Common blogging fears that stall your growth (and how to overcome them)
Like anyone who dreams to become successful, bloggers have their own blogging fears. This is especially true for those who have just started running a blog. What are the common blogging fears that prevent you from achieving personal and professional growth as a blogger? Read on.
Friday May 04, 2018 , 6 min Read
I'm just a small fish in a big pond.
I can't be like the top bloggers.
No one might listen to me.
Do these lines sound familiar to you?
Like anyone who dreams to become successful, bloggers have their own blogging fears. This is especially true for those who have just started running a blog.
At first, you imagine all the beautiful things that could happen to your blog. Then reality kicks in. You begin to doubt your knowledge and self-confidence.
You're not so brave after all!
If your inner voice is telling you that you can't blog, you should know that even the most successful bloggers have their fair share of doubts.
The good thing about being a small fish in a big pond is that there's so much to learn from the bigger fishes.
You have a lot of room for growth and opportunities to become the blogger you want to become.
But first, you need to deal with your fears.
What are the common blogging fears that prevent you from achieving personal and professional growth as a blogger? Read this guide.
Fears That Ruin Your Blogging Efforts
"I don't have enough ideas to write about."
Or maybe you have ideas but doubt that they aren't good enough to read!
Remember that the world does not run out of topics. You just need to know how and where to find them.
What To Do:
A. Share your personal experiences
Get personal with your readers. It's one way for you to create a meaningful connection with them. Tell stories from your past.
Share your struggles and how you have arrived at where you are now. Adding a human touch to your blog makes it more interesting.
B. Read other popular blogs in your industry
I'm not saying you should go and steal people's work. Plagiarism is a no-no.
These top blogs will only give you ideas about issues that are trending as well as great evergreen topics to discuss.
Create your own unique article based these topics and add your insights.
C. Use Buzzsumo
Buzzsumo is a simple tool that allows you to do research on any topic of interest. Simply enter any phrase or keyword in its search box.
It will then show trending published articles on the web based on social engagement.
"My blog might not get any engagement."
After publishing their post, bloggers worry about not getting any shares, likes, and comments.
Remember that your efforts in creating your blog posts will be useless if no one gets to read them. And if someone does, is there a way for the person to get the word out?
What to Do:
A. Add social sharing buttons to your posts.
Take advantage of social media to attract more readers to your blog. Use social sharing buttons.
Aside from getting people on social media to discover your post each time they get shared, these social sharing buttons also build your social proof.
B. Ask interesting questions at the end of your posts.
Encourage people to comment on your posts by asking interesting questions. Make sure that these questions encourage your readers to share their opinions.
Don't forget to let people know that you highly appreciate their comments.
C. Comment on other blogs.
Another way to get more engagement for your blog is to comment on other blogs. Read a post thoroughly and then leave a comment that adds value.
Meaningful comments entice other readers. Avoid too generic comments like "Thank you" and "Great post.
"I don't have time to blog."
It won't take an entire day for you to blog.
The excuse of not having enough time is another way of saying that you are uncertain whether the time you spend for blogging will be worthwhile.
Have you really asked yourself why you want to run a blog in the first place? Is it to build a business that would make you more money? Is it to help solve people's problems?
Be clear on your goals.
Reminding yourself of the reason behind your blogging efforts helps you stay on track. If you find purpose or personal meaning in something, you'll always make time for it.
What To Do:
A. Blog during your golden hours
Are there particular hours in your day when you're focused and in your best mood? These are your productive hours.
Whether they're in the morning or at night, use these best times to work on your blog.
B. Mental Blogging
Mental blogging entails crafting blog posts in your mind while you are doing something else. You can do mental blogging too while doing your chores at home or taking a break at your regular day job.
Jot down these ideas using your phone,
C. Batch process your blog tasks
Batching allows you to manage your time wisely by setting aside special time for your most important work and avoiding all kinds of distractions.
Some bloggers experience fatigue because they have a scattered focus. Set a timer and commit to fulfilling a task at hand.
D. Eisenhower matrix
The Eisenhower matrix helps you stay productive by accomplishing tasks according to their urgency and importance.
Basically, what you'll need to do is delegate urgent tasks so you can make more time for important ones that have a greater impact on your business.
"I'm not good at writing."
You have two options:
1. Outsource content writing.
2. Keep practicing.
When it comes to number two, know that you shouldn't be easily discouraged. The best things take time.
If you really think you don't have time to write or hate to write, go back to number one.
But, if you're serious about writing better, you need to keep writing and reading. you can't be a better writer if you don't read a lot.
Look at how the best bloggers in your industry craft their posts.
What To Do:
A. Write great headlines
You can write better headlines by providing a solution, offering useful advice, and being relevant.
When applicable, use superlatives such as best, avoid, top, most, and easiest.
B. Get honest feedback from someone who knows how to write
If you have a fellow blogger or a friend who loves writing and reading, ask him to read your work. Seek honest feedback and use it to improve.
C. Use a proofreading tool
There are many proofreading tools (free as well as paid) available online that check your grammar and spelling. Since they make corrections, take note of them so you can avoid the same error next time.
Always remember that the best way to write is to do it in a conversational way. Write to your readers like you would talk to a friend. Most of all, be yourself. Use your own unique voice.
Final Words
Thank you for taking the time to read this post. Remember that successful blogger makes a daily effort to overcome their fears.
What other fears do you have in blogging?