Too Many Blogs Out There Already? Why Even Try?
A couple weeks ago, I had mentioned this website to my subscribers on PCMech. Admittedly, that isn’t really a targeted audience because most of those people aren’t into blogging and likely never will be. However, it prompted a subscriber (first name Jim) to send me this message…
You keep pushing this blogging thing as if it’s the greatest invention since the wheel.
Given the plethora of blogs inundating cyberspace what in the world could one blog about that wouldn’t fall under the Dept of Redundancy Department?
I find this rather suspect.
Forgive my suspicion.
I sent him the following reply via email:
Listen, I do this stuff for a living and PCMech itself is one out of many millions of blogs out there. You’re still reading it and you’ve taken the time to email me because of it. While there are a lot of blogs out there, only a small percentage actually know what they’re doing and are able to stand out from the crowd. There is nothing suspect about it. It is a HUGE opportunity for those who are willing to give it a serious go and stop throwing up barriers before they even give this internet business thing the time of day. It is those people who will never make it - said bluntly.
Jim then sent another reply to me:
On the contrary, David. I would love to blog for a living. My only concern is that I don’t fall into the "Ho-hum, another (insert blog topic here) blog". I do have a passion for writing, have a very satirical style ala Anne Coulter, and can write interesting and entertaining stuff. I just can’t imagine myself making a living off of it. BTW, I’m not asking or expecting any guarantee of success, but it would be cool to be one of your success stories, for whatever that’s worth to you.
And, again, I sent him this as a reply:
Starting out, I wouldn’t worry about making a living off it. I would just find your voice, start writing content regularly, and build an audience. And if you want to eventually make money with it, you’ll have to put some thought into what your audience would need & want.
Obviously, there is no guarantee of success. That’s life.
I pass on this conversation because it goes right to the heart of what I think is the biggest limitation for people looking to make money on the Internet:
- They think that just because somebody else has already done something, there is no room for them.
- They put effort into justifying why they don’t DO anything before they ever do anything, and it causes them to never start.
I am a successful blogger even though I talk about subjects which are covered by a LOT of other people on the Internet. In fact, this blog as well as PCMech are in some of the most competitive spaces there are online. Yet, I do OK. So, the fact that somebody else is already doing something online doesn’t mean you can’t. In fact, if you see other people doing it, that should be a sign to you that it is probably a good idea. Competition is good!
As for justifications, the top of this blog says I am an internet business evangelist. I mean that fully. There is no other medium of business which is as equal opportunity as this one. But, too many people have this inkling that it could lead to great things for them, yet due to lack of understanding, they remain paralyzed. Perhaps they insist on a “get rich quick” thing, not realizing that this is REAL work just like any other business. For whatever the reason, they remain in a state of mental paralysis and continue to provide reasons why they cannot make any money online.
Is this you?
The answer is this: Stop creating your own excuses and get busy. In this business, what separates the successful from the failures often comes down to one thing: ACTION. Trust me, the people who make good money online have had their share of failures, too.
This has been a Risley public service message, brought to you by Dave, and readers like you. 
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Comments
[...] 1. They think that just because somebody else has already done something, there is no room for them. 2. They put effort into justifying why they don’t DO anything before they ever do anything, and it causes them to never start. Full Article [...]
Don’tcha get sick of people who want you to help them - or tell them how to succeed - but have 17 excuses why they can’t do anything you suggest?
A great post, glad my kid sent me to read it…
Hello David,
I agree with the action thing, Action speak louder than words. Thanks for sharing, an inspired article
If that were the case then lets just close up the trademark and patent departments. It makes no sense. Does he think that all new information is now old and outdated. Or rather that there can be no new discoveries or angles in life. Silly. The true reason is that he doesn’t value what he wants to do enough. Somewhere before someone told him he should try unless he could win every time on the first try (or rather win without trying and then try!) Sad. Thanks for sharing!
“There are so many people who want to do (…insert job, career, vocation here…) how can I possibly have a chance?”
An example of a particular self image and belief about one’s self that will dictate the possibilities, opportunities and ultimately success you experience.
The pont is that everybody has their own way of presenting and expressing things. Some of the most successful people have taken existing ideas and put their own spin on them, so it is simply not true that because there is already a lot of something going on there is no room for you to join in yourself.
Of course if you want to succeed, no matter how many other are doing it, you have to be prepared to do whatever it takes to be heard and by focusing your attention to the quality of your presentation, communication and interaction with others it is possible.
Hi David,
As a self-proclaimed self-improvement guru I love reading this stuff. Stop making excuses and get to work! Thats about the best key to success in life you can have. All other advice I give comes after you get started on the thing you want to accomplish. Good stuff. Enough reading for now… Im subscribing.
Cheers,
Jeremy
p.s. let me know if there is anything I can do to help make your site a bigger success…
David,
I couldn’t agree more with your position. Everyone looks at figures like you and says, “I could be just as successful as this guy.” They start writing, put up a crap load of ads and then wait.
In 2 months there is yet another domain and wordpress created blog laying around in the web with 3 posts.
They lose interest and get frustrated because they’re not making 6 figures like you in the first week of starting.
I started my blog to learn about blogging, social media, search marketing, and internet marketing. Then I started using social media tools like twitter to increase my own personal knowledge. Every now and then I write something cleaver that sticks and gets traffic. Overall I’m accomplishing exactly what I started out to do. Learn and grow as an internet marketer. Would it be great to make 6 figures like you? Yes, but I’m a realist and would rather go about my business quietly letting my actions speak louder than words.
Great article, reminds me of a quote “All boats rise with the tide.” - Unknown.
For me the biggest problem hasn’t ever been “HOW” to make money online but “WHAT” I want to do here. You’re right, it is a lot of work. You can’t just throw up a website or blog and sit back while the cash rolls in.
My own blog, in it’s infancy stages attempts to answer that very question “What do I want to be when I grow up.” For the hows I defer to the experts like you!
Peace,
Maria