I knew starting a blog wouldn’t be easy, but I didn’t expect it to feel so quiet.
When I first launched my blog, I had big hopes. Not to go viral overnight, but at least to feel like I was making waves or even ripples. Instead? I saw crickets. My Pinterest has been stuck at 1.1k monthly views. I have this blog that Google hasn’t even noticed yet. The infamous “sandbox” that all new websites have to sit in, waiting and hoping for a seat at the table.
And yet… here I am. Still showing up.
Because even when no one’s watching, especially when no one’s watching, that’s when the real work is happening.
The Beginning Is Quiet — But It’s Not Empty
I’ve read all the tips. I’m constantly researching new things and trying to make progress on my strategies. I know SEO takes time and practice. I know Pinterest wants consistency. I know Google takes months to trust a new domain. But knowing it doesn’t make it any less discouraging when you put your heart into a post and get a whole 18 clicks.
Regardless, I keep writing. I keep creating. I keep pinning. Because it’s not just about now. It’s about what this can become.
Why I Keep Going
I started this blog not just to have a hobby, not just to “see what happens,” but because I want something more for my family. I want flexibility. I want more time with my kids. I want to someday work from home and know I don’t have to choose between being present and paying the bills.
Blogging might not pay off today, or tomorrow, or even 5 months from now. But every post, every pin, every printable I create — it’s a brick in the foundation I’m building.
What “Faking It” Really Means
When I say “fake it ‘til you make it,” I don’t mean that you should be pretending to be something you’re not. It’s quite the opposite actually. It means believing in the version of you that’s already doing it. It means treating your blog, or project, or dream like it matters before it brings in the numbers to prove that it will.
I write as if people are reading. I plan content like I have an audience waiting. I design printables like I’ve got hundreds of orders in my shop.
Because someday… maybe I will.
If You’re In the Same Boat
So if you’re here too, staring at your stats, wondering if it’s worth it.. I see you. And I want to say keep going. If you quit, you’ll never know what you could’ve accomplished.
Build slow if you have to. Rest if you need to. But don’t give up on something just because it’s not fast. The quiet beginning isn’t a failure. It’s the groundwork. It can be daunting, exhausting and will probably feel pointless for the first year.
But one day, we’ll both be glad we kept faking it.
This is a beautiful post, thank you for writing it. I’ve only been blogging for 2 months and even though I knew going into it would take a while, it is still hard when no one is reading what you’re writing. But I really loved what you said about “faking it til you make it” and believing in the version of you that’s already doing it. Thanks for the encouragement I needed today.
I appreciate that! We’re in the thick of it together for sure! 🙂