A deeper look into the blogging world

Let me start out by saying, ‘bloggin’ ain’t easy.’

Okay, okay, it may be easier in comparison to other business ventures you can take on, but every industry has its pros and cons, and the blogging world is no different.

Yes, it’s true that blogging, for the most part, is a low risk, high return industry, if you’re able to stick it out long enough to get your brand seen, and figure out how to successfully monetize your work.

“So what?” you ask. “Why should you care?” Every business has its own inherent risk, and you didn’t think blogging would be any different…right?

When you don’t have a clear picture of what you’re up against, you more susceptible to failure.

It’s good to know some of the less talked about truths when it comes to blogging so your setbacks don’t come as surprises, and your failures don’t become permanent.

I want you to be successful, and a big part of success is about being mentally prepared for some of the more glossed over truths about blogging.

This isn’t an exposé on blogging, but in many regards, they are blogging truths.

They are things you might not necessarily be thinking of, especially if you still have your rose-colored glasses on, and you’re at the very beginning of your blogging journey.

So, in hopes that you stay in the blogging game as long as you can, here are a few honest insights about bloggers, blogging, and the blogging world in general to keep you sharp, and to keep you going.

Not Every Blogger Has A Heart of Gold

The sad truth of blogging, and of the internet in general, is that many people are creating products and posts just for clicks, not for quality.

I read posts all the time where you can tell the blogger is recommending a product or encouraging you to sign up for a course they really don’t believe in. Their review usually reads more like a non-committal form of endorsement, with little to no enthusiasm, “Buy this product if…..” or “I would only recommend this for you if…”

I’m not saying people are necessarily endorsing bad products, but I am saying that people will promote products they only half-heartedly believe in just to make an affiliate sale.  They’re not selling you snake oil per se, but their also not selling you a magic cure either.

Because I’ve purchased bad blogger recommendations in the past, before I invest any kind of money into another bloggers’ course or product, I do research.

I check out the quality of their site, take a look at their social media profile, and even google user reviews (that aren’t featured on their sales page).

You don’t always need go to this level of detail, but take the time to verify other bloggers’ claims of success, especially if you’re considering purchasing their product for yourself, and promoting it later on as an affiliate.

Don’t just trust another bloggers’ claims outright, do a little research so you get the best value out of your money.

This doesn’t mean everything you buy will work out for you, but it never hurts to be an informed consumer.

There Is No ‘Get Rich Quick’ in Blogging

Most bloggers don’t have the heart to tell you it probably will take you a few years before you start making some serious money.

That’s not to say that there aren’t people who have been able to monetize their blog in a relatively short period of time, say a few months, but just know those cases are generally not the average blogger experience.

Most successful bloggers will gloss over all the years of hard work, all the many failures, all the late nights and early mornings, as mere foot notes in their blogging story, when really that’s the most important part of the journey.

I get it, quick success stories are easier to sell than long-term, hard work, but as a fellow blogger, sometimes this message isn’t fair to those of you trying to honestly make it at this.

Over-focusing on making fast and easy money can hold you back from putting your energy into other areas of your blog that need just as much time and attention.

Once I stopped making blogging about making money quick, I was able to really enjoy the journey. I started focusing more on improving my writing, fleshing out my ideas, and building a brand I believed in.

Of course, treat your blog as a business, but don’t let making money be your only focus, especially when you’re just starting out.

The hard truth of the blogging world is that making money takes time, and if money is the only thing driving you, you’re going to run out of fuel long before you make it to the end.

The Blogging Market is Saturated

There are over 500 million blogs already on the internet. Needless to say, the blogging market is overcrowded.

So how do you stand out in an already content-saturated market?

Confidence.

Call me cliché if you want, but if you don’t think you can really do it, then why are you doing it at all?

Thousands of blogs fail every year. What will make yours survive is that you actually have enough guts to believe you can make hundreds of thousands of dollars a month with nothing more than a laptop and an idea!

Yes, the blogging market is overcrowded, but it’s not dead.

People will always be looking for ways to lose weight, how to self-improve, how to start a business, how to build a blog…the quest for information will never end.

Building a successful blog is all about building your confidence. So how do you do that?

Start by calling yourself a blogger, or a writer, or whatever it is you’re into. And for heaven’s sake, stop being so meek and timid about your ideas, and start treating yourself as someone who has a right to offer an opinion on a particular topic or niche.

If you really believe you can do this, and are willing to put in the (years) of hard work it may take, and stomach the ups and downs of the industry, then you’re already well ahead of the crowd.

Not Everyone Will Support Your Dream

Other than a select group of loyal friends, family, or a spouse, most people aren’t going to whole-sale support your blogging dreams.

Big dreams come with big critics, and if you have a dream big enough, like starting a blog, becoming a social media influence, or becoming a financially independent person outside of the corporate world, you’re also going to have some pretty big critics along for the ride.

Only a very small group of people in your life will support your dreams whole-heartedly. All you can do is be reminded of their unconditional support and count everyone else’s opinions as noise.

We live in a society where most people inherently believe that making a financially secure living outside of an office just isn’t a realistic goal.

Don’t fault people for their limiting beliefs.

Just ignore them, and focus more on the possibility of success, not the probability of failure.

Your Commitment Will Determine Your Success

Your success is determined not by how good of an idea you have, but by your commitment and consistency to that idea.

Most of the successful bloggers you know or admire aren’t their because they got it right the first time around, it’s because they stayed committed to their dream and their ideas.

Don’t give up on your blogging dreams just yet, especially if things aren’t happening the way you thought.

Stick to your schedule, keep sharing, keep writing, and trying to improve your message.

This doesn’t mean to keep pushing something that clearly isn’t working, but I believe deep down you know the difference between when it’s time to throw in the towel and start over, and when you need to hold out a little longer.

Getting discouraged and having things not work are all a part of the blogging game, don’t let it beat you.

See it through. Learn to pivot and turn as you need to, adjust your strategy, be flexible, and most importantly, give it time.

As long as you stay committed to your dreams, then success is only a matter of time.