I got my first ever viral blog post this year!
Before I dive into how it happened, I feel like I should explain that it did not happen overnight. It was actually over three years in the making of consistent hard work, and being willing to grow on this journey.
I vividly remember the days where I was happy to get 20 views on a blog post the day it came out, even though I knew half of it was family and friends. I was excited to share with others something I created and feeling like I was reaching people and providing value.
My first blog post to get over a 100 views were my wedding blog posts which were a two part series of “Not My Dream Wedding”. Another piece I was pumped to share with my small community I was building, bring my authentic self to the table in hopes of helping just one person.
But those kind of post hitting off only happened here and there, in the beginning. It was totally normal to go days without having anyone visit my blog. It got to me down some days but most days it just encouraged me to create more authentic quality content for my community, for that person new to sustainable living who’s just trying to catch their breath.
I have been learning non-stop from brilliant Black woman mentors who push me to achieve my dreams and create a true tribe. I saw so many people start blogs only to stop a few months later but I didn’t give up!
I put myself in the seat of my audience and I delivered. Going viral for me came in the most unexpected way.
I didn’t want to focus on why it happened, I just wanted to focus on my post that only had about 100 views since February, getting over 2,000 views in one month in June. Not what some people call viral but it was for me and it was an absolutely insane time! I was over the moon at the amount of people who were reading my blog post.
Since June, on average I get about 100 views on this particular post. People are finding value in this post and people are looking for this post. According to SEO (Google Search Engine), people are typing these words into Google and my post is popping up as a resource for them.
I just hate why it happened.
It came at a great cost.
It came at the cost of George Floyd’s life. A Black life gone. Murdered. Again.
Unfortunately shortly after, other Black lives followed like Breonna Taylor.
The incidents afterwards of protests, marches, and calling for justice consumed the United States. Wild enough it all started in a city I called home for two years while going to graduate school in Minneapolis, Minnesota. This one event had people in a frenzy to learn more about Black people, their contributions, and their talents. Many wanted to support. There was a un-denying push for allies to learn and learn now.
My blog post “Top 15 Black Zerowaste Influencers” became a tool. A mechanism in which non-Black people could engage with accounts of Black zerowaste influencers. Funny enough I created that post back in February for Black History month- little did I know the vital role it would play for the daily readers 5 months later after the killing of a Black man in the United States.
Pissed at the loss of another Black life and that it made my first post go viral, I didn’t stay angry for long. I used my anger and hurt to create more value for my tribe and those who wanted to learn.
This blog post inspired a series after it: 11 Black-Owned Secondhand Stores to Support NOW and Top 13 Hispanic Sustainability Influencers to follow.
I hate what it took for my blog post to go viral but I won’t waste this moment. It inspired an expansion to my brand beyond any plans I had at the start of 2020. It ignited me with a fire to create a place to more intentionally honor Blacks in the sustainability space and other people of color.
A virtual space that supports and empowers BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) sustainable businesses that often don’t get the support that they need and deserve in this movement. This BIPOC sustainable businesses list, AYOlogue, covers categories like home, food, beauty, skincare, and more.
Over 150 BIPOC sustainable businesses available to you to support the BIPOC community in a tangible impactful way.
Live out your values today and support BIPOCs in the sustainability community! It starts here.
With Encouragement,
Akua