Bloggers, What Are Your Biggest Frustrations?

188 | Posted In Personal by David

question Today, I wanted to turn the tables and hear from you.

Yes, YOU. :) I’m directly talking to YOU.

If you’re reading my blog, then I’m guessing you’re a blogger. At the very least, you’re probably involved in internet business in some way.

And you’re trying to accomplish certain things. Perhaps it is more traffic, more people on your list, more revenue. All of the above, most likely.

And perhaps you’ve been working on this for some time. Well, chances are you have certain things which you find frustrating. Certain areas where you consistently feel like you’re spinning your wheels and making little (or no) headway.

So, my question to you is… What are your biggest frustrations when it comes to your blogging?

Go ahead, post your input as a comment below. I’ll be reading every single one.

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  • http://vikk.typepad.com/down_the_writers_path/ Vikk

    I so sympathize. That's a major problem for me and I have so much trouble wrapping my brain around all the tech stuff that I end up coming to a complete standstill. I finally bit the bullet and hired a virtual assistant who helps me with the behind-the-scenes stuff. I can't tell you how relieved I felt the day she asked for my list of to-dos.

  • http://vikk.typepad.com/down_the_writers_path/ Vikk

    Or you can cry uncle like I did and grab a virtual assistant to get you over the hump. :) I finally had to do that because I was sliding further and further backward and not making any progress on any front.

    I can do maintenance stuff but when it comes to implementing a lot of the tech stuff and taking my blog from Typepad to WordPress and all that, well, it's not easily done by me and, frankly, I'm not sure I want to concentrate ALL me efforts there and let product development slip away.

  • http://twitter.com/Dfitz2009 Dean Fitzpatrick

    Keep pushing on, Cyi…

  • http://www.stylishwithsubstance.com Ella M*de

    They used to. Not sure lately. sparklelikethestars.com and one by the same writer (but one is in a humorous anonymous character). That’s all I’ve got.

    I’m related though; fashion. Let’s stick together!!

  • http://www.stylishwithsubstance.com Ella M*de

    I feel you. :-) Sometimes I feel like I have THE ONE best likeable post and it seems average to the folks out there.

  • http://www.stylishwithsubstance.com Ella M*de

    For me, it's the ton of blog commenting I've done that doesn't lead to that blogger coming back to comment. I might even scour the stats and decide the blogger hasn't visited. Where's the etiquette? I don't know if it's bloggers today or my blog!

  • http://www.stylishwithsubstance.com Ella M*de

    Mine IS.

  • http://www.stylishwithsubstance.com Ella M*de

    Ooh, we can offer up our kingdoms? Gotta get on that. OK silly…

  • http://www.stylishwithsubstance.com Ella M*de

    I think all you need is ad tweaking. Your only problem is income, right? Don't do anything new to promote the blog further yet, although helping grow fans is always good. You need to monetize first.

    Problem: When I visited your site I saw no ads above the fold. That is hurting you.

    Constantly analyze ad performance. Then tweak when necessary. By the way, I also wouldn't click on your ads if I were “interested” (not an insult) in your content (like already knew of the topic, etc.). One was far-from targeted and another was an image with text.

    You need to also look at the ads displayed and see if any advertiser is serving anything worth clicking on. I hope you don't find this is just hobby potential. But if not AdSense, with your hits, you can sell ads, I think.

    Do you not have a page rank yet? In that case, the promotion you should do is link-building.

    I really hope I've helped a lot!!

  • http://www.stylishwithsubstance.com Ella M*de

    Wow. I get more, and I thought it was small because I make pennies. I used to make a killing, mostly with Glam Ads, and that's all gone (they are evil, they took it away, look it up). Also, hits are lower due to different reasons. I sort of re-started. (One reason is my old host screwed me over by causing immense downtime: Dreamhost.)

    I now realize I could make money? Haha, I need tips, too!!!

  • http://www.stylishwithsubstance.com Ella M*de

    I mean I make that one blog blog that's been toughest to monetize.

    Until I moved my site / some sites lost PR (true, just 'cause of my host) I made about that, actually. With my free host now, all I can afford, I can't use text link ads (TLA). With my main blog I wasn't selling any ads, so I don't know what to charge people. I have this possibly stupid fear of ripping them off and appearing bad! I do need major help, even mentally.

  • http://www.stylishwithsubstance.com Ella M*de

    Thing is I love OnSugar, too. I can't move again, I already moved away once. I'm bad to readers, lol. But yeah I love it there, so I need non-WP/upload-required solutions.

  • http://www.stylishwithsubstance.com Ella M*de

    Why smile? Are you joking? I hate meanies!

    Btw your thinking is also flawed, with the stats improvement.

  • http://www.stylishwithsubstance.com Ella M*de

    There are tools for that. I think the thing we're using right now is one! Plus more for WordPress and maybe beyond. Oh there's something called, backhype, I think? Check those out.

  • http://www.stylishwithsubstance.com Ella M*de

    BackTYPE maybe?? Just try those names. ;-)

  • http://www.stylishwithsubstance.com Ella M*de

    Since I am a bit of a techie, I still spend lots of time on it! I enjoy it too much, it has to be part of my blogging “job”. :-)

  • http://www.stylishwithsubstance.com Ella M*de

    I put in long shifts after big TV shows with ugly fashions, like Miss Universe and its crazy costumes. Haha. Those are awesome blogging times for me though! I hate sleep! ;-)

  • http://www.stylishwithsubstance.com Ella M*de

    Not really 5 minutes, right?

  • http://www.stylishwithsubstance.com Ella M*de

    Same here, well, similar. I have usually struggled with sustaining a “community” or large following also, even when times were awesome.

  • http://www.stylishwithsubstance.com Ella M*de

    If you set up similar URL structures (if it's possible) then you just set 301 redirections. There is a WP plugin for that.

    My issue was once that there was no making OnSugar and WP compatible in their URL structures. WP just overwrites with their own methods, and OnSugar USED to have random numbers that weren't chronological to my blog, even. Now at least they have words, too – but not compatible.

    However I'm not movin' back!

  • http://www.stylishwithsubstance.com Ella M*de

    Until you get a commenter pointing out an error or a missed attribution link, or something.

    I'm a perfectionist, though, so I won't say more. :-)

  • http://www.stylishwithsubstance.com Ella M*de

    I have nothing to sell…. what could I sell… I wish I could make handbags, but it's too stressful….

  • http://www.stylishwithsubstance.com Ella M*de

    Also the sewing and mailing out would mean much less blogging. I really don't get that post on how blogs don't make money. I used to make $24,000+ a year just blogging.

  • http://www.stylishwithsubstance.com Ella M*de

    I've designed two websites for one woman. But I no longer design as deeply/complicatedly… Don't know how to get clients when I'm not a total pro and don't have a degree…

    I was trying so hired to be hired as a copy editor or writer, but the job market you know.

  • http://www.stylishwithsubstance.com Ella M*de

    I mean my blogs are simpler-looking now, I'm still as talented.

  • http://www.stylishwithsubstance.com Ella M*de

    I hated Disqus before I signed up so it linked to ME and not lame AIM or something.

    I won't import my old comments, though, or I'd use it.

  • http://www.stylishwithsubstance.com Ella M*de

    Ooh I think the original blogger sold the blog to a company, it's still running, however.

  • http://www.stylishwithsubstance.com Ella M*de

    Sorry my other comment that included what the heck I'm talking about is being moderated due to a domain name in it.

    There are jewelry blogs, but on the fashion side. Keep searching though, that's just my intel.

  • http://www.stylishwithsubstance.com Ella M*de

    How about a crafting / jewelry making by like Etsians blogging “community”?

    I didn't totally look into your site to know if that fits.

  • http://www.stylishwithsubstance.com Ella M*de

    That gave me an idea! Thanks.

  • http://www.stylishwithsubstance.com Ella M*de

    One more before I finally go: Actually my possibly-hugest stressor is taking “ensemble” pictures of myself – by myself. I wouldn't do it, but it seems “required reading” in fashion these days.

    I'm proud of my style, I just don't like how much weight the camera adds, I hate my stomach, and it's so darn difficult!!! – for me at least.

  • http://www.SingularityWeblog.com/ Socrates

    Thank you very much for your useful input Ella!
    Currently I am redesigning my whole blog so there will be more ads and in better positions i.e. above the fold.
    I also intend to start soliciting direct advertisement.
    Most helpful thing you can do for me is to check out my blog in a week or two and give me input after the new design rolls out so that may tweek it as need.
    Cheers!

  • http://www.latest-mobilephone.com Vineeth.P.V

    Hey dr, I liked our tactic to attract more comments on your blog.This is superb to end with a question.

  • Neltah

    My biggest frustration is transferring my thoughts into income. I have great ideas but am no marketing person. Have never marketed anything and don’t know anybody who does that I can trust and talk to with confidence. I don’t know what to do, any advice?

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  • Graham Womack

    My 10 biggest frustrations as a blogger:
    10) The amount of money I make from blogging; short-term, I could make more flipping burgers
    9) My current bounce rate and read times, which are really more depressing than frustrating 8) Not being able to convert big traffic days into many more readers
    7) Not knowing how to handle more technical stuff with my site
    6) Trolls, whether in forums where my stuff gets linked to or, occasionally, on my site
    5) I agree with Rhys: Posts that take longer to research or require critical thinking on the part of the reader get mostly ignored; simpler stuff is most popular
    4) I sometimes publish new guest posts under my byline and picture with italicized header and footer text that introduces the guest poster. Almost invariably, I get a comment from someone thanking me for writing the post or, worse, taking me to task for some part of it
    3) I’m 27 and most of readers are in the 40-60 range since I write about baseball history. It would be nice if more people closer to my age cared about my topic
    2) Honestly, I wish I was writing professionally; my blog reminds me that I am not
    1) The blogosphere is a meritocracy, which I think is a good thing, but it also means that to be at the top, I’d probably need to do it full-time

  • Frank Daley

    Wow! I sympathize Graham! I’ve not begun blogging… starting in two weeks or so..but some of those concerns seem real to me.
    I completely agree with not knowing the tech stuff suffiiciently well. It’s frustrating to be stalled in the middle of getting something done. I figure that it’s time and a matter of practice on hat score.

    The simpler stuiff works better than the thoughtful eh? Welcome to the world. Just keep doing what you think is right but leaven it with the simpler stuff I guess. Maybe humor too.

    Have no experience yet with your reports on comments etc.
    Re the age of baseball followers…not sure you can do anything about that. I have one idea! If you speak Spanish or can get a local translator inexpensively..you might try writing doing yur stuff in Spanish and get the S American and cCaribbean readers.! (I know..just a thought!).

    Re the full-0time thing…I think you can do it part-time until you figure out all those problems you listed and then do it full-time along with your otjher full-time job!

    That’s the way things work, I’m afraid.

  • http://california-car-insurance-info.com Seth Jared

    My biggest frustration are the hundreds of spam comments. I sometimes find one that looks like an honest reaction but then it’s actually just some person promoting a get rich quick product. I treasure the real reactions. 

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