Pinch and a punch, bloggers.
It’s December 1. This year has been huge for blogging in Australia – and for me as a blogger, personally {and I’m extremely grateful for that}.
I started the year turning my business model on its head, working as a full-time blogger for the first time since leaving journalism in July 2008.
I managed to secure some pretty exciting collaborations – first up was Big W’s Emerson Winter launch in February/March and then blogging for Maybelline at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia in May.
May was also the month that saw me become part of Australia’s first dedicated bloggers’ agency, The Remarkables. A move that has been incredible, business wise, but also industry wise as more brands stop scratching their hands about how to work with bloggers and just get in there and do it.
In August I flew to the US – thanks to Sensodyne – to attend BlogHer in New York with 5000 other bloggers. Loved having a 20-plus Aussie contingent there to balance out the numbers 
Of course, this blog growth and business development hasn’t been all smooth sailing {the work part has … that’s just flowed}.
There have been detractors. There will always be detractors.
I accept that if I’m going to publicly publish something on a daily basis, then by that very act I open myself up to the naysayers.
Doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt or temporarily make you pull out your cranky panties from the back of your smalls’ drawer and think about popping them on and jumping on Twitter on for a few minutes …
Just means that I need to check in with myself and talk to the people who really count – the readers who show up here every day to join in this little community. And the majority of bloggers who are supportive, kind, generous and caring.
So as we hurtle full throttle towards the end of the year {and, yes, this will be my last “blogging” blog post for 2012} I thought I’d check in on Google Analytics to see which Saturday blog posts got you most interested in 2012.
The top 5 posts from the Saturday blogging series
1. How to take a selfie: it seems we’re living in the era of the selfie. You need to laugh about it. Not take yourself too seriously. Whether you are a mirror selfie shooter or a reverse camera selfie shooter, there are tips here for you.
2. 10 ways to turn your iPhone into a photo machine: this was a post written from one of the sessions I found most valuable at BlogHer. I know, a long way to travel to learn how to better take and edit phone photos. But since that session I’ve really been striving to take and publish better photos. It’s another way to be creative and better utilise technology we carry around in our handbags every day.
3. 10 ways to make money from blogging: hot, hot topic for 2012 in Australia and will continue to be so in 2013. Re-read this post – there are SO many ways in which your blog can be a springboard to earning an income. Notice what others are doing but don’t get caught up in thinking that’s the best model for you. Work out what best suits your blog, your lifestyle and any business goals you may have.
4. Your blog and your iPad: my iPad comes everywhere with me and this post was written at the start of the year before I upgraded to the iPad 3 and handed my 2 over to Mr SY. For more updated info from me, check out this post. Long story, short, if I’m going away from home {not just out to a cafe} I’ll also pack my Air notebook so that I can be sure I have full functionality on my blog at any time.
5. How to deal with Facebook newsfeed changes: this is a recent post and I can tell you the frustrations that lead to me writing the post are still very much there. In short, unless you’re paying for your business page to be a promoted post it will not make the newsfeed of many of your likers.
Blog goals for 2013
The end of the year is also a time to reflect and think ahead. To, dare I say it, set goals for your blog in 2013.
I know it’s a bit new-agey but I can honestly vouch that this is a process that works. The best way to get them to work is to write the big goals and then break them down into small, do-able chunks.
And should you meet some of these goals before 2013 is out, lift the benchmark and set them again.
It doesn’t have to be rigid plan. Just a framework, from which you can reference where you’re at and where you’re going.
Because mark my words. If you thought 2012 was big in Australian blogging, 2013 is going to blow you away.
What do you aim to do with your blog in 2013? Share in the comments below. And if you have a blogging topic you’d like me to cover next year, let me know.
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Final link-up for 2012
I started this link-up because most of the stuff I learn about blogging comes from other bloggers. I didn’t want there to be any rules attached. I didn’t want you to feel obligated to write something about blogging every week. Just to throw in your two cents when you had something to say.
There are quite a few bloggers who have been consistent linkers here and I thank-you. You know who you are. You have so much to offer the Australian blogging community and I’m privileged that you’ve come back here every week to share what you’ve learned.
I’ll be back with this regular series the first Saturday in February 2013. With that in mind, I’ll keep this linky open until the end of 2012.
Remember to join in, just add your link below. The link needs to be to a post ABOUT BLOGGING (all others will be deleted). Please fill in the box where it says “name” like this: BLOG NAME: Blog post title. That way your blog gets a plug and if you include the title of your post, you’ll attract readers interested in the topic.
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