To start it off, the biggest low I experienced the first month blogging was when my whole website crashed losing hours upon hours of work. What was the solution? To completely delete Wordpress and have my hosting site go in and reset the website, that's how badly I glitched.
Initially, the feeling of rage of having lost my work consumed me. I lost plugin settings, content, photographs, and my time - I wanted to throw in the towel but then, this mammoth collapse of my work turned into an opportunity, I was able to start fresh and make this website even greater.
Aster's Book Hour had yet to launch and I am grateful now and only now, that I had to start from scratch again. I adore the current layout of my website. No, of course its not perfect but compared to the original layout that was clunky and hard to maneuver, this layout is bright, colourful, and welcoming. It is a user friendly place that welcomes anyone and is exactly what I wanted for my first design. The crash enabled me to optimise and rebirth a site that wasn't even born. I doubt anyone is reading this now either as Aster's Book Hour is only a small sapling in the world of mammoth blogs and that is okay.
The purpose of this post is to reflect upon it in three years when I have a successful and potentially mammoth size (or at least tiger size) blog to remind myself that my hard work was rewarded and that my site crashing was not for nothing. It is also for you, the reader, to recognise that for many blogs, "the got over 30000 viewers after my first month blogging," trope is not common especially for blogs that aren't lifestyle based. So whether or not you are starting a lifestyle blog, just beginning a book blog like me, or are dipping your toes into the blogging sphere - welcome!
I am sharing my highs and lows of my first month blogging to assure others and myself that this is a journey we are on together. Blogging is difficult so lets power through and hope that in six months time, the highs and lows are completely different.
Disclaimer: The purpose of this post is to share Aster's Book Hour's experience blogging and in no way guarantees similar results or highs and lows. If you are looking to achieve similar or after reading this, vastly different results than ABH, please consult a professional.
High - Creating Original Content
I am creating original content. The content in Aster's Book Hour, apart from select photographs and novel covers, is my work and that is insanity. I put hours of work into each post even if it is only a review post. I read the novel, contemplate the novel, write the review, create Pinterest images, create Aster's Book Hour images, promote the posts, review constantly, edit, write again, and more - the cycle continues with each post.
At certain points, this continuous content creating can feel like a low. Running a blog is hard but at least I know what I am creating is mine and because of that, that is why the content is a major high of the blog.
One of my favourite things to create for Aster's Book Hour are the featured images. It is enticing to devise a featured image based off a novel's cover. It's quite simple but the act of creating them brings me joy. Content creating is not always joyous but there are many moments of joy. That is a high I have found my first month of blogging and that is great.
Low - The Website Crash
Can it be reiterated that my website exploded? It was a true crash because NOTHING was recoverable, it genuinely mimicked a bomb going off but within the confines of my computer. Hands down, this was the lowest low for me. I almost gave up.
I had limited content on the site when it crashed but I had all the settings fixed for optimisation and designed the website which in itself, took a solid few days to complete. I can recreate content, not willingly or as decent as it was the first time, but having to rewatch tutorials on how to set up a plugin or make my website a certain colour - it was exhausting. It was a low low.
My website is still using the backup plugin that was the cause of the crash except this time, I watched tutorials on how to reset a website with the same plugin that crashed my website (risky I know) to ensure that no user error can ever occur again. I have determined that should this ever happen again, I will hire someone to resolve the issue and once I can afford it will be purchasing/subscribing to a more user proof and safe backup plugin.
My lowest low is a great warning to others - BE CAREFUL! Do not randomly back up anything without understanding a plugin and make sure to always have backups of your content. Common sense of course but never hurts be reminded of it.
High - Becoming A Functional Web Designer
Designing Aster's Book Hour has made me a web designer; a toddler web designer that paid website designers would give a lollipop and pat on the head for a job well done before taking over but a web designer none-the-less. I am comfortable in my knowledge I will never be a professional web designer but that is okay. I have obtained knowledge and learnt the bare minimum on how to create a website, efficiently use Wordpress, and how to maximise the internal workings of a website to my benefit.
As a newcomer, you have to opportunity to become a web designer too and that is awesome. It may spark something in you and change your life. I am totally comfortable not knowing the inner workings and being a master because sometimes a jack of all trades but a master of none is better and obtaining these skills is something I am extremely proud of. I know a bit more about technology than I did before Aster's Book Hour.
This is a proud feeling and a great high I experienced my first month and still experience blogging. I am certain this high will never cease because I never plan to stop learning.
Low - Having To Become A Web Designer
On the flip side, becoming a barely functional web designer came from hours upon hours upon tears upon hours of watching tutorials and reading how-to's. I have dedicated much of my time to learning how to create a website successfully.
This is a low - blogging and blogging informed is a commitment of time and energy. Be prepared for this. I still am learning how to maximise my time and create blogging content efficiently.
High - I Determine The Vibe
Low - Viewership is Destitute
Aster's Book Hour receives 2 - 5 views daily, sometimes zero. It is going to take a while to build up a loyal audience, as in 1 - 3 years from a month ago. That's 3 years without any potential ROI or profit. Aster's Book Hour lays within the book blogging niche and growth within here will take longer than other niches and I have to accept that. Picking a niche is important but knowing its potential matters too.
Also, Pinterest is rough. I am working on expanding my viewership through Pinterest and currently only Pinterest. Once I feel more comfortable, I will expand to other social areas but for now - hello Pinterest, goodbye other social media's.
This is going to be a long-term and frustrating low that I was prepared for coming in. Doesn't make it any less disheartening but it is what it is.
High - There Is Room For Growth
Because of the long-term viewership slow-growth situation, there is much much potential for growth. This is my first full month blogging and it is time for Aster's Book hour to unfurl its leaves and grow. Plus, I've got many books to read and that is a major high.
There have been highs and lows throughout my first, okay if I am honest before launching I worked on this for two months, so let's round up to three, three months of blogging. What I have taken away from this initial launch stage is that blogging is hard work and successful websites are created via hours upon hours of work. It is up to me to provide that labour, to put in the effort and create something wonderful.
It is time to do so. Join me on this journey as I develop Aster's book Hour into all it's meant to me and I wish all those luck in creating and running their websites. Just know, there will be highs and lows and it's up to you to figure out if blogging is worth it. I think it is.
