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It’s My Bloggerversary: Let’s Look At How The Year Went By And Celebrate With A Giveaway

Bibi @ Bibi's Book Blog

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I cannot believe it’s already been 1 year!!

 

In honour of my blog anniversary I was going to do a Q&A, it looked like so much fun when I’ve seen others do it. But the little negative voice that kept repeating “what if no one wants to ask you anything” won. So, instead I’ll take you through my year and end on a happy giveaway!

 

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I’ve now had my blog for 1 year, can you believe it? I know I can’t! I have officially let out all my bookish thoughts, ideas, rants etc. to you lovely people for 365 days now. Well almost!! When I started the blog I really had no clue on how to do anything. I know that most of the time when people say that, they still know the basics. Let me just clarify: that’s not even close to being the case here. Nuh uhh!!

 

When I signed up for WordPress on the 17th of April 2018 I didn’t know how to choose a theme – or even that there were different ones, how to make my menu, how to add some pretty pictures and colours. That meant that after buying the WordPress Premium and creating a website name, I had to wait almost 1 month till a friend could come over and show me the basic ropes. And I waited, and waited and waited. While trying to figure stuff out myself (let me just say, I failed miserably at that), I still checked my statistics. Don’t ask me why. Seriously, don’t. I have no answer for you!! I still remember how overly excited I was, when my blog had 2 views and no content. For some unknown reason, it made me giddy and even more thrilled to get started. Then the fateful day came. My friend stopped by, spent 1 hour showing me the basics and I was ready.

 

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At that time I had about 85 reviews (from the last 5 months) that I had posted on Goodreads, and was ready to copy & paste on to here. I thought it looked extreme with so many reviews posted on one day (for some reason I obsessed over this for a long time), so I backdated a lot of posts back to the date I posted them on Goodreads. That results in my blog archives now looking like I’ve been blogging longer than I have. In all honesty, my first blog post went live on the 6th of May 2018 – which is why I’ve chosen to celebrate and share with you today, instead of from the day I hit “purchase now” on WordPress!! In my mind that didn’t start the timer!!!

 

Since I started blogging I’ve learned quite a lot, and my biggest source of this new found knowledge is fellow bloggers. In the beginning I was quite daunted by other bloggers, nervous I did something wrong or somehow overstepped. But the blogging community have been (mostly) extremely welcoming and friendly.

 

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You’ve all been a tremendous help for me this past year!!!

 

You’ve helped me move on from loosing my nan, my granddad and one of my fur babies. Through writing about it here, and all your amazingly supportive comments, things have seemed easier. It might not seem like a lot, but that’s something I’ll always treasure!!!!

I’ve also learned that it is indeed possible to make friends online. I haven’t meet a single one of you in real life, and yet so many of you have become friends I’ve come to rely on and treasure 💗💗

When I started this blog I didn’t have a specific goal in mind, regarding daily views, likes, comments or followers. I just wanted to share my thoughts and hopefully connect with like minded people. I’m still not one of those bloggers who look at my statistics daily, or do monthly breakdowns and analyse why posts where I use two “however” do better or worse than when I use three. That’ll never be me!! Obviously I do look at them from time to time and I try to use it in a positive way. But what no one really tells you is, that your blog posts continue to be seen. Just a few days ago I got an additional ten likes on a post I wrote last summer. So, if I had to give any advise it would be this: do not obsess about it. Seriously, don’t!!

I don’t like to talk negative about other bloggers, but when I see people actively asking for more views I can’t help cringing. Though, I’m happy that even one person takes the time to read my posts (seriously, that still blows my mind), I must put on my big girl pants and admit that I treasure a comment way more than a view. Because a comment means someone wants to talk with me. Someone wanting to share their opinion with lil’ ol’ me never gets old!! 

 

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In the spirit of a new year, my blog has had a complete design revamp!! And OMG am I over the moon with the result. I could sit here and stare at the new designs forever, if it wasn’t because I have so many other things to do. A HUGE thanks to the ever talented Mukta!! Not just for the pretty designs, but also for all the guidance and patience!!

 

Thanks to Mukta, my transition to a complete unicorn fanatic is now complete!! My dream since I was a little girl. Okay, maybe not! But even before unicorn merchandise was sold on every shelf, I’ve been harbouring a secret love for them. So I’m so pleased it’s finally part of my blogs design.

 

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For my giveaway the lucky winner will receive a book of their choice (max £15) from book depository – as long as they ship to your country. So why not enter my Rafflecopter powered giveaway? It could be YOU receiving a new shiny book to add to the shelf.

Please note that the only one responsible for this giveaway, is yours truly. Rafflecopter, WordPress, Miley Cyrus, the Easter Bunny and the Back Street Boys has nothing to do with it!!
The giveaway is open until the end of the month, where I’ll announce the winner.

 

let's chat

Which book will you choose if you win? How are you finding blogging? Is it easier or harder than you thought? Let’s chat in the comments!

 

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Twitter 🌺 Goodreads 🌺 Pinterest

 

 

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52 thoughts on “It’s My Bloggerversary: Let’s Look At How The Year Went By And Celebrate With A Giveaway”

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  10. Congratulations on your 1 year anniversary! That’s amazing! 😊 it goes by so fast doesn’t it! Blogging definitely is hard but so worth while if you are willing to put the effort in. Your blog is so pretty! I am going to head over and enter your giveaway. Such a lovely giveaway to do! Thank you for sharing ❤️Xxx

    Liked by 1 person

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  12. Happy blogoversary Bibi!!!! Sorry I did not comment much last week as I was away. And I also cringe when bloggers ask for more followers! I want it to be real and will follow and comments on blogs I feel an affinity for.

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  13. Pingback: Weekly update – week 19

  17. Happy Anniversary. I love, love, love your new banner! I miss talking to you. I remember when we used to tag each other all the time when I started blogging ❤

    I'd like to win Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Vol. 1 by Jordie Bellaire. Buffy is still one of my favorite shows and I'd love to win the first volume for the reboot comics.

    I think blogging can be hard. I don't think my content has been that great lately since I don't have any discussion ideas and my posts are either tags, lists or reviews.

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Thank you so much jamsu ❤ I’m loving the new header as well. The designer is a true genius!!

      I miss talking to you too – and I haven’t forgotten about you. Life’s just been in the way!! So let’s get back to the talking and tagging, it’s made for some fun chats about everything from Kai to books 😀

      I think we all hit a slump every now and then. I just had an entire week with tags because I couldn’t find any books I wanted to read lol. Probably my most boring weeks. Regarding discussion posts I always find that I have too many thoughts, but too little time. Have you ever tried buddy reading?

      And of course, best of luck with the giveaway 🙂

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  21. Happy 1st blog birthday! Mine is in August this year 🙂
    Blogging is easier than I thought it would be – sounds weird but I thought I’d run out of ideas – instead, I have too many and not enough time!! What I didn’t factor in when I started the blog was the amount of time I would spend blog hopping/commenting, to interact with other bloggers and also encourage them to my blog.

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  25. Happy Blogiversary, my dear friend! I still remember our early conversations and talking cats. I remember your old blog design too. Bibi, that unicorn and your new design are gorgeous! I love unicorns too! Here’s to many more years for both of us! 🥂

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  27. Happy Anniversary! I’ve been blogging for two years now. I still remember how thrilled I was when WP notified me of my first anniversary as a blogger. It came as a surprise since it felt like I have just been blogging for a couple of weeks! Anyway, there are times when I have neglected my blog and have not posted for as long as four months. I’m glad that some blogger friends supported and encouraged me so that I’d keep on blogging and not give up. So, here’s to more years of your journey as a blogger! =)

    As with your raffle, if I win it, I’d like to get the classics like Anne of Green Gables, a Pablo Neruda poem collection or Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Thank you Frances 💜 blogging can be a lot of hard work, especially if you hit a streak of feeling uninspired. But that is, as you say, when it’s amazing to have supportive people around who can help.

      I like your book choices, best of luck 😊

      Liked by 1 person

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  28. I love seeing your journey after a year! I’ve been blogging for a month, and a whole year seems so far away! I’ve also found so many helpful tips from other bloggers. Thank you for sharing your journey 😊. I would probably buy The Queen’s Rising by Rebecca Ross or Uprooted by Naomi Novik!

    (P.S. your rafflecopter says it will be open soon. When will it open? I’ll be back to check!)

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Congratulations with your first months blogging 🙂 I’m glad to hear that you, like me, have found help from other bloggers 😀

      Thanks for pointing out the problem with the giveaway. It was supposed to open at midnight, so it was up and running before the post released 😦 After doing some digging I’ve realised I didn’t update my timezone (oops!!) so it’s following Canada’s time. If you check back in 2-3 hours I believe it should be open. I’ll double check when I get up to make sure it’s running. Sorry about the wait!!

      Like

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