As I’ve been bouncing through the blogosphere I seem to keep running into bloggers with a sense of disillusionment about their blogs.
In fact, I stumbled upon one earlier today that is really discouraging and makes a perfect example for this article. I won’t mention the name of the blog where I found this, but I will share with you a quote from their most recent, and assuming, their last article:
I think that it is about time for my blog to lay to rest! It seems like the more I post the fewer visitors I get.
Sometimes I think that this is a common feeling among bloggers. People believe that gaining a following is impossible because up to this point they have failed to do so. Sometimes you may need to adjust something, but the bottom line is that everyone has the potential to make it big and have a successful blog. Here’s some of the myths that people tend to buy into that get them discouraged:
1. You can’t do it.
In the example above the blogger simply decided that she could not grow her readers so she gave up. Readers aren’t going to grow on their own but it can be done. There are very specific actions that you can take to enhance your visitors experience and to attract new readers.
Instead of thinking that you can’t do it you should be thinking about learning and exploring new ways of doing it. Each day I post new ways to enhance your blog. Browse through the articles here, find some advice, and grow yourself and your blog.
If you always do what you’ve always done then you will always get what you’ve always got.
2. You can do it but you have to be famous already.
I recently read an article that attempted to prove that only journalists, news reporters and celebrities had the potential of creating successful blogs. They certainly have a head start as far as followers are concerned but most of the top 100 blogs on Technorati are from people who built their sites one reader at a time.
3. You have to follow all the rules.
There are a lot of principles that can guide you toward success in the great blogosphere but you don’t have to follow all of them in order to gain a following. In fact, the more that you can set yourself apart the greater your success is likely to be.
You don’t have to compromise what you believe or pretend to be someone that you are not. Simply pour out your passion and you have the same potential for greatness as anyone else.
4. You have to do it full time.
Some people think that they can’t be a professional blogger unless they can devote 40 hours per week to it. That is simply bogus.
Let me be honest here. I run Site Sketch 101 in my spare time. I work far more than 40 hours a week at my job and I still find time to blog my passions here at Site Sketch 101 and I find myself growing in readers, subscribers and comments every week…and you can too!
5. You’re too young or too old to do it.
I think that the generation gap discourages a lot of bloggers. Young bloggers feel like that can’t relate to experienced veterans and older bloggers feel like they can’t relate to young, tech savvy bloggers. Both beliefs are bogus.
If you have a passion then let people know about it. Don’t let your age or experience discourage you. Your never to old to keep learning and growing and your never too young to communicate your passions.
The bottom line is this: Be passionate on your blog. Let people feel your excitement and joy about your subject and it won’t matter who you are. You have the same potential for success in this as anyone else. Believe in yourself and drive on!
19 Discussions
I feel it is not how they going to say that counts, but what they say that really counts. You see most people give feeling down is because they can’t find a way on how to say their stuff on blog as oppose on what they had to say on their blog.
Their mind kept searching for the “how” and in the end they feel they just couldn’t find it. They should find out “What” their reader wants and blog “what” their reader wants to read. It all comes down the one reason which most people will give…. “No Time”
Which to me… is not no time… but simply lazy to do it, that’s all.
Awesome post Nicholas! It’s true that most bloggers give up before they ever let their blog really get working. It takes time to get good at something and a whole lot of consistent work. Blogging success comes from one word… diligence!
Seth W´s last blog ..The Biggest Blogging Resource Page Ever!
This is so true. To simplify this one, let passion alone dictate whether you can achieve your goals or not.
Melvin´s last blog ..Answers To Q and A Round 4..
Exactly! We need to empower ourselves with passion. That is the key!
Nicholas Z. Cardot´s last blog ..The Golden Nuggets of Negative Feedback
In my opinion, building a successful blog is a lot like starting a successful business – it takes time, effort, passion, and perseverance. I agree with a lot of what you said in your post – especially #5. Everyone knows how difficult it is for older people to “get” blogging, but most people don’t stop to think about the difficulties that younger bloggers face. Thanks for pointing that out!
As for me, I’m just trying to take it one day at a time with blogging; hopefully it’ll pay off eventually
Jeffrey Tang´s last blog ..17 Simple Ways to Be More Persuasive
I identify with the writer of your first quote, but am too stubborn to quit. I would be interested to know how you would measure blog success: income? visitors? comments? RSS feeds?
Thanks for the encouragement to keep on keeping on, Nicholas.
Cheryl´s last blog ..The Other Side of the Storm
Great question. On Friday I posted an article at my blog entitled, “What is Success and how do I get it?” It should answer that question pretty well.
Nicholas Z. Cardot´s last blog ..The Golden Nuggets of Negative Feedback
Most of the time what people lack is persistence and motivation. Other than that-no factor counts.
Great post!
~Igor
igorkheifets´s last blog ..The Day I Became Legal In 195 Countries
Great article, I can relate to almost everything you say.
I’m sure all of us have been through that stage at some point, in our blogging careers where we felt like its not working out, we should quit. But your post gives encouragement, motivation and the guidance for those who are on the verge of giving up. Thanks for this great article.
HAVOC MARKETING´s last blog ..Clickbank Pirate – Pillage & Plunder Clickbank For Autopilot Income
Your articles on Qualities of Successful Blogs were also very helpful, Nicholas. If our blogs aren’t successful (however we define that), it won’t be for lack of information and encouragement!
Cheryl´s last blog ..The Other Side of the Storm
People who place extreme expectations in the early life of their blogs are the one’s who loose interest in blogging later on. Some bloggers expect to become overnight millionaires by having a single post on their blogs. Seems absurd, but there are people who really think in this way.
Blogging should be enjoyable; if you no longer take interest in your blog, then the wisest choice is to move on.
Richael | Domain Marvelous´s last blog ..Domain Name Promo Codes for August
Great post and I agree with Richael | Domain Marvelous, blogging should be enjoyable. Blogging to make a living from day one is going to be a tough nut to crack and I wish everybody that wants to do it, good luck.
Klaus @ TechPatio´s last blog ..TDC Warns Against Phishing
The great thing about blogs and internet is that anyone can make it if you are just willing to spend enough time and work on it. It doesn’t matter if your young or old, there’s always a place for you. And if there isn’t, then you can create it.
Stefan´s last blog ..How to Increase Your Number of Pageviews
I remembered a similar post that I did almost two years ago, it’s titled the “3 Wrong Things That They Say”. Almost similar too this, but it’s good to know someone expounded it to 5.
@Nicholas: you’re the blogger behind sitesktech 101? I’ve been hearing a lot from you lately.Good job over there!
Liane YoungBlogger´s last blog ..Unarguably the Easiest Tactic for Bloggers to Build a Newsletter List
@Nicholas, great post. Making it big is definitely not an overnight thing and bloggers who want to make it big or make some $ from it shld be patient and slowly build readers..
Most drop out along the way due to the time and effort involved…
ZQ
ZQ | Travel Blog´s last blog ..Mozart Madness and Public Transport in Vienna
Great post Nicholas! I relate the most to #5. I started this blog when I was 15 and I remember someone laughing at the fact a kid as young as 15 is going to give them advice on how to do something. People suck, but I am confident that this blog is bigger than that persons blog!
Alex´s last blog ..Young Blogger Interviews #2: Liane from Better Blogging for Bloggers
I think definitely alot of people give up way too easily, not only when it comes to blogging, but just about anything in life. I know of friends who have been blogging for a while now, but it took them over 2 years too see success, but they kept digging, and kept believing in what they were doing, and eventually they got to where they wanted to be. Nothing in life is easy, and you definitely have to be passionate about it like you suggest.
Till then,
Jean
“You have to follow all the rules.” True, however, most of the rules should be followed! We’ve competed against folks who didn’t follow the rules and got caught. So, follow the legal rules, but carve out new business rules that suits yourself.
Joe´s last blog ..Kennewick Real Estate Listings
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