Several weeks ago, I asked you a tough question: Are you in the top 10% of bloggers who can survive six months?
However, one question I didn’t ask was whether you’re even going to make it through the three month milestone! Based on what I’ve seen just from my blogging peers, the drop-off is huge. I’m guessing many bloggers chose to burnout completely. I’ve also had three emails from fellow bloggers this week who actually used the term burnout when describing their motivation levels.
You are not alone
We’ve all been there. Blogging is a lot of work for very little money in the beginning. Dave Doolin from Website-In-A-Weekend likes to use a hockey stick analogy. You’ll earn almost nothing early on and then something happens and *boom*, suddenly there’s a sharp increase to your earnings.
Free Blog Help dot Com is just a tad over 90 days old. Like many of you, I’m a one-man show. I don’t have all the features I want nor do I have all the promotion I need. What I do have is enough fuel to keep going. What helps me that my success in previous blogs lets me know what to expect.
It’s not uncommon to start your blog site with an energized burst. You may even get additional boosts after you’ve selected a theme or returned from a conference. But can you keep your spirits up on a day to day basis?
Preventing burnout
The term burnout comes from when something like a jet engine stops burning due to a lack of fuel. Here’s some advice for keeping fuel in your tank.
Pace yourself
Sure, being ambitious is a good thing but just make sure you don’t go overboard. Biting off more than you can chew is very common in the first few months. Remember that the road to blogging success is a marathon and sprinting early on will impede your progress later.
Create a weekly schedule
It’s so easy to create a schedule yet many bloggers don’t have one. Plan how many posts you’re making a week. Then figure out which days you’re working on research, promotion, and plugins/technical updates. When you’re bored with your routine, switch things up a bit.
Take a break during the day
Don’t sit at your machine and just blog all day. Find another project to work on, watch a movie, or play a game, then come back to your blog station. I usually take 30-40 minutes to watch a TV show I missed. I promise you’ll be more productive after you recharge.
Find a blog buddy
There are many bloggers in your niche with similar maturity. All you have to do is go to a top dog blog in your niche and look at comments posters. Just like an exercise partner, a blog buddy can motivate you on days when you’re not feeling as energetic. At the same time, the entire process can be a lot more fun when you’re partnering and learning alongside someone.
Feeling burned out from time to time is perfectly normal. The proof is the number of “dead” blogs out there (it really is over 90%). The challenge is surviving and thriving while others fall to the wayside. I’m hoping that with these tips, you’re choice is to refuel.