Today, I finally decided to go back to blogging. After all these years, and based on my personal experiences, I believe this is the right time to resume blogging—and do it the right way.
Back in 2009, my college teacher introduced me to blogging. He said, “You can actually earn from blogging. You just need to learn how to write articles and understand SEO.”
Why SEO Matters
SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is one of the most important aspects of blogging. Without understanding SEO, your blog posts are basically invisible. You could write amazing content, but if it’s not structured properly—using headings (H1, H2, H3), bold or italic text, links, labels, search descriptions, and permalinks—then it’s just plain text on the internet.
Back then, I experimented with SEO a lot. The most popular blogging platforms were Blogger.com, WordPress.com, and i.ph, with others like Squarespace also around. I started with Blogger.
My Early Blogging Struggles
As a newbie, I didn’t know how to write structured articles. I just wrote what I wanted to say. The result? Nothing happened. No traffic, no engagement. It was plain text with no structure, labels, or SEO in place.
Then my teacher advised me to try WordPress. At first glance, I loved its clean interface. Writing was simple, and the platform gave more control through categories and tags—features Blogger lacked at the time. My WordPress blog began ranking in Google search, unlike my Blogger blog, which had no visitors.
I also tried i.ph, a simple blogging platform that allowed sharing ad revenue. Blogger allowed AdSense ads immediately, while WordPress.com didn’t support direct advertising—though affiliate links were allowed. Personally, I wasn’t into affiliate marketing back then, so I preferred using WordPress.com for its structure and better SEO performance.
Joining My First SEO Contest
My teacher then suggested I participate in a local SEO contest. For context, SEO contests measure how well a blog ranks on Google search. Winners were the blogs appearing in the top 3 search results. The prize was small, but it felt like free money!
I competed alongside classmates and other locals. I researched and studied SEO strategies thoroughly. Thanks to WordPress.com, my posts started ranking higher on Google, and I even won some contests and earned small cash prizes.
The Next Chapter: Losing My WordPress Account
After years of blogging and competing in SEO contests, I lost my WordPress account—completely. Everything I built there was gone. At the time, I was participating in SEO contests to earn some cash, and suddenly, WordPress blocked my account. It was a hard lesson: platforms can fail you, and nothing online is guaranteed.
My First Real SEO Job
After that setback, my teacher offered me a unique opportunity. Even as a student, he said, “Since you know SEO, why don’t you work with me?” That was my first real employment. I worked on his website, optimizing content and participating in international SEO contests.
These contests were intense. To win, you had to rank on three major search engines:
- Bing
- Internet Explorer
Each search engine had its own rules and strategies. Google was the most competitive. Working with my teacher, I learned a ton about SEO, keywords, content strategy, and how to adapt for different platforms. I earned money for my work and gained invaluable experience that shaped my understanding of online marketing.
The Challenges of Online Marketing
Eventually, we stopped working together. My teacher lost interest in online marketing, and without fresh ideas, the project could no longer continue. This taught me an important lesson: in online marketing, survival depends on constant creativity, research, and adaptation. If you stop looking for new niches or strategies, you’ll struggle.
After that, I focused on “normal” jobs—paychecks, minimum wage, and the usual grind. It was very different from the freedom and earnings I had experienced with SEO. But in 2017, I came back online with a new strategy. I discovered a powerful keyword and applied everything I had learned about SEO over the years. The result? Huge traffic and significant earnings.
Of course, SEO has its challenges—competition, strategies like white hat, gray hat, and black hat—but that’s a discussion for another article.
Why I Created Bl9gger
Actually, I always typo when typing Blogger. It will just bl9gger. So yeah, I use the name and since the domain name (bl9gger.com)was still available, I use it anyway. Now, in 2026, I’m back to blogging—this time with focus and experience. Unlike before, this blog is not just about SEO contests or earning quick cash. It’s about sharing knowledge, discovering patterns, and helping others learn from my journey.
Interestingly, my old Blogger.com blogs are still alive. Unlike WordPress, which can block accounts and delete everything, Blogger has stood the test of time. That’s why I decided to lock in on Blogger.com for this new blog.
This is my personal domain: Bl9gger.com. Here, I’ll share everything I know about blogging, SEO, and my experiments. I may also explore related topics, but for now, the focus is on Blogger.
Meet NineBulb
To make this blog more fun, I created a mascot named NineBulb. He will be the face of the website—you’ll see him in the header. He’s cute, cheerful, and represents ideas and insights. And behind the scenes, I’m the writer and admin, sharing knowledge, tips, and experiences.
I hope visitors will learn from my journey, not just about earning money online, but about problem-solving, bloggerspot patterns, and exploring new ideas.
So, welcome to Bl9gger.com. This is just the beginning, and I’m excited to share this journey with you.
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