One of the most difficult things as bloggers that we can do is be brutally honest with ourselves and sometimes with each other in our communities. Hey, believe me, I get that. We are in groups to be supportive of each other. No one wants to burst anyone’s bubble or be hyper critical of someone else’s work in regard to content mistakes. Especially when we have formed relationships with these people.
But when the questions turn to:
- why is no one reading my blog?
- why is no one leaving comments?
- why is my traffic not growing?
You need to ask YOURSELF why. Why do you want more? What is your purpose?
If you write because you enjoy it and you want to be part of a community of supportive bloggers and form friendships, you have already achieved that. If you are looking for more, why?
I find so many bloggers afraid to come right out and say it. “I want to be successful”. And if you can’t say it, you can’t be it. You can not reach for a goal if you have not clearly outlined it for yourself.
Success is not a dirty word. And neither is monetization if that is what you really want. Stop lying to yourself and be very clear and honest. If that is what you want, step up and say so. Only then, can the real work begin.
The most important element that changes when you decide you would like to make your blog a success or make it your business is that your focus must switch from yourself to your reader. Your blog must provide a benefit, a lesson or an experience for visitors. It has to be worthwhile and engaging. What value are you providing?
You must take a really good look at your blog through the eyes of the reader.
If you are wanting to break outside of just being read by other bloggers, be a successful blogger and/or you want to build your blog into a business, the following list is for you.
3 Content Mistakes Bloggers Need To Stop Making If They Want To Grow Their Audience
1. Using your blog as a personal journal
Unless you have a very unique writing style, are a celebrity, or you lead an outstanding, awesome life, no one is interested in your day to day activities. Sorry, but they are not.
And if you are suffering from a bad case of writer’s block, please do not resort to ideas from posts like, “1001 Blog Posts”. These kinds of posts may spark some inspiration for you but it would probably be “you” oriented, not fit into your niche and not be what your readers are wanting and expecting from your blog.
If you can not find even one keyword to use to describe your post for SEO, chances are you are journaling. Why not use that for a post on your Facebook fanpage. It is much better suited there.
If you need help coming up with blog posts, check out #2-6 on my post, 25 Incredibly Useful Tasks To Grow Your Blog Audience.
2. Blog more than three times a week
Ain’t no one got time to read you that many times in one week and honestly, I don’t know how you can write quality content more than twice a week. Each post must be formatted, configured for SEO, pics made for the post, twitter, Facebook and Pinterest and then promoted properly. You are a super hero if you can do all that multiple times a week. Or maybe you have a personal assistant. No? Then I have to ask if you are giving each post the proper attention required to get the most impact.
This also includes challenges of writing so many days in a row. While I do think it is a rewarding and learning experience to write everyday, unless your blog is creative writing, I bet you would have a hard time acknowledging that every post during that period fits into your blog niche and format. You don’t have to post every one to your blog.
3. Picture Post
I really do not understand the one pic stand alone post. Wouldn’t that be better suited to your Instagram account? That is what it is for.
Granted, I know I will hear from a few that will correct me and say that they have had success with the above style posts. Of course there always will be exceptions to the rule. However, if you are still on the wordpress dot com platform, this post was not intended for you.
This is for all of you that are wanting to take your blog from hobby to business. Raise your hand. Are you ready for success?
52 comments
I’ve always been hesitant to tell people that I want to make blogging a significant part of my life and actually make money from it. I just assume people think its a pipe dream. But because I do want to make money from it I want to do it right. I’ve got a lot to learn but what you wrote make sense to me. Thank you!
I have totally broken these rules the last year. I have been blogging in the Parenting Lifestyle category in UK and these are all habits that are promoted within community with linkups. New goals for 2016 and want to change niche and start following your advice. Thank you!
I think as blogs grow, they always go through niche as well as other changes. Good luck to you Christina and I am glad I could help.
Hi, I just found your blog and I am so inspired. I needed this right now in a huge way. Thank you so much for your words of advice! Kathleen
You are very welcome Kathleen. Have you joined our blogging group on Facebook? http://www.facebook.com/groups/midlifeluv/
You’re a great role model for blogging newbies – an honest, informative and supportive post.
Thank you so much. I appreciate that even more coming from a mentor!
I’m still a beginning blogger and I’ve been posting most days, but I read that you should build up your blog a bit at first so that when you’re ready to start promoting it won’t look like a work in progress. Good to know I can ease up on the posting and set a goal for 3 posts a week.
I know that all the experts say that but I’ve also seen a lot of bloggers burn out and fizzle quite quickly. That kind of defeats the purpose all together.
Enjoy your new schedule!
I’m with Paula R – no one is interested in you day-to-day ups and downs – unless you have a cat – or as in my case horses! There are several bloggers in my niche that post 500 words with photos PER DAY, but only during the winter, when it is too cold to ride.
You all love your animals. Lol I don’t know how anyone can do daily honestly. Especially with all the other tasks involved!
I love that you gave the tip of only posting a couple times a week. I started my blog this week and have two posts up, I’m still learning to navigate. Everywhere I have read has said “post 3-4 times a week” and I was beginning to think I wasn’t going to be able to keep up with this. Encouraging words! Thanks great post!
I find it’s just too much pressure and then the quality suffers. Go with what’s comfortable for you.
I started my blog in 2012 posting 3 times a week – I soon cut it down to once a week. I think, for me, it has given my blog time to grow and I still live breathe blog 24/7 but I am able to have that all important breather too between posts. I think you could add to the list – forgetting to promote old posts – new bloggers concentrate so much on new blogposts!
#BlogShareLearn
You are a veteran Linda and that’s great advice!
Excellent advice, Elena, especially about posting less. I used to post a lot and then realized, who has the time, me or my readers. Know your audience. 🙂
Just popped over from your lovely #BlogShareLearn linky party after visiting the amazing bloggers and sharing. 🙂
Hope this weekend treats you kindly. 🙂
You put so much into your posts Donna. I can’t imagine the time involved. I’m glad you found balance.
Great points! I also know bloggers who put out content everyday! I’m amazed at how they produce so much. I also know bloggers who continue to just write journals and wonder why people care? I have to be careful that’s not what I do, because sometimes it gravitates that way.
Blogs are about personal stories so I do think we should put a piece of ourselves in every post. It’s figuring out that perfect mix that is difficult. I love your blog. It’s just right as goldilocks would say.
Well, I’m sure I make lots of mistakes with my content, and am in no position to speak, but I have to agree that I have always been a bit confused by one picture posts too. & this is the first time I have seen someone advise less posts. The usual advice everyone gives that I have read is that (for traffic & success) you need lots of posts and not spend too much time on them – just throw enough stuff at it that some sticks, basically. & that always makes my heart sink, as it isn’t really in my nature to write loads of stuff quickly and not be really happy with it. I prefer to make an effort with everything I write, and was kind of resigning myself to the idea that you will never build anything successful that way! I usually post 2-3 times a week, very rarely I will do more, but generally it would be hard to have time or ideas to do more, as I spend quite a while writing most of my posts and proofreading them. #blogsharelearn
That sounds like a very good strategy to me. Too much emphasis is placed on super fast growth. There is tremendous value in building at a steady, albeit, slower pace.
I totally agree with posting 3 days a week. I’m in the middle of a 31 day challenge and I don’t have the time to promote every post properly so I’m really just promoting on the same schedule I always did and choosing the best of the bunch. I’m enjoying doing the challenge but the time commitment is a bear.
I can’t believe you can manage that at this time of year! Bravo!
some really good points Elena – I am still trying to find what works for me – and I am hanging on tight to blogging for myself rather than for the reader. I want to connect but still feel like it’s my voice. That would have to change if I wanted to go bigger and I don’t think I’m ready to take that leap yet!
I don’t think you have to lose your voice if you decide to go bigger. Blogs are inherently about personal experiences. There should always be a piece of you in every post. That’s why people come to your blog, to read your words.
Great post, Elena. There is no way in hell I could ever keep up with three posts a week. I certainly don’t want to read three posts a week from someone when there are so many other things to read.
I know! So many great bloggers, so little time!
I’m so glad to read this, I was trying to up my postings from 2 to 3 times a week and it’s made me feel like a failure. I was able to make 2 work per week but I did more harm than good by trying to do more. I need to scale back to where it was working better for me.
Always do what’s right for you. Forcing yourself to do more only makes your work and your well being suffer.
Great material as always, but I just need to interject one thing: “…no one is interested in your day to day activities. Sorry, but they are not.” Unless…, you have a cat. Paula 🙂 #BlogShareLearn
Or catsssss. Right Paula?
Wow! With a full time job and trying to get my photography going, I WISH I could do even two posts a week! Great info!
Yes, many bloggers have jobs and you know, real life to deal with. I release you from a constricted posting schedule. Be free to create at your own will!
Blogging is a journey and one of the most interesting I’ve been on. The difference is that it’s all done in public. You’re so right about getting clear with your purpose. But like any journey, sometimes the real purpose doesn’t reveal itself until your down the road a bit. So we begin. And take the first step and then the next. Thank you for your insights Elena!
Kimberly XO
I imagine there will always be twists and turns in our blogging journeys. That’s what keeps it fresh and interesting!
Point number two has always been my challenge, I find once a week is plenty for me to produce great content, any more is a bonus!
Write when you are inspired. A very good philosophy.
I’m with Carol. Although I’m making a bit of money – I’m writing because I enjoy it. When it stops being fun, I’ll stop.
Honestly, I don’t think anyone can make money if they don’t enjoy writing. It is like being a painter for money. Quite impossible.
As a renewed blogger the hardest thing is being honest with myself about what I want and how I want to get there.
Make notes to yourself first thing in the morning about what it is you want. It may be the most honest time of the day when you don’t have experiences influencing your decision.
Elena,
I totally agree with limiting your posts to 3x’s a week. I just scaled back from 4 and I am feeling a lot more relaxed. However, I do think 4x’s a week was necessary for a season because it helped to build up the archives of my target areas. I would put it into the category of beginner growing pains…starting a quality blog is hard work.
Shellie
It is hard work. That is why so many quit before they even give it a chance to grow.
Elena, I agree with everything you say in this post!
One of my author friends blogs every day – or I should say he publishes a blog post every day. They aren’t all from him – he has a day or two per week for guest posts, another day or two for author interviews, one day to post a flash fiction challenge, and whatever’s left is where his own content goes. Seems to work for him. He’s had amazing readership growth.
I don’t think I could manage that kind of enterprise. Once or twice per week works for me. 🙂
He sounds like a super hero!
Elena, you are so right! Getting clear on what you want to accomplish is so important! As Kathy says above, success can mean so many different things to different people. But, it’ll be much more difficult to attain it if you haven’t defined what it is for you.
Where it gets difficult is in identifying specific things that make a blog successful. I really enjoy Carol Cassara’s blog but, as she says, she doesn’t follow those rules. I subscribe faithfully to Seth Godin and he doesn’t follow many rules either. (Granted, he’s got the kind of following that gives him more license than the average blogger.) Some very successful bloggers, like James Altucher, break endless rules and people love them…or hate them…for it.
As a result, I find myself trying to define my own rules. It’s a process for me: testing things out, thinking through what I might try next, finding something that works and adding it to my larger plan. Even as I do that, though, I always have to be clear about what I want. As you say, that really is the key.
If you have a really unique voice and give tremendous value in your posts, you can get away with almost anything.
Hi Elena! Another great and helpful post. I completely agree that being honest with ourselves about WHY we blog is critical. And then another question might be, how do we define “success?” If it is 10,000 readers per day or a certain number of click-throughs so we can make a bunch of money, that’s different. I know some bloggers like all the free stuff you can get–it is fun now and then but I really DO NOT want to read a post about panty-liners even if you got a great sponsor!!! I love to write and I love to read interesting, helpful and positive posts. Those are the ones I follow and read consistently. I can tell, and I’ll bet we all can, when a person is just putting out a post for just “because.” I NEVER subscribe to posters who post more than one or two posts per week because it looks (and reads) like spam to me. But even then, I think we all find and follow those that speak to us. And don’t even get me started on video blogs!!!! I’m a writer (not a film maker) and if I want to watch a film I will go to the movies. Okay, that’s my two cents on this subject. Thanks once again Elena for making us all think about why we blog! ~Kathy
I absolutely hate sponsored posts but I know some make great money for doing it. It just isn’t me and I don’t think my readers would support it.
I break all of those rules. But, I don’t want to be a commercial blogger. It took me about two years to figure that out. I blog for me. Because I’m a writer and have been a writer my whole life. I went to journalism school and writing was a huge part of my career..The blog is my love. I love connecting with women and my approach is ” if you want to read me daily, great and if you don’t, that’s fine, too.” My fave thing is that really meaty discussion takes place on some of my most controversial posts and I LOVE that. It makes me insane when the blog link participants who do reciprocal comments have not read the post at all–and it’s obvious because their comment is so off the mark. I mean, at least get the gist before you comment!
I think it’s entirely possible to write good content daily, I know a number of bloggers who do. They might not all appeal to everyone, but something will appeal to someone. I do, however, see some painfully bad blog content out there. Bad writing, bad conceptualizing: it’s out there, I know. But there’s also some wonderful writing not intended to make money. On my blog I don’t have a single objective for my posts except that they’re about the human condition, one aspect or another. I don’t need a billion followers. So, knowing your objective is really the best start, as you point out. Not everyone is going to make money with their blog. But if you want to, be prepared to follow different rules than write from you heart and soul.
You are just a rebel with a cause Carol!