I’ve been blogging for some years now and during that time I’ve seen plenty of ups and downs. I’ve seen projects come and go, bloggers start and stop, and revenues grow and crash.

I guess if they say hindsight is 20/20, then this is that time when it all makes sense. What I want to do in these following items is to share some of those mistakes I’ve made and hopefully help you avoid disruptions that could cloud your blogging horizon.

1. You can get too involved

There is a dilemma at this time in my years of blogging: I’m in too deep.

Those first few months (and years) are kind of like a honeymoon phase. You’re fresh to this blogging thing so you’re very excited to do anything and everything that pops into your mind.

However, from what I’ve found, you get too involved with blogging. You start to second guess whether you should write a post, respond to a comment, or participate on social media.

To avoid this then you need to pace yourself and how much you’re following others. Go for the quality over quantity and don’t overload yourself on information by obsessively following everyone. Likewise, write what you want to read rather than always entertaining ideas and feedback from community members because they don’t always speak for everyone.

2. You’re probably not ready for disaster

I’ve always been diligent when it comes to computer security. I’m careful with what I click. I avoid installing items that aren’t necessary for business. I stay up-to-date with security updates, drivers, patches, and security programs.

Nothing will strike you down faster than someone breaching your website or gaining access to important files on your system. This sometimes happens if you fall victim to phishing scams which, nowadays, are sometimes impossible to to get to the bottom of. If you

For these reasons, I’d highly recommend you use:

·  A cloud-based security program (look for info on social media coverage and phishing detection rates, the Trend Micro Internet security site has an example of this)

·  AdBlock & Disconnect (browser apps)

·  The use of sites like Unroll.me to stop spam

Also, don’t forget about the physical security of your work. Keep regular off-site backups of everything you do in the event of a natural disaster (or human error).

3. You should have monetized earlier

There is this idea that you should “just get started” and let the chips fall where they may.

After all this time, I have to disagree because no business is setting itself up for success if they don’t have some kind of monetization plan in mind.

What generally happens, from what I’ve noticed in my actions and close website owner friends, is that you get too intimidated with creating a product or service to sell. You feel like you’re alienating your community because you’re all of a sudden selling to them.

You have to offer something, otherwise you’re just spinning wheels. You should start earlier than later in creating a premium or monetizing the site, otherwise you’re just leaving money on the table and psyching yourself out even more from getting it done.

4. Giving up is a viable option

You have to be ready to trim the fat.

I have bought and discarded dozens of domains and projects because I realized it’s unlikely that I’m going to continue with the project.

You’ll face this at some point in your blogging efforts. There are times when it’s better to shift that focus to the bread winners instead of those pipe dreams. Go for the low hanging fruit (the 80/20 rule) instead of speculative hopes.

This doesn’t mean you’ve failed at the project – it means you’re smart enough to understand the value of your time. Learn to let go, otherwise you’ll spend too much time on the things that rarely matter.

Conclusion

There are those who have been blogging longer than me and then others over whom I hold veteran status.

I believe these are the types of mistakes we’re all susceptible to making at some point or another. It’s easy to get wrapped into the hype and excitement of blogging. It’s only after quite some time that things become transparent for what they really are.

My intent is that you read these four items, avoid them, and follow through on your goals. It’s tough at times, but you can power through it. Blogging is an adventure and, in the end, it’s worth the ride.