Happy Birthday LouLouLand - What 9 Years Of Blogging Teaches You

It might be missing a candle or 9 but you can't celebrate a birthday without a cake. It isn't my birthday though it's my blogs. On the 12th February 2007, LouLouLand was born. I published my first post on this little old blog of mine and 9 years later I'm still here.

There have been a lot of changes over the years, but I think that my blog has stood the test of time. It's changed with me but at it's core it's still the same and still my place to escape and explore some of the things that I love.

It hasn't always been a bed of roses though and  I've fallen in and out of love with blogging more than once over the years but at the moment I'm enjoying the opportunities and challenges that it brings and I think I've finally found my niche.

Nowadays blogging seems to be all about statistics, followers, events, and press packs, it's a far cry from those early days when there was no such thing as Google Friend Connect, and SEO. We've come a long, long way since then, and it's amazing that the internet has changed so much and given bloggers, You Tubers, and armchair journalists so many amazing opportunities and so much recognition, but for some us maybe it's only increased the pressure

I am eternally grateful for all the opportunities that blogging has brought me but sometimes I wonder if some of us are losing the love.  It's great to have lots of followers, fab to receive press samples, and amazing to get invited to events but it shouldn't be the bee all and end all. It's great to have blogging aims and ambitions but please, please enjoy what you do, enjoy writing, enjoy taking photographs, and don't be disheartened if the numbers don't climb and the invites don't rush in.

I've spent a huge part of the last couple of years comparing myself to other people, obsessing over my follower count, and contemplating why I haven't been invited to certain blog events but I need to build a bridge and get over it. If you love what you do why should somebody elses approval matter. I might not have as a many followers are some other bloggers who've been around for as long as I have but I love and appreciate the ones that I do have. Yes an invite, some press samples, or a new follower can make you feel better about your blog but when things don't go the way you hoped, don't let it get you down x

It's taken 9 years but at last I'm starting to feel comfortable in my online home, yes I might feel the pressure and have spells of negativity, and self doubt but that's me. So many blogs have been and gone in those 9 years but if there was an award for longevity you never know,  I might win it. I'm still here writing rambly posts, and struggling with bad light, and I'm determined to still be around this time next year to celebrate the big 10. Thanks to all of you for being there and don't forget to enter my 9th anniversary giveaway x