Embarking on the entrepreneurial journey with The Healthy Maven has been an extraordinary adventure, vastly different from where I stood nearly a year ago. The evolution, both personally and professionally, has been profound, yielding countless lessons along the way. It still feels surreal to acknowledge that what began as a passion project has, over almost four years, organically grown into the very foundation of my livelihood. This transformation continues to astound me.
While the complexities of running a blog as a business, navigating entrepreneurship, and constantly explaining my income model could fill hours of conversation, I’ll spare you the extensive details. My primary aim today is to provide a transparent update on where things stand and share the single most impactful lesson I’ve absorbed this past year. For a deeper understanding of this journey, I encourage you to read last year’s business update, which offers a valuable perspective on the changes that have unfolded since.
The Evolution of Content: Beyond Food Blogging
Just a year ago, if you asked me to describe my profession, I would unequivocally say I was a food blogger. Today, that definition feels increasingly inadequate. While food remains a cherished subject, my content has broadened significantly, making the simple label of “food blogger” an understatement of what I truly do.
My decision to expand the scope of my blog was a deeply personal one, first explored in this post from six months prior. At that time, I felt a noticeable dip in inspiration and a growing sadness regarding my content direction. When I initially launched The Healthy Maven, my vision never confined it solely to food. My affection for food is undeniable, but it has never been, nor will it ever be, the sole focal point of my existence. As an individual driven by deep emotions, my blog needs to serve as an authentic reflection of who I am. Consequently, limiting myself to food-only content was no longer sustainable.
The journey to diversify my content to better mirror my life has not been without its challenges. However, the profound sense of passion that characterized the blog’s inception has joyfully returned. For me, the first and most crucial element for creating compelling content is genuine personal investment. Some might view this as unconventional business practice or even self-indulgent, but I firmly believe that for me to consistently show up and contribute meaningfully, my own creative desires must be met. This personal alignment fuels my motivation and ensures the content I produce resonates authentically.
Encouragingly, despite this shift in content focus, I haven’t observed a significant drop in audience engagement or overall numbers. I interpret this as a reassuring sign that this new direction is largely welcomed, a fact for which I am immensely grateful. But let’s delve a little deeper into the dynamics of audience engagement and growth.
Navigating Growth: Understanding the Numbers and Digital Trends
Since its inception, The Healthy Maven has consistently seen at least a doubling of its audience numbers year over year. However, this past year marked the slowest growth period I’ve experienced. While January brought a typical surge—a common occurrence for health-focused blogs—the subsequent months revealed a gradual decline or plateau. My philosophy has always been to avoid fixating on metrics, so I rarely dwell on the specific reasons for this personal slowdown in growth. This mindset helps me focus on quality over quantity.
On a broader scale, it’s clear that the digital landscape is rapidly evolving. Many individuals are now turning to social media platforms as their primary resource for healthy living content, rather than traditional blogs. The time people spend on blogs has diminished, a trend exacerbated by the inherent rise of video content across all platforms. This continuous evolution is an undeniable reality, and dwelling on it serves no productive purpose. Instead, the focus should be on adaptation—understanding what is currently relevant and trending, and how best to serve one’s community within these shifting paradigms. Adapting our strategies to meet our audience where they are is paramount for sustained engagement and relevance.
It’s also crucial to emphasize my unwavering commitment to organic readership. While I’ve observed some individuals within the blogging community—many of whom I know personally—employing bots and various programs to artificially inflate their audience numbers, I remain steadfast in my resolve to cultivate a community that genuinely cares about my content. This commitment naturally results in a slower growth trajectory, but I firmly believe that earning your trust is far more valuable and sustainable than simply accumulating likes. True connection forms the bedrock of a lasting and impactful online presence, and that’s a foundation I’m dedicated to building, one authentic interaction at a time.
Strategic Social Media Engagement: Building Authentic Connections
As readership on traditional blogs experiences a gradual decline, the power of social media engagement only intensifies. In today’s digital ecosystem, simply maintaining a blog is no longer sufficient for an online business. A robust presence across multiple social media channels, or at least a highly active and focused presence on carefully selected platforms, is now indispensable. This comprehensive approach ensures that content reaches a wider audience and fosters more dynamic interactions.
As many of you know, I am not the sole individual managing my social media channels. I’ll elaborate more on this later, but I must commend any blogger who single-handedly manages all their social platforms—you are truly exceptional. It demands an astonishing amount of work, a commitment often underestimated by outsiders. I consider myself incredibly fortunate and deeply grateful to have remarkable individuals assisting me behind the scenes, allowing me to focus on content creation while maintaining a strong social presence.
My primary focus on social media remains centered on fostering genuine engagement, with Pinterest being a notable exception. I leverage Pinterest primarily for its capacity to drive high-volume, albeit typically lower-engagement, traffic to my blog. For all other platforms, my unwavering commitment is to ensure they are relevant, consistently active, and authentically representative of my brand. This dedication is why I maintain sole authorship over my Instagram account, having intentionally shifted my strategy from frequent, sporadic posting to sharing content only when it feels truly meaningful and impactful. This mindful approach ensures that every interaction adds value.
Social media continues to present a delicate balance in my personal and professional life. While my personal usage of these platforms is minimal, my professional responsibilities necessitate a significant presence. In moments of feeling overwhelmed, I consciously remind myself of the immense privilege of having a platform to share my voice and connect with a community. This perspective invariably helps realign my focus. Nevertheless, navigating this balance remains an ongoing challenge, one I continuously strive to refine for optimal impact and personal well-being.
The Business of Blogging: Monetization and Maintaining Integrity
If there were a miraculous way to sustain The Healthy Maven without ever having to engage with the complexities of money, I would wholeheartedly believe in miracles. Alas, to pursue my passion and simultaneously manage my living expenses, finding effective monetization strategies was an unavoidable necessity. My guiding principle has always been that I work for my readers, and my compensation comes from brand partnerships. This operational philosophy is one I aspire to uphold for as long as possible. However, even with this clear delineation, there are frequent moments when I fear my integrity is questioned due to the sponsored work I undertake.
From my perspective, I dedicate significant effort to delivering valuable content and helpful resources to you, my audience. While this work is undeniably a labor of love, to consistently produce content of the highest caliber, I must commit myself fully. And full commitment, in a professional context, necessitates financial compensation—at least until my mythical money tree decides to sprout! That said, I completely empathize with the sentiment when bloggers are criticized for “selling out.” Even I, at times, encounter content that makes me question the authenticity of others. I am incredibly fortunate to collaborate with brands I genuinely admire and believe in, and while I sincerely hope this authenticity shines through, I understand and respect that being compensated for my blogging might lead some to question my motivations. This is a perception I’ve long accepted I cannot single-handedly change.
Financially, I am doing remarkably well, exceeding any expectations I ever held. This journey serves as powerful proof that if you are an aspiring blogger aiming to elevate your passion into a substantial career, it is absolutely possible. It demands unwavering dedication, relentless effort, and a deep understanding of your inherent value. Never let anyone convince you that this path cannot lead to a fulfilling and prosperous career. The opportunities are vast for those willing to commit and innovate within the digital space.
The Profound Lesson: Defining Success on Your Own Terms
This past year has been a period of profound growth and introspection for both myself and The Healthy Maven. While the blog is no longer the sole focus of my life, it undeniably remains one of its most cherished aspects. Without The Healthy Maven, a significant part of my identity would feel incomplete. Yet, keeping pace with the ever-evolving demands of the blogging world has presented its own set of challenges, pushing me to constantly adapt and learn.
To sustain a blog as a viable business, continuous evolution and the embrace of new, often uncharted, projects are essential. This means quickly acquiring diverse skills, from web design and podcast editing to videography, often at a moment’s notice. Fortunately, I thrive on challenges, so I generally approach these new demands with enthusiasm and a willingness to learn. This adaptability has been key to navigating the dynamic online landscape.
In today’s interconnected world, a vast ecosystem of professionals specializes in these exact activities. The era of needing to master every single skill yourself is gradually receding, giving way to a new century where hiring a skilled freelancer is often just a click away. This convenience, of course, is a privilege afforded to those with the financial means or to individuals who aren’t burdened by an extreme need for control. I won’t pretend I don’t lean towards the latter, often preferring a hands-on approach.
I learned long ago that I simply cannot do everything myself. However, a more recent and profound realization has been that “not doing it all” doesn’t automatically equate to needing to hire others for every task. There’s immense pressure in the business world to perpetually grow and scale. As I’ve witnessed The Healthy Maven experience both these phenomena, I’ve also come to understand that, in many fundamental ways, I don’t necessarily desire that relentless pursuit of expansion.
I genuinely love my work. I cherish the creative process. I take immense pride in knowing that I personally earned and developed every piece of content that inhabits this digital space. And, above all, I value you, my dedicated community. What I distinctly do not want is to dedicate my days to managing other people’s schedules and projects solely to make this space even larger or “better” for you. My fulfillment comes from direct creative engagement, not from managerial overhead.
This perspective is by no means a critique of those who choose to scale their businesses. My chosen path simply means that the growth of my business is naturally limited by my own capacity to work—which is substantial, but certainly not 24 hours a day. Scaling a business can, in many instances, free up more personal time for the owner and significantly enhance its value to the audience. However, the most significant lesson I’ve internalized is this: there is no single, universally correct way to conduct business. Each entrepreneurial journey is unique, guided by personal values and definitions of success.
It’s profoundly okay to choose not to pursue endless expansion. It’s equally okay to find contentment and purpose precisely where you are. This conviction has reshaped my approach to The Healthy Maven’s future.
So, what does this philosophy mean for The Healthy Maven moving forward? For now, we are committed to keeping things purposefully small and focused. The phenomenal Jess is no longer part of Team Maven, primarily because she is an absolute force who successfully landed her dream job – a triumph I couldn’t be prouder or more impressed by! Currently, the incomparable Cassie lends her incredible talent to assist with various projects, and of course, C continues his behind-the-scenes magic as the ultimate Instagram boyfriend. While I remain open to the possibility of additional members joining Team Maven in the future, it is no longer a primary goal to aggressively expand the team. The focus is on quality collaboration over sheer size.
Beyond this core support, it’s predominantly just me. I am the one cooking, meticulously shooting photos and videos, editing content, recording audio, negotiating partnerships, and tackling every dynamic challenge this exhilarating business presents. While I wouldn’t deny that this demanding pace can be stressful, I also wholeheartedly cherish every single second of it. My aim in sharing this is to offer reassurance to anyone feeling the pervasive pressure to constantly grow: there isn’t one prescribed way to build a business, and the ultimate end goal is not, and should not be, uniform for everyone. Keep this empowering thought firmly in mind as you set your aspirations for 2017 and beyond!
Anticipating 2017: A Glimpse into The Healthy Maven’s Future
As I embark on the fourth year of running The Healthy Maven, the word “wild” barely scratches the surface of how this journey feels. I honestly never envisioned being in this incredible position, but it stands as a true testament to the power of setting one’s heart on something and pursuing it with unwavering dedication—anything truly is possible.
2016 was undeniably a year of significant growing pains. Much has transformed in my personal life (details of which I’ll share in a separate post), and consequently, the blog has subtly shifted its direction to become a more complete and authentic reflection of me. I am continually striving to balance this personal evolution with my deep desire to genuinely serve and connect with you, my audience. My hope is to refine this balance even further throughout 2017. For now, here’s a peek at what you can expect in the coming year:
– The Podcast! – My excitement for this project is immense, particularly for the incredible individuals I’ll have the privilege of sharing with you through conversations. I’m eager to dedicate myself more fully to this new medium and explore the exciting avenues it will open for sharing insights and inspiration.
– Adventure Videos – If you’ve explored my YouTube channel, you’ll know my deep passion for travel and capturing those experiences on film. While my food videos are certainly enjoyable, it is undoubtedly the travel content that truly ignites my creative fire. My aspiration for 2017 is to produce more local adventure videos, showcasing inspiring experiences that don’t necessitate boarding a plane or extensive long-distance travel, making adventure more accessible.
– More Personal Reflections – I know, I know—is it even conceivable for me to get *more* personal? It turns out I am, by nature, quite an oversharer! However, I genuinely love that this platform serves as a virtual diary, inviting you to join me on this continuous journey of life and discovery. As I mentioned, there have been many personal changes, so prepare to hear all about those experiences and the lessons they’ve brought.
– Food in a Realistic Way – This might sound a little unconventional, but for the past couple of years, I felt an almost constant pressure to be super innovative in the kitchen. However, what I find most satisfying—and what I hope you will also appreciate—is that the most original creation isn’t always the best or most practical. I make genuinely delicious soups and cookies that are staples in my home, so my plan is to share the everyday recipes I consistently create and enjoy, rather than solely focusing on new recipes developed exclusively for the blog. This approach aims for more relatable and accessible cooking.
It has truly been another year for the record books, filled with growth, learning, and unforgettable moments! From the deepest depths of my heart, thank you for making all of this possible. I honestly would not be where I am today without your incredible support and engagement.
All photos courtesy of Bettina Bogar