What to do if you aren’t making it and how do you actually know when you should fix your blog when it isn’t making money.
Already started your blog? Then when do you know you are making it succeed? This post will help clarify this for you. What to do if you aren’t making money from your blog and how do you actually know?
Let’s get right to it, shall we?
(If this post contains affiliate links please see our full disclosure policy although I have to say I tried really hard to make it interesting and even I struggled to write it so if you really must read it you can find it here)
- New blog
- Content, not reader focused enough- solve your reader’s problems make it relatable to them and their situation, grammar, and spelling
- Education – you need to invest in yourself
- Traffic yep that one again
- Email list
- Consistency posting
- Time management- ROI
- Network with other bloggers
- The future plan for the blog- planning your future
- Find your YOUR how to make your blog distinctive
- Learn what is working via other bloggers in your niche – research the big names how have they done it?
New blog
How do you know when you aren’t a new blog?
Well, I would say when you are at least 6 months in then you can say you’re a NEWISH blogger. At this stage, you will have your blog set up self-hosted with a company like SITEGROUND which is who I use and I can say I have had absolutely no issues using them if you want to give them a spin have a read at my post
Start a Profitable blog : The right way with Siteground
You aren’t making it because you are NEW well there isn’t much you can do with this one except battle on becoming consistent. DON’T give up you need to get into a rhythm. Remember Bloggers do make money blogging.
Blog content isn’t focused
Your post it, not reader focused enough. Are your writing about what you are doing and how you have fixed things rather than what your reader can you to fix THEIR problems.
Here is an example:
You have a post about how you have created a lovely bedroom but its focus is what your needs and wants were when you created it rather than discussing how decorating your bedroom could benefit your readers and how they can do this. Makes sense?
It also helps that your content is grammatically correct and free from spelling mistakes.
Education
Yep, I know you want to start off as a lean mean blogger BUT don’t skimp on at least having taking one course to help you along the way to becoming a better blogger. There are many reasons why bloggers fail and this is one of them by not investing in themselves.
You are learning a new skill so you will need to learn new processes and skills and it won’t happen overnight!
Sure you can learn most of what you need for websites but you will be taking forever to learn it all!
I certainly recommend taking a course one of the best overall courses from Paul Scrivens is Daretoconquer he helps you from the very first steps to build a brand and a business with a super helpful community.
This link is time sensitive till the end of October 2018 only at the moment so if you want to find out more click this link.
If you want to find out more about Pauls course then click this link to sign up for Billionaire Blog Club it’s something you will not regret but don’t believe me check out what Paul has to say before you make up your mind.
You can also read my review on Billionaire blog club here
Dare to Conquer: should you invest in your blogging future with the course?
There are tonnes of other courses that you could also try out check out my FREE and PAID course reviews
https://smartpennies.com/free-blogging-courses/
5 Great Beginners Blogging Courses- Review of Paid Courses
Traffic
Yes, you DO need traffic otherwise your monetization efforts are in vain!
There lots of ways to gain traffic here are some quick tips:
- Write posts people want to read
- SEO your posts so people can find them
- Promote your posts on social media – Pinterest can really promote traffic
Here are some posts which will also help you with traffic
The Exact Pinterest Strategy I used to get 600k monthly views ( in ONE-month case study)
Traffic transformation Guide Review: Increase Your Blog Traffic
21 FREE TIPS PROVEN to help INCREASE BLOG Traffic
https://smartpennies.com/tailwindapp-pinning-strategies/
Ultimately it’s not quick everything you do will eventually gain you traffic if you are doing it right- it’s a PATIENCE game!
Your Email list
One of the most important things you should be doing if you have not started one then NOW is the time to start!
Why and How?
How many times have you heard the money is in the list – don’t quick believe it?
Look at Jennifer Maker here is a link to her post
https://jennifermaker.com/how-to-grow-email-list/
She talks about her journey to grow her list in for her blog – NOT about blogging!
Need some easy tips then check out my posts here too:
Tips and Tricks for Email list building for beginners
17 types of emails to send to your subscribers
Consistency posting
If you start a blog you really need to be consistent with it.
Posting regularly depending on your own schedule – for instance, I post weekly and I have done this since I have started my blog.
This is really the key to making it with blogs – consistency in everything blogging
- Emails to subscribers
- Posts
Time management
Are you doing the right tasks that mean you are making money or working towards that goal?
Doing the wrong things on your blog will mean you won’t achieve your goals.
Find out what your Return On Investment (ROI) is this doesn’t necessarily just involve money.
- Finding your most shared content and recreate this to produce posts the same vein
- Increase Traffic
- Build trust
- Increase email subscribers
- Improve SEO
- Improve engagement from your audience
Are just some of the things you can measure and focus on to see what you can return on investment.
Here is a great video from Rosemary Groner that will help explain in more detail how to calculate your ROI and therefore schedule your time management activities for your best ROI.
Network with other bloggers
If you network with other bloggers you can get the word out about your own blog with your blogging buddies.
Since I have joined Billionaire blog club it allows me to network with other bloggers in different ways for instance via their slack community, joining BBC members Pinterest groups for instance.
The future plan for yourblog
You need to have a plan for your blog and treat it like your business.
If you have goals for each stage of your blog you are more likely to reach those goals – write them down.
Calculate your ROI and only do tasks that will improve it.
Find your YOUR how to make your blog distinctive.
Make sure your blog is YOU don’t copy other people otherwise you won’t achieve that distinctive feel for your blog. Try and be as original as possible.
Learn what is working via other bloggers in your niche – research the big names how have they done it?
What are big name bloggers doing
Check out this post about funnels and what the big guy’s are doing just now.
This is just one example of what bigger bloggers are doing to move their blogs forward.
If you are doing this research one thing to keep in mind is that you are at a different stage in your blogging career and not everything that they will be implementing will be applicable to what you are doing and yep I am going to say it again give you an ROI – return on investment.
Long and short of it all is –
DON’T QUIT
You can still quit your job and make a living blogging.
But you have to remain COMMITTED!
One of the main reasons people quit their blogs is they aren’t committed DON’T BE THAT PERSON dig in and stick to it and then you too can make money from your blog.
Do you want my full series of posts as a PDF then sign up here for my email list to get my full series of how to start a blog!
