Robby G is a blogger from ShiteILike.com and explains the benefits of pushing your blog through good and through bad.
I was doing some research recently, wondering if my blog would ever take off and what it really depended on. I was a little bit discouraged about writing lots of content for two months on my blog, but having a significant amount of less traffic than on my friend’s blog which is only two months older than mine.
To see if my blog would ever receive any readers that would get interested, and hopefully raise my hopes, I went on ProBlogger. I looked through his much older posts and went through the comment list. I clicked on a bunch of commentators’ names that took me back to their blogs and recorded how many of them were still blogging today. Their comments were from 2006 and I noticed that most of the bloggers had either just abandoned their blog or quit paying for hosting completely.
Now the interesting stuff I learnt from my research was that the ones that actually held on to their blogs and kept posting through good and through bad on topics that they found dear to them, they in fact had a pretty decent following with many RSS Subscribers and were receiving quite a few comments on each post. I also ran their blogs through a Link Checker and saw that the older the blog, the more backlinks they had.
The great thing about perseverance when it comes to blogging is that the longer you push your blog, the more you get out of it. It doesn’t matter what topic you write about, because there are a lot of people out there that have the same interests as you no matter what they are.
Perseverance gives your blog backlinks, it gives your blog a higher rating on search engines, and it gives people time to learn more about you and spread your blog’s name through word of mouth. If you read this blog and a bunch of other “making money online” blogs, it opens your mind out to how to market your blog properly, and if you connect perseverance to marketing, there is no stopping you. All that’s left is time to allow someone big and famous to come along and mention your blog in a review or just mention a little bit about your post to really help you explode onto the Super Blogger level.
So all in all, in my opinion, there are really just two things every blogger should keep in mind when either starting a new blog or whenever they’re discouraged about their own blog:
- Make sure you’re blogging about a topic you really love (I know this one has been said before by almost everyone, but it’s true. Shite I Like is my second blog for a reason.)
- Whatever you do, don’t give up. Keep blogging and blogging, and reading, and blogging. The more time you put into it will really come back to help you 100 times more in the long-run. And you just might never know when your blog will turn huge.
Also, if you’ve got the time to blog on a topic on an almost daily basis, you more than likely have the time to do research of your own on how to market and make your blog popular without having to really spend much money on it.
Many people’s biggest flaw in life is entering into something thinking that easy money will just flow their way, and once the going gets even a little bit difficult, they abandon ship. For example, when I was going to University and Real Estate College at the same time, I thought I’d become a Real Estate Salesperson in no time and start selling houses in the summer time while everybody from University would be working some landscaping summer job. Becoming a Real Estate person was harder than I thought and took much more time than initially planned. At many points I thought about quitting that and just focusing on Univ, but perseverance got me through College to get into the field of Real Estate as a part-time job while still continuing with my Univ studies. I’m happy I pushed myself, because now I see that if I could keep a weekend job while going to University and College all at the same time, while also learning about blogging, then I can push myself to blog on a regular basis.
Keep those 2 points I outlined above in mind and make sure to always keep pushing yourself, because without perseverance you’ll never see any glory. I hope this post really gave you a motivation to keep blogging and reading and most importantly believing that all you need to reach your goal with blogging is constant determination, time, and a little bit of luck.
I agree with you.
“Giving Up” is perhaps the most common disease among bloggers. They don’t get good traffic for 1-2 months and stop working. There whole life is spent in switching blogs and nothing gets their full attention.
So far, my blog has grown slowly but consistently. I stick to my schedule and give time for promotion. And it has been paying off well. In starting, there may be some slow days but after that, it is much more easy.
I feel sad that most bloggers are never able to overcome the slow time and quit!
Creating a quality blog does take time and perseverance. I think so many people do try to take the easy way and use shortcuts and get discouraged when they find that the public isn’t stupid.
It wasn’t until my blog was over a year old that things really started to take off and I imagine it will take another year before I feel fully established. That’s okay, I’m in it for the long haul!
Awesome post. :D Personally I feel that perseverance is really important as most blogs only seem to really hit off after a while, so you need to stay focused to get your blog bringing in a decent income.
That was exactly what I needed today! I am the type that gets easily discouraged and have been feeling lately like my blog is going to get nowhere. Thanks for reminding me to just keep doing it for me. And if I write it, they’ll eventually come!
I’m approaching the year anniversary mark with my travel blog. The one thing I did when I started was decide on a regular blogging schedule, and I’ve managed to keep it through these 11 months. It does take time for things to build, but I’m seeing steady improvement. Thanks for the encouragement to keep going!
I agree. I think the mistake a lot of people make is changing their URL after a while, rebranding themselves. Doing this they abandon all of the good will they’ve build up over the years (or months). The better advice would be obviously to stick with it, explore the boundaries of your chosen subject, try to find ways of keeping it interesting for yourself.
I think blogging might be the best ways of becomming an expert on a subject. But, as you say, you’ve got to stick with it if you’re going to get the feedback –which is where you learn the most.
I think that blogging about something you love, really helps when it comes to keeping you going. I’ve started a lot of blogs in hopes to make money, but it wasn’t until I started blogging about something that I really love, coffee, that I was able to keep going at it day, after day, even when the results weren’t there. However, this blog is only a few months old now, but it’s already done better than blogs of mine that were six months old. I can’t wait to see what it’s like after a year.
Not many people have perseverance. Most bloggers who quit thought that making money online was easy and they found out otherwise :)
I had a post about perseverance some time ago, asking you to follow an example of a turtle: http://www.michaelaulia.com/blogs/wanna-be-a-great-blogger-be-persistent-like-a-turtle.html
Hope to still see you all here next year. Never give up!
Agreed.
This is what I tell myself when things are not moving as fast as I would want them to.
The perseverance will pay in the end.
My problem is that I have a quality youtube channel, with loads of subs. A great site that is in the top five google rankings, and a forum that does well.
But my most proud thing, my blog just sits dormant. I can’t get traffic to it. Been at it for a year and a half, now. I have about 50 RSS readers.
I’m doing Darrens 31 day challenge right now, and am on day 7, so hopefully I’ll find some joy with it!
Thanks Robby G and Darren!
I started to shut my other blog down after a year because of hackers/spammers and a lousy web hosting service, but I decided to persevere…and even started a new blog, which is going well!
I hope so! I’m taking it on faith that I’m not too late to the party, past performance no indication of future returns, etc etc etc.
I’m almost 6 months in on my main effort, and consider myself lucky to get more than single digit traffic. I know that’s because my niche is really crowded… and not just with other bloggers… hot keywords attract spam blogs like flies to honey.
That was a motivational write out, I have been blogging for almost a year, even though I earn less then $200 a month, but I think the road I have gone through is worth to continue as I’m starting to get hold on what I really like, which is share information more then making money out of it…. I doesn’t know why, but I believe that’s “passion”
Thank you for this post. I was just thinking about this, as my Blogaversary is coming up. I have another blog that I just don’t feel, but my main one, is just starting to take off now. Thanks to this post, I know that in the long run, it will be a good thing.
I love to help people, so I will stick it out!
Great post.
There are a lot of bloggers that started when I did that aren’t doing it anymore.
They’ve given up already, and that’s why there are so few that actually make enough money to live off of from their blog; because most people only want to make money quickly and when they realize it’s going to take some time and effort, they give up.
I am a Vintage Babe NOT Aging Graciously..so figured I just as well laugh and keep trying to learn new things. I blog because I like to…keeps my senior mind active. You know, there are some pretty bright aging seniors out there with a boatload of spunk. Thanks for your thoughts! Like Jimmy Buffett says ‘growing older but not up’…
Thanks for the inspiration. I agree that many bloggers abandon their blogs instead of pushing through, but maybe their effort was half-hearted to begin with or they weren’t really blogging about what they love. Then again, sometimes life gets in the way. As with anything in life, never give up.
You should post this every two months!
Timely advice. Thank you. I’m finishing up my second month of writing on my longevity blog. This seems to be the start of the period when many blogs fail because the writers start to lose enthusiasm. It’s posts like these and many others I have read here on ProBlogger that remind me that perseverance is integral at this stage and that no one is successful immediately; it takes time.
I’ve set a goal for fifty quality posts a month and have met this goal for roughly eight weeks. Readership slowly builds and will continue to build it’s my job as a blogger to stay focused. Thanks!
Worth noting: The older your domain name (once it goes active), the better search engine juice it gets from Google.
I’m glad you’ve all enjoyed the post and found it motivational. I wrote it in hopes of encouraging bloggers that haven’t seen the highs but are still in the lows and feel like quitting. Keep going and if you’re consistent, not only will your blog grow but you will learn ways to improve your own blog whether through new writing skills or your improving your topic and in the end it will always pay out.
Thank you for the motivation!
http://catsongstitchery.blogspot.com
Always good to know what to expect from someone who has been there. Thanks
This is a good reminder for me to not give up. Its so easy to feel discouraged when things are slow. The good new is, no matter how things are going, I still enjoy what I do so that helps a lot.
I have went though my Good Reader recently and found almost a dozen blogs (out of 100 or so) that hasn’t posted in months without so much as a “farewell post”. Its amazing how many people give up.
You have hit the nail right on the head with this one! Perserverance is key especially if it’s your very first blog and you are trying to ctrack into a niche readership!
This is a great post, and I definitely agree with you! I’m in it for the fun of it, and I’m enjoying it, although I don’t get many visits.
I think coherence also is important when it comes to blogging. A slip every once and a while is okay, but bad writing or poor grammar will also minimize the impact of any message you hope to promote.
Nice post, Robby, and thanks. I find it interesting that even with the Internet, computers, social media and so many technical innovations — things that didn’t exist even a few years ago — the fundamental verities still apply.
To wit: find something you’re passionate about and persevere. I bet you could do Darren proud by blogging a list of weary old platitudes about hard work and perseverance, stuff that we as kids probably rolled our eyes at, but which still hold water.
I let my site/blog languish for 6 months while working on a book — and still am — yet was surprised to see people were still actually visiting it. Not many, but some.
Darren’s 31DBB got me back into it and though I’m less than half-way through the assignments, I’ve begun posting again, including two in two days. Before, I posted one a week at best.
Thanks again for the nudge. I’ve got to write another post.
Cheers,
John
The only way to remedy getting tired of blogging – is blogging about your passion. This is the only way you’ll be excited to blog, each and every morning. Without this passion – your blog won’t continue with as much success, as your content will be dry and forced.
Great post!
Agree 100% with you.
giving up is the easiest thing a person can do..
And going on with a thing even if it is not reaping any results the most difficult.
So, if you remain there, even in tough times..
You would finally emerge as a winner.
Saurabh
(http://jammyspeak.blogspot.com)
Yeah Darren i m agree with you too and very nice article Thanks
( TeraTips.com) http://www.teratips.com
Wow. Thanks, Robby G. This hit at a time when I was despairing I would ever get anywhere with my blogs. I knew going in it was going to take years, not months, to build my audience. I knew going in that it was going to be time-consuming and a grind at times. But when I ran a contest last month that failed to bring in a single response, I felt pretty lousy.
But it’s just a matter of time.
Thanks for the reassurance and the motivation to keep going.
Anne Louise Bannon
Oddballgrape.com
Wao! What an inspiring post. As somebody starting her own blog and struggling to keep motivated, I got a rush of energy and willingness to persevere out of it. Thank you!!
I cannot agree enough with this post. I have started 3 blogs in total and after a few months I binned the first, started the second and closed that one after a few months because I thought I was getting nowhere. I then read a post on Problogger that basically told me that patience IS a virtue. So I kept on with my third blog and 10 months later I am now getting over a 1200 page views a day, receive between 20-30 e-mails and make a little bit of money on AdSense.
All I have to do now is start making ‘bigger bucks’ and I shall be over the moon.
Great post!!
This is good advice and gives hope to those of us that struggle.
Very few people ever experience success immediately whether in blogging, selling on ebay or in general business. As they say good things come to those who wait so yes perseverance and determination are the order of the day. Great post.
Great article, I found your website always full of interesting and great content.
I will keep checking back!
http://www.yooblu.co.cc/
Thanks you
No doubt about it. I say post daily. Schedule posts so you can still post daily and not post on weekends.
@Paramendra Bhagat: Yeah, I agree about not posting on weekends. If you don’t have a large returning reader base then weekend posts barely get recognition.
I completely agree. You just need to keep pedaling. I’m not terribly impressed with my own stats yet, although many of the followers I have are QUITE loyal, so I just keep writing.
I usually post one weekend post on The Casual Observer and then have my entertainment columnist write another. The aid of two weekly columnist lets my web magazine post 7 days a week most weeks, without all of the weight being on my shoulders.
Right now, I’m in the midst of working on a special giveaway for my repeat visitors and RSS followers, which is really keeping my spirits up.
Great truth in this post. Staying with it really is a great key to success in this!
thanks for this fire artice
http://www.teratips.com
Though I don’t run a blog, I still found this article very encouraging. Some days I have to force myself to write, but I know it will pay off eventually.
Sometimes even perseverance isn’t enough. My site is nearly 13 years old, I have a monthly radio show (was weekly for 8 years), and blog daily if not more. I think I provide a service for a niche that doesn’t appear to know how to use the web and will need to rethink my approach.
Despite my lack of blog/site traffic, I do persevere because I believe in my content and my approach. Perseverance and consistency is something that I strive for in everything I do.
I forgot to mention that I bought Darren’s 31 Days to a Better Blog manual and am re-energized to keep the site going and make the fine tune adjustments and approaches described in what I have found to be the most useful technology tool I have found in many years.
I totally agree with you. When I look back at old posts and check the comments’ sites, pretty much all of those blogs / sites were all gone and taken offline. It gets a little saddening seeing that because if they persevered, they probably would have witnessed the results they are looking for. All of us face the stage of ‘Dip’, where there is a plateau in what they do. As long as we push past that, we will see the light at the other end of the tunnel.
http://celestinechua.com – Personal Development Blog
Be Your Best Self. Live Your Best Life
It also depends “why” you’re blogging.
If someone is blogging just to try and make a buck, then they will get discouraged and frustrated very easily.
If someone blogs for the love of it, their content will be better cause they put feeling into it and they’re not stressed out about making a buck. I think this makes them successful in the long run.
Thnx for the tip … i was having 2nd thoughts abt 1 of my blog … thnx to u i wont nemore :)
So essentially we need to gamble with our efforts not knowing when the blog will take off :(..
I believe there are better ways to do, learn to improve.. rather than hope that some day your bread will come!
You know I run a website, 2 blogs, 1 podcast, and a vlog, the biggest thing that has helped me is the ability to jump from one to the other. When I get sick of the make money niche I jump over to internet marketing. I love how you said:
“Many people’s biggest flaw in life is entering into something thinking that easy money will just flow their way, and once the going gets even a little bit difficult, they abandon ship.”
This really is the number one reason people fail. I hate to say it, but I am kinda glad people get frustrated. I mean think about it what if people did have preseverence and no one quit working it would be much harder to make any kind of name for yourself. Anyway excellent post.
Kris,