Don’t Throw In The Towel!
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As I often emphasise, blogging isn’t my ‘thing’, it’s part of my internet marketing ‘thing’ – a requirement of the modern online business.
During the past few weeks, I’ve been heavily involved in developing new projects, and haven’t been as active with Entrecard as I had previously been. However, during the past few days I have tried to allocate some time again to networking with the Entrecard community, as it’s been a good friend to this site.
To shake things up a little, I decided to open my Inbox and drop my card on blogs which had visited me way, way back when, but I was in for a surprise.
Within just a couple of days I have found myself time and again landing on a blog that hasn’t posted for anytime between several weeks and a few months.
When I first started building an online business, including blogs, I read about the high proportion of drop-outs after the initial 3-6 months. This is the first ‘wave’ of quitters I’ve personally witnessed, and it’s disappointing.
Did they just run out of things to say? Were they expecting to earn bucketsful of cash overnight? Have you tried making money online in the past and given up?
I’ve felt fed-up with it all sometimes, particularly the endless series of new technologies to get to grips with. I don’t have the residual funds to outsource, so when something needs doing, it’s me doing it, or it doesn’t get done!
I had to teach myself everything, and I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished so far, both in new skills and abilities, and the progress of my online business.
If you find yourself feeling like giving up, try to remember how you felt about making money online – whether via blogging or broader internet marketing techniques — back when you first became interested.
Remember your initial enthusiasm, and the plans you had for your life, which you felt an online business could bring to fruition.
Pick yourself up, dust yourself down, and start all over again. Keeping on, keeping on is the only way you’re going to succeed!
Reward Rebel
Popularity: 18% [?]
Filed under Working from home, inspiration, Making money online, Entrecard, Attitude & Focus, Blogging, Internet Marketing |
Six months ago I started to blog regularly every week, and I found www.marcorichter.net and started to read his posts and comment on his site. He had take Yaro Starak’s blogging course and was very enthusiastic. He got up to 151 RSS readers, and was #133 in the top 200 “make money online” blogs listed on 45n5. Then on Dec 16th of last year he quit. He’s not blogged a single time since. He didn’t just blog a lot less or every now and then - he didn’t even post an explanation - he just plain flat out quit!
You ask yourself, why would somebody do that? I actually emailed him to make sure he wasn’t dead or something, and he said he had a new job and his job and family were enough to do and blogging just didn’t fit into his life.
I think that pretty much sums it up. Blogging is a job. Even if you have a day job it’s (another) full time job. Not everyone can or will do it for the long haul. Can people make money importing or with no money down in real estate or selling amway? Sure. Most aren’t willing to do what it takes though. Because that’s called “sacrifice”.
I think I just found a new post for this week!
JTPratt’s Blogging Mistakes’s last blog post..How to Create Your Own Wordpress Theme
Hey John,
Yep that’s the sort of thing exactly. It is the ‘business’ blogs that appear to be opting out.
But I’m still surprised by the sites that appear to be attached to a larger internet marketing framework, and then just cease to operate. To put in all the effort and work required to have gotten that far with an online business.
Studying the whole online process and the opportunities that exist - then learning how to actually practise these strategies.
Then to become an affiliate of various programs, build web sales pages (and for many of us that first requires learning about landing pages and how to build them). Planning and writing multiple email campaigns to upload to an autoresponder (once you’ve figured out what the hell an autoresponder is), building mailing lists — the task list is phenomenal (as I’m sure you know).
Maybe I’m just stubborn, but I’ve invested too much time, effort and grim determination, to ever consider quitting before I’ve got financial security, and my villa in Crete, ready for a disgraceful old age!
See, I think where your mindset is somewhat askew is in the outsourcing thought. If you stop wasting your time on a $3 an hour (or less) job, you can focus on something that will make more money for you: like creating your own product. If you get so fed up with doing something so repititious that you can’t stand it anymore, outsource it. What do you have to lose? Chances are, you’ll actually gain.
Hey Bryan,
I totally get your point, and am usually the one arguing the value of one person’s skills and time over another.
Actually, sometimes I think it’s just as well I don’t have kids, cos I’d have them all slaving over a hot computer dropping Entrecards and uploading email campaigns!
Above I’m not referring to the $3 jobs, but to the jobs that require more robust sums of dosh like designing and building websites, and providing copy that has heart and soul.
I’m glad I’ve learnt how to use Dreamweaver, Photoshop, autoresponders, and the myriad other skills acquired on the IM trail. Sure, I’ve occasionally gotten a tad dispirited, but in stretching myself, I sometimes felt positively elongated!
But I totally agree with you in principle - it’s better to spend your time doing the most skilled things you’re able (and enjoy), when the routine, repetitive tasks can be outsourced for pennies.
I was blogging as a hobby since 2006 when I first started my job as a chef. I was really busy then and didn’t blog much except a post every few weeks.
Now I’m actually enjoying the interaction online, so I blog a lot. Once a day. Was posting on average one post on each of my 3 blogs a day till I ran out of creative juices.
I’m so disappointed when I visit my favourite bloggers and discovered they haven’t have any new material for the past few weeks. I quit on them too.
Blogging is indeed a hard job to keep up!
Sherxr’s last blog post..It’s May 1st holiday!
Hiya Sherxr,
You said it sister — it’s not the laid back stroll in the park I was expecting!
But I too enjoy the interaction, there are people I communicate with online who I’ve come to consider as friends. I hadn’t expected this, and it’s been a beautiful addition to my life. Aw, shucks!
Exactomundo! Slow and steady. Sure I’ve thought of quitting plenty of times, but like you I’m just too stubborn with too much time and effort in it…..and it does seem to be “paying off” steadily, even if not always in a monetary way.
Did that make sense?
I definitely see what you see. I’m continuously redoing my “blogs to read/comment” list due to lack of updates.
Dennis Edell’s last blog post..Don’t Just Sit on it - USE it
Hi Dennis,
I was well and truly suckered when I first read about IM and how fast I’d be drowning in green backs! But I still believe the internet is a medium that has a great deal of untapped (earning) potential.
Absolutely dear friend! Seeing how the Internet is as ever-evolving as it is, there will ALWAYS be untapped potential
Or at the very least, under-tapped
I’m not too proud to say I too “fell in” (though I won’t admit “suckered” no matter how hard ya pinch me, na na).
I’ll tell ya the story if ya ask nice…lol
Dennis Edell’s last blog post..Don’t Just Sit on it - USE it
Okay, note to self, “Ask Dennis how he didn’t get suckered into IM!”
“Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.” Thomas Alva Edison
Like you, bloggin is just part of my “marketing thing” and like you I’m stuborn enough to not quitting after having invested thousand of hours which I’ve could have used to spend with my family.
I think most people quit because they were lured by the promises of quick riches and when they realize that they have a lot of work ahead before their dreams can be accomplished, just plain quit.
I’m not a quitter and every day I feel myself an step closer to my dreams. I’m on the way, it’s just a matter of time (less than 100 years I hope, lol).
When I had the money to spent a romantic vacation with my wife, I hope you already are living in your “villa” in Creta so we could make you a visit (if you invite us, of course
).
Anthony’s last blog post..Site Upgrades and a Money-maker Plugin
Heh heh, Anthony, you’ve made me laugh, cheers!
For the record, I’ve always said, when I’ve got my villa we’ll par-TAY! For anyone who can’t make it to Crete, I’ll bring the party to you on my yacht!
Hi RewardRebel,
As you probably know, i blogged to express sentiments and opinions on what I see and get exposed to as wrong or unjust; and attempt to draw attention to its practice not only in a specific area but globally. Monetizing my blog was farthest from my mind as I knew some of the posts would not sit comfortably with advertisers. It only started to cross my mind when I stumbled upon your booty.:-)
Still, I only have adsense (which will not earn a living)and a single paid post from PPP that I never again returned to.:-)
I have seen bloggers disappear too as JT Pratt says. I used to communicate with them regularly, but they have ceased posting. Their blogs still exist but their traffic ranking is going down, These are apart from those taken out by Google which is a different matter.
Business blogs are the one’s finding difficulty I think. The hobby ones, art sites, and personal journals are regular posters and are surviving.The political blog sites are thriving too. Those who thought of making money online like a walk in the park are probably the ones hard hit.
You’re right about hanging in there. The suggestion about outsourcing is also a good idea. Just keep at it, make sure you have a worthwhile product or service, promote it well, and keep improving. Asfor me, when my spitoon is full, I empty it, and start another round of spitting! Ha ha ha, Good luck dear friend!:-) –Durano, done!
durano lawayan’s last blog post..Bloggers Beware of Bacteria!
Dearest Durano,
Yep, it’s the sites aiming to make money (fast) that are dropping like flies.
By hook or by crook, I’m here for the long haul — my empire is growing, today Reward Rebel, tomorrow the world!
Yea, sometimes its just hard to post. I have had finals and can’t justify spending the time on my blog. School comes first. Now that finals are over, I will have a lot more free time to blog over the summer. Hopefully I start makin some cash from my blog.
Personal Finance Blogger’s last blog post..Which is Better Roth or Traditional IRA?
Hi Personal Finance Blogger,
When I read about young people at school who are working online to make money, it makes me wish I’d been introduced to internet marketing years earlier. You have a wonderful opportunity to build something for the future, to secure a lasting financial security AND get an education, while enjoying your youth.
Why not set up some sales pages for digital products, autoresponders will take care of delivery, and then you can be earning an income even when you don’t have the time available to blog to keep the momentum going.
Make the most of it, and good luck with your exams, too.
Hi! I have puzzled over the same question many times. I see blogs actively participating in the Entrecard program that have not done anything new in months. If going to all the trouble of dropping cards and stuff, why not favor your followers with something fresh and current?
After all, blogging is about having something to say, no?
Congrats on your Google rank. I’m curious to know how you found out - how do you get that info? Would be a good post for the newbiesl like me. I’m a worker-bee type that just works on projects with my head down, never looking around to see if anyone notices or cares. Not a good strategy but I’m not sure how to do better. Have a great day! Bonnie
Hey Bonnie,
If a blogger decides to quit, I do feel it would be courteous to make a final post, it’s not like it takes long to draft a ‘thank you and goodbye’.
As for how I knew when my site attained a Google Page Rank, I have the Google Toolbar installed on my browser (go to google.com and look for the toolbar link), so am always aware of the page rank of any site I visit.
The same goes for the Alexa Toolbar, which tells you the traffic rank of any site you visit.
Best of luck for the future.
Party? Yatch? Crete? Wowowowow!! Is that a promise?
Anthony’s last blog post..Site Upgrades and a Money-maker Plugin
Anthony, it’ll be my pleasure!
Hey Layne! It’s weird… I’m not picking up your PR on your front page - but as I’m on the static page for this post your PR has actually gone up to 3 since your most recent post! Bravo! My site’s PR is only 3 at the moment and I don’t even know how that’s gotten there.
Anyway, on to the topic at hand: I recently went on a little hiatus and upon returning I have been reluctant to jump right back into the entrecard obsession (as it was) because it was just too much for me. So I’ve been even more frugal on which sites I drop cards on and more so which sites I comment on… slow loading pages definitely don’t get my time, and neither do blogs that update once every other month… great topic!
Hey Fragileheart,
That is weird with the PR not showing up at all on the home page, but showing up at PR3 elsewhere.
Hold on a moment, I’m just gonna pinch myself, cos I did wonder if I’d imagined it….. nope, I’m definitely awake! I checked that it shows up in Firefox and IE on laptop and PC (hey, I wanted to be certain)!
Like yourself, I’ve had a break from mainstream Entrecard, as my energies were needed elsewhere. I’m now using the network again, but won’t be spending more than an hour a day there.
I’d prefer to use my time building long-term traffic strategies, rather than dropping cards endlessly, only to lose most of the additional traffic the moment you stop the drop!
However, I do think Entrecard is brilliant for the new site, and the networking possibilities can also be very helpful and productive — Stumbles, Favs, and even comments.