Goodbye Datadirt: Lessons From My First Digital Journey

Yesterday, I did something I never thought I would: I deleted my first blog, datadirt. It was bittersweet. For those of you who know me as a LinkedIn™ trainer, this might seem surprising. But datadirt was my first step into the digital spotlight, long before LinkedIn™ became my professional focus.

A Blog That Shaped My Journey

Back in 2006, I dove into the world of blogging. The internet was different then—raw, full of promise, and buzzing with potential. I launched datadirt as a blog dedicated to digital communication. Posting daily? No sweat. It became an obsession, a labor of love. Soon, I was publishing two articles a day, feeding a hungry audience with insights, trends, and experiments in online strategy.

Datadirt quickly climbed the ranks, landing in Germany and Austria’s Top-100 blogs. Impressive? On paper, yes. But in reality, it wasn’t sustainable. While the blog brought extra perks—free tech gear, sponsored trips, and a couple of bonus holidays—it wasn’t a full-time gig. My income came from keynotes, SEO workshops, and collaborations with colleagues I met at conferences and barcamps.

When Social Media Took Over

In 2010, the digital landscape shifted. Social media arrived like a tidal wave. Platforms like Facebook and X (then known as Twitter) offered bloggers an irresistible proposition: traffic. Suddenly, a single post or link could send hundreds, sometimes thousands, of readers to your site.

The “gold rush” was intoxicating but deceptive. Social media delivered clicks but not loyalty. It was like striking pyrite in a gold mine—sparkly but hollow. Meanwhile, LinkedIn™—the stubborn, no-nonsense B2B platform—refused to follow the trend. Its algorithm prioritized relationships and value over clicks. While I initially struggled with this, it turned out to be a blessing in disguise.

From Blogger to LinkedIn™ Trainer

Fast-forward to today. Over the past eight years, LinkedIn™ has been at the heart of my professional focus. The skills I learned as a blogger—writing compelling content, understanding digital audiences, and experimenting with new strategies—paved the way for my current role. Cracking LinkedIn™’s algorithm became my new challenge, and I embraced it with the same passion I had for blogging.

Along the way, I discovered the quirks of the platform: why hashtags matter, how to optimize the business graph, and the power of storytelling. These lessons didn’t just teach me how to succeed on LinkedIn™; they reminded me why I fell in love with digital communication in the first place.

Looking Ahead

Deleting datadirt was a tough decision, but it felt right. It was a chapter that shaped me, taught me, and launched me into a career I love. If there’s one takeaway from my blogging days, it’s this: every platform, no matter how small or temporary, can teach you something valuable.

As I bid farewell to datadirt, I’m grateful for everything it gave me—lessons, connections, and the confidence to keep evolving. Who knows? Maybe my next “big idea” is just around the corner.

Here’s to the next chapter—and to learning, always.