1) Sometimes we feel like giving up.
Some days you’ll write an awesome post, and you’re sure everyone will read it and laugh and share it with their friends and then? Silence. Crickets. Days like that you’ll curse at your keyboard and wonder “Man, what am I doing?” Will this blog ever get to what I want it to be? Am I wasting my time? But then you calm down and realize that blogging has its highs and lows.
2) We don’t like the offers for free stuff as much as you would think.
Quite frankly, it can get to the point where it’s annoying, when every company wants you to talk about their products and services without even taking the time to figure out your name. Some companies excel at blogger relations—they know your name, they’ve read your blog, and they know what type of products fit your audience. On the other hand, some companies don’t get it at all. I can’t tell you how many companies pitch me for products that are nowhere near what I would ever use or events that aren’t anywhere close to me.
3) Even when we say we don’t care about our stats, we really do.
I go through periods where I say I’m just going to blog and I’m not going to look at the stats because what does it matter? But then I check my stats and I’m disappointed that there hasn’t been as much growth as I think there should be. But then I remember that what really matters is the sense of community and belonging we have here. (But I wouldn’t mind having our community be a little larger!)
4) There’s an undercurrent of jealousy that permeates the blogsphere
For as much as I love my blogging friends, as much as I’m excited about their opportunities, sometimes there’s jealousy. Yes, I said it. It’s fleeting and only for a moment, but it is there. I do get invites to some fantastic opportunities and I know how much work goes into getting them, so the jealousy isn’t about merit, who deserves it, but rather it’s me questioning myself on whether I’m putting forth as much effort as I could be.
5) It’s exhausting.
Blogging takes a lot out of you. There’s coming up with new blog posts, responding to comments, commenting on other blogs, promoting your posts on social media, writing guest posts for other bloggers, doing reviews, complying with companies’ guidelines with giveaways, etc. It’s a full-time job for me and a lot of other folks. What started out as something we did for fun now has become a business and while we’re glad we can support our families through our keystrokes, it’s work.
I just started my blog last November and I have my blogging blues at times. One of my Bff’s is always giving me my weekly boost because I genuinely want to blog. Thank you for being so honest about blogging. I love your posts.
Definitely agree with all of these. I am guilty for the whole jealousy thing–even of you, ahem. Especially because of statements like #2–I never get any offers! I feel like I’d be a “real” blogger if I got approached by even one company!
This is so true on all levels. Three years of blogging and you learn.
Ditto five times…one for each point! There’s time when I want to pull away because you don’t see growth, but then you remember how much you enjoy you it, so you stay. But it really is a lot of work, especially for those like me with no monetary gain or free stuff!
Whew! Those are real truths… I feel you. That’s how I feel about my hiatus. Getting back into the swing of things is intimidating.
SOOO true. Every last point.
I see blogging so differently than a lot of people do, and I think it’s because I’ve been a blogger since I was in 8th grade on Xanga.com haha…. over a decade ago! Blogging has always been a way for me to express my thoughts and , it seems like recently it’s turned into a business thing. And much respect for the people who actually make a living out of it!! It’s amazing at what the Internet has become.
All those points are very true. I can’t even count the number of times I have thought about quitting, but due to the good blogging friends they always give me the motivation to carry on.
Every point you made is dead on correct! It starts off looking easy, then you start to realize how hard it really is. It does take a lot out of you and I don’t know if you have to be “strong” to continue but you have to have the desire to keep moving…even if it looks like you’re going slower than everyone else.
Any advice you can give newbie bloggers? I’ve had numerous people tell me for YEAR that I need to blog and I’ve finally started. I dove in feet first but I have to be honest I’m not sure how to when promote my blog, build an audience, what or when to write, etc. Is there a place I can go to learn from the experts, such as yourself, to build a successful following? I am really excited about my blog, but I just don’t know how to start it out. How did you get to where you are now? What did it look like when you first began? How did you keep yourself current – interesting? How did you get connected within the blogging world? Thanks!!