3 Things I Wish I Knew When I First Started Blogging

This November marks 8 years since I first started Kayla in the City. SAY WHAT!?

I joke that it’s the longest job I’ve ever held… but actually, that’s true! I never ever would have imagined when I hit “PUBLISH” on my first post as a senior in college that KITC would still be such a big part of my life. I’ve said this here before, but starting this blog truly changed my life. For starters, it introduced me to some of my closest friends. Starting this blog also totally changed my career path. I am so so so happy I decided to press publish all those years ago.

There is SO much I wish I knew back then about blogging… and really about launching your own business which I accidentally did.

Here is the advice I wish I could get to myself when I was just getting started with blogging:

What I Wish I Knew When I First Started Blogging

If it’s not a hell yes, then it’s a no.

I said yes to everything when I first started blogging. Random protein powder? Omg, send my way! Free fitness class 40 minutes away on the subway? Sure!

While I’m grateful for every single opportunity that has been thrown my way and that anyone is willing to give me free stuff, I wish earlier on I would’ve been pickier about what I said yes to. There were many times in the early days that I resented blog posts I had to write — maybe I didn’t love a fitness class I took or have anything particularly interesting to say about that protein powder because it’s protein powder and it tastes vanilla-y.

Just like any life commitment if it’s not a hell yes, it’s a no. And this is a rule I still stick to when it comes to saying yes to blog + Instagram partnerships.

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Even a small blogger has value.

It took me years before I started charging for sponsored posts. I thought I was too small and it was rude to ask anything. Now I’m a believer that all bloggers — no matter their size — offer value to brands and companies and deserve to be compensated for their work. There is a lot of misconception about how much work really goes into every sponsored blog post and Instagram post you see. It’s the hours of emailing back and forth about contracts. The time spent to shoot the campaign, edit photos, and potentially reshoot if necessary. Time spent writing the content and making sure to hit all the major points the brand wants you to hit. The additional hours emailing back and forth about content edits

As a blogger I only get paid if I do sponsored work, that’s the nature of the beast for me. If I added up all the hours I spend on any given week during things for the blog + Kayla in the City I’d be getting paid… uh, mere pennies an hour TBH.

My biggest regret is that I didn’t start charging for sponsored posts sooner. There is NO shame and in paid for the work you’re putting in.

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Figure out who you are. And who you aren’t.

I had NO idea what I wanted this blog to be when I first started. While I’m happy I started before I was ready (when are we EVER really ready?) I also cringe looking at my early posts. They were ALL over the place!

At the time I didn’t know about marketing or branding but I wish I would’ve sat down to really really think about what I wanted Kayla in the City to be… and what I didn’t want the blog to be.

I’ll admit, I’m still not super niche, but I have a much better idea of who I am as a blogger. I write about wellness, fitness, lifestyle, and hustle for millennial women. And ultimately my goal is to always inspire and uplift others to live their best life. I always lead from a place of authenticity — be it talking about this shitty break-up I’m going through or what it’s really really like to be a full-time fitness instructor.

Figuring out your voice comes with time, but I do wish I would’ve figured out who I am as a blogger earlier on.

Special thank you to all of YOU for supporting Kayla in the City over the last 8 years.