I can’t start my first post of 2015 without taking a quick look back at 2014. This time last year I was just getting into the regular groove of blogging 3 years after my very first blog post (which I had never promoted or made known to the public so shhhh LOL) and I changed the look of my blog 3 times (minor changes)! Also looking back, there are a few things I could have done differently and there are also many things that I would not change even if I had to do it all over again.
2014 was my year of being very open-minded and taking risks. I took a dive into blogging full swing in January (despite a few negative and discouraging comments as to why would I want to blog) and as a result I initially took it upon myself to depend on no one, but myself to promote my blog alone and I think I was successful in making some sort noise all over to anyone who would listen! Results: People were kind of stalked by me to checkout my blog site and page :-)! As if that weren’t enough, I created my own little team of Hotjem promoters (my secret clan) who were great at posting and sharing my stuff on FB. Althought my initial intent for The Hotjem was to post my outfits and share with friends and family, over time I quickly found it a bit boring to only do just that and so I naturally ventured off into adding other sections such as Fashion City and Street @fricana to name a few and keeps me busy!
A collage of some of my outfit posts
2014 for me was not only a year to get out there and show my blogging skills but it allowed me to venture out a little and connect with many interesting people, other bloggers and entrepreneurs and in the process it allowed me to fulfill one of my goals of educating and bringing awareness of the importance of blogging and Social Media to Cameroonians and Cameroonian Entrepreneurs both in and out of Cameroon and encouraging Cameroonians to support Cameroonian bloggers by following their blogs and engaging with them so we could also enjoy what other African bloggers experience with their readers and followers (very lacking in our community). Its no secret that we are still lacking in knowledge when it comes to this. I have seen so many bloggers from other African countries like Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, South Africa and even Ethiopia and smaller countries like Congo achieve high levels of success as a result of their own people fully supporting them. As a Cameroonian Blogger it is very difficult to attain such heights of success among the Cameroonian community as they still lack the understanding of what blogging is all about and how to support us and our work and how to work with us to enhance businesses! As my blog became a bit more visible among Cameroonians, people started reaching out to me to ask questions about blogging and how to start one. Therefore, it was only natural that I got involved in organizing one of the most anticipated Blogging/Social Media/Networking events created by 9 female bloggers and entrepreneurs in Cameroon which took place on December 30th in Douala, Cameroon!
A collage of some of my outfit posts
All in all, I enjoyed the roller coaster rides that 2014 had to offer. I also learnt that not all of your friends will always support you in everything you do. Reality Check! The ones I thought would be excited for me when I started The Hotjem and whom I thought would support me, promote me (as I would have done for them) and encourage me to continue were no where to be found. Some never even bothered inquiring about my blog or showed interest and it made me question myself for a split second if what I was doing was that bad lol! But I quickly over came those thoughts as I do NOT let people define who I am or discourage me from achieving what I want to achieve. Especially since those that count like my sisters and some family members encouraged me in addition to the many other non-family members and even those I don’t even know personally who sent me words of encouragement! These are the people I blog for! At the end I really don’t need anyone’s acknowledgement and approval to define me or to enable me to do what I want to do. As long as I enjoy doing what I do, that’s all that matters.
I can’t end this without giving a big shout out to my sister Senge for being my initial photographer when I didn’t have one and to my other sister Ndolo Tia (who finally opened her Trendy by Tia boutique last year in Yaounde – Cameroon so check it out) for providing me with some items from the TBT boutique to wear for a couple of my blog posts. Those two support me always! My parents too have played a big part in allowing me to express myself via blogging!
Also a quick thank you to the Cameroonian bloggers who interviewed and/or featured me (you know yourselves), my homie Mel, my cousin Stanley and to Julio Barthson (CEO of Barthson Global Communication, a company that does online promo work and who is the only Cameroonian person I know of who has more Twitter and Instagram followers than most Cameroonian public figures combined) for being so kind for promoting The Hotjem blog and Facebook page throughout 2014!
Lastly, a HUGE Thank you goes to all of you who read my blog and/or follow me on social media and who in one way or another have supported me, promoted my blog in one way or another and helped me grow. I appreciate your support and it makes me happy to know that you like what I do. I look forward to what 2015 has to offer with all its opportunities so lets get this party started!! xoxo …ME
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