“This post was inspired and sponsored by Domain.ME, the provider of the personal domains that end in .ME. As a company, they aim to promote thought leadership to the tech world. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”
I started blogging using the “Blogger” platform, and the later moved to wordpress, while buying my domain name at the same time. I am not sure when I realized, from listening to other bloggers and writers, that owning my domain was crucial, but I am glad that I did. I own my own site. That is important!
Where did you start? Were you on Myspace? I remember that was just before I started writing, and I am glad no one asked me to predict what platform would be the one that lasted through the years, because I would have been wrong!
I remember my early blogging attempts. They were far less interesting, and less well written, compared to what I write today. I started the blog to have a written record of my son’s adoption process. And that was not enough to support a blog where people wanted to come back!
In the early days I used the blog as a diary. The first week I started to blog, I wrote about our family vacation in the Bahamas. Now I suspect that no one wanted to read a list of what I did on my vacation at The Atlantis Hotel complex. In the seven year time period that I have had the blog, I have learned a tremendous amount, and could write that same story in a way that would make people want to ask me more about my family trip. I have become a better writer: I no longer list my adventures, I now write about them in an interesting and informative fashion so that my readership can consider following my adventure in real life, not just read my story. I love to share the events that inspire my family and me, the adventures that work for us, and the affordable way we accomplish them. My goal is for some folks to learn enough from what I have written to be able to go out and have a similar wonderful experience! I learned a lot along the way on how to build my blog, listening to others was a huge help as well.
My blogging success also comes from having learned “how to” share with you. I have learned to share in an interesting manner. I try to focus on topics that you would want to read about. And, I try to educate: by opening up to my readership about my family, what we go through, to ultimately show people how a two dad family is not that different from other families. The example I love to use is, that as gay dads we do not have a disco ball in the living room, what we do have is what the rest of the country has. A teenager who needs to be motivated to do his homework, and not spend every minute on his phone! My message is that we are all the same because we are all different. Now that is some heavy stuff!
The adoption story is on the blog, and that is a piece of our family history. Today’s entries may include our current activities so that I can illustrate to folks, who do not know families like ours, that we are not that different. We go to the Bronx Zoo and I take fun photos with the gorillas, my son and spouse, and caption it, “my extended family!” Did I mention that my personal blog is my vehicle to showcase my incredible sense of humor?
Domain.ME is all about authenticity, which is the only way that works for me as a writer, nothing is more important to me than my online reputation. .ME is continually working on campaigns that celebrate authenticity, uniqueness, self-acceptance and diversity, in an effort to encourage people to embrace their true .ME and let it shine online. To help you solidify your personal brand, you should consider a personal domain. I share these same goals, and hope you do as well:
I hope to inspire those just starting out as bloggers and writers, and anyone who wants ownership of their own domain, and an enhanced presence online, to use a .ME domain name! Some have even had fun with it like this cute site: Despicable.ME! And it’s great because there are no restrictions on .ME domain names, registration for these domain names are open to anyone, similar to .COM, .NET, or .ORG.
Please share your story in the comments and/or share your story on social media as well with the #BeginningOfME hashtag!
Lastly, I love working with a brand that supports my fellow bloggers and me: “.ME is dedicated to building strong relationships with its community members, which is why they initiate campaigns like this, or sponsor a myriad of blogging conferences like #WeAllGrow, Type-A Parent, Blogalicious, etc.” Without company support most of my fellow bloggers and I could not afford the fees for conferences. Additionally, we get to learn and work with great companies like this!
Disclosure: This is a compensated post on behalf of Domain.ME. All opinions are always 100% honest and my own.
Mia says
I think one of the reasons your blog is so interesting is that it feels so personal and real and your experiences are so easy to relate to for anyone.
Marysa says
It is fun to look back and see how it all started! I too have changed a lot over the years and my blogging has evolved. Have to start somewhere! You have a really nice blog, it has so much great content.
mami2jcn says
Your son was so cute! He’s grown up to be a handsome young man. My son is the same age and it’s been fun to watch your son grow up before our eyes.
Laura Collins says
I hope one day to start a blog cause yours is great.
Kristi says
Blogs really are a great to document history and like a good bottle of wine, they get better with age. Love to read blogs and get a glimpse of how others live.
Sarah Bailey says
I love all the different endings you can get now. ME is wonderful for letting people share things about them.
Kristin C says
Thanks for sharing your background. I really enjoy reading the blog!
Alli Smith says
I love going back to the beginning and seeing how far a blogger has come. For me, personally, some of my earlier photos make me blush with embarrassment, but it also shows how far I’ve come. I love the pic with the gorilla and I’m glad you stuck with blogging!
Ashley S says
I love always learning about bloggers’ backgrounds and where they come from, how they started, etc. You have such a unique blog, that truly is YOU. I definitely like the idea of these .ME domains 🙂
Tasheena @ SimplyTasheena.com says
Beautiful story of why you started blogging. I started blogging as a hobby five years ago after grad school. It’s amazing how times have changed.
Audrey McClelland says
This is such a great post! I always love to hear how my fellow bloggers got started on their blogging journeys. I love that yours started as a devotional to your family. <3
Scott says
It’s been more than a decade, but Nicole started her blog for a similar reason – to document us having our first child and being away from an extended family. It also evolved into what it is today!
Jenn @ EngineerMommy says
It’s interesting to see how people have delved into the wonderful world of blogging. For me, what started as a hobby to share my recipes & crafts has turned into a business.
Bill S says
It is amazing how your blogging can evolve over the years. I love to look at back over my first couple blog posts to see how things have changed.
Gwendolyn Mulholland says
What a wonderful story. I am glad that we are not the only ones that consider the animals at the zoo part of our extended family. This past week, we actually were worried they might put us in a cage and keep us. Luckily we didn’t get captured.
Pam says
My blog was so much differen when it first started. It was more like a diary then too! I do miss some of the sharing aspe of early blogging but blogs are so much more informative now.
Jacqui @FlightsFancyMom says
I started on blogger as well back in 2007. I think I had one follower. I was writing without really understanding what blogging really was. I was and am a single mom, at that time I was going to school full time, started dating, my mom went into the hospital and I was working full time. Writing let me express myself. Like you, I’ve definitely gotten better the longer I’ve been doing this!
michele d says
It’s fun to look back and remember how you’ve got started in blogging. I know when I do, I can’t believe how many years have gone by.
Amosa says
I think after I started blogging I got curious about domains though I knew nothing but I am glad I bought one as it’s the best decision in my blogging career. Your son is so cute
Fi Ni Neachtain says
I always love reading bloggers stories on how they got started. I started my blog to document my adventures with my little family and that’s still what I’m doing to this day.
Ali says
It is so great to know more about the person behind the blog and the “why” to how it all started. I can’t wait to her more of your stories and learn more about you!
Franc Ramon says
I actually started my blog with friendster blog then blogspot and then self hosted wordpress. It’s great how you were able to adopt to your audience through the years.
Rosey says
You do have a way of writing that makes the reader feel like a part of your experiences. I am on blogger (paying for my own .com). I always hear how it’s important to own your own site but it seems so time-and-technical intimidating to me that I haven’t made the switch yet. It’s always in the back of my mind though.
Rebecca Swenor says
This is a great post for those looking to start a blog or who just started blogging. It really is interesting to see the growth of a blog and especially one you have followed from the beginning. Thanks for sharing your story.
Bonnie @wemake7 says
Thank you for sharing about how you started, I love learning about my fellow Bloggers. =)
Annemarie LeBlanc says
I’ve read about this domain.me before but I have not had found out much about it until now. It does look like something I might be interested in! Thank you too for sharing your story!
Christina Aliperti says
So cool to hear your story! I love reading your blog because it’s awesome but my favorite thing is your sense of humor. BTW, you have a gorgeous extended family!