The first few weeks of blogging. You don’t know what you are doing, you do not know the platform, the rules, the principles. And, worst of all, you’re writing into a void.
You’re talking to yourself.
I remember feeling like this. I wasn’t sure if I was on the right path, or if I sucked big time, or if blogging without an audience is the kind of thing they lock you up for.
90% of all bloggers quit during these first few weeks. After all, it is illogical to pursue something if there’s no reward and no sign of progress, right?
Uhm… not quite.
There’s nothing worse than indifference.
In this social media age, it seems that indifference is what kills most people. It is not hate, but lack of feedback.
How can you figure out how good you are, what needs to be changed, and how to evolve, if no one is reading you?
Some of my clients have this exact problem. It’s almost impossible for them to figure out their target audience, to carve out a niche for themselves, because no one reads them.
The way I see it, there are two things you can do:
- Read blogs that do have an audience (and comment on them)
- Write, write, write
Also, one thing that rarely gets talked about is the fact that most people give up long before they delete their blogs. They tend to half-ass it, because it does not make much of a difference anyway. No one reads them, so why even bother?
Lack of enthusiasm is one of the deadly sins of blogging. If you are not passionate, driven, obsessed with pleasing your audience (even if that audience is imaginary at the moment), then you are not going to become successful.
Perseverance conquers all things.
Do not lose heart. This is extremely important.
All bloggers went through a rough beginning. No one starting something for the first time ever became successful in a week or so. It just doesn’t happen.
After all, you have yet to know what all the menus and settings on your blog do, let alone make others fall in love with your words. There hasn’t been enough time for others to even discover your blog.
When you feel like giving up, think about the fact that most people will be giving up at that milestone as well.
When things are tough, that’s when people quit.
And ask yourself: do you want to be like everyone else, or do you want to succeed?
Because success is not for everyone.
This post is right on. Over the years I have tried many blogs and types of posts. Usually, the results are the same… nobody home. It leaves me feeling like I am a sailboat trapped in a no wind day.
Well, there’s more to blogging than just writing blog posts. It’s also about networking with other bloggers, actively trying to find readers, interacting with others in your niche and trying to convince them to promote you (or the both of you working together)
Perseverance, yes!!
Actually, my blog IS about talking to myself. Sometimes some people post a comment or two and that’s always great to read, but if not, I will still continue to just post what’s on my mind and my take on whatever strikes my fancy at the time. Cheers.
My blog does suck, but I will not give up. I may be talking to no one most of the time but I need to leave my story behind. Great blog post, thank you.
Thank you for reading! It takes time to find your audience, get them to follow you, and read your content. It takes time to figure out who that audience is. Who do you write for? Who would most benefit by reading your content? You need to know, otherwise…
I am writing for those who have never experienced long-term disease, so that they can begin to have some understanding and for those who also have a long-term disease so that they know they are not alone. I also post my published writing.
Just started blogging, about a week old in the act. I am having just very few audience, I know that is the path it takes, so will continue to be enthusiastic about it and read articles and blogs like this, to get to know the strategies to succeed in blogging.
great post. lots of sound advice. many thanks.
Thank you, Libby!
I laughed when I read your introduction, the first few weeks? More like months for me. Not a clue but moving forward
Well, there are a ton of resources on our blog, so you’ll be figuring things out pretty fast.
I am an amateur writer who started blogging about 2 months. It’s kinda frustrating when nobody reads my post. But, I won’t give up easily. Luckily, I found your article here and it motivates me to keep writing. Sorry for my bad English because I am not an English speaker.
Why blog if no one is reading? I think it was Flannery O’Connor who said something like: I write because I don’t know what I think until I read what I say. I can relate to that. Take any complex subject and start writing about it… pretty soon your thoughts and opinions will coalesce into a better understanding. You might even experience a change in your initial opinion!
Indeed. Writing sometimes feels like drawing a map of your soul. You understand who you are, what you feel, and why you feel the way that you do.
Many Many thanks.
I appreciate your real life approach with do-it-now strategies. Thank you for taking the time to breathe literary life into a sometimes dry writer life! With support, Christina
Thank you, Christina.
just started my blog and i literally feel like i’m talking to myself ! clearly i’m not the only one who feels that way !
I wrote about my writing – and noone cared. Now I write about my dog, and he got more views in the first week than my other blog had in two years! haha. (still maxing out at about 30 to a post, but at least the critter keeps me passionate in his own goofy way. Lots to write about, accountable to myself and his progress, and he definitely gets me physically moving!)
Thanks for this….I needed it today. I’m super new and and hoping things pick up.
My pleasure!
Enjoyed reading this post glad I came across it. Even though I can’t blog all the time I try and do it when I’m off and have some quality content to put out. I’m still learning the ropes but I’m willing to hang in there. 😀
Kaira, it’s all a matter of priorities, and how you choose to set them.
Also, there are no rules as to how often you should blog. You can post something every two weeks and do just fine (more than just fine actually).
Thanks for the reply
Thanks …this is a great insight into what can go wrong…so far my enthusiasm is outweughing the lack of readers and I strongly feel it’s about quality not quantity. The (limited!) feedback I have had has been very genuine and is truly inspiring. My early experience of the writers world is that by and large, these are very supportive fellow humans😁
Well written
Love every bit of it.
Thank you, Joshua.
Well said. I’m just starting out and am going through the struggle. I think I’m going to stop looking at the stats and just tell myself that 1,000s of people are reading.
This has been so helpful as a new blogger. Thank you 😊
Thank you, Sami.
Starting my blog only a few months ago was amazing but also a very intimidating experience. Thinking that people are actually going to read–not just something I wrote but the vulnerability in it was like no other feeling I can describe, it still is.
It’s not all sunshine and butterflies. I didn’t realize what hard work went into blogging, there are a lot of battles along the way. Especially if you have no clue what you are doing. I am still learning the technical side of it.
I think a lot of folks have this romanticized view of blogging. A lot of unrealistic expectations. There are a lot of blogs out there, which means that the competition is fierce, and you have to outwork a lot of other folks just to get noticed.
I absolutely love this blog post of yours! 😍 I just hit 100 followers for today and I am so thankful. I am more grateful to know that I started from zero to one.
For me, you’ll appreciate life even more after going through a lot of hardships in life, simply because it tested your patience, perservance and most of all, faith! 😉
Just keep going and one day, you’ll just realize how far have you already gone through. ☺
So let the fighting spirit run in your soul! 🙌 God bless everyone and don’t ever lose hope! 🙏
Congratulations on reaching 100 followers, Zandra.
Thank you so much, Cristian Mihai! 😭😍☺
Great post. It’s posts like this that push people(blogging beginners) to work harder. And I am a beginner.
Thank you, Michael. I am glad that my post motivated you.
Your words are pure energy
Thank you!
You’re very welcome
Its been a week, since I started blogging and it feels really good to know that everyone experiences the same struggles and difficulties in the beginning, its kind of reassuring to read things like these, kind of rekindles the hope!
Yes, struggles are similar to all of us.
I’ve just started myself and because I talk to my self anyway I don’t mind it. haha.
Good read! ❤️🤗
Thank you!
Thanks!
How often would you suggest posts should be written? I tend to only write once a month. Usually when I write it needs to be something that I’m really passionate about & well, I guess that doesn’t happen too often. But I really do enjoy writing, but don’t want to do it just to do it.
Hi Tatiana,
I think you should write at least once a week. Once a month is not enough to gain traction with your readers. Imagine that most folks will even forget who you are and why they even subscribed to your blog in the first place.
Hmmm, good point! Thanks!
Inspirational and motivational as always.
Thank you so much, Sharon!
I like your comment, “Indeed. Writing sometimes feels like drawing a map of your soul. You understand who you are, what you feel, and why you feel the way that you do.” It’s so true!
Thank you, Jan!
Why does this post feel like it was meant for me. 🙃
Thanks a lot for this inspiration !! I really needed this 😶
My pleasure, Nima!
😀😀😀
Bang on the money for sure. I’ve given up so many times when I’ve blogged in the past and this is the longest I’ve ever stuck with it. I’ve learned so many lessons on blogging through perseverance alone and I wouldn’t have known otherwise if I’d thrown in the towel. Persistence really pays off!
I am beginning my second year of writing and publishing here on WP. I agree with the need to reach out to other bloggers and be a part of their audience. It takes extra time and effort, but the interaction is a huge benefit. As you also say, a proficient blogger must write, write, and write.
That’s so true. I experienced the same trauma in my starting a few weeks. But then things got better and readers started to pop up. Consistency is the key. Thanks for sharing
Thank you for this post. I’m struggling with this very thing. My readership has dropped by 700% and I don’t know why. Perhaps it is my bifurcated purpose – the mental health community and the Christian community in need of redemption and restoration – or perhaps it is my tendency toward academic and research based articles.
Whatever the cause, I press on. I want readers, of course, but writing is very therapeutic for me as well and so I will continue.
Hi Jay,
Try making your content more engaging.
Blogging is a balancing act. You have the freedom to write about any topic you want, but you must do so in a way that you readers can relate, understand, and be entertained to some extent.
Well, blogging sure requires a whole lot of patience. That’s for sure.