Here I’m outlining 5 obstacles in blogging that all bloggers have to face some day - I love a challenge, and one of the biggest challenges I set myself 3 years ago almost was by starting my own blog, from a complete newbie. I had absolutely no idea where to start.
I believe that blogging is like any other business venture pursued online, there are many obstacles along the way. Some obstacles are easy to overcome whilst others take time to understand before overcoming.
So below I’m outlining 5 of the major obstacles in blogging every blogger faces at some point or other along the way, and ways in which to overcome these obstacles. So let’s begin…
Obstacles in Blogging #1. The Learning Curve
Let’s start with the learning curve you’re faced with in blogging, particularly when starting a blog for the first time; there is the obstacles of picking out a suitable domain name, choosing the right web host and finding a topic to blog about, a topic that you can stick with for the long haul. These are individual obstacles in themselves. But even along the way, in our blogging journey there are many more obstacles that await us.
Solution – Understand that you cannot possibly know everything and that you will not suddenly become an expert at anything overnight, and without learning first… take one step at a time and each day as it comes. Plan everything and have a schedule.
Read like your life depends on it. Read everything there is to possibly read about, that will improve your blogging. Also become more familiar with the industry / niche in which you are blogging in. Knowledge is everything in blogging, so learn, learn and learn some more.
Obstacles in Blogging #2. Facing Writers Block
At one stage or another every blogger faces writers block, mildly or severely. I call this ‘the wall’; when you simply hit a plateau where you can’t think of anything useful to write about. This usually happens when you either –
- Have little technical knowledge about the niche you’re blogging about (Learn some more)
- Have exhausted all your resources too quickly (Don’t throw all your eggs out of the basket all at once, look at the posts you’ve already published and see if you can create new posts ideas from them.)
Solution – Check out our post on how to get post ideas for your blog. Take time to identify your target audience.
Obstacles in Blogging #3. Slow Traffic Growth
Increasing traffic to your blog can be challenging at anytime. If you’ve just started your blog, it can be months before you can start seeing the levels of traffic you want to your blog, particularly from the search engines. Slow traffic growth can sometimes discourage bloggers to continue along their journey. I know what it’s like to chug through months of blogging and have little traffic, few comments and almost zero engagement in return.
Solution – Stick with it. Being passionate about the topic of your blog is absolutely essential, ask any experienced blogger. Again take the time to identify your blog’s target audience and write for them, forget writing for the search engines… Also check out my 170 blog traffic tips guide.
Obstacles in Blogging #4. Remaining Consistent
Blogging is a lifetime commitment, I’ve said this a gazillion times before. Remaining consistent is essential if you want to succeed we all know that. Though sometimes our consistency doesn’t have to be affected by the events that happen online, i.e. discouraged by loss of traffic through Panda, facing writers block or negative feedback etc. Our consistency can drop because of many reasons, some outside of our control, i.e. new baby in the family, work commitments, health problems etc.
Solution – To overcome the obstacle becoming inconsistent in blogging, ensure you have a healthy lifestyle outside the online world. You might laugh reading this, but sitting in front of the computer chit chatting to people on Facebook and networking for hours on end may be healthy for your blog, and what have you, but it’s no life that’s for sure… It isn’t healthy for you, your body or your mind.
You know? Most of my inspiration and ideas for writing something new for my blog, has often come from doing things away from the computer and from the blog. Having a work schedule is so important in growing a successful blog also, just to remind you of course.
Obstacles in Blogging #5. Low Income Generated
This can be a major obstacle for many bloggers going into blogging with the notion that they’re going to become rich overnight. I don’t blame them as who wouldn’t want to get rich from blogging? The fact of the matter is when you realize that making money from blogging demands a huge amount of hard work, that’s when it becomes an obstacle. And for that very reason, many newbies quit within a few months.
Solution - Don’t blog for money, I know this is easier said than done. But blog because you are passionate about your topic. I read in John Chow’s book once, Make Money Online: Roadmap of a Dot Com Mogul, that if you are willing to blog about the topic you’ve chosen for free, and to never get paid a dime for it, you’ve found the perfect niche. Focus on creating useful, resourceful content always. Look for ways to help your target audience solve a problem, and they will come back for more and even bring their friends along next time. Eventually the money will come.
So these for me are the 5 major obstacles in blogging I think we all face somewhere along the way, but did I miss any? Have you had to overcome any of these obstacles yourself? Do share your comments below as always.
