09 Apr THT-10 Years of Blogging!- What Has Changed?

Hello friends,

It is hard to believe that I have been blogging for 10 years! What has changed in the blogosphere? I’m here to discuss that today.

OK. First of all, there is me 10 years later 🙂

Me in 2014 when I started the blog (We did get better at lighting as time went on)

Me now in 2024.

10 Years of blogging!

2014 Peaches and Cream Post

Pastel Pants post

2024

It really is hard to believe it has been this long I have been writing. I used to wonder and think, “What would I have to say?” “Would I run out of topics?” Well, time has proven that I haven’t. My mom would tell you that I never run out of things to say!

I initially started the blog when I was dealing with lying in bed and painful symptoms from my Ehlers Danlos Syndrome. I wanted something to be a distraction from pain I was having and was thinking of something I could do besides watching television. (that I could do in bed at the time) I love fashion, and always have. I don’t remember wearing jeans in high school, but rather ordering from the Spiegel Catalogue for dresses. I also coveted this floral kimono type piece of my moms and would wear that to school.  In college, I can remember this plaid Jackie O kind of suit (collarless jacket and mini skirt), so I guess I never went with “the norm”. Although, I did go through my “Flashdance phase” of wearing the off the shoulder top sweatshirt top and shorts, as a late teenager.

When I started blogging, I could only wear flats or supportive sandals, as there was no way I could wear a heel, because of my illness. So, if you were to look back, or at this photo, in the 2014 blog posts, that is what I wore. Flash forward to today, and I am able to wear heels. I don’t walk around all day in them but will certainly wear them when we go out.

In 2014, blogging was THE thing! There were so many blogs, but less Over 40 blogs. The engagement and views were flourishing, and there was interacting amongst bloggers, as we visited each other’s blogs. So many blogs to visit.

At that time, Linkups were THE thing! A linkup is when you would post links to your blog post which was a method of meeting other bloggers, getting your blog’s recognition, and following others. When I started my Turning Heads Tuesday linkup, 7 years ago, there would be around 170 links from many different bloggers. Fast forward to today, and linkups have gone by the wayside, as there are much less linkups than there used to be. There are not as many people visiting blogs on the linkups and around 50 links today. I struggle with knowing whether I should continue my linkup or not, as the interest seems to be waning, as there is only so much one can do!

I personally, still enjoy writing and the long form of the blog but would love more comments or interaction on my blog. The engagement has been transfered to Instagram, where I have people regularly commenting on posts and video.

Another aspect that has changed, you can see, we finally got the lighting right, and a better camera, which makes a difference. What hasn’t changed is my hubby is still my photographer! He is so supportive! Finding the right light, learning how to process photos hasn’t changed that much as I used Lightroom, but am more skilled at it now.

I think blogs have become more about sales as well. We all do sponsored posts or gifted posts, but they were less than they are now.

Still pictures are the media for blogs, and yet others want to see video, hence IG and You Tube.

Enter…

Instagram

What has happened to blogs? Well, they are still out there, and some of the people I follow are still blogging, but not as frequently. Instagram changed the field and was not quite as popular in 2014 as it is now. Many bloggers find it hard to keep up with both, especially if you are working a full-time job, so something has to go by the wayside.

More focus becomes on monetizing Instagram, so much of the focus has become the blogger to use and be active on Instagram, and post to the blog when they can. I have been very consistent in both the blog over the years, with at least 8 years posting 3 days a week. These days, I do try and post at least 2 days a week, others 3.

It is almost a requirement to have an Instagram account if you are blogging. More of a way of interacting with brands, getting paid sponsorships, and meeting other like-minded fashionistas. It is a time-suck, though I will tell you!

Instagram has now become the way to meet other ladies that you can connect with who love fashion, over 40+ lifestyle, and health. I do enjoy it, but when it feels too cumbersome, I step back and away from it. I do not post on the weekend to my blog or my IG account, as that is “me” and family time.

IG has almost become the “new blog”. What used to differentiate is that blogs would be long-form, IG would be short-form with a caption, a few sentences and hashtags. Now, blogging and Instagram are both taking on the long form, with some IG posts as long as a blog post would be.

My Style

When I began blogging in 2014, I was into more of a vintage look, with clothe hats, pencil dresses, lots of florals and other retro styles.  Flash forward to today, and I still love wearing brooches, but have more of a classic modern style I am loving. Trench coats, trousers, feminine and classic dresses, as well as structured looks appeal to me. I have leaned to more timeless style. I wouldn’t say that is the only style, however, as i still love a bold floral, and am and will always be a dress girl.

Wrap It Up

Of course I could go on, but then this would be a dissertation, so I will wrap it up by saying, blogs are still here, just the landscape has changed quite a bit. More monetizing and sales have made way for Instagram, and there are not as many blogging posts and link-ups of 10 years ago.

So, although blogs are not obsolete, they are still less popular with some, as they prefer the interaction of Instagram. I love the style of blogs and will continue to enjoy visiting them. Now, they are Over 50+!

I’d love to hear your thoughts on how you think blogging has changed over the years? If you have been blogging 10 years or more, what changes have you noticed?

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