- I have done everything, but I failed to make money from my blog.
- Blogging is not working out for me.
- Blogging sucks! It just does not work
In the past few years, I have seen these kinda messages many times. I have seen the success stories of many bloggers.
People just like you who started with nothing, no mentor, but they have made it.
Are you a blogger?
If yes, then I want to tell you that you will never make money blogging, and even if you do; you will fall among the average.
You will never make enough to go full-time blogging and live the lifestyle you dream of. In fact, you will never get to the level of the pro-bloggers.
Do you want to know why?
Then read on.
One of the most popular articles flowing on the web now is the monthly earning reports.
While such reports provide inspiration to its readers, it seems to spread false hope among newbies.
The problem is that many bloggers are reading such reports with the wrong perception. This is why, I paused publishing income reports, and shared a video on why I did that.
A lot of bloggers have written about the technicalities of blogging and making money online but one of the most important; yet ignored subject is
The attitude or mindset required for success in blogging.
Statistics proves that over 80% of bloggers will not achieve beyond average even though they have all the money-making tips, software, ebooks and techniques at their finger tips.
The problem of these 80% bloggers is not the business model they chose, the software/tools they use or the techniques they apply; the problem is the mindset with which they go about their blogging business.
Today, I will help you learn something which not only put you in the right mindset, it would become your anchor to become successful in your possibly long and rewarding career, as a blogger.
8 Undeniable reasons why you can’t Make Money from Blogging:
So in this article, I am going to spill the harsh truth on why I strongly believe you can’t make money blogging like the pro bloggers such as Darren Rowse, Michael Dunlop, Steve Pavlina, Pat Flynn and the rest.
1. Your Niche is an issue
A lot of us when heard about blogging, we start with generic topic. Your blog is usually a mixture of anything, and everything. This is ok for starting out, but as you move ahead, it becomes a roadblock.
I have covered this aspect in detail earlier that you can read in below guides:
- Single topic blog Vs. multi-niche blog: What you need to know
- Why nicheless blog could not compete with niche blogs
So, whats the solution?
Well, the solution is to give a diretcion to your blog. Define a niche for your blog, and that niche should not be generic.
Here are example to help you understand better:
Generic niche | Focused niche |
Technology niche | Smart watch niche |
Food blog | Keto diet blog |
Finance blogger | Personal finance blog |
What it meant for you is; you will not be able to write on many topics that partially interest you.
If I would you, here is what I would do:
- Either create a new blog from scratch: Since running an existing blog has given you a lot of learnings, it is time to start a new blog with a new vision.
- Restructure the existing blog: If starting a new blog sounds makes you feel like, oh no!, then you can resturcture your content. This is something I have done with ShoutMeLoud.
Here is what happened,
In the initial days of ShoutMeLoud, I was covering a lot of tech content, but later on my interest went to digital marketing, and It worked out good. So, I created another blog (ShoutMeTech, which is not very active), and moved all tech content there.
This exercise alone, made ShoutMeLoud laser-focused, and now we are a well-known blog in the industry. More than that, it also helped us to start getting more traffic from the search engine. It is a well-known fact that, search engines prefer a niche blog when it comes to ranking for a topic.
2. Your Monetization technique is limited:
A lot of bloggers start with basic blog monetization methods such as Google AdSense, PropellerAds, and so on.
However, this technique requires you to have a significant amount of traffic, which is tough for most of the bloggers.
There are other modern avenues that you should explore:
- Affiliate marketing: This doesnot require you to have a lot of content.
- Online courses: In 2020, this is perhaps the most effective way of monetization. It definitely requires a lot of work, but you can always spin-off your content as a course, and easily earn anywhere from $50-5000 with a single sale.
There are more methods that I have discussed in my earlier guide on “How to make money blogging“.
If you are not doing this, you will get tired one day, and like a lot of others, you would miss out on making a career in blogging.
By the way, as I said on my tweet “Blogging is a better career option”
3. You are still waiting for the traffic:
Once you have covered the above two aspects, the next one is “Traffic”. A lot of bloggers just knows how to write, and to be honest, even if you are writing the best content, it would not work.
See, it is only if the right people are finding your blog, then only you will end up making money. But, you are not doing what I do or any smart working blogger would.
So what’s the solution:
Well, there are a few things you need to do:
- Learn SEO: SEO is the way by which you can drive traffic on your blog. It is absolutely free traffic, and just like you learn about writing, you need to learn SEO. I know, it seems like a lot of work, but it is not. Even if you spend 45 minutes every day for the next 1-2 months, you will be able to do really well, then where ever you are. My guide on WordPress SEO, is perhaps the best free resource for you to get started.
- Learn email-marketing: This is one of the techniques by which you can make first time visitor into a subscriber, and you make them keep coming to your blog. Another skill that you need to learn.
- Content promotion plan: After writing every article, you need to market your content. It is free, but it would require another 1 hour of work (minimum), but once it becomes part of your habit, it grows your blog in no time. Read our earlier guide on “How To Promote Your Blog (12+ Actionable Blog Promotion Techniques)“.
In nutshell, the only reason you are not getting traffic is because, you have not spend enough time to learn the above skills. However, the good news is; it is not too late.
You can still learn it, and enjoy the traffic like many others. I must remind you, your niche selection plays a greater role here.
4. You are not enjoying the process & focused on goal
Yes, the first reason why you won’t make money blogging is because you are trying too hard to do it.
Go to popular internet marketing forums and blogs and you will see individuals talking about their goals to make $100, $1000 or $10,000 monthly.
Now making money is one of the objectives of every business but it should not be your primary aim. The problem with focusing too much on the goal to make money is that you tend to lose your enthusiasm if you fail to achieve your goal within the stipulated time frame.
To every sensible pursuit in life, there’s a process and it’s this process that brings about results.
Now what most bloggers fail to understand is that the process to achieving a goal is more important than the goal itself.
The process of building a successful blog is more important than the money that follows suit; because once you have successfully completed a process and mastered it, such a process can be replicated as many times as possible.
This is why I always emphasize bloggers focus more on the process than the goal. Do the opposite of this and you may hit the goal but you will only be a one-time hit; a fly by night blogger. You will never stand the test of time like the pro-bloggers.
5. You want to make money overnight
Why do you play the lottery, gamble and speculate on stocks?
The answer is that you are probably trying to make a one-time kill; you want to succeed overnight.
If you are in the category of bloggers trying to make money overnight, then I am sorry to say that your dream may never be realized and that’s the truth.
I often hear people say that the Rich Dad Company is an overnight success and I think it is a fact; but it took us ten years to get there.
Robert Kiyosaki
Take a critical look at the pro bloggers earning an average of $5,000 and above monthly; you will observe that none of them achieved the feat overnight.
This reminds me of this popular quote by Michelangelo
If you knew how much work went into it, you would not call it genius.
It took them years of hard work to get to their present income level; why should yours be any different.
6. You are not disciplined
Lack of discipline is another reason why you will never make money blogging.
Most bloggers take the pain to set goals, write plans, and establish priorities but they fail to succeed because they lack the discipline to either execute their plan or stay focused on their plan.
To become a successful blogger, you need to establish your priorities and focus on them. Even if it meant, you need to say “No” to a lot of other things.
See blogging works, and it works really well. The best part it doesnot require you to go to college or have a formal education, but you need to spend a hell lot of time learning, and implementing.
There is no substitute to this!
You need to choose a course and focus on it.
Focus! Focus!! Focus!!!
I can’t emphasize this enough because it is a vital key to success but every day; I see bloggers breaking this one rule. Every day; I see bloggers trying to start 10 blogs at once rather than focusing on one until successful. Don’t make this mistake.
- For further reading: Top 10 productivity tips for Bloggers
7. You Procrastinate a lot
Many bloggers dream and fantasize about becoming the next Problogger but only a few will lift a finger to do something.
Most bloggers are simply lazy; they would rather surf the web reading income reports than writing articles.
Rather than take the pain to learn SEO, methods to drive traffic, write better, brand building, or learn from other bloggers.
From personal observation, I have observed that being very busy is the new type of laziness.
I have come across internet entrepreneurs who swear and lament over how hard they work and how much time they spend online but if you take a closer look at how they use their time online; you will notice that their time online was spent doing unproductive things.
To become a problogger, you need to get down to the task of writing articles, networking, publishing guest posts, interacting with readers, etc.
8. You are wasting your money in wrong tools
One of the problems bloggers face is that of budget allocation. Most bloggers spend money on frivolous things; rather than the important things.
Go to forums and you will see bloggers and internet entrepreneurs bragging about how expensive and beautiful their blog theme is. You will see people talking about the next fastest software, plugin, and push-button system.
The truth is that such things won’t work if you are not prepared to work; your tools will only be as effective as you are.
Stop spending money on frivolous things; spend money like a business owner, spend money with your eyes on the bottom line.
You can always start with a free tools, and master it before spending money on paid tools.
For example:
Start with | Move to (When you learned enough) |
Grammarly free | Grammarly pro |
Free Convertkit (Email marketing) | Paid Plan |
Google Keyword planner | SEMRush paid |
Hemingway web | Hemingway desktop |
If a tool is not going to increase your profit or efficiency in the short or long run; forget about it and invest in the little things that matter.
More over, you could do a lot more even if you don’t buy the next hot shot tool. Tools are meant to make your manual tasks easier, and it is effective when you have mastered the manual process.
Remember this, and you will never waste your money online.
In conclusion, I will advise you to retake a critical look at the tips above and consider any that may hinder the realization of your goal and analyze why you can’t get into a list of pro-bloggers and scrutinize yourself, make the necessary adjustments and I will see you at the top.
Subscribe on YouTube
I see you wrote this post a couple of years back but it’ll remain relevant for years to come imho. In fact this should be the welcome mail to every new subscriber to SML
Dear AJAERO
You post is an eye opener for bloggers like us. These all points are very good. Specially to be disciplined and have a proper mindset to become problogger.
Trying to make money from blogging isn’t worth it. There are a lot of reason why it’s a pipe dream. Here are a few of them.
There is no money in online advertising.
You’re competing with millions of other bloggers.
Nobody wants to buy your products, either because they suck or they are too expensive.
There isn’t a demand for your services.
Your content sucks and you’ll never improve, no matter how hard you try.
@Justing
I believe you having a hard-time. Tell us a place where we won’t find competition? Are you afraid of losing or you afraid of not trying hard enough?
Owned!
No doubt blogging has a huge competition, if compared to finding local jobs in your town of course. You’re competing against a big portion of the world. I know how hard it is but I’m still trying.
Hi Harsh
I think there is two more thing you should add (although it will hurt a few but it will be better for them in long term):
– lack of writing skills (applies to non-native speakers): you don’t need to be great but atleast decent writing skills is a bare minimum. If your English is poor, no one will see you as an authority.
My advice: Take some time to learn proper English. It will help you a lot. Give it a few months because it is worth it.
– having no idea what works: I see so many new tech blogs writing 500 word posts on the line of “how to do this to your PC”. IT DOES NOT WORK. That info is available on the net on so many authority sites. Your 500 word article is never going to make it. Do something new. Write something comprehensive. If your really want to do that, go the extra mile. Make a video. You get the point.
There are so many other things.
Please don’t take my advice in a wrong sense. I am saying these with good intentions to help you out.
Regards
Neil
Great, great post. This post Speaks directly to me. I tend to get lazy to write my own articles even though I am a freelance writer. I connected with a new blogger and we are starting a 30 day challenge where one must post 2 articles a day or pay 25 bucks to the other. I think that will kill the laziness.
I’ve recently made 4 figures on my blog.
It’s possible, but it took me a lot of hard work. I forced myself to write a blog post once every Wednesday, and have done so for 13 months.
Now I’ve done over 130 posts, set up an autoresponder with over 20 emails (this is very profitable btw), and have been living and breathing my blog.
It’s worth the effort guys, but you gotta put in the work.
Number 6 really applies to me. Then again, I gave up trying to make money from my blog because there’s too much competition and too much pressure. I’d much rather blog for the love of it.
Hello Ajaero Tony,
The points like ‘Too focused’ and ‘Not disciplined’ are a the core of the problem. Its true that it is not easy to reach that level of problogger without keeping in mind the above mentioned things. Thanks for the informative post.
When I first started making money online I was one of those people that wanted to make money immediately. Sometimes we set the bar too high for ourselves. But over time I realized that success takes time and I won’t get to where I want overnight. I learned to set more realistic goals for myself and it encouraged me to work harder to meet those goals.
Really Great points Ajaero , a blog is like a baby you first have to nurture it , feed it with good articles , build good backlinks ( frnds) and then when it will become big then only u can expect money from it…..really….this post is a must read for all the bloggers who just blog for money.
Nice points Ajaero a person really need patience to make money online as we do not make money online…we have to earn it….. 🙂 and its a must read for the newbie bloggers as they leave blogging in the middle of their journey because of small failures and because they wanted to earn in a day.
Discipline is required if you want to be successful in any field. People come to blogging to earn money overnight. They think this is the easiest method to earn passive income. They do realize very late that this is now the most competitive market in the world. If you want to earn something , then you have to show your guts.
Thanks again Harsh, this gave me something to think about. Particularly, the point of how I use my time hit me hard. Am I really as busy as I think I am or am I wasting my time
‘being busy’ instead of getting work done? This question is an important one. I will think about it and make adjustments if warranted.
Thank…u Harsh and Ajaero Tony Martins for the…blog as i m very new to blogging your blog is very much important for…me and for the…bloggers like me..
Ajaero,
Excellent points every one, although I am particularly fond of point #5: “[Investing money in the wrong things]”
The majority of online business owners, bloggers, fall prey to the notion that “If I just invest in the right widget, gadget, plugin, WSO, ad nauseum that this will somehow solve their money-making problems.
This thinking is flawed to say the least…
“Widgets and gadgets” don’t solve your problems, only correct thinking and a plan of action do. And if your thinking is wrong, then no amount of action or investment can compensate for this.
The best investment you can make in your business is to make an investment in yourself, first. Instead of wasting money on the “latest & greatest” – make an investment in a mentor who is doing what you want to do, successfully. Then listen to every thing they tell you to do, then do it.
And as you so aptly pointed out in point #6…
“As a man or woman thinks in their heart so are they.”
Invest in your thinking and many of the other issues will follow suit.
Again, great post.
Be good to yourself,
James
Things like lack of dedication, laziness and thoughts of becoming rich over night kills the passion of the person and it strictly adheres to the depreciation of the person..
hi
great topic i might be the victim of that from last 6 months i am trying to get a good quality traffic but could not achieve i do not understand where i am lacking can you help and advice me some tips how to get traffic and what are the mistakes which i am making so that i could rectify in future.
I recalled John Chow mentioned in one of his post that he made money not directly through his blog but rather through back end products which he offered to his subscribers. He also emphasized the importance of building a list through a blog.
So I guess it is not realistic to expect to make five or six figure income just with one weblog. Rather the whole objective of posting good contents is to establish credibility and authority of chose niche and then get people to subscribed or opt-in to follow up newsletters or email marketing campaigns.
The only reason i never refer myself as a pro-blogger is that my only blog is only 6 months old. And that’s not a good criteria to be called a pro-blogger. But i will be, may be in a year.
And when read the first two paragraphs of this post i was like, How dare you say that i can’t be a pro-blogger? But then i read it down and now i know why most fails to be a pro.
Thanks for your post Tony.
Awesome points mentioned here, the biggest reason I found in my blogging journey is that We are not in a track for a long, every time we change our money making plan as we read another money making tips. For now started my own service and yes I am making good bucks from it, because I love what I do and don’t bothered to be millionire at overnight. Great post must read for many bloggers.