The Naked Truth about Blogging Success and Failure
Let’s face it. The web is simply overflowing with information on how to blog, make a “successful” career in blogging, get “tons” of traffic, and earn “effortlessly” by monetizing your blog. The amount of information is staggering that you can spend your entire life trying to learn all these things and not do anything else.
But despite this easy-to-access wealth of information, you’d wonder: Why is it that most bloggers fail? Why can’t they attract readers to their blog? Why doesn’t anyone post comments? Why do only a handful of people bother to subscribe to their RSS feed?
Here’s the plain truth: Not every piece of information you can get is accurate and works for all bloggers. Even if it sounds good or wise, more often than not, most bloggers don’t know how to apply them to their own advantage.
Sounds great, but will it work?
You’ll also find a lot of good ideas scattered all over the web. But it’s quite tricky. Remember that some ideas may appear to work great in theory but don’t work at all in real life. Those ideas may sound brilliant, but that’s what they may just be – “good ideas” or theory that add nothing to your bottomline.
Take MLM (multilevel marketing) as an example. The concept is, in fact, brilliant and it’s easy to become convinced that you can get rich by the effort of hundreds of downlines that you can recruit. But ask yourself: Do you know anyone who became rich via MLM? (There are rare successes but most are failures.)
And here’s another astounding, often overlooked truth…
Your mentors can’t give you everything
It’s good to have mentors to teach us things, especially when we’re only starting out. But before we hang on to every word they say and forget everything else, it’s important to realize that they can’t possibly have experienced everything about the subject they’re teaching.
There’s only so much knowledge that they can absorb within their daily 24-hour life. Chances are, they also miss out on some important information. Even if you have 2 or 3 mentors, what they don’t learn, they can’t teach you, so there’s still plenty of stuff you can learn on your own.
Also, keep in mind that your situation and those of the blogging experts may be similar, but cannot be exactly the same . What tactic may work for the blogging expert with enormous success may not apply to you and can bring you miserable failure instead.
Okay, you ask, if those things don’t guarantee success, where do I get reliable information that will truly work for ME in MY situation?
Results, not Theories
I believe in results, not in ideas or theories. It’s important that an idea, however good it may seem, has already been tested and has delivered good results. That’s what I call a solid actionable information that produces real results.
But who’s willing to spend all his or her time to try out all the wonderful-sounding ideas, then fail hundreds of times, just to uncover the real golden nuggets of strategy that actually work? Unfortunately, as of today, I know of no such person, and no one wants to be a guinea pig and live through numerous heartbreaking failures.
But wait…we can have much better answer than that. Fortunately, I know a terrific source of boundless experience and knowledge, yet untapped by any other platform.
And the source is…
MaxBlogPress Subscribers! That means YOU and more than 23,000+ other subscribers.
You read it right. You are a wellspring of priceless knowledge and experiences. And these combined with those of thousands of other bloggers like you…that’s one helluva information goldmine!
Let me explain how it works:
Chances are, you discovered my website in a search for something really effective. I’d bet you’re among those who have already tried several strategies and failed lots of times by following flawed tactics. But I’m confident that by being persistent despite your failures, you’ve also found out some cool tactics that did work for you.
So tell us how YOU made it, how YOU solved a problem uniquely YOURS, how you overcome the odds in your blogging career. Share with us YOUR story and YOUR gems of insights.
It can be anything like:
• A new, groundbreaking way to get traffic to your blog
• How you managed to land on the front page of Digg
• How you tweaked your blog that made you earn more from it
• Blogging tips that you think only you know, but can’t wait to shout to the world
Between you and 23,000+ other MaxBlogPress subscribers, you can help create a treasure trove indeed of tried-and-tested knowledge that any blogger can confidently dip into.
Be the first to tell us about it! Submit your story as a blog post here
But what’s in it for you?
A lot! Aside from getting a chance to help other bloggers, you’ll also get these benefits:
1. Get featured on MaxBlogPress email newsletter:
As I’ve mentioned, we already have 23K+ email subscribers (and counting). When your story gets published in our blog, you also get massive exposure in our email newsletter because I’ll be telling everyone about your story!
2. Get a permanent link back from our blog:
We are already getting good traffic to our website and you can have a share of it, too. When you post your story or tips, you are allowed to add a short bio at the end of your blog post. That will be a permanent link to your blog and you’ll get continuous residual traffic from our blog.
3. Be popular and attract your own followers:
Tell us a really compelling, inspiring success story and get a huge opportunity to attract your own followers. In this crowded blogosphere, even a brilliant, deserving blog finds it hard to get attention. Now the spotlight’s on you, you’re on center stage, and thousands of captive eyes are on you – now grab your chance to gain their admiration and loyalty…and get repeat visits multiplied several times over!
Here is the link again for submitting your unique story of your blogging succes.
We can’t wait to know your story!
I am a newbie and plan to earn some money.
Do you think that a website like this one is enough ?
Please visit there and comment your opinion here.
Thanks
http://www.freeinfosite.info
hello j… i am newbie too.. you question very very means to me.. and now u and me just wait the what’s answer is ?? i waiting here..
Hey J!
If that is your site and you are truly a newbie then I would say you are destined to unload the money truck … or you have a hell of a mentor! Either/or………wish you awesome success!
It’s really tough to do things on your own without mentors. However, with the strong desire & believe in yourself in WANTING what you want in your life (since we only live once in our life time, why not do something that you dream of doing), all of will definitely success in our own way. Having a mentor do have enourmous advantage…All the best
Hi
Fantastic idea. I liked “The web is simply overflowing with information on how to blog, make a “successful” career in blogging, get “tons” of traffic, and earn “effortlessly” by monetizing your blog.
I’m so wonder with this post look like No Direction.
Why not put this post in Numbering?
So I know what action to be made 1234..and so on.
I actually not understand what this post talk about.
I do have to agree there is an abundance of knowledge. But knowledge is useless with out ACTION. Whether you own a Traditional Business, MLM or Blog! If you just fill your day with busy work and no action steps to redirect traffic to your blog you will never have success. The same is true for ANY business. If you study successful people you will see they took action. I would rather attempt my Mentor’s advice (who is an MLM Succcess) then try to reinvent the wheel. My advice is find a Mentor follow their footsteps and continue to be open to new ideas the internet is always changing. Remember ACTION!
This is the big question! How to make a newbie blogsuccessful?
Currently I’m reading the 2004 book – Who Let the Blogs Out – to try to learn some…
successful is just how you set your mind. for me become success blogger all you need to is
5F FOCUS FOCUS FOCUS FOCUS AND FOCUS;
5P-01 PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE
5P-02 PATIENT PATIENT PATIENT PATIENT PATIENT
JUST 3 ACTIONS according to me…..
Hi! I’m Tanim, and I’ve a blog named Planet Automobile . Now I’m suffering of poor traffic. I thought that this post may give me some guideline but I’m also wonder after reading the entire post. If anybody have some good idea please suggest me at …tsabedin…@…yahoo…dot…com
Pawan,
Your comments have helped me get 284 new visitors to my blog, when I posted a comment some months ago on one of your blog posts.
When I got Psychic Search from you and put the Plugin “ShortStat” on my Blog, It gives me the information I need to make posts that visitors want, that way they come back quite often to see what I have posted, as I know what information they are looking for.
I know that Plugin “Psychic Search” I got from you, sure helped me keep my post of interest to my visitors.
Thanks Pawan, you keep me up on the latest information I need to keep my blog interesting.
Mel Smith
http://www.my-healthy.info/4u
There is so much knowledge on the internet that it is over whelming. I’ve been trying to get a successful blog going now for six or seven months. I have several blogs that I have published online and am getting several thousands of visitors on one and I have it monetized but, no sales! I recently received a check from LinkShare for $25 and I have no idea how I got it. I don’t know what it was that I did that made the sales.
I am getting over five thousand visitors on this site 4SecureMoney.com but as of yet have not made any money. I would appreciate any suggestions on what I am doing wrong and ways to make it into a successful blog.
You can email me at support@LindaleEagles.ws with any ideas. This is another blog I am starting up to try my luck in a different direction than the fore mentioned blog. The LindaleEagles.ws blog I am trying to make into a website instead of a blog. I read on one of the MaxBlogPress emails about doing this so I am going to give it a try. If anyone would like to check this one out and give me some feedback on it I would appreciate it too. I am really trying to make something happen with at least one of my blogs then I will have a model to follow with the other ones.
I would like to ask a question about the max banner ads plugin. On my new blog it is the 2.7 version of WordPress and I filled out the information to register the plugin but nothing happened and I can’t get it activated. Any suggestions?
Thank you
Thanks for being there to help us newbies learn and grow on the net. I like many others have also tried with limited success. I would love to be able to quit my regular job and do this as a full time job. Thanks again for making your knowledge available.
Jims Health and Fitness Blog
Jim
Traffic…. It all seems to be about traffic. I would contend that you’ve got to offer something that people want so that once you got them there you get them to keep coming back but more importantly you get them to recommend you to others either through the social networks or directly in their postings, etc… I believe content is key to traffic…
a lot of time, knowing how to do it is one thing, and putting it into actions is a totally another different thing especially for newbie who don’t see the coming profit so soon yet…
Sometimes it is hard to target a general market because most of the time people find is by google. Would be nice if we can draw more people because we right about reforming a bloated legal system that destroys children and families for profit.
Marcy Ganz
http://crispe.org/blog
I also have psychic search on my blog. I find it an insightful tool that provides me with the information on what people are in search of. My blog has seen about 4700 visitors this month (without bots) and the bounce rate has considerably reduced. Not really sure how this figure equates to others. However, the long and short of it is, there has been no increase in sales. Dispite this, I believe perseverance prevails. I already know that most people will not purchase anything the first time they visit a site. However, the more they do come back, the more likely a sale.
The learning process never stops (or at least it shouldn’t.) That is the primary reason for clicking on this posting. We all want to be successful. However, those who have the success provide little insight as to how they got it. Yes, the internet is filled with tons of “how to” information. All of which is overwhelming. However, this posting we are all commenting on, did provide something in order for you to comment. Sometimes we have to read between the lines in order to find the answers.
What a lame and empty article… I just wasted my time reading how I can’t be a successful blogger but in case I’m I should subscribe and share my strategy… why? so they can take it and re-sale it on the upcoming ninja blogging whatever they call it??? Pfff…
The Moment Of Truth,There are more people looking to make Money Than those
actually making it,A VERY WEALTHY MAN TOLD ME SOMETHING LIKE THIS
IF YOU FOUND A GOLD MINE,HOW MANY PEOPLE WILL YOU TELL,? VERY FEW……
SOME YOU SEE,THIS is the second posting I have ever read on this Blog,
because Most of it Is Hot air…….
The truth will set you free
There’s a ton of stuff and a ton of stuff thats just been cut and pasted. I chosen 4 mentors that I regulary read. They make sense to me and its a law of attraction type thing. In my corner I have Pawan Agarwal, Gideon Shalwick, Yaro Starak and Darren Rowse. These guys are sensible and show you how things work. They answer email and they’re human. One last thing. Whatever you decide to do STAY AWAY FROM MLM’S. PERIOD. THE END! Happy Holidays from http://www.LucrativeNicheBlogging.com!
Hi pawan,
Thanks for the write up. It is not easy to achieve success in blogging world.
Do check out my recently launched love blog – Cupid Blogger Dot Com which blogs about love and relationship tips
Merry Christmas
Your right, it is hard to start a new, successful blog. Once you have your blog topic and design, getting traffic is the most difficult part! I have a new blog for expats in Samar, Philippines at . I hope this idea you have will be good for all of us!
To make this great idea truly successful, we all need to support each others efforts. I encourage everyone who posts here to look at 5 other poster’s blogs!
Thanks, and Happy Holidays!
Pawan, you should give us the ability to edit our comments! Sorry folks, I forgot to close my a href, as I was trying to use the ‘title=”"‘ tag from the sample, where you add comments, below. My blog is at Samar.Expat2Phils.Com Happy Blogging!
A lot talk about success but no tips at the end of post. certainly newbies will disappointed with this. I have a website with blog running from last 2+ years. I have lot of traffic but earning is not according to the amount of traffic i am receiving. I guess i am missing something very serious that influencing my income. I just check google analytic and find bounce rate is 70% to 80%. I do not understand what this is? is any one here can help me on this. How can i decrease bounce rate on my blog. What other factor i should check?? I really appreciate positive and helpful response from all of you guys. Happy Blogging and Happy Christams!!
Bala Krishna
http://www.bala-krishna.com
First of all, I’ve followed you for a long time, and I implement several of your plugins on my blog, more blogs upcoming. But next of all, I truly agree with a former poster: Why on earth would someone reveal a method they’ve used that was highly successful? Since the rate of blogger success is quite low, then that person has landed into information that obviously is not widely known. They should put that into a well-created product, and SELL it – and not post it idly around the Net.
I feel that this invitation may draw in some people who will post just for the backlink. If they post highly relevant material, then your site will acquire good content for free… because your readers are the ones providing the content plus the time it takes to create that content. My advice is that the same “how-to” would be better-placed at a site like EHow, or one of the various sites that will actually pay the writer.
And surely it would be better to post the material on one’s OWN blog, and then go talk about it in the blogs and forums. If well written, that will lead future readers directly back to your own blog. And it can be twittered, FB’d, and via all the other social sites. IT TAKES TIME TO BUILD YOUR COMMUNITY.
When is the Net community going to really realize that success in ANY business, online or not, entails a huge amount of work? None of this is easy and none of this is fast. If you are reading material that claims it IS easy or fast, you need to throw that info out the e-door.
Choose your mentors carefully.
I couldn’t agree more. Any business is hard work. Any legitimate business that is. Frankly, there is no easy way around hard work. Dedication and perseverance should be one’s motivation. I believe that you will eventually get what you put into something. The road to success wasn’t built over night.
Have a safe, happy and prosperous new year everyone.
Hi, Your information is very helpful as I have started a blog
Yes I agree with you about this. Event we are paying for high fee for tutor for blogging, but there is not so sure we can getting success by doing that.
Let’s say your blog earning is only $1 a day because it’s a bad blog BUT what if you build another 49 blogs as bad as the first one while keep trying to find out another method to enhance them? If nothing is wrong with my calculation, you will be able to survive with $50 a day right? Sounds great? or it’s just another theory?
Btw, I agree with Leanne. They will prefer to sell it rather than to expose it for free on the net. Even if they do, it will only an overview, you will have to find out yourself to get it work for you…
Merry Christmas
The internet is a goldmine of information but the trouble is finding all the gold nuggets contained therein. If you have ever read the famous story ‘Acres of Diamonds’ you will realise that everything you need is in plain sight but you don’t realise it.
Making money on the internet seems complicated because most people don’t understand how it all works. The gurus get rich from teaching you methods that do work but the trouble is most people don’t follow their advice and give up when they don’t make money fast.
You must stick at a plan and see it through. You will make mistakes but you will learn what works and what doesn’t that way.
I have been blogging for about a month and have been posting almost everyday. My traffic isn’t great. Is it still to soon to panic? Its a health and fitness blog :
http://health-and-fitness-buzz.blogspot.com/
Certainly useful.thanks for sharing.Time to prosperous in 2009
cheers
P.S. Do visit my site or let your friends know as well
Hi I am a newbie just learning to use wordpress, this blog is very useful to me!
Thanks
Hi! Friend
I’ve launched a brand new blog Drobon.com. In this blog you can signup as an author and can post your articles/ blogs/ image galleries/ favorite Videos(YouTube, Metacafe etc.). On your articles simply put your sitelink which will help you to increase your sites pagerank and also to get more traffic to your site.
I think in this way we can help each other by increase our Sites traffic and also our revenue.
If you are interested, you can contact me
Hi everybody.
A couple of days ago I asked for support introducing my new website. I am trying to earn some money there but till now the thing is pretty dry. That’s why I uploaded the same site in another hosting with a better name, I believe,
http://www.freetipsportal.co.cc.
My question to you is about duplicate content. What do you think about my step.
I NEED your experienced answers, real people answers instead of ebooks and reports answers.
Thank you for your support.
I promise to help back, I am still a newbie but I learn fast, you will see.
Thanks again
I hate to say it but you haven’t a chance with that website.There is nothing that will interest anyone.
To Fuel Economy
I appreciate your honesty.
Thanks
Hi,
I consider myself to be a newbie, I have been working on my blogs for quite a few months now. My learning curve has been huge. Getting a blog up and running on a zero budget, means that I have had to do all the work from scratch. Every step was a new lesson, research & implementation, and still is. I have spent hours and hours in front of the screen reading, trying to put the pieces together. Applying what I have learnt, refreshing refreshing refreshing to see if I’ve got it right this time. Eventually with lots of perseverance it all comes together, but only one step at a time.
Some of the things that I needed to learn and understand were, things like wordpress itself, getting it installed and using FTP, and what about all those plugins and working out how to use them. Then there was design and all those amazing free templates you can get. What about graphics, a lesson or two in photoshop helped me create and work with my graphics. The another learning curve was Dreamweaver to edit the html, even thou wordpress has a basic WYSIWYG feature, but it has its limitations.
You also then have what is considered etiquette on the net, where can you get photos from, you see many blogs say with lots of photos of celebrities etc. Did they pay for them, or are they swiped from another site. Are you allowed to do that.
I am still working on getting a full comprehension about linking to other blogs. I have a understanding of why linking is so important for SEO reasons. But still haven’t put the pieces together yet on the principles and how you do it. Ah there is still RSS feeds and newsletters that need to given heaps of attention.
You also have to get content for your blog, and develop some writing skills yourself along the way. Many sources available PLR, Articles, press releases even other blogs.. Where do you start.
You have to learn about marketing, SEO, keywords, Web 2.0. Adsense, PPC.
Lets not forget you have to monetize your blog, learning about affiliate marketing and finding the right products all takes time.
The biggest issue I have is finding the time to stay focused on what needs to be done to get my blog really up and running. My research has meant that I have joined many many newsletters on various topics, which means my inbox is overflowing all offering some valuable information of some sort.
Many of which (Including MaxBlogPress) are filled with very good information that I have really got a lot out of. The problem is that this process can take a couple of hours every day, as you watch the videos from all these big launches, read and read and read page after page. Learning as you go, but this process takes you away from what work really needs to be done.
These days I have learnt that if I get a link sends to me a sales page, i quickly click out of there and go to the next email. No time to read another ebook. Video’s I will leave running in the background using earplugs while I continue work. Any marketer that sends me email after email with no real content, just promoting another product I should buy today before they shut the doors, I have no choice but to unsubscribe.
I am looking forward to the time when I can spend majority of my time promoting my site, and not building it. I understand content is king, and that will always be a ongoing project. But actually getting out there and promoting the site and seeing the visitors come and make comments on my blog will very rewarding, converting the traffic into sales will be the ultimate outcome.
For now it is all about building a site that offers what the readers are looking for.. Content, information, authority, professional looking, easy to navigate, easy on the eyes. A site that they will return to again and again. Whilst also building a site that is SEO friendly, supports web2.0
and monetize in multiple ways.
My blog is still very much in the build it phase, if you get a chance please take a look and let me know what you think. http://www.GoinBridal.com/blog.
Feel free to write a comment as I support ‘you comment I follow’ a plugin installed that overrides the wordpress nofollow command.
@J: You have 5 sections there. Finance, Car, Computer, Travel and Shopping. Your contents are useful – that is the most important but it’s not appealing enough in design and navigation system. Maybe you can try a blog like design presenting the title and short description in the frontpage that link to each of your full article.
You can also try to create a separate domain for each section? because it is easier to build a smaller one for a start while you monitor which one can grow better. You can build network with each section then, promote each of them across your network – JTIPS Network maybe
Don’t give up too soon
and good luck….
Thanks for your comments. I purchased this site investing $14 and believing that I could earn on the “investment”from adsense. So far I have $0.10 but without any traffic.The seller claims to earn $ 20000 every month but I purchased the site because it has great content.
Meanwhile I am building other things and I will show you from time to time all my projects. By the way I am ready to help because this is my way in life and if you first give somehow you will get back.
Please get a little tip.
Go to http://www.nickstraffictricks.com/free-ebooks/index.php and if you have enough place in your disk, grab all you need.
I wish everybody a great new year.
An interesting post indeed … and interesting comments. I can relate to everyone one of them. Not that long ago I was a bonafide newbie (I think I have now graduated to intern … although a paid one
)
I took the plunge two years ago and signed up for a course, not a blogging course but an Internet Marketing Course. It was the best thing that I did. I have since taken more courses, but if I knew then what I know now, I would have started with blogging, and bought a course on blogging (would have been a lot cheaper).
I have several sites which pay me a modest income. I have several blogs which are monetized and also adding up to a check here and there. Each year I have an annual project (not necessarily with IM). This coming year’s project is to publicly go through the steps that I take to create a new blog. I am, as it were, hanging myself out to dry. I am making no promises of any money, but it may be of interest to you to follow along (I just might ambarass myself all to bits). If interested visit me at
Rip Along With Me
The other thing with blogging is that it takes time to “mature” and earn you decent income. Keep posting useful articles (SEO friendly) so that there are organic traffic in. Hang on and money will come in.
Thank you, thank you.
I have earned a second ago my first $ 0.10.
I am now unstoppable.
Thanks again.
Thanks for your offer. I am also a newbie.I have a few blogs. I also feel to learn from different marketers. Because one person is not expert in all. Also he may be selling to you. So I always look information on other people also. So I sign up for most of these top marketers. This will give information on latest trends and new products.
This new idea of publish everybody’s story will make a big resource for blogging and internet markeitng. Wish you all the best.
The quality of the info is what keeps me on this site, thanks!
First of all let me say that this is well presented post with great information.
The problem is not the lack of knowledge but its the lack of focus and a sense of direction – who can blame the newbies when they are bombarded with all sorts of “information overlaod” from all sides about this that and the other when all they seek is some guidance and direction?
I am a newbie myself, but with a mission. A mission to succeed no matter what. I have put a number of blogs in place which I hope will in turn with time bring me good returns. My stratergy is to build then to high quality and then flip them for a profit. But I am to retain some for myself as a source of income. I beleive the trick is to build a multiple stream of income as you learn and by the time your are done with half the learning you are already on your way to a succesfull career in online marketing business.
There is a lot of missguiding information out there in the nidst of all the so called “expert” teaching and one should indeed evaluate as much of it as posible before comiting to making a purchase. Like you said “Results” not just ideas and theories are what realy matters, couple that with your own extensive research of your niche, add some dedication and perseverance – success can only but follow
lol sorry about that guys, this has turned out to be more like apost in itself than just a comment – but I hope you catch my drift
- here’s to all our success 
MaxBlogPress, the ones who make it make it because they never give up, and they realize that you just need to sell what people want to buy, just like you
. You success is impressive, and your idea to use wordpress plugins to get traffic is a great one, not to mention all of the other great techniques you are using.
I’m one of max reader.
This is a great blog that share lots of good info. Later if come to a success, I will remember to share it here.
Thanks alot for this help .. I will start my blog right now.
I found your article quite useful and interesting. I have bookmarked the site for later usage.
Thanks for interesting material
What a joke… You provide no idea on how to increase traffic…
I think its hard to earn with blog! Dont you?
Well, your blog is obviously doing well, much better than most. I just started reading some of your articles on getting traffic and I feel a bit overwhelmed. On one hand I think I get the SEO thing and then I just come to find I am still in the same traffic numbers I’ve been at. UGH
Love your writing style and the design of your blog, its very original! Well done, look forward to reading more.
Thats certainly food for thought, where can I get more information on this?
The definition of a stable model was generalized to programs with choice rules. ,
A generic drug is made with the same active ingredients and is available in the same strength and dosage form as the equivalent brand-name product. Generic drugs produce the same effects in the body as the brand-name drugs