My Experience Making a Website

byLayne

372 followers

Updated 8 years ago

I started trying to build a website earlier this month. It’s been so much fun. So far I’ve written nearly 20,000 words, shared some of my ideas on Facebook, and Twitter. Mostly though I’ve been focused on trying to build a mental health community.

Becoming a Morning Person

The website is BipolarAndAlive.com and the way it got started was very unexpected. I had started reading a book called The Miracle Morning and it really motivated me to start making positive changes in my life. I’ve always enjoyed writing, probably because I was taught to keep a journal and did so everyday for several years.

So one of my goals as I worked through The Miracle Morning was to start writing more. I started small, just listing things I was grateful for every night. Then I started getting ideas through out the day, so I would keep track of my thoughts on my phone in Evernote. Eventually, I realized that if I dedicated some time to it, I could probably write about some interesting topics.

Set Goals to Write Everyday

About that time the author of the Miracle Morning, co-authored another book called The Miracle Morning for Writer’s. So I picked it up and it was an excellent decision because it really got me to push myself. I started reading more about writing and how to find the things that most interest you. The best advice I’ve seen is that when you write, you should be genuine and helpful. So that’s what I’ve tried to do with BipolarAndAlive.com.

What’s the Purpose of BipolarAndAlive.com?

The website is basically a place for me to share my experiences as a person with bipolar disorder, but also to share things that have helped me be successful despite the challenges of the disorder. I’ve gotten positive feedback from a lot of people with bipolar, but also from people who’s loved ones have bipolar, and even mental health specialists, psychiatrists, psychologists, and life coaches. It’s been a great experience and besides writing, I’ve learned a ton.

I've Learned More Than How to Make a Website

Yes, I’ve learned how to make a website and how to find resources and ideas for articles, but I have learned so much more than that. Starting simple, I’ve learned some new social media platforms that I never really used before and it’s amazing to see the power of the internet in action. It’s opened my eyes. As I’ve made connections on twitter, Facebook, Google, and Pinterest, I’ve seen some incredible ideas that people are working on.

I’ve had to study the science of bipolar disorder more than I ever have before. This is impacted me directly and improved the quality of my life. Since I want to present my readers with ideas that will actually improve the quality of their lives, I have to research the science behind it to be sure that it’s sound and I have to try it out for myself to make sure it will work for me. Doing this has improved my diet, sleeping habits and motivation to exercise. Plus it’s helped balance my mood.

I Still Have a lot to Learn

I’ve also learned that anyone can have challenges with mental health and it’s nothing to be ashamed of. I’ve learned that there are lots of people like me and a lot of them also have many great ideas that can help people with depression, anxiety, or bipolar disorder.

A question I’ve been asking myself for a while is, how do I get the word out? How do I let people know about the site and invite them to participate by either posting comments or submitting an article as a guest writer? I bring it up now and then to let people know what I’ve been up to, but I feel like there’s a better way to reach the people who need it.

I am really grateful that I’ve stumbled upon this opportunity. I’m also proud of myself for taking a risk and putting myself out there, it was not easy, but it has been worth it.

My Goals and Plans

I plan to keep writing, maybe 2 articles a week and trying to figure out how to get the word out. My goal is to reach 200 unique daily visitors in about three months.Your plans and goals in the upcoming 6 months

In 6 months, I’d like to start learning about how to make a youtube channel, or maybe even a podcast. Hopefully by that time I’ll have some people that would be interested in listening.