Over the past year, I have personally seen a huge influx of new bloggers in all of the Facebook blogging groups I belong to. 2020 and all of it’s problems has done nothing to slow that down.
In fact, with people losing their jobs left and right, more and more people have been looking for alternative ways to make money online and that of course, includes blogging.
The predominance of new blogs I see are either lifestyle bloggers or are entrepreneurial, meaning they blog about blogging or how to make money online.
Perusing their new sites and content, I notice one thing: they have all done their research and are following the same script on how to be successful at blogging.
How do I know that? They all write approximately 10 blog posts, create a freebie for their email list, then develop an e-book or e-course or both. Then they promote the shit out of everything they got, everywhere, all the time.
Over and over and over again.
In the beginning, their traffic is abundant. Their content is new and fresh. People want to check them out. But that soon fizzles out.
Their views go down, their income dwindles and they get burnt out from all the constant promotion. They get frustrated and quit.
First off, in my opinion, if you want to be successful at blogging, you have to find your own voice and figure out what works for you. There is no template for blogging. There aren’t any rules. You won’t get kicked off the internet for not having an email list or for not creating digital products.
Don’t do what doesn’t feel good for you.
The bloggers that are really successful are unique and they do things their own way. That is why it works…for them. You will probably never find success duplicating someone else’s process.
Second, I believe blogging is a marathon, not the 100 metre dash. Sure, some people are able to run full speed as soon as the gun fires but for most of us, we need time to warm up before we find our stride.
Be in it for the long haul. Commit to a year, at least.
Third, building trust is the key to weathering out fluctuations. Whether that is the economy in general or an algorithm change, nuturing your community will make your traffic and income steady.
Only time and experience can teach you that.
So now you’re thinking fine, I’ll be patient but it sure is disheartening to have little to no traffic. What am I doing wrong? What can I do to change that? How do I get more pageviews without knocking myself out everyday?
The answer is not popular but it is simple: create more content.
The Magic Number Of Blog Posts You Need For Consistent Traffic
Every time someone asks in me how they can get more traffic, I respond by asking them how many posts they have on their blog. 10, 25, maybe 50 is usually their answer. To which I reply, you need 100. Say what?!!!
I have no research or scientific basis for that number. I can’t even remember where I read it, years ago when I started blogging. But I have found it to be true and here is why.
If every post you have got one hit a day, you would get 100 pageviews a day.
Now I know that it is unlikely that every post will be viewed but the more posts you have, the more chances you have for someone to see it on social media and click through to read it.
Also, I feel that by the time you have 100 posts under your belt, you have a good sense of what your audience likes and responds to. You learn to write quality and can weave and cross-promote posts within posts. That is key for search engine optimization.
Now before you all go cranking out posts like crazy trying to reach 100, I must qualify what kind of posts they should be.
- Evergreen. That means that it must be relevant forever. Five or ten years from now, the information in that post should still be useful.
- Not Personal. We all write about our daily lives. That is what blogging is all about but no one is searching for what Elena had for supper or who she met up with. Not yet anyway…
So go create more content. And let your goal be 100 awesome posts.
BTW, it took me over 200 to get to 100 good posts. I’m just saying.
64 comments
I really love the structure of this article. And I agree with you one needs to find their own voice and understand blogging is a marathon. And with most successful businesses that stand the test of time, they focus on the long term objective and goal.
I would also disagree that there is a magic number to the number of posts one should have on their blog. I would swap that with one’s ability to generate hype in what they are doing and about to do.
That powered with great content as you have mentioned will have the compounding effect one desires while growing their blog
I love this post – such simple and honest advice! I read this post a few weeks ago (yes, I’m reading it again…you have a new fan now…HI!) and I’m slowly working my way up to 100. Only 45 more posts to go!
Welcome back! Let me know when you hit 100, we’ll have a celebration!
Yay!
It’s true, there is a fine line between making a post a bit personal and oversharing. I see a lot of blog posts that look like personal diaries. I also agree with you that one has to do her own style at her own pace, then improve. I’m still at one post per week but I make sure each one is of quality. Thanks for this article.
Sounds like you have a good strategy!
New to the blogging world, I always look forward to such helpful suggestions. Thank you for sharing this 🙂
You’re welcome!
Hi Elena, found your post informative. I’ve recently started posting little stories, which are very different from most content that I read in other blogs. Your insights have been truly helpful.
Thank you for reading. And your content may be different but that doesn’t mean you can’t find a community that will enjoy it.
Wise words thanks. I can never predict which posts will work best. Hope to get to the magic 100 Next year! Jill
I hope so too!
Great info Elena! I am just starting out and it’s like there is so much pressure to start making $1,000,000,000 your first month of blogging to be relevant! I’m over here like, well my kid just pooped on the floor while I’m trying to finish this post…..so…..probably not gonna happen this month! It’s reassuring to hear your advice! Thanks!
I am so glad that you found it reassuring. You obviously have your hands full, take your time and enjoy the process.
Hmm.. I have never thought of it that way “write 100 posts for 100 page views”. I suppose it makes perfect sense. I love posts like this, the type that makes you say “Duh, why didn’t I think of that”!
That happens to me all the time. I suffer from “I thought of that yesterday but didn’t write about it.” syndrome.
Ah, same!!
Great piece. Started on Sept 11th and on 1093 views, lot of work to do. I try and post every other day, depends when my toddler lets me write 🙂
That is a lot of posting! If I do one a week, I feel like I’m winning and I don’t have little children!
It’s like therapy for me lol. I spend a lot of time on my own talking to my kid, so I talk to me computer.
I’m really enjoying it, so hopefully I’ll keep the momentum going.
A lot of bloggers start that way. I hope you stick around too.
I think I will. I never knew I liked writing this much. I’m loving it.
Susie sent me. Glad she did; this was great advice. I think I’ve been wanting permission to drop Twitter. I am not getting much out of it and I really do not enjoying reading it. I really do need to do this my own way.
Thank you do much,
Feather in the Wind
You will be so much happier if you follow your own heart. Thank you for dropping by!
I’m here via Susie and I will DEFINITELY be back–I’m brand new to this world and have a LOT to learn!
Thank you for visiting! Let me know if you have any questions.
I’m at 600! I should be able to put my feet up now, right??? Ha!
Thanks for bringing this link to the party, Elena!
Oh my goodness! You go relax and put your feet up. You deserve it!
Pinterest is easy! Check out my free course to get you started then click on my menu bar for all of my posts on Pinterest. I get 20,000+ views monthly from there. That will super size your views for sure.
Well, I am NOT a blogger!! I, however, enjoy reading insightful, interesting blogs such as yours. So I don’t need to count to 100 or find my voice, but just enjoy learning from your refreshing posts.Thanks!
Keep writing and you will!
This is awesome and extremely helpful. And you’re right…SO many bloggers see what other people are doing, try to mimic that and then wonder why their traffic isn’t consistent. I’ve been working on steadily building more and more content. It’s not the MOST fun thing in the world (definitely not as much fun as creating graphics or courses), but it’s extremely necessary to have a lot of great content to drive traffic. Thanks for the detailed, well-written post!
Hi Elena,
I started blogging in June, and I appreciate your advice so much. I’ll admit that I’ve read several other blogs that give a step by step magic formula for blogging success, and I’ve tried to follow their advice to a tee. Your post inspired me to “find my own voice” and enjoy my uniqueness.
I’ve published 25 posts so far. Now I’m excited to see what happens when I reach 100!
Welcome to blogging! I’m so glad you are finding your own way and not on one particular path. Remember to enjoy blogging and you will reach 100 before you know it.
Excellent advice Elena! I’m rockin’ to my own rhythm and quite content. 🙂
Thank you for this Elena! You’re an inspiration to me. I’m taking a blogging course and have realized it’s a marathon (particularly with a demanding day job).
My blog is going to be my retirement project. LOL That’s at least 10 years down the road.
I’m going to be finding my voice for awhile and I’m trying to live up to my blog name (The Zen Introvert) and I’m being very zen about the process.
This is so helpful! Thank you, Ellen.
Hello my friend! I can always count on you to write a useful, realistic and encouraging post! I can’t believe I have published over 650 posts since I started blogging! I started out with a professional development blog in 2011 and virtually gave up, knowing nothing about blogging, sharing, engaging, etc. Oh how far I’ve come, with now almost 1000 followers. Once I quit obsessing about formulas, how-to’s and all the other stuff, and focused on what I do best, write about leisure, fitness and photography, my voice shines through. The relationships I have built is one of the most important things as well!
That’s a lot of posts! You are an inspiration to other bloggers and I love your voice and personal style. I hope one day we can be roomies again!
Aww, thank you, Elena!!! I hope so too!!
That makes so much sense to me. My first blog was work-based which focused my subject matter, but this time round I’m more comfortable in my own skin to feel out my niche. Hoping to be here for the long haul.
I hope you are too! And don’t forget to have fun this time.
I have written consistently since I started my blog in January 2015. I have recently published my 144th post and now each essay usually gets at least 100 views. It’s not thousands and I’m still building my audience slowly, but I am gratified at its organic reach after my slow, steady progress. Your advice is right on as usual, Elena.
I’m sure you would have killed for that many views in the beginning! Slow and steady wins the race too!
You are absolutely right, Elena. I am grateful and amazed at the growth when I look back, but while it is happening it is hard to appreciate. Especially during times of impatience.
I hear you! That’s why I log my stats monthly. You can see the steady growth and you are not obsessing daily about ups and downs.
Great info. The first paragraph was spot on. LOL… Wow!! 100 is the magic number. That makes sense. By 100 you’ll have a strong grasp on blogging and what you audience wants to read.
Exactly!
I’m a new blogger as well and found your post to be really helpful! Thank you!
Welcome to blogging!
I love that you aren’t promoting the “follow my formula” mantra – I see so much of the same stuff and so much “how to” and “buy my course” posts out there, and from what I’ve heard, most work for the author but don’t always translate well to the follower. I’m just doing my own thing and hoping for the best – doing too much always makes me start to wonder why I blog!
I love your style Leanne! We’ve been here long enough, blogging and life, to know that there aren’t any guarantees and that we must each find our own way. Keep on doing your own thing because it works for you.
Well said, Elena. However, quite a few followers do like to know what we had for dinner, and even ask for recipes. It’s my version of Pepys’s ‘and so to bed’ 🙂
Of course if it fits your niche, it makes sense to write about it.
🙂
Hi Elena, I’m new to blogging and this post is encouraging to me. Mostly the part about finding your voice. That’s pretty much what I’m working with at this point. One hundred posts, one post at a time.
Thanks
Welcome to blogging and I hope you enjoy it and make some real connections.
Great advice, Elena, and the other key that complements the quality posts is attention to SEO.