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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  • evanhadkins

    Yes that's possible. Ask others to read it is the only way I know – being objective about my own stuff I find next to impossible.

  • evanhadkins

    On another forum some people have had problems with MailChimp compatibility with WordPress, which has meant I'm holding off installing it – and I can't afford Aweber yet.

    If you haven't had any problems and you have a WordPress blog this would be great news.

  • http://www.mommyreporter.com Mommy Reporter

    My favorite TeleTubby is the yellow one, Lala… LOL, just kidding…

  • http://www.mommyreporter.com Mommy Reporter

    Thanks so much David! Yes, that does make a lot of sense. I am trying to do what you suggest, and I am trying to use the work of others as motivation for my own improvement. Thanks again!!

  • http://picsiechick.com PicsieChick

    I'm pretty new to WordPress (self-hosted) and to Mail Chimp, but they appear to be working flawlessly together. I do know someone who uses both because she has clients that use Aweber. She prefers Mail Chimp. I know, second hand, but I thought I'd let you know what I heard.

    Hugs and butterflies,
    ~T~

  • http://wineandwalnuts.com/wordpress Kimberly Houston

    Two biggest frustrations:
    #1: Not getting comments, even when I specifically ask for them. I've tried writing “controversial” things in my niche, and once it worked, even though the post was kind of off topic, then when I wrote a controversial post very much ON topic, no one commented! Once, I wrote a movie review (just for the hell of it) that had nothing to do with my topic, except in the very most roundabout, arcane way, and got lots of comments. Sigh, go figure.
    #2: Tech problems. This is actually way bigger for me than not getting comments. It's so dang frustrating to have a tech problem you can't figure out, and it sucks up literally hours and hours of my time trying to figure it out! I wish I could afford an on call tech person who would just automatically know the solution to my occasional tech problems!

  • evanhadkins

    Thanks – Evan

  • http://twitter.com/minimalistwoman Minimalist Woman

    Jane, I am deaf, and the lack of transcripts or captioning in so many courses is very frustrating!

  • http://twitter.com/minimalistwoman Minimalist Woman

    Somehow, some way, we will. Onwards and upwards! :)

  • Fred

    A little Eben strategy I see…

  • http://sometimesithink-krissy.blogspot.com krissy knox

    Ok, David, sorry! :)

  • Mohit

    that i get no traffic

  • Sheswede99

    1) Scheduling my activities, i.e., when (and how much time to allocate) to blog, the time to work on my website updating, the time to alert subscribers – all while doing the work I am blogging about as well.
    2) In my field photos “speak” clearly. The problem is doing the photos while working.
    3) How to keep them coming back for more. I haven't mastered how to Scherezade my blogs to keep them coming back for more.

  • http://sybersquad.com Christopher Knopick

    I think that my biggest frustration is attempting to ignore that little voice. You know the one, it's the one that tells you that you suck, or that no one wants to read what you have to say. It plays on the fear of failure that many of us have but few want to admit. I guess my empty blog is a testimony to its power. I don't wish to let it succeed in stopping me, after all…it's me.

  • http://smartideamarketing.com Mark

    I think it all boils down to finding a niche we're passionate about. My greatest frustration is cutting through all the noise on the internet. Frankly there are a lot of bloggers that are better at it than me and there are a lot of real bad bloggers too and so called experts. I guess what I've learned is do what you love and make sure you have real products that people want or you'll get lost sea of cyberspace.

  • Sharon

    Thanks for that tip Curtis :-)

  • http://twtrcoach.com TwtrCoach

    Well said Rhys.

    Yeah I agree it can be frustrating sometime when you have done everything that you learned. You done your research, got an awesome content, a title that you think rocks, the content is 100% SEO adjusted, and spend days working on it… and then NADA in return..

    You thought you was providing something of value .. you was not the copy cat.. and still no one seemed to care..

    Those are the days where I really needed to digg into Davids training and try to figure out.. 'What's Next?'

    One of these days we will figure the answer..

    Cheers.. Are

  • http://www.ukinternetmarketingservices.co.uk/ Mo

    Here's a little rule I live by “Focus on Progress, not Perfection”. Remember, you'll never get “everything right” so just move forward with what you got..

    Put it as a post it note on your PC monitor.. it helped me alot.

  • http://twtrcoach.com TwtrCoach

    My biggest frustration is to get myself to stay on task.

    I start out good, but then I find myself getting sucked into 'more important' tasks. Social Media in general is a great tool. But I find myself spending to much time looking for information there, or participate in various discussion. And some of these discussion leads me way out of my task.

    Else I struggle with some of the same issues that been mentioned here, procrastination, time management, traffic etc..

    So at the moment I focusing on learning better goal and task management. And also learn to better plan my articles. I tend to wait until 'last minute' writing my articles.

    Cheers.. Are

  • http://fungeezer.com Steve

    My biggest frustration is traffic, or the lack thereof. I love to blog and really don't have that big of a problem coming up with stuff to say. It just bugs me that not enough people are reading it!

  • http://www.adamcapriola.com/ Adam Capriola

    Thanks for the response David, but I think the blog you looked at was just
    my personal blog, I’m not trying to monetize it or anything.

    This is the one I work on: http://www.sixprizes.com/

    I tried selling t-shirts on there and I only broke even (if that).

    It’s a difficult niche to monetize…info products are ideal, but the
    members within that community are fairly close nit, so purchased information
    will be shared between at least 2-3 people, and possible way more if it gets
    reposted on a message board.

    Because of this I’m not sure if it’s really possible to make any significant
    earnings. The closeness of this niche’s community makes it difficult.

  • jdarl1

    I do not understand how to write and publish an outstanding blog, one that will interest the largest targeted market and provide the best opportunities to generate direct and/or indirect/affiliate income

  • http://davidrisley.com David Risley

    Just remember, often when it comes to content, what people SAY they want isn't always what they really want. There is a reason there is such a thing as “link bait”. People often say, “Ehh… that's just link bait.”. But, you know what? It works every single time. List the top X of something, people dig it.

  • http://davidrisley.com David Risley

    Whoah, dude. We gotta do something about that. :-)

    It is a tough market you're in, I'm guessing. Only for the uber-nerd. I mean, I checked it out and I just felt stupid. ;-) But, the question comes down to – what do they want? Can you help them achieve something?

  • http://davidrisley.com David Risley

    Just launch it. :-) You can always adjust mid-stream. It is done all the time. So, don't be nervous.

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

    Hi David,

    Thank you for taking the time to read my comment and check out the site. I've been meaning to get in touch with you and ask for your opinion…

    Anyway, first thing — my positioning is definitely not aimed at the “uber-nerd” but every one. If that is how I come across I have a problem. The whole reason for me starting the blog and the site was to provide an alternative to the other blogs/sites already in the niche which are too complicated, confusing and require a PhD just to be able to read them.

    My hole premise is to be simple and accessible by anyone, regardless of training or education. One sign that I may be partially successful was an email from somebody from Somalia saying that they love my site? (Can you believe that?)

    Anyway, David, I am currently working on the following plan to make it more like a business i.e. to monetize it:

    1. Just set up a free account with MailChimp and started building a mail list. So far I have 36 people there.
    2. I am currently surveying my readers on the blog homepage to find out how I can help and how I can make a product or a service to make money… Unfortunately, after 20K views I have not received a singe complete survey form..
    3. I am looking at getting a logo and redesigning my blog completely. Once that is done I will solicit directly some sponsors for banner ads etc.
    4. Looking into a potential Ebook. Though that is going to take time.
    5. Keeping my eyes open for other alternatives…

    I wanted to share my problem with you because you do have experience in the tech niche… The main problem for me is that I haven't go a problem. That is to say I have failed to identify a pain or an issue which I can provide/sell a solution for… It also has to do with my niche. It is not so immediate as say dating but it deals with longer term issues and problems. Though I believe that it has a great potential, it has been growing well in terms of visitors and is not overcrowded. By the way, the only other major blog in my niche called http://www.SingularityHub.com is owned by a former Google guy who is monetizing it mainly with sponsors/banner ads…

    Any suggestions?

    Thanks David!

    yours,
    Nikola

  • http://davidrisley.com David Risley

    Paid advertising for a blog won't make much sense unless the blog is proven to convert and be a draw on its own. Otherwise, you'll just be sending people into something which isn't working, and that's a waste of money.

    On the other hand, if you do that and it brings you a stream of traffic, make very sure to be constantly testing things and perfecting things, that way you can use the traffic to make a better blog.

  • http://davidrisley.com David Risley

    Just don't worry about getting it right. The word “right” is relative, anyway, and the only person who knows what that means is “you”. And if you don't even know what it means, why fret over it? :-)

  • http://davidrisley.com David Risley

    I find that most courses work just fine… its the person who isn't applying the course fully, and then blaming the course for not working.

    That isn't specific to you, Tony, but I see this ALL the time with people. And in almost all cases, the info in the course was pretty good.

  • http://davidrisley.com David Risley

    Would be interested to see what you mean by “marketing”… what is it you don't enjoy?

    I would say that you need to tame down your social networking and focus on that “marketing”. Remember, social media is, in fact, about the lowest ROI type of marketing there is. I don't care what the social media “gurus” say.

  • http://davidrisley.com David Risley

    Get a Mac. j/k ;-)

  • http://davidrisley.com David Risley

    Well, aren't you a catch-22? :-)

    I think you just need to change your mind on some things.

  • http://davidrisley.com David Risley

    Ask yourself… who's blog is it? :-)

  • http://davidrisley.com David Risley

    Sounds like you think a product has to be huge in order to sell. It doesn't.

    But, first, pick a market. When I check out your blog, it looks like a standard hobby blog with no real point. Which is perfectly fine… unless you're expecting to make money from it.

  • http://words4writing.com Sheila Cragg

    Working long hard hours and feeling as if my progress is turtle pace. When I see how much more I have to do, I wonder if I will ever make it. I try to remind myself that when my youngest son was 18, I returned to college. All I wanted was that piece of paper showing that I had earned a B.A. in American Culture as I planned to teach ESL to adults when I graduated I kept telling myself that if I didn't take those classes, I would never get a degree, but if I did take classes one day I would reach my goal and I did. Now I have to trust that this turtle pace will still take me over the finish line.

  • http://LivingMontessoriNow.com Deb Chitwood

    Thanks for your reply, David. I don't particularly enjoy product launches. I definitely am not comfortable doing the type of obvious marketing I get in e-mails from most of the big bloggers. I like helping people and developing online friendships. I've been able to increase my traffic and comments a lot by doing that because it's natural and enjoyable for me. I've been building my e-mail list and sending out newsletters doing what comes naturally, but I know I'll have to do a real product launch at some point.

  • Pingback: 7 Proven Tactics To Get More Blog Comments [That Actually Work] | David Risley dot com

  • Frankdaley

    Too many blogs, too little time! Monetization is necessary but difficult.

  • Frankdaley

    Nikola, that seems pretty much it. You need to identify a problem you can help people with. And, DR is right..the blog appears friendly and accessible but some of the language will definitely throw people. You are marrying philosophy and technology which is good but it has to be in ways that people without much formal education in those fields can “get” without feeling, not stupid exactly, but uneducated. (They might feel either it's not for them period or it'll take too much time and effort to get the part that IS for them.) Shouldn't be too hard with technology because it's all around us and we (have to) live with it. The philosophy is harder because it makes people think (and most people don't want to do that) but there are ways to get to them on a LIVING philosophical basis. (“Singularity” for example, is a word that will throw most people. I'd change the name and use a short definition of the word as a tag or sub-head of the site.

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

    Thanks Frank, I am re-designing the blog in the next 3-4 weeks or so and will have your input in mind…

  • Samantha

    Dude if you want to learn how to make money maybe it is a good idea to take a course on how to make money online and also maybe turn your websites around to look better and be about something you actually know.

  • http://twitter.com/SelfAccountable Cyi Taiga

    My greatest frustration is not having a mentor to help guide me. They all cost money, which I can respect. But I'm on EBT, working the only job I've been able to get so far (I'm not able to take care of my 9 month old son like I had planned to), and still building my blog. That and 'friends' telling me that I should 'grow up' and stop blogging because it is a waste of time. I just want to raise my son, share my lessons with the world, and love each day I'm given! ^_^

    I guess it would help to see my site: http://www.selfaccountable.com

    I have Aweber for my subscribers, each month my collective works will be compressed into a collective works package and be available in my store, I already have The Freedom Lifestyle written and am writing The Cashflow Lifestyle. Soon 1 on 1 coaching will be available. I KNOW I have what it takes. I'm a newb so it will take me some time and some persistence.

    I guess I'm really just lacking motivation or support. It sucks when you feel alone in a sea of people.

  • http://janebradbury.com/ Jane Bradbury

    Nikki, I think I could help you with you website. Drop me an email jane AT janebradbury DOT com and we'll sort something out.

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

    Well, I've narrowed down my problem primarily to a couple of sources: consistency, a marketable topic and an ineffective plaform. I started blogging about two years ago with a blog called Windy City Crimes, which basically provided commentary on white collar and street level crimes in my native Chicago. About a year ago, I added an additional blog called Upon Further Review Chicago, which is basically a sports and pop culture blog. I didn't come across your site or Pro Blogger until fairly recently (about 4 months ago) and realize that my blogger account was doing me a disservice. I have like 5 followers on one blog and 11 on the other, mostly through sharing through my Facebook account. Let me tell you, it's vey difficult to stay motivated with 5 followers. I can go in my bathroom and talk to myself for about what that's worth. I've recently started a blog on WordPress, but it was so personal, I didn't get past two posts. Now, I'm in search of a more marketable topic and information on SEO. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. :)

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

    I'd be happy to get ANY feedback! Maybe I should go the “tellytubby” route lol!

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

    Hey Socrates,

    I got a chance to check your site and blog out and I'm impressed. I was unfamiliar with the term singularity, but I've often thought about the concept. You've got a very timely topic (with “automation” being all the rage now), but by the time I got to your survey I still didn't feel I knew enough about the topic to really offer anything of value. I looked up the info you had on the one anti-communist physicist (I forget his name), but, as your site has shown, this is a full blown movement that I was totally unaware of. My recommendation: instead of trying to attract everyone, think about targeting those already familiar with the topic. This could easily fly over the head of a lay person with ADD, but if you concentrate your efforts more on the person that already has an understanding and interest in the topic, you'll probably end up converting at a higher rate. Just my .02…

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

    Thanks a lot for your great input guys. I am working feverishly here on a few things that I've mentioned in my previous comment. Once I implement those I will take a closer look into your suggestions and see if I can implement some or most of them too. Just passed the 80k mark of unique visitors… It is a sin I am not ready with any working mechanism of monetizing for that will allow me to do more and better work on both the blog and the site but I know I will get it right. Just have to persist…;-)

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

    Over 82k unique visitors/month at Singularity Weblog. Great but my BlueHost server slows down a lot. May have to search for another host… Problem is I'm not making enough money to pay for a dedicated server so it is a nice problem to have but it is a serious problem nevertheless…

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

    I have two major frustrations right now. One is that I'm trying to find someone who can migrate my Typepad blog's 300+ posts to my new WordPress setup and still retain the permalinks. I set up a job on oDesk but I'm not seeing anyone with real experience in this and I don't want to be their first try at it.

    The other is that I'm trying to find someone who can create a game gizmo for my site that I plan to use as an opt in draw. I had a developer but he had to bow out before we really got started but we did get through the whole concept and get it onto paper. I don't know enough to really tell if someone has the skills to do this and I don't really know what to ask for.

    My frustration is that I haven't finished with the conversion to WordPress yet and I don't want to do more Typepad posts but don't feel the new place is ready to start its engines. Sigh.

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

    That whole commenting thing has been a bugaboo for years. I think the trick is to learn how to create posts that will engage your particular audience. What tweaks them? What makes them howl? What makes them want to chime in? I think content is part of it but providing them with the information they want, need, and/or seek is another. But adjusting your writing style to engage is important, too.

    I think it's a never-ending task. :)

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