My Website Journey: From 2018 to Now – Why I’m Starting Fresh

byMarlinda1

2.4K followers

3 months ago

Back in 2018, I built my first website with Wealthy Affiliate. At the time, my oldest daughter was one year old, and I was just learning the ropes. I committed to showing up consistently, and even though it was a competitive niche, within three months I started ranking and seeing results. That early success showed me what was possible but honestly, I didn’t fully believe in myself.

In real life, I didn’t have much support. Instead of encouragement, I faced doubt, shaming, and negativity from people close to me. That's putting it very lightly. Even though the site was holding its own, the weight of those voices combined with my own mental struggles made it hard to keep pushing forward.

Now, I find myself in a familiar season. I’ve just had another baby, who is now one, and life feels a little like it did back then, except this time I also have an older daughter stepping into her pre-teen years. Navigating diapers and late nights while also learning how to guide a daughter through the changes of adolescence brings a whole new set of challenges. It’s a reminder that building online isn’t just about strategies, it’s about how our real lives and businesses weave together.

The truth is, my website has stood strong all these years, even during the seasons when I couldn’t give it my full attention. My oldest, who was once a baby when I began this journey, is now creating things of her own. She even dove into WA’s new DsgnPop feature and designed a logo — [you can read that funny story here]. It makes me smile to see her growing right alongside my business.

And that’s what brings me here today. I’m in the middle of a complete revamp, not starting from scratch, but rebuilding smarter, stronger, and more intentional than ever. Over the years, I’ve learned so much about building online, about myself, and about what really matters. Now I’m taking that knowledge and reshaping my site to be more helpful, more focused, and more aligned with where I am today.

This time, I’m not just tracking stats. I’ll also be sharing updates about my process and mindset, because I’ve realized that mental health, consistency, and balance are just as important as traffic and rankings.

And if I’m honest, part of the reason I’m inclined to share my journey openly is because I know how isolating this can feel, especially for mothers and women of color who are just trying to find real answers. I’ve seen too many people being taken advantage of, and while I’ve never fully “fit in” with that demographic, I do want to be a voice that brings honesty and encouragement.

So this is my starting point. My 2018 site taught me what’s possible. This revamp is about proving to myself that I can do it again — only better.

I know I’m not the only one who’s had to step back and then find the courage to start fresh. I’d love to hear your story too, what’s your journey been like? Drop it in the comments so we can encourage each other. And if you want to follow along as I share both the ups and the stats of this revamp, stick with me because I've got more updates are coming soon!