Ever feel like quitting your blog? Megan asked me a question about that recently:
I read your post about the three most important things to do after you start a blog, and I enjoyed it. I do have a question though that I’ve had for a long time, and was excited to see you were accepting questions! It’s a question I have asked myself every day for the past 6 months: What do you do when you’ve tried everything the experts have said to do, it’s still not working and you don’t have any extra money to invest in any more courses, consultations, or books?
I’ve been blogging for over a year now. I have read article after article, changed ad placements, guest posted, added better pictures to posts, wrote personal posts, have done TV interviews, have reached out to other bloggers, constantly retweet other bloggers, share content from other bloggers, and have recently re-done my site.
I still struggle to get traffic and “conversions”. I may have 98 views on a coupon deal post, and only 1 coupon print. Honestly, I’m exhausted. I feel like I wasn’t “cut out” to be a blogger…only thing is, I love writing and always have. I’m at my wit’s end. I’ve tried everything I have ever read to do and it just doesn’t work…what am I supposed to do now?
I’m not sure if this is something everyone at some point has struggled with, or not. I just didn’t think I would still be struggling after a year. -Megan
Can I just encourage you, Megan? I think all of us have felt this way at one time or another. Personally, I know that I’ve felt this way multiple times. In fact, I probably feel like quitting every few months.
I well remember my first few years of trying to start a business from home. I would put in hours and hours and hours of work and see very, very little fruit from that effort. Every time it felt like I was starting to gain a little momentum, I’d experience another setback.
It was probably at least two solid years of really pouring, pouring, and pouring myself into this online business and blogging thing before I really started to see true fruit and return on my investment. And then it was another few years before I got to the place where I was earning enough to convince myself it was time to bring on more help so that I could actually have breathing room in my life.
But I didn’t just feel like quitting in the beginning; I still struggle with feeling like quitting now. Just in the past few months, I had some hard, hard things happen business-wise that were so discouraging there was a two-week stretch where I really, really wanted to quit.
I had invested a lot of money and time into multiple things that felt like they fell flat on their face, I was getting a boatload of critical comments and emails, I was discouraged and tired… and I wondered what I was even thinking doing this blogging thing. Should I just quit altogether? Was it even worth it?
I’m not trying to discourage you, I just want to be honest that sometimes, this owning your own business thing isn’t all its cracked up to be. It’s draining. It requires long hours. It involves a lot of setbacks. And it’s easy to get discouraged.
In those moments when I want to throw in the towel, here are 4 questions I ask myself:
1) What is my “why”?
It’s incredibly important to have a why for doing what you’re doing. It can’t be to make money — though it’s totally wonderful if that’s one of the results. It’s got to be deeper than that, though.
What is the reason you started? What is your heartbeat behind what you’re doing? What’s your motivating force and passion?
Is it to help people save money? To inspire people to get their lives in better order? To bring hope? Is it to brighten someone’s day or help someone have more purpose in their life?
Whatever it is, write that why down and refer to it often. Tell it to your closest friends and have them remind you of it when you are feeling like nothing you are doing is working.
2) Am I doing what I love?
So often, we think we know what we love. But until we actually dig in and do it for awhile, it’s hard to really know.
I know many bloggers, including myself, thought we were really passionate about a subject or idea. But after months of writing about it over and over again, we lost that passion and spark.
You might love writing, but make sure that the subject you’re writing on and the way you’re writing about it is fueling you instead of completely draining you.
For me, I like to write different kinds of posts on a wide variety of topics. If I always wrote the same kinds of posts and they were all on a very small, niche topic, I’d burn out quickly.
Giving myself permission to not be chained down to only writing about a few narrow topics helps me stay inspired. It’s allowed me to exercise new writing muscles, try new writing styles, and refine my writing voice better.
3) Am I trying to chase someone else’s dream?
This is a hard one, but it’s important. I’ve tried chasing someone else’s dream before and it crashed and burned.
You see, when I had my first blog and was experimenting with monetizing that blog, I met a family who was making good money (something like $1400 per month) just by having ads on their sidebar.
The topic of their site was something I thought I could write on and, since we really needed the money, I spent a lot of time setting up that site and preparing it to launch. I remember calculating in my head all the money I’d be making from it and how it was going to be such a financial blessing to our family.
There was just one problem: the site never gained any momentum at all. Instead, it fell flat on its face. Why? Because I was chasing someone else’s dream.
Make sure that what you’re pursuing is actually your dream, your ideas, and your passions. Don’t run after the latest ideas and suggestions just because they are working well for someone else.
4) Am I seeing any upward momentum?
This is an important question to ask because it’s easy to overlook the good that’s happening and focus solely on the discouraging things… the lack of traffic, the drop in Facebook Likes, the fact that no one is retweeting our posts.
Are there good things happening, too, though? Maybe you’re seeing a slight increase in click-throughs from Pinterest, or some growth in your Facebook Page followers, or you’ve gotten a comment or two this past month.
Look for those positive things, those increases, those upward trends and make sure that you remind yourself of those when you want to be discouraged about other areas that are standing still or decreasing.
It’s also important to remember that there are ebbs and flows in blogging — and in any business.
Even now, we sometimes have months when we bring very little home because all of the income is invested back into the business or into paying business expenses. When those low income months come or when traffic tanks, it’s easy to start getting nervous or stressed.
I have to remind myself that peaks and valleys are all part of running a business. And this is also why it’s important to have a good emergency fund in place for the business and to set aside the bulk of the extra income during those peak months to help offset the valley months.
In addition, it’s important to remember that traffic and income aren’t the only ways to gauge progress. If I’ve learned and
grown individually, if my marriage has been strengthened, if I’ve had the opportunity to encourage and bless someone through my blog, if I’ve chosen to be offline in order to invest in people… if my stats are down because life is in a healthier place, that’s more important.
In addition to asking yourself those 4 questions, I’d suggest possibly considering doing one or all of these four things:
- Take a break — Sometimes, stepping away from the thing that’s draining us can be the best thing to help us clear our heads and have better perspective. Consider taking a few days off from blogging to see if you have any clarity and direction by doing so.
- Try something different — Try vlogging or blogging less or only posting on topics as you’re inspired or posting fewer deals and more content pieces. Change things up and see if that gives you fresh inspiration — or maybe even increased engagement on your blog.
- Stop paying attention to the noise and stats — I really encourage you to set boundaries on how often you check your stats. In fact, if they are discouraging you, it might be wise to just completely stop checking them for a period of time. That sounds drastic, but I’ve found it to be a good thing if I’m becoming too focused on stats.
- Remember what really matters — What’s going to matter most in 25 years from now? Make sure that you are intentionally investing time and energy each day into those things.
What advice, suggestions, and encouragement do the rest of you have for Megan?
Thank you for your advice! This is perfectly timed for me. I’ve been blogging for 3- 1/2 years, have had some steady growth, but the past few months have been pretty discouraging. Just yesterday I emailed my best blogging friend and asked her if she ever just wants to quit. (Thankfully, she’s an amazing person and friend and helped clear my perspective.)
I saved for quite a while and finally had enough to pay for a professional redesign last week. I totally love it, but it’s a little hard to bear this lean time. I’m trying to see it as a time to work a little slower though and whittle away at the never-ending “behind the blog” work list.
Thank you for your encouragement! I’m definitely going to put much thought into every one of your points – especially #3.
And thank you for your new blog! I’m excited about this resource.
Oh girl! I so get how it feels when you just want to give up and throw in the towel!
I’m so glad that your friend helped you gain a clearer perspective. Friends like that are amazing!
Karen, I’m right there with you! I have been extremely bummed lately and feel like I’m in a blogging “rut”. I decided this afternoon I was going to just take a couple of days to regroup and start fresh. I blog every single day as a deal blogger (except Christmas) and I need a break. By the way, your new blog design looks great! Can’t wait to redo mine 🙂
Crystal, thank you for all your incredible advice! So many of us appreciate all you do!
Daphne: Could you give yourself permission to take a day off every week — or at least half a day offline — on a regular basis? You might be surprised at just how much that does for you!
I give myself (and my team) the weekends almost completely off (mostly everything we post on weekends is pre-scheduled). Does it mean we miss some opportunities to promote some stuff that would probably make extra $$? Yes, absolutely! But I know that the breathing room and recharging time it gives our team is SO worth the lost income. And you’re more effective and strategic when you are refueled!
Thank you, Daphne, for your kind words.
I’d echo Crystal. I once published 3-4 days per week (before I narrowed my focus last summer) and it was maddening keeping up. My niche is different though and no one expects multiple posts per day. Regardless of your niche, taking regular time off is so worth it. You just can’t go non-stop without getting burned out. Wishing you the best!
Daphne: I blog every day too. But I try to batch write and schedule out at least a month ahead whenever possible. That way I can take time for life, funerals, celebrations, or just time with hubby.
Being in full time ministry for 18 years, I know about the daily drain. My hubby and I actually have to hide on Sundays–ignore the door bell, not answer the phone, and even take a trip to Walmart to escape the demands on our lives. People will just “show up” on our doorstep on Sundays and say, Hey, you weren’t answering the phone, so we thought we’d just drop by instead.
Take time for yourself too. Hide if necessary, lol. Even Jesus had to leave the multitude to rest from time to time.
I started blogging in 2009 or something like that but have taken a coupke big breaks. The first to pursue a different business and the second, my most recent one, to focus on recovering from a health issue. I wouldn’t recommend a 2 year break necessarily but I am giving myself grace as I restart. I figure that, even though I’m starting almost from scratch with readership, I still have all the experience and posts from the previous years so it’s not like it was a waste of time.
So my advice for Megan or someone in her position is to give yourself grace and know that, no matter what you decide, you can always change your mind down the road.
Yes! It’s so important to give yourself grace!
Thank you, Crystal, for reminding us that if online traffic / income dips because we’re focusing on our life – the people right there with us – that’s more important. I’m seeing a slow increase in my income and traffic, but since I have a 3 year old and 1 year old with a busy teacher husband, I’m posting less in this busy season of life. Could I grow faster? Yes, I know I could, but right now, I need to invest in these early years of my children. I’m always working on a good balance, but this was my goal for the year, and so I appreciated your wise words today.
I’m so grateful that this post encouraged you! It sounds like you are doing EXACTLY what you should be doing right now. Way to go!!
This is good to hear as I am about to start committing to full-time blogging (not as a full-time job, just as a regular practice). I know it will take time to make money (if that ever happens), and it’s good to be reminded that there are times I will want to quit. I will hold on to my why, hold on to my love of writing, and remember that perseverance is what matters most! Thanks for this site, Crystal — it came at just the right time for me!
I’m so glad that it came at the right time! Thank you so much for your kind encouragement!
I’ve been there before but I always think of my “why” to get out of that funk. In fact, I have a framed image above my desk that says “Remember why you started.” Looking up at that statement is all it takes to remind myself of the difference in my quality of life before blogging… and I don’t want to go back to that life so that’s my motivation.
I also take breaks. Put as much on autopilot as you can and if you don’t get something done, what’s the chance that anyone will notice? That’s the beauty of this biz, you make the rules.
One major characteristic with successful bloggers that I’ve noticed is they never gave up. It’s the same if you were to start up any business. It’s going to take time to grow.
“Remember why you started.”
Such a good reminder!
Quitting would definitely be easier, and I struggle with it too, especially on low months. I love your tip to remember your why–so important!
I’ve also learned the value of switching focus for a bit. It’s during these low income months or slow months that I have the time to update my course, write another couple chapters in my book, or finalize the curriculum I wrote. When I’m swamped with client work, I have to the the gas pedal off my own things, so I try to view the slow times as a blessing.
So my advice would be to create something when you’re discouraged, or use the time to build genuine relationships with others. Take some free courses that inspire you, or read a book just because.
Because even though quitting would be easier, it’s wouldn’t allow you to fulfill your dream.
Great advice! Thank you so much for sharing!
Very timely article, thank you!! I have been blogging only one year, but I easily get discouraged because my blog isn’t growing like I thought it would. It is very hard to invest alot of time and energy only to not see your stats grow quickly. I love your new website!!
Thank you so much for your encouragement — and congrats on blogging for a year!
This post could not have come at a better time. After 5 years of blogging, I’ve been feeling as though I should be “further along” than I currently am. I make a decent part-time income from my blog, but as a single mom of 4, who also homeschools and works as a freelance writer, I just can never seem to find the time to invest in blogging.
You are such an inspiration to me, and you always seem to publish posts exactly when I need them. Thanks so much, Crystal, for all that you do!
Thanks so much for your encouragement! And congratulations on making a part-time income from your blog. That’s fantastic!!
I think as bloggers we try so many different approaches that we forget to repeat what IS working. I’ve found that even with the smallest success, if I do my best to repeat it, then I find those small steps repeated lead to success.
Yes! Such a good word!
I definitely stop looking at stats when I start to feel discouraged. I’ve only been officially launched for three months now, and with four kids 7 and under (the baby doesn’t sleep through the night at all and I homeschool), I get so tired . Just last week, I had several people comment on my posts, made some sales, and still I got discouraged! I had to give myself a pep talk about how ridiculous it was that I got so much encouragement and could still be discouraged.
I also felt extreme anxiety this weekend about not being able to post something Monday morning at 8 a.m. I took a deep breath and reminded myself that the world doesn’t hang on Monday morning at 8 a.m. I posted it at midnight tonight, and the world still turns.
I was reminded about the slow and steady tortoise winning the race. Thanks for sharing Crystal!
You are so welcome! And YAY for some sales and comments!
Last week I lost my site. It was “compromised.” It was for all intents and purposes… GONE! I had never before even had the thought of quitting pop in my head, but last week, it did. I was discouraged and thought that there would be no way I was going to spend the next 6 months redoing what had already been done just to get my site semi back to the way it was.
Well, after a lot of hard work and discussion with my hosting company, we were able to get most of it back! I was elated!
I don’t know what I would have done had I not been able to restore most of my site. It was so very scary.
Our blogs are like our babies, aren’t they? We take care of them, nurture them, pour ourselves into them. But it’s so important to also stay grounded. What we are doing is not brain surgery. The world will continue to spin even if our site is down for a while.
Last week I learned that I need to really focus on what’s important in the big scheme of things. I need to stay grounded… even when the sh@# hits the fan 🙂
I’m SO glad you were able to get most of your blog back!! That would have been so scary and discouraging!
I love reading all of the information, ideas, and encouragement! I am currently working up the nerve to start a blog, and what you shared in this post, Crystal, is a huge help in narrowing down the details of this endeavor!
Yay!! That makes me so happy!!
Crystal: Thank you for the encouragement. Recently, it wasn’t me that wanted to quit. It was my husband who wanted me to quit. He was very serious too.
As I put a more personal post out about my dilemma, a reader responded in a way that let my husband know that this on-line ministry is as important as the daily humanitarian aid we hand out in our community.
Although we are living on $12,700 a year and unable to pay most of our bills, God continues to tell us to keep putting one foot in front of the other and keep marching on, soldier.
The community still demonstrates its support by donating a ton of household items, large and small, that we in turn give away to families in need in our community. Over 2,000 families a year are assisted by our efforts. Although the financial support is not there yet, even after 18 years, we hold on, knowing that the seeds of hope that are planted will bear fruit. In His Timing, God will straighten out our finances too.
Our blog is just an extension of that ministry as we spread our wisdom on how to be empowered towards a hope and a future in a poverty stricken time. God bless you, Crystal, and thank you for sharing your life with us too.
PS. Although it was hard to stand my ground with my husband about the impact the blog was having in a way he couldn’t yet see, since that one reader responded, our site statistics are starting to greatly increase.
There is no real explanation for it, there is nothing going “viral” or anything, but just in the first 7 days of May, my pageviews are 50% of what they were for all of April. These are numbers my husband can relate too. As a result, I’m allowed to continue to grow and blog. And without home internet too! We can’t afford it, so I blog on free wifi. A lot of copy and paste activity. I write articles at home and then transfer when free wifi is available.
So, if I can do it, so can you! Remember, your race is not the same as anyone else’s!
“Remember, your race is not the same as anyone else’s!”
YES! Such important words to remember. Thank you so much for sharing!