12 reasons why most bloggers don’t make much money online

There are a million and one ways to make an extra buck and blogging is definitely one of the easier choices to go about. However, despite all the free advice available to those who want to blog to earn a living, the vast majority just don’t make much money.

A blogger will read a blog that says a number of other things to help make money online, but to no avail.

The thing is, as many methods as there are to make the extra buck, there are probably just as many (or more) reasons why a blogger, for this case, just can’t seem to earn a decent income from his or her blog(s). And today, I’m going to discuss the 10 of which I currently have in mind.

1. Lack of knowledge / experience.

Easy enough to understand I suppose. A blogger might just not have the sufficient amount of experienced to know how to make the sales, get the right kind of traffic, place the contextual ads, and etc.

Knowledge is infinite, and it’s hard to do something we know very little of. Even after spending tons of time figuring it out, there’s still a lot left on the plate. So yes, some might have what it takes, and some just don’t.

For those that do, good for them. On the other hand, for those that don’t, well… That’s too bad?

2. Not enough quality content.

The amount of content available affects the amount of money earned (most of the time at least).

Bloggers who do not put enough time and effort into developing “quality content”, whether it be writing or having someone else write for them, usually will not be able to pull in much revenue, if any. The same goes for new blogs.

If you don’t build your blog, you will never be able to reach your income goals.

3. Non-commercial topic.

In simple tense, you’re just picking the wrong topic to blog about half the time.

If you enjoy something and want to write about it, sure, go ahead. But if your main focus is money, there is a possibility that you have chosen the wrong route.

If you want to market your blog, it needs to be about something that people are familiar with and are interested in reading more about. Go where the people are, but don’t just follow the crowd. Stand out from it.

4. Not reaching out to others.

Readership don’t come by overnight. Though the “Edison Chen Sex Scandal” topic was a useful boost.

In order for a blog’s readership to grow, the author/blogger must reach out to new audiences. Otherwise, how will anyone know you even exist?

Communication, friendships and working relationships are extremely important.

5. Lack of time and effort invested.

Blogging is not only hard work, but it is also very time-consuming. I would know, I do it for a living…

If you do not allow yourself enough time to write and promote your posts, or just don’t commit to it, you’re just wasting your time.

A blogger must have a passion for the topic he or she is writing about, and the discipline to update regularly and advertise new content. I’m not talking about just a couple months. Think length. Think years!

6. Concentrating on one detail and neglecting the rest.

What can I say, it is not uncommon for a blogger to obsess over one aspect of a blog and let the rest go, and then he or she is left wondering why the blog went downhill.

For example, I’ve seen quite a number of bloggers investing a large portion of their time into watching their stats, that somehow or rather cause the quality of their content to wither as time progresses. As this continues, readers unsubscribe and don’t return, the blog receives less hits from search engines and so on so forth.

When this happens it’s a downhill result. So, divide your attention between all the necessary details. No one said its easy, but of course, it’s really not that hard.

7. Ignoring readers.

This I admit I tend to neglect in one way or another. And to say it bluntly, when money is involved, a blog is nothing without its readers.

Readers are the ones giving feedback, whether it be good or bad, about the quality of your blog and what they would like to read about. Listen to them, and keep them in mind when writing. Do not take your audience for granted, for they will forsake you.

8. The blog is not original.

To stand out, you need to be unique, which also means originality. (Which this entry isn’t.)

An original design and content is essential for financial success in blogging. You could write and promote great articles all day, every day, but if people can find the same thing somewhere else, especially on a more popular blog, it will be difficult to gain anything from all that time invested.

A successful blogger is one who constantly come up with new ideas and present them in a way that makes them stand out from all the others.

9. Ads are poorly presented.

Displaying ads are like art. The blogger must know which programs and/or advertising techniques are suitable for his or her blog, and the ads must be relevant, placed in “hot spots” on the page, and blend well with the template.

10. Too many projects.

I have to say that I’m starting to feel this problem with my personal blog.

I tend to commit to more than I can truly handle, and the quality of my blog starts dropping as I struggle to keep up with each project.

It is important to know what you are committing to before you choose to take on a new challenge. Doing too much is nothing more than a good way to burn yourself out.

11. Giving up too soon.

Most blogs don’t reach their peak until at least a year after the start date, some lesser no doubt.

Given that the blogger has developed an effective posting schedule and rarely strays from it. Blogs take some time to mature, so don’t expect to start a new blog one day and the cash to come rolling in the next.

12. A pinch of luck.

Like in business, sometimes it all depends on luck.

As bloggers gain experience and publicity, they may encounter some great opportunities for further advancement. Sometimes they will not be able to take up those opportunities, or even choose to give them up, thus missing their chance for success.

On the other hand, a blogger may be unlucky enough to never be presented with the opportunities that could launch their pro-blogging career.

When looking at a lot of the things that could go wrong, the topic of making money from a blog can seem a little more intimidating.

The method to deal with it is to be focus, patience and dedication. It is possible to build a significant income stream with a blog, even in the most crowded categories.

Just my 2 cents worth.