . . . Happy Birthday to you, Samford Talk! Congratulations on your upcoming celebration. Blogs are a wonderful way to build community and interact.
Posted by: The Original Accidental Pren-her | February 13, 2008 at 08:14 AM
Happy Birthday to You!
Happy Birthday to You!
Happy Birthday, Dear Alkamae Blog!
Happy Birthday to You!
Posted by: Claudia | February 13, 2008 at 08:29 AM
Happy Birthday! Congratulations on keeping your blog going strong.
Posted by: Amanda | February 13, 2008 at 08:57 AM