Blog Update: 100

Today marks a milestone. This is the 100th post on Sixteen Once since I began the blog two years ago, and I have reached over 100 followers within the past two weeks. Its such a weird feeling to see that number pop up all over the blog. It has taken a while to really get this blog going, but I feel like today is really the start of something big.
For those of you who read my blog weekly, I am so thankful for your support and I would also like to apologize for those weeks that I didn't post. I had many reasons for missing some Fridays, but it was mostly due to laziness. Keeping up a weekly blog is one of the hardest time commitments I have ever made. I have never been able to keep up journal writing, so this platform has made me work really hard to come up with content that is worth publishing each and every week. It is much harder than I thought. But, after two years of blogging I have finally reached a point where I know what I'm doing, and I'm proud of what I'm publishing.
Something else crazy about reaching over 100 followers is that people have begun commenting on my posts. beforehand I had one friend who commented a few times, but now there are people I have never met before telling me about themselves and what they think of Sixteen Once. It is such a good feeling hearing what real people think, and I would love to hear from more people so that I can learn how to make this a blog that they really want to read. This blog is as much for me as it is for my readers, and there is no better feeling than knowing that there are more and more people out there taking their time to visit this page (and I don't have to force them to do it).

I just wanted to take this week to thank everyone for supporting me. This is the first week where I really feel like Sixteen Once might be going somewhere, and it is all thanks to you. It took some time to hit the ground running, but now that I know that there are people out there, who I have never met, who care about me and what I have to say, It is only going to make me and Sixteen Once stronger and better. I do this for myself, but I also do this for anyone out there who will listen.

xoxoxo

Nina

Song stuck in my head right now: Out of the Woods - Taylor Swift

Blog Update: Unexcused Absence

Hello dear readers! I'm so sorry for my lack of posts these past couple weeks. The first month or so of school is always really crazy with work, holidays, and especially college preparation. I have so many things on my mind all the time, and unfortunately blogging isn't always on the top of my list. From now on I promise that I will post every Friday, like I planned, so as not to let you down (or myself in the process). If anyone has any suggestions of what I should post or what they want me to write about in the future, let me know!! I really want to do more of what you actually want me to do. 

Sixteen Once forever :)

xoxoxo

Nina

Song stuck in my head right now: Don't Know Why - Norah Jones

Blog Update: Turning 17, Staying 16

Ever since I named this blog "Sixteen Once" the same question has been asked by almost everyone... "What happens when you turn seventeen?" My answer is always the same, and it is that everyone at some point in their lives is sixteen once. We all are, will be, or were 16.
I must admit that when I first decided on the name, I didn't intend for it to mean this. It was a happy coincidence. 
Now that I am officially no longer 16 (yes, I'm 17!!), I feel like I should explain the theory behind the name.
The number 16 reminds most people of a sweet sixteen, thus making it a girly number. 16 is also an age right in the middle of one's teenage years, and the main audience that I cater to on this blog is teenagers. My birthday is on August 16th. And finally, as I mentioned before everyone is 16 once, thus making it a relatable number (just like this is a relatable blog).
But what I think is the most important reason for the number in relation to this blog is the feeling you get from it. It is a happy number. 16 makes me smile. The goal for Sixteen Once is to to share my thoughts, teach some things I know, give my readers new ideas, but most importantly it is to make people happy. I sometimes throw in a joke to make you laugh too.
Thank you to everyone who reads Sixteen Once, and who supports me. These past couple years have been so fun, and I don't plan to stop posting any time soon.

xoxoxo

Nina

Song stuck in my head right now: Sixteen Going on Seventeen - Sound of Music

Blog Updates: Something new is happening...

Something new is happening on Sixteen Once. I have been doing a whole bunch of different things trying to get more traffic to the blog, and I've decided that one thing I need to do is post more frequently.

Starting next week, I will be posting every day. Now I know you're thinking that this sounds like a lot of work. Let me explain. I am only going to be posting one full blog post a week that is filled with writing and photograph (yes, still on Fridays), but on all other weekdays the post will consist of one or more photos that I have taken on that day.

The main goal for this change is to both get me taking pictures more frequently, and make Sixteen Once a more personal, interesting, and accessible blog.

Out of all the blogs I read, my favorites are the ones that really make you feel as if you know the blogger in real life. Most bloggers are blogging as a full time job, and have the time to write full posts multiple times a week. Unfortunately, school takes up most of my time so these daily posts will give me a great excuse to take a moment out of each day and actually use my camera to document something interesting for you, and give you more insight on my life.

Wish me luck ;)

xoxoxo

Nina

Song stuck in my head right now: Pine Trees - Jake Bugg

Blog Updates: Sixteenonce Joins Instagram

The time has finally come. I have created an Instagram page for sixteenonce. It is still in the beginning stages, but I am really excited about where it may take me. I just signed up a few days ago and I was kinda surprised at how few people were actually following and likening my page, but I realize that it's a lot harder than it seems. 

 Social media is one of the most important parts in creating a blog. It is the only way to get people who don't know you, to find your blog. Once they discover it the whole thing spirals, and hopeful that will lead to a bigger success for my blog. These days, social media is the main platform for starting any sort of business or whatever. Technically you could just rely on word-of-mouth or foot trafic, but the fastest way to start is by informing people who might not ever hear about what you do through hashtags and such. I know hashtags are a bit overused and usually not just for publicizing what you do, but it is one of the smartest tactics for doing so. Through a hashtag you may reach someone who is interested in the stuff you do, but wouldn't otherwise be able to find you. 

Anyways, if you are looking to get your blog (or whatever else you do) out to the public I really suggest signing up for as many social media accounts as possible and using a lot of hashtags (but not too many), and hopefully you will be a success in no time. It just takes some work and patience. 

Here is a preview:

xoxoxo

Nina

Song stuck in my head right now: Summer Wind - Frank Sinatra