A few days ago, I received a call from a new blogger. On the other end of the phone, his voice was full of worry, and he confessed that he was becoming less and less motivated to write blogs. I will call him "Mr. X" for now, and the following is the beginning of our conversation.
I asked with concern: "What's going on? Why are you so unmotivated all of a sudden?"
Mr. X sighed and said, "Harsh, I have been working on this blog for several months. This is my fourth blog post and it may be my last one. So far, it has only received about 100 views. Most of the comments are because of the backlinks. They are all "good post" and "useful post". From time to time, I also receive negative comments, which really frustrates me."
I then asked, “Why did you start blogging in the first place?”
Mr. X said: "I started blogging because I like it. Blogging is my hobby. I have been blogging for 4 years. I used to feel very happy when I saw someone liked my articles and followed me. In addition, I also wanted to make some money. Although this is not the main purpose now, I will definitely make a living from it in the future."
I asked again: "Who do you usually follow on social networking sites?"
Mr. X replied: “Mainly other bloggers and internet marketers.”
I followed up by asking, “How do you feel when you see someone share a success story on Facebook or Twitter?”
Mr. X said: "Some blogs really inspire me, but some make me feel frustrated. I am really frustrated by the people who started at the same time as me and have achieved great success now. However, blogs like ShoutMeLoud and HellboundBlogger have rekindled my hope. I really want to be like them."
When I talked to Mr. X, I immediately realized that he was in a phase that most bloggers go through.
At that time, I also shared some of my experiences with him and gave him a lot of advice. I know that many bloggers who are just starting out, like Mr. X, may face the same problem. If you don't act quickly, you may give up and become one of the many bloggers who give up halfway.
Today, I will share these methods that can help you regain motivation for blogging.
Regaining motivation for blogging
Tip 1: Write for yourself first, then for others
I'm sure you've read a lot of articles that emphasize writing for readers. This is true, but if you want to attract readers, you must first please yourself. A common mistake made by many new bloggers is to copy other people's styles. A blog is your own little world, and you must be able to reflect your own characteristics and unique way of expression. Maybe you can't attract thousands of fans in the short term, but as long as your article can help one person, then the time spent is worth it.
Choose a field and write about what you are interested in. Many people have misunderstandings about blogging, thinking that it is meaningless to write about topics that have been written about too much. In fact, it is not true. New netizens join every day, and your blog may be the first website they come into contact with. You can become someone who teaches them new knowledge, which is also a way to establish authority. In short, stick to your professional field and write for yourself.
That being said, there are ways you can optimize your articles to please both readers and search engines. Here are a few links from the SML archive that may help you achieve this goal:
- How to Write Article Titles for Readers and Search Engines
- How to Write the Perfect SEO Optimized Post in WordPress
- How to Write for Your Readers
It goes without saying that before you hit the “Publish” button on any post, be sure to review the post to assess whether your writing is high or low quality.
Tip 2: Start with the basics and then move on to advanced topics
Many bloggers start by sharing advanced information, which is wrong. If you want to attract readers and arouse their interest, you have to provide rich content so that readers can truly understand the topic you are writing about.
For example, Mr. X wrote an article about advanced SEO plugins, but the reviews were not satisfactory. Before publishing, he should ask himself: How would I feel when seeing blog content with affiliate links? Did he cover other topics related to the current topic? Did he explain to readers the benefits of SEO and its importance to blogging?
The solution is to sit down and develop a content strategy for your blog . List each topic, starting with the most basic and working your way up to the most advanced content. This will not only help beginners in this field learn new knowledge, but as your blog content progresses from elementary to advanced, your readership will also grow.
Tip 3: Don’t be too utilitarian when blogging
There has to be a motivation for blogging. When I first started blogging, it was purely for sharing knowledge. I wrote about anything that interested me, and never thought about how much money I could make or how many followers I could gain. When I received the first few thank-you comments, I was very encouraged, and I wrote more and more vigorously. Everyone's experience may be different, but when you blog with a utilitarian mindset, you ignore the most basic fact: bloggers blog because they love it!
A blog is your own space. Write about topics that you are interested in, understand, and love. Slowly, like-minded people will find you, follow you, and learn new knowledge from your sharing. Don't write a blog for money or fans, write for yourself, and let your passion lead you to become an excellent blogger.
Tip 4: Don’t rely too much on social networks, focus on your blog
I know social networking is important, but it's also a source of frustration for many bloggers. When you've been working hard in your room for hours and seeing other people sharing their amazing trips to Las Vegas, it can be frustrating. When I read those posts, I also think about traveling. But I know I have to focus on my own goals first.
Constantly checking social media is not only a distraction, it's also detrimental to your physical and mental health and can distract you from your goals. If you're not using social media as a social tool but are instead distracting from it, then stop using it altogether.
You can use social networking sites to expand your network, build real-life connections, and learn from the best people, which will be very rewarding. But don't always compare yourself to others, and don't expect to attract a large number of readers to your blog by sharing a few links.
Participate more in the comments of your own blog and comment on other related blogs. This will not only bring traffic to your own blog, but also make many like-minded friends. Another reason why Mr. X lacks motivation is that most of the bloggers he follows on social networking sites are senior bloggers who are not very interested in what Mr. X writes. He should pay more attention to people who are new to this field and eager to learn.
I remember when I first started blogging in 2016 , I often commented on other blogs and websites. I didn't comment to get backlinks, but I really wanted to participate in discussions about topics that interested me. When I saw articles that inspired me, taught me new knowledge, or made me think, I would comment from my own perspective to fill in some missing information in the discussion. In this way, I received a lot of comments, which not only increased my visibility, gained backlinks , but also made many important friends, which is also an important reason why SidelinePlay can develop. Therefore, it is necessary to use social networks correctly to expand your network instead of blindly promoting yourself.
Reduce ads and pop-ups
Who wants to read a blog filled with too many ads? Design your online business model to earn a solid income. You can't make more money just by sticking more ads on your blog.
Only use ads that meet the following requirements:
- Relevant to your blog topic
- Provides potential revenue per sale
- Pay close attention to readers' needs
If you use Google Ads, you don’t need to worry about this because you will be showing targeted, contextual ads. But if you are like me and love making money through affiliate marketing, then here are my top tips for making money through affiliate products: Write an honest review of a product that you personally use and embed it in the appropriate place along with the affiliate link. Also, use an eye-catching image for that ad and place it in the most prominent area of your blog.
You won’t see hundreds of sales in the first month, but you’ll definitely notice a growth in affiliate income after a few weeks.
When you write a review post about a product in your niche, you are creating a sales funnel. You are introducing the product to your readers and then directing them to your review post.
Another effective strategy for me is to link directly to the sales page of the product I’m promoting. This is a much better landing page for buyers. Test the best placement for potential ads on your blog. This way, you’ll eventually be able to generate good affiliate income.
Related reading:
Tip 5: Create a Blog Business Plan
If you want to make money from blogging, you must have a business plan. You need to plan content creation, profit model, marketing strategy, development direction, etc. You need to adjust the plan in time as your readership changes and as readers' needs change.
Finally, a few points
Don't just blog for money, write for love and for yourself. Before you publish an article, ask yourself: Can this article help others? If it can, publish it boldly. Don't pay too much attention to blogs and bloggers who discourage you. When you see successful blogs, think more about what you can do to reach their level, and then take action. Remember, success is not achieved overnight, it takes time and effort.
Whenever you feel unmotivated to blog, stop and ask yourself: Why did you start blogging in the first place, and what are you blogging for now? Look through your old posts, read the positive comments, and think about the people you have helped.
Here are some tips to help you make your blog better and more readable:
- Stick to a niche.
- Provide compelling content.
- Maintain the credibility of your blog by providing useful and fact-checked information.
- Establish your blog as a brand because, ultimately, it’s the brand that people remember.
I'd also love to hear your thoughts on what demotivates you and how you regain motivation. Feel free to share in the comments! If you found this article useful, don’t forget to share it!
Disclosure: Some of the links in this article contain affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission if you click through to visit us, at no extra cost to you. See how SidelinePlay is funded, why it’s important, and how you can support us.
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