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Today marks the 5th anniversary of the day I started my blog. What better way to celebrate it than to reflect on the successes and pitfalls I’ve experienced in the past year?
2022 was a complete roller coast, and I didn’t always feel like I had a clear direction. However, if I think back to the girl who woke up at 5am to create her blog before heading to her tax job, it’s amazing how far this blog and I have come.
I personally believe that nothing worth doing is easy, which is probably why I’m still here writing this. Each year, despite every setback, I can’t stop being excited about the new possibilities. If you haven’t already, find yourself a job that gives you that feeling.
Anyhow, here’s how my fifth year of blogging went. Thanks for following along!
Recap of My Fifth Full Year of Blogging
Started the Year off Slow(ish)
I’ll just go ahead and say that 2022 kicked off as a total shit show in my personal life. That combined with the fact that I signed up to do taxes from February though mid-March was not a good recipe for blog productivity.
I sadly only posted like three or four posts during those first three months, and half of them weren’t even about travel. I completely ignored Pinterest. Once tax started, basically all blogging efforts came to a complete halt.
That said, there were some travel highs during this time. Aaron and I started off the year in St. John USVI – our tropical happy place. A few weeks later, we were in Iceland marveling at the northern lights.
When I look back, I suppose it wasn’t all bad. However, I hope to do better this year and have spelled out in writing very specific strategies for maintenance and growth.
Spent a Month and a Half Doing Taxes
In late 2021, I was approached by my old company to come back and help out for tax season with flexible hours. I agreed to do it to bolster up my savings, thinking I could do blogging and taxes simultaneously.
As mentioned, the first few months of 2022 were a hard season of life, and I simply didn’t have the capacity for two jobs at once. So yes, I did end up doing some taxes and made a little bit of money from it.
However, my blog sadly took a backseat and I really didn’t post during that time. For those who don’t know, Google really doesn’t like when you stop posting, which is no bueno for blog views.
This year, I am taking the full leap and not doing any taxes at all. Instead, I am putting all my energy into blogging. We’ll see where that leads!
Finally Wrote to My Email List
If you are one of the lovely people on my email list, it was so nice to finally talk to you this year! For the longest time, I didn’t really know what to say. Plus, I was really shy and scared to talk to you guys.
However, I decided things were getting ridiculous after four years of silence. Going forward, you can expect to hear from me 1-2 times a month :).
Had My Highest Income Month and Year
I’m still a numbers gal at heart, so you bet I track every single tiny amount that comes in and out of my business. I enjoy compiling an annual report at the end of the year to analyze the financial health of Fueled By Wanderlust.
Additionally, after five years of blogging, I want to show people this blog’s progression. If you read all my updates, you’ll see that it wasn’t until my fourth year that I saw any real money. If blogging for income interests you, be prepared for it to be a long game.
Some Numbers from 2022
Highest Income Month: $4,765.26 in March
Total Made from Ads in 2022: $28,926.46
Total Made from Affiliates in 2022: $11,678.55
I have an unofficial goal of earning $5,000 in one month. However, ad income is very down in recent months, so I’m not sure if this is realistic in 2023.
Spent a Ton of Time in Massachusetts
Have you ever had something you wanted forever, and then you finally get it in droves?
That’s what happened with Boston. When things personally started going to shit in late 2021, I felt the overwhelming urge to get out of town. Suddenly, my husband had a new work assignment outside of Boston – a city I’d been pining to visit but kept putting off.
The beauty of working full time remote is that I can work from anywhere. Therefore, I was able to travel to Boston with Aaron and work from the hotel room while exploring the local area.
It was love at first sight! Between all the history, literature, universities, foliage, and of course the ocean, I fell completely in love with Massachusetts. When Aaron had to return to Boston several times over the past year, I took full advantage.
What’s made me love Boston even more is that we’ve made really good friends that we get to visit! At the end of the day, it’s people that make places special.
Had an Eat Pray Love Moment
This past July, I pretended to be Emily in Paris while frolicking between Montmartre and Île de la Cité. I spent time with my good friends, Christelle and Aymeric, in their new house drinking amazing wine together, while I practiced speaking French.
The purpose of this trip was primarily to attend a five-day writing workshop, but I extended it to a two week trip to have time to see Christelle and Aymeric. While any professional gains from this trip are yet to be seen, I had the time of my life. It was an expensive time, to be sure, but in some ways priceless.
Lost a Ton of Blog Traffic
The nature of blogging is that you are subject to the whims of the Google and Pinterest algorithms. I’ve never seen myself affected by algorithm changes quite like I saw this past year. It really scared me and had me wondering if this was a sign to go back to tax.
However, a successful business owner never panics. Instead, you look at the cold hard facts and regroup. That’s basically what I’ve been doing since November, with a revamped Pinterest and blog post strategy.
It would take a lot for me to give up on this blog. Although, I must say, I often feel like a ship captain on stormy seas navigating through poor visibility and constantly hauling water out of the boat so it doesn’t sink. It’s the pure love of the game that gets me through these times.
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There you have it – an inside look into my blogging life in 2022. It’s not all rainbows and butterflies, but it’s so worth it when you do get those wins.
As always, thanks for following my journey. Having you here with me gives me a sense of purpose and inspires me to ride out the low moments. I wish you the best of luck with all of your own travels and endeavors in 2023.
Are you doing something big and scary this year? Share below so we can support each other!
I discovered your blog while planning a trip with my wife to St John. We really appreciate all the info you have written.
Thanks so much, it’s my pleasure!