I am wondering if some of us are getting into blogging too late? Are there just too many blogs out there to really be able to get in on it all?
I have so many ideas, but then I do a little research and see that there are a ton of people already posting on these things. I feel like another blog is not needed.
So how do you make your blog something people need to read? The really successful blogs either look like they had money to put into it before making money or they have been around since the beginning. What are your thoughts? -Debby
Can I just encourage you, Debby? I don’t believe in any way that the market is saturated when it comes to blogs.
I know others disagree with me, but I hold to that statement because I believe that everyone has a unique perspective, everyone has a different writing style, and everyone has their own story. These three things will set apart your blog from anyone else’s in the world.
Think about book ideas and business ideas: there are millions of them out there. And yet, every week, many new books are published and many new businesses are started. Not all of them will succeed, but many of them will make a difference.
There are multitudes of amazing books and stories and business concepts that would have never come to fruition had someone felt like the book market or the business market was too saturated! In fact, some of my favorite books would never have been written and some of my favorite businesses would have never been started.
So remind yourself of this when you begin to feel like the market might be saturated. There is always, always room for new blogs, new books, and new businesses.
However, I want to give you four important words of advice to think about as you contemplate the possibility of starting a blog:
1. Don’t Blog for the Money
While I’ve written extensively on how to start a blog and make money blogging, I cannot emphasize enough how important it is that you have a purpose for blogging that is much bigger than making money.
I’m a firm believer in being smart and strategic. I think it’s wise to find creative win-win ways to make money that also help your audience out. But never, never, never start a blog just to make money.
You will crash and burn if you’re only blogging to make money.
When I first started blogging on MoneySavingMom.com, there were quite literally no other blogs that I’d ever found that were matching coupons with deals. Pretty soon after I started, the idea caught on and soon, there were a number of bloggers covering deals at their local stores and sharing great online deals.
Because people found out that there was pretty good money to be made in this field — especially if you did a great job of it — more and more people jumped on the deal-blogging bandwagon.
I saw blogger after blogger start new deal blogs — some starting multiple deal blogs. Many outright said to me that they were really only blogging for the money.
A year or three later, the majority of the bloggers who only started blogging for the money had either shut down their blogs entirely or had confessed to me that they were exhausted, frazzled, and overwhelmed.
Blogging is hard work. Making a living from blogging is not an easy road. And when the frustrations and set-backs and discouragements come, if you’re not in it for a bigger purpose than making money, you’re going to have a hard time sticking with it for the long haul.
2. Don’t Try to Be Someone You’re Not
You are the only you on the planet. The world needs YOU — not you trying to be someone else.
Instead of looking at other bloggers and thinking of how you can replicate what they are doing, be inspired by them and then go do your own thing.
Instead of trying to copy others, think about what you can do to set yourself apart. What unique perspective and life experience do you have to bring to the table? What ideas and subjects are you intensely passionate about?
Do not compare yourself to other bloggers. I repeat: do not compare yourself to other bloggers.
This is a recipe for discouragement and defeat or for pride. Whether it makes you feel better than or less than, either way, it’s not good for your heart. Save yourself the fallout and just stop comparing.
Focus on being the best version of yourself that you can be. Surround yourself with people who will encourage you, build you up, and challenge you to improve and grow as a person.
But also, give yourself grace and remember that you don’t have the same gifts, capacity, or calling as others do. And that’s the beauty of us all being unique individuals.
3. Don’t Over-Research
There’s a huge advantage nowadays over when I started blogging, because the public at large knows what a blog is.
When I first started blogging, most people hadn’t even really heard of this thing called a “blog”. So before you could tell them about your blog, you first had to explain to them what a blog even was! It was a weird phenomenon to many people and just didn’t make a whole lot of sense.
If you start a blog now, you have a big advantage because blogging is widely accepted and understood. But it also means that it’s no longer a sort of cutting edge thing.
Because of this, as you go to research topics and ideas, you’ll find that there really isn’t anything new under the sun. What your friends think is your personal brilliant idea has probably been blogged on dozens and dozens of times.
In fact, it always cracks me up when I post something simple on MoneySavingMom.com — say about making your bed every day — and then get emails from people telling me that they read that idea in a book before and I really should give credit to the author I got the idea from.
Here’s the truth: there are really rarely many truly new ideas. While I’m all about giving credit where credit is due if I got an idea or quote directly from someone else, for most ideas, they’ve been shared so many times in so many ways that it’s basically impossible to say where an idea originated from. And often, I may have come up with the idea on my own, but that doesn’t mean that a thousand other people didn’t also come up with the idea, too, and write about it on their blogs.
I don’t say this to discourage you, but to just remind you that you can’t be concerned about only blogging about ideas that have never before been shared. Otherwise, you’ll be hard-pressed to find material to write on!
Just write from your heart, write what you’re inspired about, share what’s working or what’s not working for you. Share from your own life story and unique perspective.
If you’re going to hold something out as a brand-new, never-before-heard-of original idea, you probably should research to make sure it’s truly not been blogged about before. But otherwise, just be you as a blogger. Give credit to anyone you get ideas from, but don’t stress about always having to cite a source for everything — especially if the idea is something you just learned by trial and error.
Too much research can stifle your creativity. If you go out trying to search to see what else has been written about a particular topic, it can sometimes be more discouraging than helpful — as you’ll find that three or 30 or 300 other bloggers have shared a similar idea, but with better photos or graphics or storyline than you would have ever come up with yourself.
Instead of spending hours researching, I encourage you to spend a lot more time writing, editing, tweaking, and creating than you do researching. In the long run, it will be a much healthier decision for you.
As I’ve said before, “Stop collecting more information and, instead, go and apply what you already know.”
4. Don’t Let Lies Limit You
Do you feel like you just don’t measure up? That you’re not good enough? That you wish you could be successful and fulfilled in life but you’re met with failure and discouragement at every turn?
So much of the time, our unwillingness to act or our inability to gain momentum has to do mostly with the things we’ve let ourselves believe about ourselves.
It’s long been said that if you believe a lie for long enough, it can become a truth to you. So if you tell yourself for months and months that you’re not good enough, that you don’t have anything to offer, that you shouldn’t start blogging because you wouldn’t do a good job of it, then you’ve probably slowly started to own those lies and let them be believed as truth in your life.
Instead of embracing these untruths about yourself, start calling them out for what they really are — LIES! Then replace them with the truth: you have a unique story and purpose, you are enough, the world needs your gifts and talents.
Be you, bravely!
If you, too, struggle with living under lies and letting them dictate how you live, I encourage you to download my talk on the 3 Lies That Are Stifling Your Success & The Truth That Will Set You Free. I think it will really encourage you!
Oh Crystal,
This is exactly what I needed to hear. I’ve been trapped in a few of these for a while, (over researching and letting lies limit me). I’m just going to write and post and write and post.
YES! Write and post! Write and post!
I’m cheering for you!
Love all of these points Crystal!! But as much as I know I shouldn’t compare my work and blogs to those of another in my field, I sadly sometimes do it lol! Then again, I think we all do. It’s a bad habit, and a hard one to break!
What I’ve found that has really helped me blog more and also help me as a creative-type ( and made me happier in daily life) is to do what my friend calls ‘free writing’. So if I have a bad day, I tell myself to go sit down and write about it, or write about something else that inspires me. This has helped me immensely and I’ve written more blog posts than ever before ( in the 5 or 6 years I’ve been blogging) as I’ve reignited my love for my craft and also freed myself from the self-inflicted boundaries I’ve put upon myself in my niche. And it helps spark ideas for new posts! Maybe this is why Julia Cameron recommends artists do ‘morning pages’, although for me I prefer writing in the evening.
Thanks so much for this awesome post!
Such a great tip! Thank you for sharing!
Thank you Crystal again for your great insight. I am just starting the blog adventure. Often, I feel like I have no idea what I am doing or if I am doing it right. “Don’t Let Lies Limit You” – I can totally relate to that one, but thank you for the words of encouragement. I definitely needed it today.
Congratulations on just starting your blog!!
Thank you so much for this! As a blogger of a baby-baby blog, it can be very discouraging at times. I have been at it since November, but have only just found a better rhythm to my blogging. I have not made a penny yet, but I really enjoy it! I am so thankful for bloggers like you who work so hard to help us newbies out!!
Blessings,
Amy
Yay for finding a better rhythm to your blogging! That’s fantastic!
Thanks for these encouraging words, Crystal! I’ve been blogging since January and my pageviews don’t seem to increase much. At this point it seems like it’s only my friends and family that read my blog and most of them would never leave a comment! I have to remember that it’s a marathon! I am fearful of putting much money into the startup without a promise of return. I guess write and post is where I need to put my focus and try not to get caught up in my own insecurities. Thanks again!
Our own insecurities can be our enemies, can’t they?? I’m cheering for you!
I’m ready to start writing my blog. Thank you for the words of wisdom.
You can do it! I’m cheering for you!
I definitely struggle with the lies. I also struggle with feeling like I’m wasting my time. Besides the fact that I really don’t have a “niche”.
Sometimes none of it bothers me because I truly do love blogging and I love blogging about a variety of everyday things and I love embracing beauty in the everyday and I am happy with some of the opportunities I’ve had for my blog, small or simple as they may be.
Thanks for your encouraging words!
And for your hard work! You are not kidding when you say blogging is a lot of hard work. It really is.
Well, I know for one thing: You’ve been a huge encouragement to me through your blog. So you’ve at least helped one person — and that means you’re not wasting your time in your book!
Thank you, I needed to hear this. I neglected my blog for a while and have only started to write again.
I want to continue my blog and needed some inspiration.
Thanks and appreciation
I’m so glad that you’re writing on your blog again! I’m cheering for you!
Love your sweet encouragement. I always tell people that you never know what will cause Google, Facebook, or whatever sharing platform to send someone your way. It doesn’t matter if the information exists online- what matters is that person may hear it best from you.
YES! So true!
As a book lover, I loved your comparision of the blog market to the book market. Of course, there could never be too many books:)
Enjoying your new website. Love the beginner/ intermediate/ advanced tabs. And I like the simplicity of this site as I can focus on just learning when I here.
Thanks so much for your encouragement!
I don’t believe we can saturate the blogging world either. We have as many unique ways to share ideas, struggles, successes, and even our faith as there are people in the world. Isn’t it awesome how God created us all to be unique! Embrace your unique you and don’t be afraid to share it. Your story will impact others too!
Yes! Such a good reminder!
Thank you, Crystal — very encouraging and much wisdom here.
Thanks so much for your encouragement!
*Sigh* Yep, I woke up today in that state of ‘what a silly idea this is to think anyone would want to hear what I have to say’. Thanks for the Monday morning pep talk. Needed it.
I’m so grateful it encouraged you!
Love this article! Very helpful!
Many of us DO want to supplement our incomes, and will seriously reflect on tip #1 because we know income won’t come easily from a blog, but what is your main reason for blogging? Do you mind sharing?
You rock Crystal!!! Thanks for your help!
My main reason for blogging is to inspire women to live their lives with passion and purpose. I have a really strong desire to help as many women as possible (in my lifetime) live up to their fullest potential. So that’s the driving force behind all that I do.
Crystal,
You are always so encouraging and insightful. I really appreciated your post. It was what I needed to hear today. I totally agree that blogging is hard work and maybe sometimes, it’s not so unique these days. But it’s very true that if we are blogging and stay true to ourselves, as well as helping others to learn or discover something new (or from our p.o.v) then, I think there’s a chance it will grow organically.
You are a blessing!
Thank you again for this post! It sure made my day!
Cindy
You are so welcome! Thank you so much for your kind encouragement!
Crystal, thank you for another shot of encouragement! I had written bi-monthly emails to parents, guardians, and caregivers for many years. After following your advice about blogging, I put together a blog where all the email recipients could actually interact with each other.
I love reading your time management posts. You accomplish so much in your work days. ?? You are inspiring many women with your lifestyle of purpose and passion. When your life here is complete, you will hear the words “Well done, good and faithful servant.” That is the highest goal any of us could attain- knowing we served God faithfully.
Many blessings on you, Crystal.
Aw, thank you so much for your kind encouragement! Your comment blessed me!
Hi Erin,
I’m glad to see you’re still out in the blogging world!
I love this article! I just started my blog in January of this year and the reason I decided to start it was because I love to write and because I feel like I’ve made MANY mistakes as a homemaker and learned from all of them.
I figured I could help other women who felt overwhelmed with their homemaking if I shared my trial-and-error stories 🙂
What a great reason for starting a blog! So many people need that blog!
Thank you for this. It really helped me to know that while things I blog about might be written elsewhere, they won’t be written with my experiences, insight, or viewpoint – and that is what makes them unique. These are the kinds of things I need to remember, and concentrate on, rather than listening to the “experts”. Thank you for your encouraging words, common sense ideas and easy to digest information.
You are so welcome! Thank you for your kind encouragement!
This post is EXACTLY what I needed to read. I am getting ready to jump into blogging, and I was wrestling with all of these points that you mentioned. Your wisdom in the profession and your reassurance are exactly what I needed to see. Thank you, Crystal!
Thanks so much for your encouragement!
Crystal, This is exactly what I needed to read, thank you! I just started a blog the other day and it was so hard to click the “publish” button for that first post. The lies are the worst! I’ve lived my life with quite a bit of fear and am realizing that I just don’t have time for that anymore. Here’s to being brave! 🙂
Yay! I’m so glad that it encouraged you! That makes me so grateful!
As a student of Blogging University, I SOOO needed to read this post. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, as I have already started comparing myself, thinking my posts are too long, no one will want to see my thoughts/viewpoint, since I do think outside of the box,etc. I am wanting to be a lifestyle blogger of my life experiences that I have had, and to help others learn to cope as well.
I am still building content (or phase one as I call it) before moving on to the other phases. I can’t wait until the other courses are available in Blogging University! YOU ROCK!!!!
Aw, thank you so much for your kind encouragement! I’m SO grateful!!
“Write from your heart” — so true! I love reading your “week in review” emails for that reason! Writing from the heart is a little scary sometimes, but it’s good too.
Yes! And I’m so glad that you love those posts! I have so much fun putting them together!
Thanks for this Crystal! Sometimes a little bit of encouragement is all we need. Plus, it feels better to lift one another up than to tear one another down.
I’m so glad that it encouraged you!
Thank you Crystal, I really needed to read this. I’m just starting on my blogging journey and I seem to have paralysis by analysis. I overthink everything and always worry that it’s not perfect enough, so it doesn’t get posted in the blog and because of that my blog is quiet and lonely. I loved your Blogging University and I love these encouragements you give us. It is truly appreciated. Thank you!!!
Thanks so much for your kind encouragement! And you’re so welcome!
Aaaagh – #3! An arrow straight to my heart! I research stuff to death and then get intimidated over writing about it. Thank you for “giving me permission” to stop researching so much and use my own ideas and initiative to write posts that I can own, and not feel like I’ve stolen somebody else’s bright idea.
I appreciate this viewpoint. I started blogging after I graduated (I am over 40) to get recognized in my area of expertise, as a recommendation. Since then I have been hired and now working in my area of interest. But have stopped blogging because I felt like a fraud because I don’t have letters behind my name. This gives me hope to return. Thank you!
I’m so grateful that this encouraged you! I’m cheering for you — and I hope that you have the courage to return to blogging!
I needed this at exactly this moment on this day. Thank you for your advice and truth. You gave me a fresh dose of encouragement today!
Oh yay! I’m so glad that this encouraged you!
Great perspective and so encouraging. I’m almost ready to launch my blog that I was inspired to start by you! Money Making Mom was a fabulous resource.
Aw, yay! Thank you so much for your encouragement!
Thanks Crystal! I have launched! Feel free to visit me at myfrugalnature.com!
Can you recommend some vlogging equipment to start out with?… I’m thinking 1 of those 11″ lighting rings would be good? (Anything else?)