True Deal Mommy Confession: The Blog is 2 Today! Random Thoughts and Lessons Learned

It’s all about love (and a little about money).

I’m not big on navel-gazing but got my page stats yesterday and realized that I would be at 25x my first month’s page views this month. Seemed as good a time as any to jot down a few thoughts gleaned from two years at the keyboard.

I’m nowhere and nothing without you. If you’re reading this, I owe you a big hug. Period.
If you are going to blog, you had better LOVE your topic. If you don’t, it will show.
Readers can spot a phony ad a mile away! You had better “buy what you are selling”. You don’t have to literally “buy” every item you sell (although Deal Dad might argue that I do!), but you better believe in it before you put fingers to keyboard!
Ideas are easy. Documenting them? Not so much. I’m getting better and at least now keep a notebook of ideas I want to write about, but the “posts written in my head” now number over 100! It takes discipline to write day after day.
If Ideas are NOT easy for you, see #2.
Friends matter, even when your “job” is performed on your couch. Be nice. Help where you can, without expecting help in return. Ask questions (after doing a quick search). Participate in chats. Attend Seminars, happy hours, Dos.
Twitter. Twitter. Twitter! (This one is for readers, too, not just bloggers. I’ve learned SO much from twitter about travel in general, and won many prizes there, including a $50 groupon gift card just two days ago!).
Authenticity is important. Colonoscopy? TMI. When I started blogging, I tried being anonymous. It just didn’t work for me. “The Deal Mommy” and “Dia” are one and the same…to a point. After two years, that blogger/real life line is still a moving target. Some things I see shared by others are “no way!” for me. But I’m sure things I share (pics of the Deal Kids, for example) cross the line for others.
British Airways IS that horrible. Besides “Deal Mommy”, the #1 way people find my blog is some variation is “complain to British Airways”, a full 9 months after they stranded me in the wrong country.
Giveaways work. People love swag. In fact, I’ll do an anniversary giveaway later in the week! But I won’t do it today, because…
No one reads your blog on Sundays. So you can do a filler post. Like this one;)

Thanks again for sticking with The Deal Mommy for the last two years, and here’s looking forward to a great future!

13 thoughts on “True Deal Mommy Confession: The Blog is 2 Today! Random Thoughts and Lessons Learned”

Elaine October 27, 2013 at 1:23 pm

Happy Birthday from someone who does read blogs on Sundays! Here’s hoping you skip “the terrible twos” and sail on into your third year! Cheers!

Sam October 27, 2013 at 2:39 pm

Happy birthday/anniversary. =)

Frugal Travel Lawyer October 27, 2013 at 3:13 pm

Congratulations! So glad we become friends though our blogs this year. Looking forward to many more good times together!

leana October 27, 2013 at 4:12 pm

I enjoyed it , Dia! I like reading your intelligent and witty posts. And I didn’t even include my back link, so not to distract from your celebration!

April October 27, 2013 at 4:48 pm

Happy Blog Birthday! It’s been really exciting watching your blog grow and I’m so impressed with all that you’ve accomplished in these two years. Thank you for being a huge inspiration to those of us who only put one foot in the points game at a time, and also to those of us who are growing our own blog babies. I’m taking notes, learning lots, and I know I’m not the only one. 🙂