Why I started blogging

I would like to share with you my motivations and personal experience behind falling in love with blogging.

When I moved abroad I looked for a way to share my experience as a young adult living abroad and adapting to a new culture and language. So I thought being a blogger would be the best way to do so.

Starting the blog not only taught me about building websites but also the importance of sharing stories. Of course, everyone has their own way of sharing stories.

This is the story of how road2holland was born.

It’s been 4 years of blogging sharing stories, tips and photos with you. In 2016 a new journey started. The reason for the blog’s existence: I needed a way to build a community and a sense of belonging in such a strange new place. This was also a way to share experiences with my friends and family back home.

So, I signed up for a WordPress account, bought a domain, built my website, and just started writing, even though I didn’t really know what I was doing. So what motivates me to keep blogging? The following is exactly what motivates me to keep blogging.

You make what you want out of it

Although there are always rules about how to use blogging in a strategic way, the best part is you can personalize it and make it whatever you want it to be.

Not to mention, no emphasis is ever set in stone, and you can always experiment with new approaches.

Starting off I remember blogging started to feel like a chore, especially considering how fast the blogging community grew.

After a few months and attempts of writing blog posts, I decided that this blog was a personal space for me, and that is what the blog is all about: personal experiences. So I finally clicked the publish button on all the drafted posts. 4 years later and I am proud of this blog.

The relationship element

Nothing means more to me than my blog posts having an impact on my reader’s personal life. A lot of blogging, for me, is about storytelling. Because telling your story, makes what you have to offer matter to other people. But what exactly do I mean by that?

It’s like a movie where the powerful art form engages its audience, even though the audience members don’t act in the scene. Movie Moviemakers pull this off through scripting, acting, lighting and soaring music

The thing about the web is that it has become such an overcrowded place. With site building tools like Squarespace, Weebly, and Wix being commonplace, it’s easier than ever for anyone to set up a website; even if you aren’t web or tech-savvy. And that’s amazing and terrifying all at the same time.

Anyone can put together a website and claim they’re a legit organization. Yet, content such as blog posts, podcasts, etc is the necessary puzzle piece for people to get to know the people behind the business who have solutions to their biggest problems.

First, they read one or two blog posts about something they need help with. Then they read a social media post that provides a personal, behind the scenes angle of what’s going on with their favourite product or brand.

I like the idea of being able to be the force that allows that relationship to prosper and grow. I also like helping people pull off the same results. When I look back at the first time I started blogging, I realized that I just wanted to create something everyone could get access to.

The matter of the fact is I love that anyone can start a blog doesn’t matter what the topic is, blogging enables community building and the ability to share stories.

During the 4 years of blogging I learned that you don’t need to be an expert in the field of publishing to actually write a story. We hav o much freedom today to share with others and to be part of a community.

So for the time being, I will keep sharing stories, how to’s and more.. A big thank you to all that reads my blog posts and follows a long this journey.

xoxo

Chante’