One more before I finally go: Actually my possibly-hugest stressor is taking "ensemble" pictures of myself - by myself. I wouldn't do it, but it seems "required reading" in fashion these days.

I'm proud of my style, I just don't like how much weight the camera adds, I hate my stomach, and it's so darn difficult!!! - for me at least.

For me, it's the ton of blog commenting I've done that doesn't lead to that blogger coming back to comment. I might even scour the stats and decide the blogger hasn't visited. Where's the etiquette? I don't know if it's bloggers today or my blog!

I have two major frustrations right now. One is that I'm trying to find someone who can migrate my Typepad blog's 300+ posts to my new Wordpress setup and still retain the permalinks. I set up a job on oDesk but I'm not seeing anyone with real experience in this and I don't want to be their first try at it.

The other is that I'm trying to find someone who can create a game gizmo for my site that I plan to use as an opt in draw. I had a developer but he had to bow out before we really got started but we did get through the whole concept and get it onto paper. I don't know enough to really tell if someone has the skills to do this and I don't really know what to ask for.

My frustration is that I haven't finished with the conversion to WordPress yet and I don't want to do more Typepad posts but don't feel the new place is ready to start its engines. Sigh.

If you set up similar URL structures (if it's possible) then you just set 301 redirections. There is a WP plugin for that.

My issue was once that there was no making OnSugar and WP compatible in their URL structures. WP just overwrites with their own methods, and OnSugar USED to have random numbers that weren't chronological to my blog, even. Now at least they have words, too - but not compatible.

However I'm not movin' back!

Well, I've narrowed down my problem primarily to a couple of sources: consistency, a marketable topic and an ineffective plaform. I started blogging about two years ago with a blog called Windy City Crimes, which basically provided commentary on white collar and street level crimes in my native Chicago. About a year ago, I added an additional blog called Upon Further Review Chicago, which is basically a sports and pop culture blog. I didn't come across your site or Pro Blogger until fairly recently (about 4 months ago) and realize that my blogger account was doing me a disservice. I have like 5 followers on one blog and 11 on the other, mostly through sharing through my Facebook account. Let me tell you, it's vey difficult to stay motivated with 5 followers. I can go in my bathroom and talk to myself for about what that's worth. I've recently started a blog on Wordpress, but it was so personal, I didn't get past two posts. Now, I'm in search of a more marketable topic and information on SEO. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. :)

My greatest frustration is not having a mentor to help guide me. They all cost money, which I can respect. But I'm on EBT, working the only job I've been able to get so far (I'm not able to take care of my 9 month old son like I had planned to), and still building my blog. That and 'friends' telling me that I should 'grow up' and stop blogging because it is a waste of time. I just want to raise my son, share my lessons with the world, and love each day I'm given! ^_^

I guess it would help to see my site: www.selfaccountable.com

I have Aweber for my subscribers, each month my collective works will be compressed into a collective works package and be available in my store, I already have The Freedom Lifestyle written and am writing The Cashflow Lifestyle. Soon 1 on 1 coaching will be available. I KNOW I have what it takes. I'm a newb so it will take me some time and some persistence.

I guess I'm really just lacking motivation or support. It sucks when you feel alone in a sea of people.

Keep pushing on, Cyi...

Working long hard hours and feeling as if my progress is turtle pace. When I see how much more I have to do, I wonder if I will ever make it. I try to remind myself that when my youngest son was 18, I returned to college. All I wanted was that piece of paper showing that I had earned a B.A. in American Culture as I planned to teach ESL to adults when I graduated I kept telling myself that if I didn't take those classes, I would never get a degree, but if I did take classes one day I would reach my goal and I did. Now I have to trust that this turtle pace will still take me over the finish line.

I do not understand how to write and publish an outstanding blog, one that will interest the largest targeted market and provide the best opportunities to generate direct and/or indirect/affiliate income

My biggest frustration is traffic, or the lack thereof. I love to blog and really don't have that big of a problem coming up with stuff to say. It just bugs me that not enough people are reading it!

My biggest frustration is to get myself to stay on task.

I start out good, but then I find myself getting sucked into 'more important' tasks. Social Media in general is a great tool. But I find myself spending to much time looking for information there, or participate in various discussion. And some of these discussion leads me way out of my task.

Else I struggle with some of the same issues that been mentioned here, procrastination, time management, traffic etc..

So at the moment I focusing on learning better goal and task management. And also learn to better plan my articles. I tend to wait until 'last minute' writing my articles.

Cheers.. Are

I think it all boils down to finding a niche we're passionate about. My greatest frustration is cutting through all the noise on the internet. Frankly there are a lot of bloggers that are better at it than me and there are a lot of real bad bloggers too and so called experts. I guess what I've learned is do what you love and make sure you have real products that people want or you'll get lost sea of cyberspace.

I think that my biggest frustration is attempting to ignore that little voice. You know the one, it's the one that tells you that you suck, or that no one wants to read what you have to say. It plays on the fear of failure that many of us have but few want to admit. I guess my empty blog is a testimony to its power. I don't wish to let it succeed in stopping me, after all...it's me.

1) Scheduling my activities, i.e., when (and how much time to allocate) to blog, the time to work on my website updating, the time to alert subscribers - all while doing the work I am blogging about as well.
2) In my field photos "speak" clearly. The problem is doing the photos while working.
3) How to keep them coming back for more. I haven't mastered how to Scherezade my blogs to keep them coming back for more.

that i get no traffic

A little Eben strategy I see...

Two biggest frustrations:
#1: Not getting comments, even when I specifically ask for them. I've tried writing "controversial" things in my niche, and once it worked, even though the post was kind of off topic, then when I wrote a controversial post very much ON topic, no one commented! Once, I wrote a movie review (just for the hell of it) that had nothing to do with my topic, except in the very most roundabout, arcane way, and got lots of comments. Sigh, go figure.
#2: Tech problems. This is actually way bigger for me than not getting comments. It's so dang frustrating to have a tech problem you can't figure out, and it sucks up literally hours and hours of my time trying to figure it out! I wish I could afford an on call tech person who would just automatically know the solution to my occasional tech problems!

Well, the most straightforward answer is getting more traffic and converting it to sales.

A more oblique one (perhaps more relevant to you in one way) is good advice that doesn't say how to do it. Lots of people say you need to find your tribe/niche or write relevant content etc - this is all true I guess. But the big question for someone wanting to do it is: How? There isn't much new being said (which is perhaps because there isn't anything new to say) but this does leave me feeling frutrated.

Dave,

obviously a great question considering the 90+ comments you've pulled...;)

for me staying on topic can be very frustrating....i have meandering interests and want to write about lots of things, not just my niche....

but as a blogger the constant advice is always 'stay on topic'

after a year of blogging, and 198 posts, i'm thinking about steering the blog toward describing my personal experience of promoting my new book...and all the various stuff that goes with this project...

but that's another topic all together...lol

There is little to say that hasn't already been said. I agree with almost everything said. I will say thank you for asking. :) It is irritating when readers don't talk to you, as Rhys says. My biggest problem is that I came to blogging only familiar with the word Blog. I had no idea how to deal with Wordpress and the blog was set up for me by someone else. I then purchased it away when I couldn't see "me" being put on the auction block. Now I'm afraid of changing anything, for the most part, because I'm an HTML person. Wordpress is another matter. Love it as I do, I don't understand how it functions. Sigh. I know my lack of consistent posting is my biggest downfall, but I have too many other things that take up too much of my life. But, I just can't shake lose of it and I want to write.

Hmmm...well, just scanning the comments here...it seems that not getting comments seems to be a common frustration. I have to agree. I ask for comments in every post, and most posts don't get any. I get excited if I get even one. At least I'm not alone...

Besides the comments issue, I still get hugely frustrated with tech stuff. I am not a "techie" - I blog because I have been home-schooling for 20 years and believe I have something to share...and I love to write. I have learned bunches over the last year while I was preparing to launch my website/blog, and during the last several weeks of actually blogging, but I still have so much to learn.

I am also trying to figure out the "getting more traffic, subscribers, etc." dilemma. I am curious what you, and your readers, would consider an advertising budget for a new website/blog.

I know you focus here, David, on the "making money online" but my focus right now is educating people, making connections, and eventually, making money. So I'm working on all the aspects of making connections: social networking and guest posting, for instance. But I am considering advertising in a state-wide home-school publication. I don't think the cost is prohibitive. Just wondering what the take would be on that.

Paid advertising for a blog won't make much sense unless the blog is proven to convert and be a draw on its own. Otherwise, you'll just be sending people into something which isn't working, and that's a waste of money.

On the other hand, if you do that and it brings you a stream of traffic, make very sure to be constantly testing things and perfecting things, that way you can use the traffic to make a better blog.

Biggest frustrations:
1) How to be unique with your content
2) how to get people to make a comment

thanks,
jill

My biggest frustration? Figuring out how to best allocate my time. Becoming more efficient. Technology and how to best use it when that is not my strength. There are a 1000 things to do to build a great community. How do I prioritize? It has been great building a community... great feedback.

Any suggestions?


Thanks,
Sarah Baron
www.Anonymous8.com

i havent figured that out yet

Getting my blog off the ground is my problem. I am just starting out, about 2 months ago I decided to change my website into a blog. I know you preach to just write a post and publish it, but I am still struggling with trying to get everything right before I publish it.

Just don't worry about getting it right. The word "right" is relative, anyway, and the only person who knows what that means is "you". And if you don't even know what it means, why fret over it? :-)

Until you get a commenter pointing out an error or a missed attribution link, or something.

I'm a perfectionist, though, so I won't say more. :-)

Here's a little rule I live by "Focus on Progress, not Perfection". Remember, you'll never get "everything right" so just move forward with what you got..

Put it as a post it note on your PC monitor.. it helped me alot.

One frustration of mine is readers commenting on Facebook more than on my site. On one hand I like this because I'm getting some attention but I'd love the actually play on my site itself.

Thanks for your interest

There are tools for that. I think the thing we're using right now is one! Plus more for WordPress and maybe beyond. Oh there's something called, backhype, I think? Check those out.

BackTYPE maybe?? Just try those names. ;-)

G'Day David
I have lots of little irritations and two big ones.

1 I transferred my successful offline business online two years ago. I have a clear busibess focus,target market, online products and all that jazz. I can find a million gurus to make me a millionaire tomorrow, build my list overnight and set me up with failsafe "niches."

It's hard to find someone to help me do what I want to do.

2 The quality of instruction on the web is generally appalling, The rampant abuse of PowerPoint, unreadable screenshots, unintelligible explanations and the assumption that the jargon ridden talk is easily understood.

Honestly David, most of the instruction that came with stuff I've purchased, wouldn't be acceptable as an assignment in the first semester of Instruction101

Well.....you did ask.

Make sure you have fun.

Regards

Leon
.

My main frustration is with the amount of visitors I've had to my blog. It my have only been 'live' for just over a month, but I feel I could/should have had more than twenty people visit the blog.

I know it's early though :-)

Like many other commenters, my biggest dilemma is getting responses....comments, social media mentions, etc. I ask for opinions regularly, but it's rare that anyone ever chimes in.

Deciding how to make ny blog a part of the income of my business. Do I write ebooks? Offer video courses? Teleseminars?
I love my niche and thought it could be benefited by blogging yet cannot seem to nail down the direction to go.And find my self procrastinating. In this economy I have no more time to sit wondering :)

I agree with the other comments about substance. I also am stymied technologically and every time I want to add something it's a major deal.

Traffic for sure. I'm a niche blogger, so it has taken some time to find the communities where my readers hang out...being I'm still pretty new (6mos) to the whole blogesphere. I think I'm finally looking in the right place and am seeing better results. Still, most of my traffic comes from natural search engine traffic..though I am not complaining that Google finally likes me. :)

Growing a blog from AN amount of followers is one thing, but have pretty much no followers feel like an impossible situation. So trying to get off the ground in the first place is something few bloggers talk about.

Hi David
I struggle with the technology pivots. Meaning if I have an ebook or a video with great content, where do I put it and how do I "get" people to it. Opt in on my blog, squeeze page (at what url?) or something else? Do you recommend custom thank you pages with other offers as well?
Things like this--the logical progression of events technically. Everybody mentions them but they don't show you how

Thanks
Mark

Mine would be the fact that money-wise, I can make more money online not blogging than blogging. Blogging has helped my community, but it doesn't beat the cash flow of creating a targeted site for sales.

I struggle with "Do I write a blog post" or "Do I work on that niche site" every day.

Interesting one, John. Yeah, the biggest irony about blogging for money is that blogging doesn't make money. :-) Only a real business makes money, and the blog is just there to back it up in the marketing department.

Best thing if you're into niche sales sites is to use the blog as an authority site to lend link juice to the niche sites.

I have nothing to sell.... what could I sell... I wish I could make handbags, but it's too stressful....

Also the sewing and mailing out would mean much less blogging. I really don't get that post on how blogs don't make money. I used to make $24,000+ a year just blogging.

I've designed two websites for one woman. But I no longer design as deeply/complicatedly... Don't know how to get clients when I'm not a total pro and don't have a degree...

I was trying so hired to be hired as a copy editor or writer, but the job market you know.

I mean my blogs are simpler-looking now, I'm still as talented.

I tend to not post as much as I should because I'm always looking for the ground breaking story... yet when I answer questions on dog training and fitness in other forums and such I realize... people really do want to know the basic stuff. So write it. Ground breaking will happen in between all of that.

Still looking for more subscribers and I need to create more products for people to be interested in. Dogs and fitness are big. I need to bring what I do well to people who have dogs and want to get fit. Easier said than done!

David - as most people here have commented, my biggest frustration is traffic generation.......and not comparing myself to others. I know I have a message that is unique and powerful - it's a matter of 'doing what works' to get people to the site.

Thanks for all the great stuff you share!

Pat

the fact that I'm achieving as much as I want to achieve, and that everything takes too much time. I'm not patient by nature, I want the world. And I want it now.
The results are coming, but not faaaaaast enough. I will find away to make it work, eventually.

trying to get traffic other than through SEO

David,

I would have to say that my biggest frustration would be getting traffic. Granite, I'm in a tough niche as far as blogging goes, but I rank well for my keywords. I average 6 out of 10 spots on the front page of google for my keywords (one is my blog, 5 are articles that point towards my blog) however, I'm just not getting the traffic I need.

I follow the likes of you and Lynn Terry and I appreciate all your help and input in the blogging world.

Peace,

Shane

I'm just not making headway by doing too many other things that's not helping me blog. With your help I've got the technical stuff to the point of being comfortable, got a web site up and running, but I've fallen prey to to distraction. A lack of good writing skills hasn't been my issue, just not focusing on being a successful blogger has held me back. I do video editing and it takes time but that's no excuse, as my real goal, blogging.

coming up with content for your blog posts

My biggest frustration? Not being able to find a community of bloggers that blog about Jewelry. I see no one else doing what I'm doing. I find people selling Jewelry... tons of those. But none teaching and training about Jewelry or Diamonds. That's frustrating! Where are others in my niche? lol

P.S. I also find Disqus frustrating because it won't ever remember my user name or password. I have to log in everytime, then refresh the page just to leave a comment... so lately, other than now, I have been skipping leaving comments on sites that use it. It's just a slight pain! :)

How about a crafting / jewelry making by like Etsians blogging "community"?

I didn't totally look into your site to know if that fits.

Ooh I think the original blogger sold the blog to a company, it's still running, however.

Sorry my other comment that included what the heck I'm talking about is being moderated due to a domain name in it.

There are jewelry blogs, but on the fashion side. Keep searching though, that's just my intel.

They used to. Not sure lately. sparklelikethestars.com and one by the same writer (but one is in a humorous anonymous character). That's all I've got.

I'm related though; fashion. Let's stick together!!

Really? If you log into your Disqus profile, it should remember it. It does for me. If it isn't remembering you, I'd be wondering if you have something set up locally which is clearing out your browser cookies.

I hated Disqus before I signed up so it linked to ME and not lame AIM or something.

I won't import my old comments, though, or I'd use it.

I am an IT professional but the world of blog technology is very difficult to utilize easily. I have not spent as much time as I should, but my frustration is the difficulty of understanding Word Press, it's relation to my internet provider, Dream Host, and how to get a site up easily and quickly. That is just my current issue of frustration.

David, thanks for prompting me to share my frustration, this helps just getting it out.

My biggest challenge is shifting from client work into my OWN projects for income! I've finally got a continuity program I'm close to launching and am crazy nervous about it.
The client work is my primary source of income right now- and I've met a ton of great people doing it, it's hardly residual.

My other challenge is probably getting more comments/interaction on the blog. Maybe because some of the tutorial posts don't warrant comments (other than thanks!)....

Great question....the comments from others has been invaluable!

Just launch it. :-) You can always adjust mid-stream. It is done all the time. So, don't be nervous.

When I discover that someone else wrote about my ideea ....

Just cover it better yourself. :-)

That gave me an idea! Thanks.

David my biggest frustration at this time is my list building, it seems that no matter what I do, what I offer short of sending them cash even with the opt in options, still have not even 1 subscriber. what frustrates me is , well how am I going to promote. I am starting to believe that my blog is going to go bust. You know going no where fast. My focus is all screwed up, tired of looking for that golden bullet. it is not working. Now looking for that great give away, to promote, falling short of trying to create something myself. which is time and the question what?

Hi David

I think for anybody new to the Internet or Blogging it has to be Traffic generation or more precisely Generation of targetted traffic that will convert

Secondly and I blogged on this earlier on today is the frustration of many of the products that are sold Online that either don't work or are just a rehashing of old ideas that worked once but things have now passed them by

I related it to my day at the Goodwood Festival of Speed yesterday which massively over delivered and contrasted it with the smoke and mirrors way that so many people sell Online and the feeling of being cheated when you buy a product with a great sales letter only to find it tells you about 20% of the solution and the general indifference shown by many when you challenge them on it

Rant over, you did ask!

Thanks


Tony

I find that most courses work just fine... its the person who isn't applying the course fully, and then blaming the course for not working.

That isn't specific to you, Tony, but I see this ALL the time with people. And in almost all cases, the info in the course was pretty good.

@Jordan that was very rude what you just said to David. Even if you are attempting to make a joke, I don't find what you said funny, nor do I think others who get help from Dave find it funny. krissy knox :)

Krissy, it is a bit of an inside joke with Jordan and I. Don't worry. :-)

Ok, David, sorry! :)

I'd personally like to know more about what makes Aweber so much "better" from MailChimp. Nothing against Aweber of course, just that I've seen it used by more people than use MailChimp and have heard it's better even though you pay for it.

I use MailChimp and like it so far. I'd just like to know some more details from a user point of view.

On another forum some people have had problems with MailChimp compatibility with WordPress, which has meant I'm holding off installing it - and I can't afford Aweber yet.

If you haven't had any problems and you have a WordPress blog this would be great news.

I'm pretty new to Wordpress (self-hosted) and to Mail Chimp, but they appear to be working flawlessly together. I do know someone who uses both because she has clients that use Aweber. She prefers Mail Chimp. I know, second hand, but I thought I'd let you know what I heard.

Hugs and butterflies,
~T~

Thanks - Evan

Yeah, one of these days I'll need to sign up for Mailchimp just for the sake of a comparison. What I can tell you is that, in almost every case, the people I know who have used both far prefer Aweber. :-)

Biggest frustration? Getting my own procrastinating butt out of my way! I'm also a writer, not a techie, and every time some little tech glitch comes up, I waste a few more days, letting it get to me rather than just write.

Since I am a bit of a techie, I still spend lots of time on it! I enjoy it too much, it has to be part of my blogging "job". :-)

I so sympathize. That's a major problem for me and I have so much trouble wrapping my brain around all the tech stuff that I end up coming to a complete standstill. I finally bit the bullet and hired a virtual assistant who helps me with the behind-the-scenes stuff. I can't tell you how relieved I felt the day she asked for my list of to-dos.

I also suffer from that same affliction. I easily get distracted from tech issues as well as design.

Hi David, yes I am a blogger and yes I am in an internet marketing business. I am new to this and have a laser focused desire to make this happen by any means necessary. My frustration is time, how much time will it take, How may I expedite the process. How can I offer my products& make a difference on my site. Can I just make intuitive comments on my blog and attract the income to sustain my family or do I need to make videos as well? back to you
dreamcoachdiva.wordpress.com

Biggest frustrations --
not being tech savvy enough
not knowing where to go to look for the resources to become tech savvy
trouble w time management

my biggie is getting people to comment...i ask them, but very few accept...the next would be monetizing my brilliance...LOL...i have a lot to give and i do give...but taking it to the next level (making a living) has been difficult....

That whole commenting thing has been a bugaboo for years. I think the trick is to learn how to create posts that will engage your particular audience. What tweaks them? What makes them howl? What makes them want to chime in? I think content is part of it but providing them with the information they want, need, and/or seek is another. But adjusting your writing style to engage is important, too.

I think it's a never-ending task. :)

I visited your site. I love the theme & banner. The challenge is there is A LOT going on. If I was already a huge fan, no problem, I would dig through each page to find what I need or want. But what about the first time visitor? As a first time visitor I had to decipher whether you were in AD marketing or an artist. Showcase your work and the comments and monetization will follow. Again, I had to barrel through the monetization to locate your work (grin).

Don't believe me? Just ask David.

David, I put in a 24 hour shift the other day and I felt as if my progress was next to nothing. I will again say that the Blog Masters Club material and your blog is above and beyond. Excellent! I still need more technical help, simplified step by step directions would be wonderful. Wish you had a technical support person for Wordpress; that could get us past those glitches and that missing step or two. Right now I'd like direction for a mail response form. I do spend hours searching for directions on the internet and then try to follow them. I can do a little html and will check the source codes of other sites and then try to copy and edit them for my site. iIt's the time consuming glitches that get to me.

I put in long shifts after big TV shows with ugly fashions, like Miss Universe and its crazy costumes. Haha. Those are awesome blogging times for me though! I hate sleep! ;-)

Just to encourage in this area, I once felt this too. The best way to get good at it, like anything else you do in life is to do it every day! I'm much less frustrated and realize when I have people coming to me asking me how to do things on Wordpress now, I have come a long way.

Get in and do it every day. Read as many help forums as possible and know that you can fix it it doesn't work right the first time.

Thanks, I have been doing all of the above, everyday all day when I can. I have learned a lot and get as much help as I can get. It's time consuming hard work, which I have and am willing to do. Just wish I was closer to having it done. I need to finish writing my ebook and getting a list of subscribers. Sheila

Or you can cry uncle like I did and grab a virtual assistant to get you over the hump. :) I finally had to do that because I was sliding further and further backward and not making any progress on any front.

I can do maintenance stuff but when it comes to implementing a lot of the tech stuff and taking my blog from Typepad to Wordpress and all that, well, it's not easily done by me and, frankly, I'm not sure I want to concentrate ALL me efforts there and let product development slip away.

My biggest frustration has been constant setbacks before even getting my blog live. But they're only minor setbacks and it's all part of the journey. Whatever can help me grow as a person and in business is always a positive.

Stay Gold!

My biggest frustration is writing interesting content that will draw readers. Is it possible that everyone that thinks they can write, or that write technical proposals or grant proposals, can't translate that ability into interesting content?

Yes that's possible. Ask others to read it is the only way I know - being objective about my own stuff I find next to impossible.

My favorite parts of blogging (social networking and writing blog posts) aren’t the best techniques for monetizing my blogs. I wish I had more time or at least enjoyed the marketing part more.

Would be interested to see what you mean by "marketing"... what is it you don't enjoy?

I would say that you need to tame down your social networking and focus on that "marketing". Remember, social media is, in fact, about the lowest ROI type of marketing there is. I don't care what the social media "gurus" say.

Thanks for your reply, David. I don't particularly enjoy product launches. I definitely am not comfortable doing the type of obvious marketing I get in e-mails from most of the big bloggers. I like helping people and developing online friendships. I've been able to increase my traffic and comments a lot by doing that because it's natural and enjoyable for me. I've been building my e-mail list and sending out newsletters doing what comes naturally, but I know I'll have to do a real product launch at some point.

My biggest frustration as a casual turned serious-minded blogger is the technical aspect of blogging. I am a writer, not a tech junkie or computer specialist, so the learning curve associated with tweaking website issues, etc., has been an ongoing, painstaking ass cramp.

Like many, I still hold a full time job and I want to be spending my free time on the creative and/ or marketing aspect of my blog, not the technical hiccups that take me three times longer to figure out than those who are more technologically knowledgeable. Ideally I would like to outsource to a professional to deal with some of the backstage stuff, but it's not in my budget right now. I have tried ganging up with some of my technologically fluent friends, including those versed in web development, even offering what money I can, but just as former commenter Rob pointed out, finding other serious-minded people to collaborate on projects with can be quite challenging.

My biggest frustration is not having a product. I USED to have one... but my (2) books have been out of print for about 20 years.

Have to agree with Batman. I'm not it for the money. I'm trying to motivate people and educate them to a particular lifestyle. I get no responses positive, negative or any other.

My biggest frustration? Knowing what's effective. I do a launch, and it brings in a lot of customers/money, but I can't pinpoint which parts of the launch were most effective. It's hard to know WHAT things to A/B test...and everyone has an opinion on the matter.

Making my equipment to work as it should.

Get a Mac. j/k ;-)

My biggest frustration? Falling asleep every time I visit your blog. :-)

...at least it improves your 'time on site' and bounce rate stats.

Why smile? Are you joking? I hate meanies!

Btw your thinking is also flawed, with the stats improvement.

Oh where do I begin? First, the learning curve has been a little steep, from designing the blogs to learning how to make mini-videos. Second, reining in my wide-ranging interests into a coherent vision and theme, so that whatever products I create will have a connecting idea. Third, trying to figure out OpenOffice Writer to design my ebook--have not yet found templates for landscape orientation, and cannot afford to hire it done. Fourth, and this one really pisses me off: too many information sources are in video format. I can understand the attraction for both the maker and the user, but a transcript would be much more useful and easier to understand. Fifth, feeling torn between a minimalist aesthetic and the need to be making a reasonable income from blogging/writing within a year or so.

You sound like me... too much to do, too many options, not enough time, and in my case, not enough knowledge to make it all happen. I can relate to all of your goals as they are very similar to mine. Don't worry, we'll get it all done... somehow, some way. :)

Somehow, some way, we will. Onwards and upwards! :)

Fortunately David is one of the good guys - all his course material is video but there is a full transcript to download too. In my view this is absolutely necessary, deaf/hard of hearing people want to take blogging courses too.

Jane, I am deaf, and the lack of transcripts or captioning in so many courses is very frustrating!

I guess it is how to make money, I mean lots of money to buy a car, a house, build residual money and income with marketing and not waste your time.
http://www.theinternetmoney.com
http://www.theinternetbusinessblog.com

Dude if you want to learn how to make money maybe it is a good idea to take a course on how to make money online and also maybe turn your websites around to look better and be about something you actually know.

Try a different market, bro. Your blog is about showing people how to make money and yet you just admitted you have no idea how to do it. Go for something you know and like.

Generating traffic and building an audience.

The knowledge that my audience is not my market at this time, that I'm really not sure why I'm blogging anymore because the blog posts are not selling me a damn thing, I still only get new clients via word of mouth and face to face and I really just want my website to sell me or at the very least get me new leads.

I'm a graphic Designer/Web designer/SEO specialist and in my locality (outside the US) these services with the exception of SEO related anything, are offered by other companies, they do a "fair" job mostly, and locally people have no idea how and what could be better.

I'm wondering should I write in the local language, should I only focus on what i want to sell? Thing is my interests are broad SEO activities and I blog about this, I also am trying to sell these services and I have a weird feeling that local companies are reading and may eventually get to do what I do and offer what I offer and then I would have just educated the market for free. Because I do get quite a lot of visits from my locality... just no emails, no comments nothing.. just ghosts reading and going off.

Clearly, not having comments on posts that I work hard on is my biggest frustration. However, I've learned to live with it...

Blog posts which are well researched, informative entertaining and take me a weekend = Zero Feedback

Blog posts asking people which is their favourite tellytubby = A gazillion retweets, comments & facebook likes :)

I feel you. :-) Sometimes I feel like I have THE ONE best likeable post and it seems average to the folks out there.

I'd be happy to get ANY feedback! Maybe I should go the "tellytubby" route lol!

Just remember, often when it comes to content, what people SAY they want isn't always what they really want. There is a reason there is such a thing as "link bait". People often say, "Ehh... that's just link bait.". But, you know what? It works every single time. List the top X of something, people dig it.

Hey dr, I liked our tactic to attract more comments on your blog.This is superb to end with a question.

Well said Rhys.

Yeah I agree it can be frustrating sometime when you have done everything that you learned. You done your research, got an awesome content, a title that you think rocks, the content is 100% SEO adjusted, and spend days working on it... and then NADA in return..

You thought you was providing something of value .. you was not the copy cat.. and still no one seemed to care..

Those are the days where I really needed to digg into Davids training and try to figure out.. 'What's Next?'

One of these days we will figure the answer..

Cheers.. Are

My favorite TeleTubby is the yellow one, Lala... LOL, just kidding...

Mine IS.

Me too

Ditto!

I too share this frustration. It seems that thoughtless (or little thought) posts seem to receive the most 'net chatter, while posts that have a lot of thought put into them and require thinking to read receive little to no feedback - rarely even: Good post, I liked it.

Hah... that sucks but pretty funny.

Getting traffic. Building that audience.

My biggest frustration?! Last month I had over 60,000 unique visitors and made a total of 24 dollars. Gotta figure our how to monetize my blog. That's it.

Hey Socrates,

I got a chance to check your site and blog out and I'm impressed. I was unfamiliar with the term singularity, but I've often thought about the concept. You've got a very timely topic (with "automation" being all the rage now), but by the time I got to your survey I still didn't feel I knew enough about the topic to really offer anything of value. I looked up the info you had on the one anti-communist physicist (I forget his name), but, as your site has shown, this is a full blown movement that I was totally unaware of. My recommendation: instead of trying to attract everyone, think about targeting those already familiar with the topic. This could easily fly over the head of a lay person with ADD, but if you concentrate your efforts more on the person that already has an understanding and interest in the topic, you'll probably end up converting at a higher rate. Just my .02...

Over 82k unique visitors/month at Singularity Weblog. Great but my BlueHost server slows down a lot. May have to search for another host... Problem is I'm not making enough money to pay for a dedicated server so it is a nice problem to have but it is a serious problem nevertheless...

Thanks a lot for your great input guys. I am working feverishly here on a few things that I've mentioned in my previous comment. Once I implement those I will take a closer look into your suggestions and see if I can implement some or most of them too. Just passed the 80k mark of unique visitors... It is a sin I am not ready with any working mechanism of monetizing for that will allow me to do more and better work on both the blog and the site but I know I will get it right. Just have to persist...;-)

Too many blogs, too little time! Monetization is necessary but difficult.

Whoah, dude. We gotta do something about that. :-)

It is a tough market you're in, I'm guessing. Only for the uber-nerd. I mean, I checked it out and I just felt stupid. ;-) But, the question comes down to - what do they want? Can you help them achieve something?

Hi David,

Thank you for taking the time to read my comment and check out the site. I've been meaning to get in touch with you and ask for your opinion...

Anyway, first thing -- my positioning is definitely not aimed at the "uber-nerd" but every one. If that is how I come across I have a problem. The whole reason for me starting the blog and the site was to provide an alternative to the other blogs/sites already in the niche which are too complicated, confusing and require a PhD just to be able to read them.

My hole premise is to be simple and accessible by anyone, regardless of training or education. One sign that I may be partially successful was an email from somebody from Somalia saying that they love my site? (Can you believe that?)

Anyway, David, I am currently working on the following plan to make it more like a business i.e. to monetize it:

1. Just set up a free account with MailChimp and started building a mail list. So far I have 36 people there.
2. I am currently surveying my readers on the blog homepage to find out how I can help and how I can make a product or a service to make money... Unfortunately, after 20K views I have not received a singe complete survey form..
3. I am looking at getting a logo and redesigning my blog completely. Once that is done I will solicit directly some sponsors for banner ads etc.
4. Looking into a potential Ebook. Though that is going to take time.
5. Keeping my eyes open for other alternatives...

I wanted to share my problem with you because you do have experience in the tech niche... The main problem for me is that I haven't got a problem. That is to say I have failed to identify a pain or an issue which I can provide/sell a solution for... It also has to do with my niche. It is not so immediate as say dating but it deals with longer term issues and problems. Though I believe that it has a great potential, it has been growing well in terms of visitors and is not overcrowded.

By the way, the only other major blog in my niche called www.SingularityHub.com is owned by a former Google guy who is monetizing it mainly with sponsors/banner ads... They get over half a million unique visitors per month...

Any suggestions?

Thanks David!

yours,
Nikola

I think all you need is ad tweaking. Your only problem is income, right? Don't do anything new to promote the blog further yet, although helping grow fans is always good. You need to monetize first.

Problem: When I visited your site I saw no ads above the fold. That is hurting you.

Constantly analyze ad performance. Then tweak when necessary. By the way, I also wouldn't click on your ads if I were "interested" (not an insult) in your content (like already knew of the topic, etc.). One was far-from targeted and another was an image with text.

You need to also look at the ads displayed and see if any advertiser is serving anything worth clicking on. I hope you don't find this is just hobby potential. But if not AdSense, with your hits, you can sell ads, I think.

Do you not have a page rank yet? In that case, the promotion you should do is link-building.

I really hope I've helped a lot!!

Thank you very much for your useful input Ella!
Currently I am redesigning my whole blog so there will be more ads and in better positions i.e. above the fold.
I also intend to start soliciting direct advertisement.
Most helpful thing you can do for me is to check out my blog in a week or two and give me input after the new design rolls out so that may tweek it as need.
Cheers!

Nikola, that seems pretty much it. You need to identify a problem you can help people with. And, DR is right..the blog appears friendly and accessible but some of the language will definitely throw people. You are marrying philosophy and technology which is good but it has to be in ways that people without much formal education in those fields can "get" without feeling, not stupid exactly, but uneducated. (They might feel either it's not for them period or it'll take too much time and effort to get the part that IS for them.) Shouldn't be too hard with technology because it's all around us and we (have to) live with it. The philosophy is harder because it makes people think (and most people don't want to do that) but there are ways to get to them on a LIVING philosophical basis. ("Singularity" for example, is a word that will throw most people. I'd change the name and use a short definition of the word as a tag or sub-head of the site.

Thanks Frank, I am re-designing the blog in the next 3-4 weeks or so and will have your input in mind...

Wow, last month I had 3000 unique visitors and made over $75. I can only imagine what I would do with 60K uniques.

One thing I did a couple of months ago that doubled what I was making within a month was add a plug-in that put a gigantic adsense ad only on posts more than 2 weeks old. That way, the add doesn't piss off regular readers, and I get ads up front for those who come from search engines, which is about 70% of my traffic. It's the WhyDoWork plug-in for WordPress (http://www.whydowork.com/blog/whydowork-adsense-plugin/).

And I agree with Gina...my queendom for 60,000 uniques in a month.

Wow. I get more, and I thought it was small because I make pennies. I used to make a killing, mostly with Glam Ads, and that's all gone (they are evil, they took it away, look it up). Also, hits are lower due to different reasons. I sort of re-started. (One reason is my old host screwed me over by causing immense downtime: Dreamhost.)

I now realize I could make money? Haha, I need tips, too!!!

I mean I make that one blog blog that's been toughest to monetize.

Until I moved my site / some sites lost PR (true, just 'cause of my host) I made about that, actually. With my free host now, all I can afford, I can't use text link ads (TLA). With my main blog I wasn't selling any ads, so I don't know what to charge people. I have this possibly stupid fear of ripping them off and appearing bad! I do need major help, even mentally.

Thing is I love OnSugar, too. I can't move again, I already moved away once. I'm bad to readers, lol. But yeah I love it there, so I need non-WP/upload-required solutions.

Aloha... my kingdom to have 60,000 unique visitors in a month!!

Ooh, we can offer up our kingdoms? Gotta get on that. OK silly...

Hi Gina,
Last month I had 2,500 visitors on www.SingularitySymposium.com
I also had another 63,000 on www.SingularityWeblog.com (the blog for the site)
I even got ranked #25 on Technorati top 100 Science Blogs.
That is great and I am happy about it but so what?!
If I don't start making more than 25 dollars per month soon I will have to scale back on my involvement with the Blog/Website because I can write and work on the blog only if I have reasonable food and shelter... So, aloha too... my kingdom's king may have to start looking for a job soon...

My biggest problem is just generating traffic. Like Ursula, juggling a full-time job and trying to blog and develop an internet business with the little bit of spare time available is frustrating to say the least.

Generating traffic is best tackled with Search Engine Optimization principles.
Have you already set a keywords seed list?
Have you checked whether all your pages are targeting the keywords in the right places (page title, header and in the content)?
Have you graded your website? (www.websitegrader.com).

Other things to consider:
Have you shared your website with people in your direct network (small scale mass email)?
Have you done the same via your social media network (Facebook Wall, Share Link, Facebook Fan Page, Tweet the link)?

It's also good to use the Google Free tool to check up on keywords, their popularity and competition, so you also target keywords that are profitable and for which you can actually target.

Of course this means that you have to add extra time to your work for the blog (OR), hire a Internet Marketing Virtual Assistant that will help you with the keywords research, the set up and use of your existing network, so you can start focusing on your content quality and the rest is managed by someone who knows the trade of marketing the site online.

There's a whole list of things you can do that are helpful to build up your ORGANIC traffic.

My own impatience is my biggest frustration. I want it all and I want it now! I know that's not realistic and I can deal with it -- I keep pounding away every day and am seeing slow but steady growth, but it still frustrates the hell out of me at times.

Honestly, I'm one of those types that has been working on my blog behind the scenes, has great ideas, but is struggling with finding a way to get my blog up. I am too picky to use one of those free blogging services, as I'm a graphic designer and want my site to look stunning. Unfortunately, I know nothing about html, css or programming and have no idea how to make my own template or site. I don't have the upfront $ to fund having a site put together for me. So, I'm spinning my wheels and getting nowhere fast.

I could just throw in the towel and use a free blogging site until I can afford a custom one, but I can't seem to get motivated to do that. I've tried a few of the free sites and I just don't like what t hey are offering.

I could use a site like Lynda.com and teach myself how to do it on my own - but I'm already working three jobs and this is just going to delay getting my ideas out there.

So, in lieu of deciding what to do, I've been procrastinating instead. LOL

Nikki, I think I could help you with you website. Drop me an email jane AT janebradbury DOT com and we'll sort something out.

Well, aren't you a catch-22? :-)

I think you just need to change your mind on some things.

My frustration is probably common to many budding marketers, I tend to jump around a bit to often, as everyone out there has a whiz-bang copywriter it seems, as every "opportunity" seems so darn good. However, I've turned a new leaf, found a decent online strategy, created a blog where I can "keep it all together" & basically focused on the job in hand (apart from the odd post to one of my favorite blogs that is!)

Feeling Guilty about Promoting Products.I think that when I promote something I am letting down my Readers but the Problem is that I am starting to get more search traffic for my product reviews than my regular posts.

Ask yourself... who's blog is it? :-)

Figuring out the best way to monetize my blog...I know you say selling your own product is the way to go, but it's also the most risky and time consuming route to take.

So I guess it's the whole product planning and creation that is frustrating.

Sounds like you think a product has to be huge in order to sell. It doesn't.

But, first, pick a market. When I check out your blog, it looks like a standard hobby blog with no real point. Which is perfectly fine... unless you're expecting to make money from it.

Thanks for the response David, but I think the blog you looked at was just
my personal blog, I'm not trying to monetize it or anything.

This is the one I work on: http://www.sixprizes.com/

I tried selling t-shirts on there and I only broke even (if that).

It's a difficult niche to monetize...info products are ideal, but the
members within that community are fairly close nit, so purchased information
will be shared between at least 2-3 people, and possible way more if it gets
reposted on a message board.

Because of this I'm not sure if it's really possible to make any significant
earnings. The closeness of this niche's community makes it difficult.

The most frustrating thing for me is trying not to compare myself or my blog with anyone else. Sometimes when I see other blogs/bloggers out there and what they've done--I feel like my blog is just not up to par. I have so many things I want to do but I just don't have the time or the knowledge to get it all done. I know being a successful blogger is a process, but I get so frustrated that I still don't know everything and I feel like I'm constantly trying to just catch up...

I recommend a "Do" and "Don't" approach to this.

Don't compare your work to others when expecting the same results, as it's taken time, testing, and dedication to get where they are at.

Do compare your work to others to see what you can adapt to your work so that you can put the time, testing, and dedication into your work to eventually get similar results.

I hope that makes sense.

Thanks so much David! Yes, that does make a lot of sense. I am trying to do what you suggest, and I am trying to use the work of others as motivation for my own improvement. Thanks again!!

I SOOOO know what you mean about this!
This totally got in my way for a while- then I made a list of the things I want to do/change on my blog and keep it posted near my desk. I try to tackle one a week- doesn't always happen.
I actually found someone that I email once a week that keeps me accountable to taking the first hour of my day to work on my blog/projects. I found that when I start my day working on my stuff I don't get as discouraged when I visit other blogs!
Want an accountability partner? :-)

Thanks so much for the encouraging words!! Right now, I work on my blog first thing in the morning everyday. I definitely need accountability in my other projects though... I want to:
1. Launch my second blog this fall
2. Finish my ebook
3. Do more vlogs
4. Change the theme on MommyReporter.com so I can...
5. Change my niche on MommyReporter.com

I'm sure there are more things I want to do that I just can't think of right now, but YES, YES, YES!!! I would love to be accountability partners with you!!

Hi Mommy Reporter, we as mothers have to prioritize, sometimes you just have to carve out 5 minutes and just blog. I did just that this morning, got up at 6:30am, blogged, twittered, walked the dog and came back by 8:30am to blog again. I found if you make a list/schedule for yourself and stick to it. It really works. To your blogging success
DreamCoachdiva.wordpress.com

Not really 5 minutes, right?

Having soooo many ideas and projects that I want to start, just finding the right people to work with and start them. I enjoy finding people who are looking to start a small business and have that passion and motivation, but often there are a lot of talkers...and taking the time to sort through the dreamers and find the dreamers who actually want to put words into actions.....

Time management - I really need to learn to manage my time more effectively so that I can achieve what I want to do.

I get frustrated because I can rarely think of anything to blog about. I am in the transcription services business and I feel there's only so much one can say about that. Also due to the nature of my business I spend many hours at my PC typing so blogging just means more time at the PC typing and I have to be careful of things like RSI. Its a bit of a catch 22 situation really.

probably the wrong forum for this

but blog as art is valid

blog because you...want to,
must
damned well feel like it

ok artist creates for self ... if other admire that's a bonus.

blog as business is perhaps a different matter...

but it would help if you LOVED IT...

thanks, love keith

Personally, my biggest frustration is juggling time... between a full-time job, part-time/freelance web development work, I find it hard to find the energy and time to concentrate a little more on my own blog, online social media and marketing strategies. I wish I didn't need sleep! ;)

Lack of organization, for myself and those I'm working with/managing. My blogs require frequent, real-time updating but also benefit from sustained feature series. Somebody's got to write all of that content! I'm focusing on time management this week, trying to figure out a doable schedule, in advance of a major event we'll be covering at the end of the month.

I find very difficult to build a faithful and devoted 'pack' of readers because I've changed so many blogs in the past and every time is like starting again from scratch.

Same here, well, similar. I have usually struggled with sustaining a "community" or large following also, even when times were awesome.

Deciding on just one business model/strategy in an ocean of opportunities.

Trying to fit everything I want to do into a limited amount of time each day. Now that I have some summer time free, I am really working at all the lose ends in building my business. But at the end of the day I just seem to be adding more things on to my "to do" list. And - I need to learn to take a break away from the computer so I can look at things with fresh eyes (literally...).

I'd have to say my biggest frustration is drawing my readers out to comment. :) And kicking my procrastination habit, but that's a therapy session in and of itself. lol But definitely, I am working for more reader engagement, and it's getting better, but sometimes it's like pulling teeth!

Idiots who spam your blog - on wordpress with Akismet but still got loads through to moderate. Ended up deleting the blog and moving it somewhere else. I help run one for a baby with severe disabilities and they even spam that too. Total plonkers!

hi sharon...i've just been inundated by comment spammers, so found the advice to turn off comments on older posts (set to 60 days in my case) and the coment spam stopped almost immediately...in wordpress you can do this on the 'discussion' tab....hope this helps...

Thanks for that tip Curtis :-)

It is so frustrating when I spend an hour or two on a new traffic generation technique, but get less traffic then the day before. It's a learning game, so I guess it helps a little bit, but it gets on my nerves BIG time.

Frustrations? I'm happy blogging :) No, seriously - there are some. The biggest one for me is to find time to write all of those posts that now only live as simple notes in my notebook. I'm at a point now with my blog www.joomlablogger.net where things are starting to grow, but the income is not too big yet. So I have to watch how much time I spend on the blog. The classic bloggers paradox, I guess ;)