I was first introduced to blogging in 2003 and immediately knew I wanted to blog about my passion, which at the time was fashion.

I began my blogging journey on the blogging platform, blogspot. On the advice of a good friend I purchased the domain name, bought hosting, and moved over to Moveable Type, then to WordPress and the rest as they say is history.

Blogging became my world.

I was constantly on the hunt for content ideas. A comment left on a blog post would fill me with unbelievable excitement and much-needed confidence to press on.

After long days at work, I’d spend my evenings writing and it was through my much-loved blog that I was able to fulfill my dream at the time of going to Fashion Week.

Requesting tickets for both London and New York Fashion Week back then was beyond stressful. No one knew what the hell a blog was.

But, with each year that passed, blogging became more and more popular.

I connected with some fantastic fellow fashion bloggers and by 2008 decided to take a leap of faith and go full-time as a professional blogger.

Now, I can’t imagine what my life would look like without blogging and I will forever be eternally grateful for the opportunities that have come my way from it.

But, I’d be lying if I didn’t also add that blogging has been unbelievably tough.

So for anyone reading this who’s thinking of starting a blog, I want to share some of the most important lessons I’ve learned over the years from both the highs and the lows.

1. Professional blogging is a business

There’s no barrier to entry to becoming a blogger. As a result, the profession is unfairly looked down upon. But pro-bloggers work damn hard.

Days consist of long hours researching, writing, editing, seeking partnership opportunities as well as marketing.

So, firstly, don’t let anyone make you feel guilty for wanting to earn a living from your blog. It’s a business. You work hard and deserve to be compensated.

And secondly, I can’t stress how important it is to actually treat your blog like a business from the start, as opposed to a hobby.

Understand how to manage your cash flow, diversify your income streams and get to grips with SEO and internet marketing.

2. Never compare

Income-wise, some months might be very slow and you may find yourself unable to meet financial obligations.

During times like this being a blogger can be depressing and anxiety-inducing, which isn’t a great state to be in when you desperately need your creative juices to flow.

Often, it’s at times like this when negativity finds various ways of making you feel like a failure which inevitably results in the comparison game.

Resist the temptation of comparing yourself to other bloggers.

It’s a waste of energy. Instead, remember why you started blogging, rekindle the love you first had for it, push through and focus on ways to improve your skills as a blogger.

3. Blogger burnout is real

It’s very real and it can last for a day or months. It’s often left me in floods of tears and if not dealt with, it can drain you completely.

Don’t ignore blogger burnout. Acknowledge it, reduce your workload as much as possible and engage in a form of self-care that works for you.

For me, this means resting my mind and recharging my batteries with as much sleep as possible as well as staying off the internet for a weekend.

Blogger burnout can also sometimes be an indication that you’re taking on more than you can manage. Re-evaluate your schedule and find ways to work smarter as opposed to harder.

4. Stay true to yourself

When my blog started to gain press coverage, many encouraged me to grow it in a direction that in hindsight just didn’t work for me.

I was swept up in how I ‘should’ take my blog to the next level based on other people’s expectations rather than focusing on how I ‘wanted’ to move forward based on my aspirations.

There was a period of time when I had no time to actually ‘write’ and all my attention was dedicated to the business side of things which left me feeling so empty. I missed writing and I was miserable.

Unfortunate circumstances forced me to reassess my priorities and eliminate unnecessary pressures. But, I’m so much happier for it.

Another example – there was a time when as a fashion blogger you could remain relatively anonymous. This suited me perfectly as I’m an introvert.

Nowadays, however, fashion bloggers are required to overshare on Instagram etc. Admittedly that’s difficult for me. I’m waaay to shy to share my “outfit of the day” or vlog my day-to-day life.

And whilst I wholeheartedly recommend venturing out of your comfort zone, I would also say, to share only what you’re comfortable with.

Avoid doing anything or journeying down a path that isn’t true to who you are.

5. Enjoy it 

And finally, have fun. Embrace the ups and the downs. Learn from every mistake and success. Never give up.

Keep going, even when you’re convinced no one is reading your blog. Trust me, they are, and more will. So continue on and enjoy every little bit of the adventure!