If you’re a blogger, chances are you’ve experienced some of the ups and downs of managing your own site/content. Depending on how long you’ve been doing it, some of these frustrations may have come around more than once; alternatively, you may be starting out and want to prepare for what’s less appealing about blogging.
Whether it’s a passion project, a side hustle or you’re working towards establishing it as a full-time career; a blog can be a great way to channel creativity, connect with the world and find purpose/joy in sharing something with others. Having trouble blogging (despite all the good stuff) is completely normal, sometimes it can feel very discouraging — even going as far as leaving you questioning whether blogging is still worth it.
Those of us who are content creators know that working on our site is much more than simply writing a blog post and hitting the publish button. So many different things go into developing something we’re proud of that it can start feeling like a bit of a chore. I’ve been blogging for just over thirteen years; I’ve learned that experiencing cycles of loving/hating what we do is pretty much part of the normal rhythm of blogging life. Being forewarned about/accepting the struggles we may encounter from time-to-time will (hopefully) help focus on the fact that confidence and motivation for blogging can be maintained.
Whether you’re a newbie or a seasoned pro, here are 5 things you might hate about blogging (and how to overcome them) …
It Takes A Lot of Time/Effort
Depending on experience and ability; blogging can take up much more of your time than you may think. From technical knowledge for site design and maintenance to coming up with blog post ideas, planning and research as well as writing and editing; not to mention sourcing high-quality media and promoting posts — every part of it is a process you have to dedicate a good amount of effort to if you want to do it well. Even something as basic as coming up with a blog post title that shows up in online search results and peaks people’s interest is an exercise in merging creativity with specialized knowledge — all of which takes a while to produce.
Developing an effective schedule (and maintaining it) is a significant blogging skill to acquire, but perhaps more importantly, remaining flexible when life becomes busy or other things take precedence is key. Periodically you won’t be able to dedicate the time required — and that’s okay. You may find you have to temporarily adjust how often you blog or even completely rethink your approach. I went from publishing a post every other day to every five days, for example; considerably improving the quality of my content because it was a routine I could sustain. Find what works for you and don’t be afraid to reorganize when you need to.
Maintaining Inspiration and Motivation
Consistently producing quality content is one of the best ways to build your blog’s readership/brand; however, it’s fair to say that eventually inspiration and motivation to write blog posts will run dry. Most bloggers at some point experience burnout, either from loss of focus/enjoyment, lack of ideas or the dreaded writer’s block.
Every so often the most beneficial thing you can do is take a short break from blogging. Stepping away can provide much needed time and space to come up with fresh objectives/topics; allowing for an assessment of what needs to change (if anything) to improve enthusiasm. If something isn’t working, there’s no point pushing on if doing so sucks the remaining satisfaction and delight out of it for good. Provide yourself the opportunity to rest, recover and rethink — you may find the balance you need.
Inconsistent or Slowed Growth
Just when you think you’ve understood search engine algorithms (that determines/ranks how relevant your web page is to a particular search query) or you’ve figured out how to follow online topic trends; everything changes and you’re left wondering if there’s any concrete way to steadily expand your site’s popularity. The truth is, blog growth can be inconsistent and slow — and determining what causes it can at times be frustratingly unpredictable.
Cultivating a realistic and adaptive mindset about how well your blog is likely to perform helps to work through the ups and downs that site growth sometimes cycles through. If you remain consistent over time and produce engaging, well-written content, progress will happen.
Useful Article | Everything You Need To Know About Bot Traffic and How To Stop It – Publift
SEO Restricts Creativity
To put it simply, search engine optimization (SEO) is about improving a site’s visibility and ranking on search engines like Google, Yahoo and Bing. While becoming adept at implementing SEO is a must for bloggers, on occasion, certain parts of it can be at odds with creativity — even going as far as stifling it.
While focusing on quality content remains the most significant component of driving a site’s success, key elements of SEO can really support this too. Things like long tail keywords, post length, internal links, outbound links, headings and site speed all boost traffic, build brand recognition and encourage visitor engagement.
Incorporating these technical features while also preserving individuality and expressiveness can be extremely difficult. Essentially, you’re trying to balance writing for your audience (and yourself) while also trying to get an algorithmic program to trawl for information and rank your site. Sadly, there’s no magic trick to this. Some days creativity and SEO merge relatively easily, while at other times they don’t. I’ve discovered that when they’re naturally at odds, sticking with an authentic voice that connects with your readers is recommended — even if it means occasionally forgoing SEO.
Promoting and Marketing Changes
An integral part of being a blogger is promoting your writing and keeping interest in what’s being shared fresh and relevant. Following the latest blog marketing trends can be confusing because they frequently change and require constant adaptation. While this isn’t necessarily too problematic or unreasonable to get to grips with, it’s an added layer of complication that can become frustrating to deal with. However, if you stay informed, you can at least decide what marketing principles you’re going to make use of.
At the heart of maintaining a blog is a willingness to remain flexible, dedication towards learning new things and finding a way to establish your authentic voice. None of this has to be perfect, so if you find there are aspects of blogging that you really dislike; know this is normal (we’re all feeling it) and you can work through anything. Keep at it!
What are your pet peeves and dislikes about blogging? What advice would you give new bloggers?
transatlantic | notes 
I have stopped writing for SEO as it squashes my creativity. I like to write about what I want haha. Great thoughts!
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I think that is where a lot of people are at too; I don’t focus on it too much either. I tend to research SEO elements and if they fit naturally with what I want to write/have written, I use it; if it doesn’t, I don’t.
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Good way to do it.
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My advice to new bloggers is to avoid getting caught up in comparing yourself to others. I remember seeing other bloggers bragging about their stats and feeling inferior because mine didn’t come close to theirs. I would step back and remind myself why I started blogging in the first place. Interestingly, many of those bloggers have disappeared but I am still at it.
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I love this advice and definitely second it! I think comparison really does suck the joy out of things — I gave up doing this and it’s been a lot less stressful!
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Writing for SEO is a pain and I don’t focus on it too strongly now. Learning to let go and embrace my creativity works out better and makes me feel more inspired and motivated. It even makes all the time consuming elements of research more fun.
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I agree with you 100% — there’s no doubt that for some SEO is a great part of their blog/site but I feel like more and more people are deciding not to focus on it so much. Thanks for commenting!
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Thank you so much for this post. I quite agree. As somebody who is so passionated about blogging, I have first hand experiences of the ‘problems’ you mentioned that we tend to encounter. But ironically, those things are also what inspire and motivate me to keep on blogging.
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I agree, it can be inspiring to figure out these issues as we go and find what really resonates with our blogging journey. Thanks for reading!
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I’m right now coming back from some blogging time away as I had other business commitments that took over all of my time, your right in that blogging is a considerable amount of time! I’m working on creating a new sustainable schedule for myself that is realistic 🙂 Thanks for this great post Molly!
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I have had to adjust my blogging schedule a number of times and honestly, it was the best thing I could have done. Finding something realistic helps relieve so much stress!
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I do give myself a break from blogging from time to time and I agree with how you use SEO. I use it if it works or sometimes, it looks a bit weird.
I don’t compare my site with others because it only depresses me!
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Breaks are hugely important; I have got into the practice of planning a break every few months because blogging burnout can be stressful!
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Interesting article especially with regard to SEO. Sometimes SEO can affect creativity but I think bloggers should find the balance between the two.
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That’s how SEO should be applied; with balance. Sometimes the two go together naturally and at other times they don’t and you just have to work with what brings about the result you want. Thanks so much for reading!
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I always found SEO so hard to understand haha. I just write about what I like, and I find it makes me happy even if I’m not getting 100000s of reads of views. It’s my happy place, but I do agree it takes A LOT of effort.
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I think writing what we love (something that flows naturally) is key to blogging. SEO can be a bit complicated at first but ultimately if what you’re doing is your happy place then keep doing what you’re doing!
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It’s good to read that I’m not alone when dealing with the obstacles of blogging. It isn’t just about hitting publish, but along the journey I’ve started to appreciate all facets a lot more. I’ve found a nice structure in it. It’s a passion project for me, with the view on something bigger. But I love exploring my ideas, which sometimes limits my SEO. I’m not too worried about that. As I’m enjoying the journey.
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I think the way you approach this is how so many of us do. I have a good knowledge of SEO but I don’t focus on it as I write. If it naturally fits in, great — if not, I don’t worry about it. Thanks for reading!
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I feel seen 😂
I don’t get SEO at all and have given up trying.
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It felt good to write this as it was quite cathartic, haha!
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Yes, I agree with all of these! Especially the slow growth. That is what is driving me crazy right now especially
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I understand the frustration; it’s one of those things that you think you’ve cracked and then it all slows again. Keep at it!
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This is a great post! Thank you.
I liked the part where you mentioned about being flexible during busy days.
A fixed schedule might not always work. But not losing focus in such times helps you keep going.
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Exactly! Sometimes our schedule/s won’t work and so we need to adapt them to better serve our needs. Thanks for reading!
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These are all so unbelievably true! Sometimes I do feel like I am driving through a wall with all the things needing to be done and such. But I wouldn’t switch it for anything else in the world!
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I’m with you on this; I sometimes feel annoyed and frustrated but ultimately really love what I do. It’s good to know so many other bloggers feel the same way!
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As I blog full-time as my job, the time and effort it takes doesn’t bother me because it’s literally ALL I do. I hate SEO though, it can definitely restrict creativity sometimes!
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If it’s your full-time job then that definitely makes it easier with regards to time; and yes, 100% agree that SEO is a pain sometimes!
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I am just starting out, but I do agree with all of these! I am hoping to stay positive and grow!
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It’s good to know what you’re getting into as then you get to work through any issues that arise with confidence. I’m wishing you well with your journey!
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Accurate overview of the blues of blogging. I experienced some of these when I started – and it definitely still requires a good amount of time and effort. Thank you for sharing, this list makes the blog experience more transparent to all.
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Describing it at the ‘blues of blogging’ is perfect! I think it’s good to share the truth about it all; it helps to work through the less positive aspects. Thanks so much for reading!
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This is so relevant. It does take quite a lot of time and even to understand too. Motivation is the bummed feeling we can often get. Posting on time and seo restricts creativity and yes, blogging is like a set routine. The most difficult part these days seem the social channels with changing demands from us creators. Nice one. Xx
Isa A. Blogger
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I agree; it’s so hard to keep up with the shifting algorithms or focus shifts on social media!
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Definitely agree with all of these but especially the finding inspiration / motivation. It can be so hard at times! Thanks for sharing
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Yes, it can be so difficult to keep inspiration and motivation going sometimes. I definitely struggle with this in cycles so it’s good to know I’m not the only one!
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This was great timing for me as I’ve been having these challenges!
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I am really glad this was useful!
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I have and I am currently experiencing these pain points. It is definitely much more involved than just writing what’s on your mind. Consistency is my main challenge right now. You’re right in saying that sometimes the blog needs to be set aside for other things. The challenge is in getting back to it before it falls into obscurity. I definitely was not prepared for all of the “work” when I started my blog almost a year ago. Thank you for echoing my thoughts.
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It’s hard to get into a rhythm (and adaptable as time goes on) but it usually sorts itself out once we’ve figured out what works for us. It’s definitely hard to get back into blogging after a break (I found this when I unexpectedly took 9 months off). It’s good to know you’re not alone in all these things!
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Oh yes!
Have definitely started, stopped, started again!
For several different reasons…..
Currently blogging again – ironically I’m getting more interaction now I’m relaxed about it than I ever did when chasing numbers!
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I found this too — I think when we finally settle on what works for us (for now, at least) it makes the whole experience much easier!
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To me blogging is a lot like investing. You do a lot of work up front and then revive the ‘pay out later.’ When I first started getting attention, it was often on post from a couple weeks/months ago, and I still get likes on old posts. Great post 👍🏾.
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I agree, there’s definitely an element of this to blogging; results often take time to been seen! Thanks for reading!
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Since we’re a book blog, we don’t actively do keyword research. We do think of keywords if someone was searching for the book. But we agree, if we wrote for SEO< it wouldn't be much fun.
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I think certain blog types lend themselves a little more to SEO, but you’re right about it not working/being fun for everyone.
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A great topic this, my pet peeves are the promotion which constant and SEO. I’m getting to grips with SEO because it’s important so I had no choice but to work around it, but I’ve noticed there’s a correlation btn my blog traffic and promoting.
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I agree; it’s the never ending aspect of many of the elements of blogging that I think people find frustrating!
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Marketing is the main struggle I have. I don’t like being on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram so much. I feel sometimes I see so much negativity on those social media platforms. I like to take breaks from being on social media.
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I feel the exact same way; I’ve taken a big step back from my social media because of this and go through cycles of just not using them as much. Taking a break from them is hugely important.
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I do keyword research and make sure that the titles fit onto my post. My advice to a
new bloggers is to support other bloggers and collaboration from time to time
Michelle|
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Collaborating with other bloggers is great advice for new bloggers — and supporting the community in general too!
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I have experienced all of these since I started blogging! It takes so much more time and effort than I first thought, so it can be hard to stay motivated. Thank you for providing some advice and solutions to these pet peeves!
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When I first started I was learning as I went and didn’t realized blogging involved so much; it’s good to share the pet peeves and challenges with others as I know we all experience them from time to time!
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One of the things I have really struggled with is getting to grips with SEO, you’re right, it does limit creativity at times. My pet peeve is editing – as I have an academic day job, all I seem to do is edit!!!xxx
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Goodness, I can imagine that after working you’re all out of editing mojo! I find I have a love/hate relationship with editing my blog posts and sometimes it’s an uphill struggle!
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Beautifully written, Molly, and agree that blogging is so much hard work – one that many people who are not from the fraternity do not realize.
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I have come across a number of people who think it takes no time at all to put this all together; definitely more work than many realize. Thanks for reading!
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This is an interesting post. It is always interesting to read about other people’s blogging experience. I dislike the brands that try and give you the I will send you a product for so much work. Thank you for sharing.
Lauren
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I hate that too; it’s not really a good deal for the amount of work that goes into a post!
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Yes! Very this 😭 SEO and algorithm changes are so annoying
~ ArtieCarden
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They sure are; it’s endlessly frustrating!
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Yep, just writing for SEO is really difficult, maybe I should just write what I want and see where that takes me.
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Writing purely for SEO is not something I’ve ever found works for me. I incorporate it whenever I can and where it best fits but if it doesn’t naturally lend itself I don’t focus on it at all. It depends what you’re trying to achieve but hopefully writing what you want will be a better way forward!
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