This week I am celebrating NINE full years of blogging. On Thursday August 26, 2004 I published my very first blog post - ever.
I searched and searched for the perfect photo to use in this post. I was after an older photo of me blogging to suit the topic, but I finally settled on this picture of my "blogging sidekick".
Slim is my Great Dane and my best friend. I adopted him from a local rescue organization 3 1/2 years ago. My life will never be the same. 😀
Many of you have "met" Slim through photos, videos, and even the occasional "disruption" like during the live Social Media Marketing session (lol).
In the same way, I feel like I've "met" many of you over the years. Some of you I've had the pleasure of meeting in person, some of you I've gotten to know very well "virtually" - and some of you I'm just now getting to meet!
Can You Really Make Money On The Internet?
People ask me that all the time. Yes, still. It makes me wonder what they think I'm doing for money (lol) since I haven't had a "real job" since 1996. In February of this year I celebrated 16 years in business. For more than 13 of those years I have been a single parent, raising my two children on my own (with my online income)...
And now, for 9 of those years I've been a Professional Blogger.
That kinda blows my mind if you want to know the truth about it. I honestly have no idea how nine full years went by. I was just blogging away and then boom I turned 40 and one kid had grown up and left home and I'm sitting here with a 16 year old in college. 😯 Time flies when you're blogging?? ...
And then there's Slim. I think he slept through most of it, lol.
He has his own couch right here in my home office, and one on the back deck too (my outdoor office). As you can see, he's usually dreaming about treats and kitties - when he's not giving (very loud) input on my live webinars. 😉
Yes, I added in the extra picture of Slim so you'll keep reading. Ha! (That's a blogging tip. Take note. lol)
Speaking of my "outdoor office" (aka my back deck) here's a picture of it that was taken a few years ago while my assistant was here for a visit:
A LOT of blog posts have been written from that spot. 😀
That's pretty much the whole "trick" right there (the key to online success). Just grab a laptop or sit down to a computer somewhere, and do the work. Period.
It seems to me that a lot of people really want it to be more complicated than that. Unfortunately it's not. And no fancy software or system or program is going to sit out on my back deck and do the work for you.
Nobody wants to hear that of course. I confessed once that I used to work 14 hours a day 7 days a week. Mind you I was broke with two young kids to feed and had no other source of income. Obviously I don't work those kind of hours anymore, and I'm no longer broke - and thank goodness, because those were some hard times! 😛
Life is good now. It's amazing what my online business, and blogging, have meant for my lifestyle. Just being able to work from home and raise my children was a huge benefit. But I've also traveled halfway around the world and back (five times), made friends all over the planet, ENJOY my work and enjoy plenty of "playtime" too, had the time and money to foster Great Danes in need... and gave my children a much nicer, more comfortable raising than I ever thought possible (as a single parent with no college education). Life is good indeed, and I am forever grateful to live in a time where technology affords me - all of us! - so much opportunity.
Granted I've had a rough year or so, as many of you already know - what with being hacked, getting sick, having surgery, yada yada yada. Honestly, as hard as it all was (and I'm still dealing with the financial aftermath), it was also a positive - or at least the beginning of a positive turning point in my life.
Those negatives forced me to take action on some things I'd let slide. They forced me to become proactive where I'd become complacent. And it was a serious lesson in humility. I'd tell you the whole story and all the details, except we'd be here all day! and I know you really want to know how to enter the drawing!
So let's get on with it already...
Random Drawing For A $50 Amazon Gift Card:
The random drawing will be taken from the comments below, and will be done on Wednesday September 4th at Noon Eastern. The winner will receive a $50 Amazon Gift Card - or - they can choose to receive the $50 prize directly via PayPal instead.
To be entered in the random drawing, you must leave a comment below that includes the answer to at least one of these questions:
- On which social network(s) did you like/share this post?
- How long have you known me, or been following ClickNewz?
- Name something you've learned from me... and implemented!
- For members of my Private Brainstorming Group, your favorite feature?
- What keeps you reading ClickNewz - what do you enjoy most?
Important: The $50 winner will be announced via email, and they'll have 48 hours to respond and claim the prize. If the initial winner does not respond, another drawing will be held to choose a runner-up, so be sure to keep an eye out for an email from me on Wednesday (Sept 4th).
If you haven't been receiving my emails lately, you may not be subscribed. Or perhaps you've changed email addresses. You can subscribe here (the confirmation page will open in a new window):
In closing, I want to say THANK YOU for reading ClickNewz. Thank you for sharing it with your friends and peers. Thank you for your clicks and likes and comments and questions and nice notes - and for being such a big part of what has made blogging SO rewarding for the last nine years! 😀
*cheers* & good luck!
Once you've left your comment below, what next?
Here are some options:
- Read: How To Become A Well-Paid Blogger
- Grab the Affiliate Survival Guide & Get started!
- Join my Private Brainstorming Group
- Share this post with your friends, groups & peers:
About Lynn Terry
Hey Lynn, I really don't know how long I've been following you, a few years now. I love that you are so down to earth, super smart and also have a no bullshit approach. You are a TRUE inspiration.
I not only follow your advice here on ClickNewz, but I love having personal chats with you on FB. As you know I raised Great Danes too, so I also follow Slim and just love him to pieces too.
I have a few online people that are on my bucket list to sit down and have a drink with---you're on top of that list. 😉
I've shared you on FB, G+ and Twitter.
All the best,
~Patti
I really enjoyeed reading your blog Lynn and I can't stop readding older posts. LOL Thanks for sharing.
Lynn, I have been a fan ever since I first heard about you in the early-mid 2000's.
I enjoy reading your posts because they're succinct, "real," and implementable. You put the info in a way that's helpful to all, no matter what one's level of experience. Happy Ninth! 🙂
Well. That's quite a challenge. It's also very smart marketing. I'll have to remember this.
I just checked my email folders, and I still have the Welcome message from you. It's dated September 6, 2010. I don't keep all of your messages, but I do keep a lot of them. They're too good to delete!
Next, I figured that most people would promote the text you provided to Twitter, so I put it on my Facebook page. I even wrote a nice note about it. (I have nearly 600 "friends." Not as many as some people; but I figured that the exposure would be better for you.)
And then the one thing I've learned from you is how to manage the advertising space on a blog.
You may remember me writing to you about an ad that I'd seen that I was sure you wouldn't have approved of. I seem to remember that you didn't know it was there, which suggested to me that you sold the space without knowing in advance what would go in it. (I could be wrong about that part of it.)
So what I learned was how important it was to protect your blog real estate, and to deny companies the privilege of advertising on your blog, because anything that was promoted needed to be consistent with the image that you want your readers/followers/subscribers to have of you.
I've even incorporated that tip into a new blogging business that will shortly be launched.
So, whether I win or not, it's a joy to know you, to be able to email you, and to learn from you as well.
I hope that we can meet in person some day.
Bruce
I've know Lynn for over 3 years and have learned so much about online marketing and businesses. I love the inspiration and positive outlook that Lynn projects. Congrats on this milestone.
Congrats Lynn on your success. Shared on Twitter!
Happy 9th Blogging birthday, Lynn!
Shared your link this morning on Facebook after seeing Dr. Mani's share. 🙂 Social media works!
I first met you at NAMS 5 - I'd heard of you before and was greatly inspired by your sincerity. Blogging consistently is a challenge for me.
You've taught me that setting the rhythm and following through with your reader's and building that relationship is key and so very important. You set the example and raise the standard. Thanks!
I keep coming back to ClickNewz because of your content - the value you bring to the table, your humor and the honesty with which you share the knowledge you have with those of us growing our businesses. You've been an encouragement to get out there and do the things I do and do them well.
Thanks again for the opportunity to share -
Terry
First congratulations with the anniversary.
It is good to see that consistency pays off.
Still, if it wasn't for your tweet, I would probably not have stopped by. Too many 'demands' for attention.
Anyway, keep it up, so you can celebrate a round anniversary in a year's time. Maybe you could build it up as a big event, with more draws, guest blogging, tips and advice on how to stay in a blogging business for so long.
Cheers
Asbjørn
Thank you for all the wonderful comments!! 😀 A winner has been drawn, and an email has been sent with the announcement. Be sure to check your inbox to see if you won! 😉
Congratulations on making it to nine years blogging - that is quite an accomplishment. I know I have a long way to go to make it to your milestone, but I hope to do that someday - I'll just have to find more things to talk about.
Congrats Lynn. Wish you the best for the next anniversary 🙂
I have been coming here and reading for many many years 🙂 I learn something new from every post so well worth the read 🙂
Thanks 🙂
Hey Lynn, congrats on your 9th Blogging successful year. Recently I started visiting your sight, but in this little span I've learnt a lot from here. Great dear............ Keep going!
Congrats Lynn on your success. 9 years is something!
Hi,
Congratzz on getting into your 9th year successfully. Wish you all he best and keep helping the new bloggers to sustain and make some money online.
Thank You. And Wish you all success 🙂