Nobody likes to be a quitter but we’ve all done it – probably more than once. And usually it was because we were reaching for a goal that was way too lofty. A goal that we either didn’t have the skills or tools to reach or it was just a pipe dream – like a pink castle in the clouds. Here are four of the biggest blogging myths that lead to bloggers giving up on their blogs.
You need to post every day
I once followed a blogging coach that wouldn’t even let you launch a blog unless you had at least 60 posts in the queue, enough content for at least 3 month’s worth of daily blog posts. Imagine how grueling that would be. You’ve had a brilliant idea for a blog but before you can launch it you have to sit down and write 60 blog posts?! By the time I hit 15 I was already bored to tears and I gave up on that blog.
When you first start blogging it takes you a while to learn how to write good content. And one of the things that help you most is the feedback you get from your readers. But you won’t have any readers if you’re spending all of your time writing content. You need to spend time promoting your blog.
Instead of posting every single day, just publish three times a week and spend the other days bringing in readers.
There’s a right way and a wrong way
Since I abandoned that blog I’ve developed several other very successful blogs. Yet the coach I was following insisted that his way was the only way and if I didn’t follow his steps to the letter I’d never succeed. But each blog – and each blogger – is unique, even if they’re in the same exact niche, promoting the same exact product.
If you and I were both given a title to work with we’d probably crank out two entirely different articles because we’re each a unique individual. We each have our own viewpoints, opinions and voices. We also each have our own sense of creativity, which all means we’d also each appeal to a different segment of the audience.
So there is no “right” way to blog. Don’t be afraid to find your own path if the one you’re following doesn’t lead where you want it to.
Content is King
What exactly does “Content is King” mean? Does it mean you have to have a lot of content? Absolutely not, and that’s one reason why bloggers give up. They think they have to kill themselves writing the next great novel every single day and that’s wrong. You’re going to have days when your writing deserves a Pulitzer prize but more often than not it won’t. So don’t agonize over perfection. It’s not necessary.
Having top-quality content on your blog is more important than having a lot of blog posts. But like I said earlier, your content is meaningless if nobody reads it.
In the beginning it might seem like it takes forever to write one good post but trust me, it gets easier. Right now you can spend a whole day on a post but soon you’ll be ripping them off in less than half the time.
The problem is, right now you don’t have a lot of other things to do. But soon you’re going to be replying to comments and emails, engaging in your social networks, guest blogging, creating your own products, and developing new income streams. And this is where a lot of bloggers give up. They start off committed to the idea that they have to publish a post every day and when their business starts growing they can’t keep up.
So instead of worrying about that “Content is King” thing, don’t set yourself up for failure. Just publish three times a week and spend the rest of your time working on your business.
This method will get you tons of traffic
I can’t tell you how many times I heard, “You’ll get TONS of traffic!” when I was just starting my first blog. Use this method on Twitter and use that method on Facebook and don’t forget to join StumbleUpon, Reddit and Googe +!
Truth is, you will get more traffic from the social networks but it doesn’t come in in droves. You have to work at growing it like you do any other type of traffic.
Unfortunately, a lot of new bloggers give up because they think they’re a failure if they don’t immediately see 1,000 hits come in from Facebook. But let’s go back to what I said earlier and be realistic: Every blogger is unique and has his own unique group of followers. What works for one probably won’t work for the other.
What do you think? Let me know in the comments below!