In 2017, I launched my first self-hosted website. I was so proud of myself. It was a labor of love, a result of tutorials and templates, a project that involved many days and nights of planning, preparing, and positioning my way onto the internet. I did it because I wanted to write, and what better way to share my experiences, whimsical musings, and personal poetry with the world than through blogging on a self-hosted platform?
People might read it.
People might not.
I didn’t care either way. What I wanted was a space to express myself.
Fast forward to late 2022, and I decided my website needed a change to reflect its owner because as the years passed, I grew. I wasn’t the same me back in 2017, and the countless hours I spent customizing my site to match the vision 2017 I had in my head didn’t align with the current vision I had.
After much deliberation, I decided to put a nice “under construction” sign, taking down all the content I’ve populated my website with. The blogs, the poetry, the photos, everything had to go. It wasn’t because I disliked them. I had fun writing and creating content. It was such a joy, but I also realized the direction I wanted my content to go, and I’ve been revamping it ever since.
Now, with a newly re-launched website, I wanted to share a few tips and takeaways on the process:
1. Letting go is not always easy
I loved my website, its design, and how I made it my little safe corner on the internet. So when the initial idea of “rebranding” came to mind, I ran away and hid from the term because if I gave into the idea of rebranding, then it would mean my 2017 work would be for nothing, which was untrue (I was just being dramatic). I had to trust the process, allow myself to take the leap, and let go to grow.
Lesson: I recognized the need to reflect my growth in the spaces I’ve created.
2. It’s okay to try different things
A rebrand or a change in anything isn’t always going to be so cut and dry. It can be messy, with many moving pieces that don’t always quite fit. You might get frustrated that the picture you’ve painted didn’t turn out exactly how you envisioned it in your head (or how the outfit you put together doesn’t look as good as you thought it would). That’s where inspiration comes in.
Moodboards, social media (shout out to Pinterest), your environment, and anything that sparks your creativity should be embraced fully in the process.
Lesson: Inspiration can be anywhere. Look for it. Ask questions about yourself and what you want. Don’t be afraid to look, ask, or seek.
3. Take the leap, but take your time
This website was supposed to be re-released a long time ago. We’re talking early last year (dare I say even earlier?), but I still wasn’t satisfied, and I was in no rush to publish it if there were parts that made me unhappy. Taking a leap of faith is great, but it’s also okay to take your time. If you aren’t entirely satisfied, return to square one as often as you need to. We tend to put a timer on everything (It’s human nature, isn’t it?), But a timer doesn’t need to apply to everything. Sometimes, you have to let time flow freely and stop it when you know.
Lesson: Reframe and reset as many times as you need to.
4. Map it out
Maybe it’s a Capricorn thing, but I absolutely must write and map out everything. It gives me a sense of direction and prevents the vast expanse of anxiety ocean from drowning me. It‘s helpful to have a step-by-step starting with the basics.
Start with the why. Start with your intention. Your vision and go from there. This doesn’t just apply to rebrands but really to anything. It’s helpful to have a north star that guides you and reminds you of “why,” and then a map- which doesn’t have to be that detailed to help you plan things out and incorporate it into your schedule.
Lesson: Have a north star, map it out, and go forth!
So welcome to the re-released MinerveJean.com. Browse around, or stop by to say hi! Either way, I’ve got a lot of things in store, and I’m so excited!
Warmly,
Minerve Jean