Being a blogger is tough sometimes. I’ve been doing this on one level or another for over 12 years and there have been many times I’ve wanted to give up.
One reason is inconsistent earnings. Some people find success and keep it consistent throughout their blogging career, but other people (like me) have ups and downs where they make a lot of money through one source, and then that avenue slowly (or quickly) dies out and they have to find something else to focus on.
Moreover, it takes a while to make money as a blogger because you need to get the traffic and the audience first, and for some people, it can take a really, really long time to get the audience they need. This has happened on a few of my blogs and it can be very frustrating.
Also, watching other people have success when your blog is doing nothing is beyond frustrating. You can quickly lose your passion for creating a site when it doesn’t live up to someone’s blog that was created at the same time, or worse, after you. (I know comparison is bad, but it’s hard not to notice.)
If you are losing your passion as a blogger because you can’t seem to get things going in the right direction – or for any other reason – these tips are what have helped me along the way.
10 Ways To Keep Your Passion Alive And Not Give Up As A Blogger
1. Make Sure You’re Writing About What You’re Passionate About
When you’re blogging about something you don’t care about, it shows. Your writing is dry, your posts are short, and overall you just don’t seem as invested. But when you write on a topic you’re passionate about, it comes through in your writing and people can feel your excitement.
But even better, it keeps you motivated and at least interested to write, if not excited.
I’ve made websites over the years on niches that I wasn’t passionate about, and it was a major struggle to get anything posted to those sites. There was a lot of resistance and struggle with those niches.
If you’re struggling to keep your passion alive as a blogger, choose a topic that you’re passionate about and solely write on that for a while. You may find that your love for blogging comes back when you’re writing about something you actually enjoy.
2. Connect With Other Bloggers
One of the best ways to stay motivated as a blogger is to connect with other bloggers. When you’re part of a community, it’s easier to stay invested in what you’re doing because you know there are other people out there doing the same thing.
It helps to hear other people’s struggles and successes while creating sites too. You don’t feel so alone in a world of blogging, where loneliness can be a real thing.
Find some blogging groups on social media or forums where you can connect with other bloggers and chat about your experiences.
3. Celebrate Each Win
There are going to be a lot of losses when you are a blogger. Things will go wrong. Ideas will fail. Things won’t work out the way you want them to.
These losses can add up. I remember one time being so down because I just needed a win – any kind of win. It felt like I was having loss after loss after loss… and that was probably the worst time in my whole time working online.
I’ve learned that it’s important to celebrate the wins.
I have a journal where I write down every win I see as soon as I see it.
Not only does it make me feel good at the moment, but it’s something I can come back to when I start to believe I’ve never had a win the whole time I’ve been blogging. In other words, when I fall deep into a depressing pity party!
4. Take A Break
If you’ve been blogging for a while and you’re starting to feel burnt out, it may be time to take a break. Sometimes the best way to stay motivated is to step away from your blog for a while and come back when you’re feeling refreshed.
This can be a difficult thing to do if you’re worried about losing traffic or income, but it may be necessary in order to keep your motivation and passion alive.
If you work yourself too hard and you are not getting the results you want, this can be a deadly combination that causes you to want to give up on blogging together.
After a vacation, I usually come back to my blogs with a lot of motivation and get a lot of work done.
5. Experiment With New Formats
This can be very important if you are a blogger, especially for creative people who need to use their creativity on a daily basis in order to stay motivated and feel passionate.
If you’re feeling uninspired by your blog, it may be because you’re stuck in a rut. If you always write in the same format, it’s easy to get bored and lose your passion for blogging. But if you experiment with new formats, you can find something that really works for you and keeps you motivated.
Try writing in a different format or experimenting with new types of posts. You may be surprised at how much your passion for blogging increases when you switch things up.
Not sure where to start? Check out this list of different post types on Problogger.
6. Take On Some Challenges
One of the best ways to stay motivated as a blogger is to take on some challenges. By setting goals for yourself and challenging yourself to meet them, you can keep your passion alive and push yourself to do better.
Find some blogging challenges online or come up with some of your own. Then make a plan for how you’re going to complete them. This will give you something to focus on and help you stay motivated.
For instance, you can make a challenge on posting a specific amount of posts or words per month. Or create a challenge to build a good giveaway or two within a month.
7. Collaborate With Other Bloggers
Working with other bloggers is a great way to stay motivated and inspired. When you collaborate with other people, you can learn from them and get new ideas for your own blog.
There are a few different ways you can collaborate with other bloggers. You can guest post on each other’s blogs, work on joint projects, or even just share each other’s content.
Whatever you do, make sure you’re working with people who will help inspire you and keep your passion alive.
8. Take Time Away From Blogging Each Day
I remember when I first started creating content online, I would stay up until about midnight working on my posts and then start over again as early as I could in the morning. I didn’t leave a lot of time for self-care, relationships, or anything else!
It can be rewarding to work all day, but working too much can cause you to be overwhelmed.
When you take some time for yourself, you can come back to blogging refreshed and with a new perspective. This will help you find your passion again and keep you motivated.
9. Read Other Blogs
One of the best ways to find inspiration as a blogger is to read other blogs. This is why I recommend Feedly. You can keep track of all the blogs that you are interested in and blogs that are in your niche.
When you see what other people are writing and doing, it can give you new ideas for your own blog. It can also help you see what’s possible and make you more excited about blogging.
Make sure you’re reading a variety of blogs so that you’re exposed to different ideas. And don’t forget to leave comments and engage with the bloggers you’re reading. This will help you build relationships and make blogging more fun.
10. Find The Positives
When you’re feeling down about your blog or about yourself as a blogger, it’s easy to focus on the negatives. I know that so well. I’ve been pulled into a DEEP pit of misery from time to time.
But if you want to stay motivated and passionate about blogging, you need to find the positives. Even on days when you feel like giving up, there are always things to be thankful for.
Maybe you had a great interaction with a reader, or you got some positive feedback on a post. Whatever it is, focus on the good and let it inspire you to keep going as a blogger looking for success.
