Do you remember when you started your blog or online business? You were full of enthusiasm, you created a website, learned lots of new things, stopped having any spare time and even maybe quit your full-time job.
It was exciting and challenging but you were sure you would succeed. You would build a successful online business and have thousands of visitors to your website.
If you’ve ever created a new project – a blog, a business, started a new hobby, have you noticed the initial optimism and determination that drives you? You’re willing to invest time, money and energy into this project that is so important to you.
Doubts
But over time that initial enthusiasm and optimism begins to dwindle. The more you get into it, you realize how little you know. SEO, social media, plugins, Google Analytics, website design, backlinks, guest posts… there’s so much to learn!
Perhaps you’re not getting the results you had hoped for or perhaps there are technical problems that you can’t sort out.
Whatever the reason, you start to have doubts and start asking yourself questions like:
- Why am I doing this?
- Should I be doing something else with my time?
- I’m not getting any visitors on my website why waste my time?
You have probably felt this sort of despair. It can strike at any stage of building an online business but is more likely when you’re starting and haven’t yet earned any money for all your work.
This is when many people will give up. They’ve tried so you can’t knock them, there’s nothing wrong with admitting they are not succeeding and going back to their previous lifestyle if they’re happier.
Most people who start a blog give up within the first 3 months. Which is crazy as creating a business online is a long term project!
In this post, Glen Allsopp of ViperChill tells of how it took him 11 years to get to where he is today. So be patient!
If you’re in this situation right now and thinking of quitting, before throwing in the towel, wait! Your success could be just around the corner.
Here are a few things that might help you to change your mind.
1. Think why you started
Do you remember your goals from when you started? Was it to quit your job, spend more time with your family, travel more or to support your family.
When things aren’t going exactly as you want, think about your goals. If you give up now you will never achieve them. This might help to remotivate you.
2. You might need some help
When you set up an online business there is a lot of work involved, probably much more than you imagined. Feeling that it’s all becoming too much can be a cause for wanting to give up.
As you get going with your business or blog you think you can or should do everything yourself. I guess most of us are like that. If you have the money and there is some aspect of blogging you hate, pay someone to do it for you.
If you join a community you can get support and advice, even if it’s not practical help it can help you feel you’re not alone.
Once you have some support perhaps giving up won’t seem like such a good idea.
3. Make sure your expectations are realistic
Don’t believe any of the hype you see on the internet that says making money online is quick and easy. Most of these stories are from people trying to sell you some money making program.
Read about people who have already done it themselves. Their stories will show you how hard building a business online can be and they will confirm that there will be ups and downs.
You will probably hear that they thought about giving up severals times and maybe still do. They kept going and made a success of their business.
Just remember it is possible but it isn’t easy. Everyone who is now successful has had moments when they felt like giving up. If you carry on who knows where you’ll be in a few months?
4. You aren’t the only one to have doubts
Starting an online business is hard work. Probably everyone who takes this road goes through periods of doubt.
That means even the most talented person will have considered quitting. It’s not a question of your ability. The successful people you see running online businesses aren’t any cleverer than you, they just didn’t quit.
5. Look back and see what you’ve already accomplished
Consider all that you have achieved in the short time you’ve started your online business. You may have built a website for the first time in your life, learned how to get the on-page SEO right, learned how to write a review…
Things that a few months ago you would have had no idea of completing.
Yes, you can do it! It may take longer than you thought but keep working, keep building. There will be problems, don’t let them get the better of you.
6. Put failure out of your mind
Don’t worry about failing, it will stop you progressing.
Even if you do fail the important thing is to learn from your failures, get back up and try again.
Look at some well-known names:
Brian Dean Of Backlinko – failed with 5 online businesses before creating Backlinko and being ultra successful.
Noah Kagan got fired from Facebook before creating AppSumo and Sumo.
Steve Jobs was fired from Apple Computers before making it the success we know today.
Tim Ferris author of the “The 4 Hour Workweek” was turned down by 25 publishers before finally being accepted and going on to sell more than 1.3 million copies.
These are just a few examples. Search on Google and you will find many well-known personalities who failed before becoming successful.
Successful business owners educate themselves through their failures. They also read a lot, study, learn new skills, and keep up with any new trends in their industry.
Why Do So Many Blogs Fail?
Some reports state that 9 out of 10 blogs end up failing.
People who start a blog thinking it’s easy won’t get far. Creating a successful blog is a question of hard work, determination, and persistence.
Lack of results can demoralize even the most determined. I guess that’s just human nature!
When you start a blog you need the right mindset, here are some things you should consider.
- Building a successful blog takes an incredible amount of work
- Blogging isn’t a get rich scheme
- As a blogger, you will need to write a lot of content
- Forget about making money and focus on helping people
- Stay consistent
If you have these qualities you can create a successful blog and reach your goals.
Have you ever felt like giving up since you started your online business or blog? How did you overcome this feeling and continue with your blog? Let us know in the comments area below.
Thank you for writing this post. It is something that I needed to read. Although I am not at the point of giving up. I have questioned if and when I would start seeing results. Blogging is an incredible amount of work and for someone like me who has no technical knowledge, there is a massive learning curve.
I do agree that persistence is one of the keys to being successful with blogging and although results are slow coming, I believe if I continue to study and put in the time, I will start seeing results in due time.
What is the average time it takes most bloggers to make their first dollar?
You’re welcome Matendi, I’m delighted the post was useful to you.
Don’t worry, you’re not the only one who wonders if they’ll ever see some results. I think almost all bloggers have this feeling at some stage. Yes, it is a lot of work for all of us, even those with the technical knowledge still have to put in the time writing articles, replying to comments, doing the SEO…
Do continue adding content to your site, you will be successful in the end, I’m sure it’s just a question of time. Unfortunately, I don’t think there is an average time, we all have different niches, varying amounts of time we can work on our sites and we don’t all have the same talents. Personally, it took me about 6 months to make my first sale but if you read this post you will see some bloggers that started making sales almost immediately and for others, it took a year.
Best of luck with your business,
Peter
Everyone needs motivation every once in a while. With the “instant gratification” mindset that is so prevalent nowadays, most people give up on things too easily.
Thanks for posting this, it reinforces my belief that nothing comes easy. Not that success is very hard, just that you must consistently…always be trying. Give things the time they deserve to develop. The Tim Ferris reference is the perfect example of “not giving up”. What if he’d stopped at the 20th publisher rejection?
So true Jay! People want instant results, I suppose that’s why the get rich quick schemes still have success. Blogging is a great example of people giving up too easily. If you want success there are no shortcuts, you have to put in the work and keep at it until you start making some money. There are many examples of successful people like Tim Ferris who kept going in the face of adversity and finally made it. As bloggers who want positive results, we’ve got to do the same thing.
Thanks for your comment,
Peter
Hi
Great post and Inforamtion here on blogging.
This can be tough and definitely does require patience, consistency and dedication. There are times when it feels like a waste of time, but success come to those who wait.
An inspiring post for aspiring bloggers which i have recommended for future reference.
Cheers
Hi, Peter.
This is an excellent blog about how to achieve success at blogging. I really like your 5 last points. They certainly sum up what is required to become a blogging success.
Writing lots of content consistently, helping people, hard work and no get rich quick is it in a nutshell. Keep up the good effort.
Paul
Thanks, Paul!
I think many people start blogging without realizing the work that’s involved and they’re ready to give up after just a few months or weeks. In reality, as you say, you need to keep working on your site consistently and for a long time. Having some support when you are stuck is also a big advantage and can make the difference between success and failure.
For someone who has never blogged before and wants to earn money online, I recommend joining an online training platform that provides step by step lessons and has a supportive community that is always ready to help when you have a problem. Yes, there is a monthly cost to this but it will give you a much greater chance of succeeding.
Thanks for your visit,
Peter