Life Lessons after 11 years of blogging!

J A N U A R Y 1. Happy New Year!

If you would have asked me how long I would be a blogger, I would have never guessed 11 years. Yep, I launched this site in January 2014 and here we are. Over 1,800 published blog posts later about travel, fashion, lifestyle, aesthetics, beauty products and more, I’m still here going strong. How long will I be in this industry? As long as it’s here and I enjoy the work. Here are 10 things I’ve learned over the last 11 years of blogging…

10 Things I’ve Learned After 11 Years of Blogging

1.) I quickly realized that this is a full time job. No, make that a career! TanyaFoster.com is more than a website. It’s a lifestyle brand. As such, I treat it with the professionalism it requires. While I work from home, I have a dedicated office and my co-worker Laura has her own office too. We hire a photographer/videographer for brand collaborations. There is an editorial content calendar. We’re not just flying by the seat of our pants although sometimes it feels like it.

2.) Social media and algorithms shift, but staying true to myself does not. I prioritize authenticity over engagement. How I interact with you is far more important that how many followers I have. The real value in my site and social media is consistency. To that we remain true!

3.) I’ve had to learn to say no to things that don’t excite me or don’t resonate with my followers. It’s a hard lesson to learn but it always pays off in the end.

4.) In the beginning I did everything myself and that was a great lesson. I subscribe to the rule of never ask anyone to do something you wouldn’t do yourself. I still unbox and steam clothes. I edit blog posts. I write my own Instagram captions. The addition of my co-worker Laura simply allows us to divide and conquer. And be more efficient!

5.) Own as much as you can! I own TanyaFoster.com and my newsletter email list. It’s completely in my control. Social media is not. While I use and need all the social media platforms, I don’t own them (or the followers) and therefor, it’s out of my control. Relying on them is risky.

6.) Having a partner who believes in you is key! Pete is the most supportive person and relishes in my success. If you have been with me for a while, you know that he writes the occasional blog post (NASA, SpaceX, Apple product reviews) and he loves to make guest appearances on my IG Stories, especially when we travel. This job is 24/7 and would be impossible without his support.

7.) Understanding the influencer business is key. It changes quickly and you have to be willing to shift with it. For example, when I started in 2014 it was all about the blog post and daily newsletter. We published five times a week. Midway through my career, the industry switched to social media being more important. We adapted by posting more in Instagram and creating video content while reducing the blog post frequency to three times per week. We’re still servicing our followers, readers and subscribers on every platform, but in a more meaningful way. The way they want to consume the content. You have to adapt while not abandoning your supporters.

8.) Be willing to put yourself out there. Brands hire bloggers/influencers to get their message out and their brand in front of consumers. If you want to be a part of that ecosystem, you have to get in front of the brand. Also, be willing to try new things. Video content is huge right now and you have to get comfortable with it. Don’t become stagnant in the industry.

9.) If something doesn’t work, figure out why. Experiment, track and tweak what you are doing to learn what will work better. Sometimes, things are hit or miss and it’s frustrating. Don’t give up!

10.) Most importantly! Stay true to yourself. This website and all of the social media associated with it is my name – TANYA FOSTER. The story is written in first person and receives my endorsement. That trust can’t be bought!

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Thank you to everyone who has supported me over the years. Many of you have been here the entire time and I am so thankful. Whether you pop in occasionally or visit daily – I appreciate you! Here’s to a fantastic 2025 and many more years to come.

xoxo – Tanya

P.S. This beautiful shirtdress is from my Ming Wang spring 2025 collection that launches on February 19. I can’t wait to share it with you!