I have some exciting news to share. I received an unexpected email that honestly caught me by surprise. As someone who started blogging simply to share personal experiences and interests online, I never imagined my blog would one day be recognized by a major content discovery platform.
On June 26, 2019, I received an email from Anuj Agarwal, the founder of Feedspot. The subject line mentioned that my blog, Van Dewey Balao Blog, had been included in Feedspot’s list of the Top 30 Philippines Lifestyle Blogs.
At first, I honestly thought the message was just another spam email. I wasn’t expecting my blog to be featured anywhere, so I ignored it initially. But after checking my inbox again and visiting the link myself, I realized the email was actually real.
Hi Van,
My name is Anuj Agarwal, I'm the Founder of Feedspot.
Thanks for submitting your Van Dewey Balao Blog on Feedspot.
I would like to personally congratulate you as your Van Dewey Balao Blog has been selected by our panelist as one of the Top 30 Philippines Lifestyle Blogs on the web.
https://blog.feedspot.com/philippines_lifestyle_bloggers/
I personally give you a high-five and want to thank you for your contribution to this world. This is the most comprehensive list of Top 30 Philippines Lifestyle Blogs on the internet and I'm honored to have you as part of this!
Best,
Anuj
I remembered that I had previously submitted my blog to Feedspot hoping to increase its visibility online. Feedspot is a platform that helps users follow blogs, websites, YouTube channels, podcasts, and RSS feeds all in one place.
At the time, I was actively trying to grow my blog by sharing articles on social media, improving my content, and leaving thoughtful comments on other blogs within the community. Still, I never expected those small efforts to eventually lead to this kind of recognition.
Seeing my blog included on the list was genuinely motivating. It reminded me that even personal blogs can reach more people when you consistently create content and keep improving over time.
Final Thoughts
Blogging can sometimes feel slow and discouraging, especially during the early stages when traffic and engagement are still small. But moments like this reminded me that consistency and passion can eventually open unexpected opportunities.
I’m truly thankful to Feedspot and to everyone who supported my blog throughout the years. Hopefully, this also encourages other small bloggers to keep writing, improving, and sharing their work online because you never really know who might discover your content one day.
