I wish that I could come and have coffee with each of you on a regular basis, but since that’s not possible, I thought I’d share this video that I recently filmed with Kelsey Humphreys.
She came to Nashville and sat at our kitchen bar and we talked about my blogging journey, the lessons I’ve learned, the struggles I’ve experienced, and some key takeaways I’ve found through many mistakes along the way.
As you’ll discover if you take the time to watch it, this is not a highly edited video but just real, authentic footage of me sharing my heart… kind of like I would if we could sit and have coffee together.
If you’ve ever wondered how I got started blogging or ever thought about starting your own blog or ever wished you could talk “shop” with me over coffee, I think you’ll enjoy this video.
And feel free to comment and ask any followup questions you might have — about blogging or anything else we talk about on this video — and I’ll do my best to try to answer them.
Thinking of starting a blog? Be sure to check out this page where I share How to Start a Blog & Make Money Blogging.
Thank you, Crystal for sharing candidly and encouragingly. This video has helped me so much!
Question on Google Calendar! Have you ever done a post like a “how to” for how you use Google Calendar? I heard you mention it on this video. I looked it up and was just curious as to how it all works. Does it send you reminder tasks? Do you use it from your phone or just on your computer? Looks like a neat idea and I was just curious if you had any tips on the calendar on your site?
Thanks!
Here’s a post I wrote on it: https://moneysavingmom.com/2014/01/7-ways-google-calendar-simplifies-life.html I hope that helps answer some of your questions! Feel free to ask more if you have them after reading it.
Crystal, I watched your video and it was so timely from the Lord. I am trying to get started in the blogging world and praying about direction and what and how much and how etc…. Your video helped me to think of some strategic ideas and I’m going to try them out.
Thanks for this post! Really like your blog and enjoy to see you explain the work that God has done in and through you on the blog. 🙂
Great video! I enjoyed hearing about the $3,000 you made on your online course way back. It had to have been an amazing feeling after all your hard work!
I loved how you talked about your priorities as a wife and mom. So important!
This video was so inspiring, Crystal, thank you for sharing these tips. I’m in the process of starting a blog, and, with all the information available, it’s hard to know how to procede. It was reassuring to hear that you started small. I don’t feel like I have to make quite such a big production of it, right off the bat.
And, on a side note, you have a wonderfully soothing voice- I would love to see more videos by you!
Aw, thank you so much for your kind words! I’m grateful it was an inspiration! And congrats on your new blog!
Thank you so much for sharing this video. I loved seeing it and learning from you. I’ve also been so excited to watch how God has grown your business and ministry.
This was awesome! I loved feeling like I got to know you better by seeing and hearing you speak! I feel encouraged and so excited for you and all your blessings! What a beautiful life we all have and the opportunities that are surrounding us! Thanks so much for sharing your journey!
Aw, thank you so much for your sweet words of encouragement!
I really enjoyed this video Crystal! So many nuggets I came away with. As always thank you for the inspiration and knowledge!
Thank you so much for your kind encouragement!
Such a great video full of inspiration and relevant information!
Crystal, you have been a great motivating force in my online endeavors for years, and I am constantly amazed at the amount of knowledge you continue to share with us all.
Thank you so much for being who you are, and for helping your readers to see that with hard work, persistence, and patience, anything is possible.
Thanks for sharing this video Crystal! Your story is so inspiring and helpful!
Oh Crystal, I am just so proud of you!!!! I’ve been following your posts since you were a newlywed and we “met” on the YWAC forum LOOOONG ago. In this video you were so confident and collected and professional, and I remember how you used to preface each public appearance with “I was so nervous, can you see how nervous I am?” and now look at you! So very encouraging and motivational. Thank you!
Aw, you are so sweet! I’m so grateful for the confidence God is growing in me… and what you see on the outside is evidence of much deeper heart work that’s happened in the last few years. And I’m incredible grateful and thankful for how God can use broken vessels for His glory!
This is great – thank you! And it was so fun to see you “live” for a change. 🙂
Aw, thanks so much for your kind encouragement!
I would love to watch the video, unfortunately I am not able to hear the sound. When I scroll down another screen pops up, that’s a part of your blog. Is there another way to view this?
Thanks so much!
Maybe email Kelsey who owns the site/show and ask if she can help you out?
I clicked the link, thinking I would skim through and catch highlights but I watched the entire video. So great!! Love your passion for family first, then work. God bless!!
Aw, thank you so much for your kind encouragement!
Thank you so much for sharing this! I love that it’s raw and real.
Loved the video! Thank you for sharing! I am just starting out with setting up my blog. I am at the stage of writing some posts before I go live so there will be content for people to read.
Your comments on strategy and focus have given me lots of food for thought. I will definitely be watching this again and taking notes!
Thanks so much for your kind encouragement!
Loved the video. You are so inspirational! Thank you for all you do. 🙂
Thanks so much for your kind encouragement!
This video is fantastic. So much food for thought and so many concepts swirling around in my brain right now.
I also have a question – when you said that you post to FB every hour, how do you keep from feeling like it’s just more noise in the crowd? I’m hesitant to post a lot of content on Social Media because I feel like I’m saying, “Be intentional, organize your home, love your family …. But only after you spend a ton of time online reading what I have to say.”
I know you’re committed to quality and to encouraging your readers to live with intention, so so how did you get to a point where you stopped wrestling with the balance of producing high volume vs. inspiring others to live with intention instead of getting pulled into an online world? I’m asking because this is my current internal struggle and I’d love to get past it and find a good balance!
Your video is very inspirational and informative. Thank you!
Thanks so much for your kind encouragement!
Great question: I’ve found that if I don’t post consistently on Facebook, Facebook stops showing most (if not all) of my posts to my followers. Since many of them only see a few posts a day from my page as is and because Facebook is inherently about skimming and only reading what interests you, I don’t feel badly scheduling posts to go up multiple times per day.
I think it also helps that I post frequently on my blog, too, so I’m used to sharing lots of content frequently. If I only posted on a blog once a week or something, it’d probably feel weird to share posts on Facebook 10 times per day, you know?
Ultimately, I think it’s important to do what you feel serves your readers most and works for you and your family.
Those are great points. My husband tells me that writing an article is dollars of my time and posting to Social Media is pennies of my time. He also says that I can’t get my message across if I’m being silent.
I like your view as well – you’re not saying, “Here’s my stuff, read all of it!” You’re simply telling your readers, “Here’s an article or deal to look at if it’s relevant to you.”
Thank you for sharing your thoughts!
Thanks for sharing with us Crystal! Loved the video – it was so encouraging as a new blogger. And I’m excited to have found a new show to watch!
You are so welcome! I’m grateful that it was an encouragement!
Thank you so much for sharing!
You’re so welcome!