5 Reasons Your Site is Struggling

51)  You Compare Yourself to Others Too Much

There’s nothing wrong with using successful people and their stories for inspiration.  After all, everyone needs someone to look up to when learning.

However, many of you just get carried away.  How long it took blogger ABC to reach X amount of visitors or make X amount of money has absolutely no relevance to your individual situation.

There are just too many variables involved when it comes to building traffic and making money so it’s impossible to compare.

And if you discover you are behind the pace of someone who is successful, it’s like getting a one-way ticket to Discourage-ville.  Don’t put yourself through that mental exhaustion because it doesn’t even matter.

Who cares if it takes you six months longer to make money than someone you admire.  As long as you are learning, growing and having a great time, enjoy the ride!

2) You’re Surrounded by Negativity

It always floors me when I read such comments like “You can’t make any worthwhile money online.”

Seriously? 

I often wonder where these people are hanging out online and who they’re subscribing to?  If you’re following the right people, it’s not hard to find successful, small business/affiliate websites online.

A lot of people who are struggling get their information from others who are failing (or have failed).  Negative people like to surround themselves with like-minded people because they validate their beliefs.

If you want success, surround yourself by more successful, positive people and get out of that sea of negativity.

That’s one reason I started a Website Success Stories forum. I want to inspire newcomers and give my forum members some positivity to chew on.  I just love reading the stories there.

Also, if you’re just starting out, be careful who you share your dreams with.  A lot of people still don’t understand this “internet thing” and it’s easy for them to chalk it up to “playing around” or “wasting time online.”

I’ve met so many people who have let their families and friends discourage them achieving their website goals. It doesn’t matter what other people think.  You know what’s possible out here and that’s all that matters.

Stay focused and keep your eye on the prize!

3) You Don’t Network

Networking is a must, especially because search engine optimization is becoming more personalized and all about who has you in their social circles, who’s following you, “liking” your content, etc.

I haven’t spent a lot of time on specific social media strategies, but if I were starting today and looking for a way to build my exposure online, this would be one of the first things I’d tackle.

Even though there are negative sides to social media that still bug me (it creates distractions, narcissism, etc.) it’s become so big, you can’t ignore it.  Not to mention, it’s free to use!

When was the last time you’ve researched website owners in your niche and introduced yourself or shared their content?  Or are you just writing in your own corner of the Internet waiting for people to notice you?

Take a lesson from bloggers like Ileane Smith of BasicBlogTips.com and Brankica Underwood of Blog Like a Star.  Both are very well-known in their spaces and will probably tell you they’ve built the majority of their following through social media.

They don’t just produce great content, but they generously share other people’s work and build relationships with their followers.  Follow them.  You’ll learn a lot.

4) You’re in the Wrong Niche

This can be a painful realization — especially if you’ve worked very hard on your site for a long time.

However, if it’s always a struggle for you to come up with new content and be creative, that could be because you aren’t as interested in your niche as you thought you were.

That’s OK.  It happens to a lot of people.  I went through several sites before I came up with 2 Create a Website.

There’s no rule that says you have to do this right the first time.  If there was, I’d be long gone.  So don’t be ashamed if you have to try something new.

Remind yourself that you’re human and it’s all part of the process.  Rome wasn’t built in a day.

5) You are Disconnected From Your Readers

Polling my subscribers was one of the best strategies I’ve ever implemented.

It’s so easy to get caught up in what you THINK people want to read, but unless you ask, you can never really be too sure.

Want to win over your readers?

Ask them what they want to learn…

Listen to their feedback, and

Deliver!

I’m doing just that with a niche website book that will be free to all my e-mail subscribers.  I’m using the feedback from my subscriber poll to ensure I give my readers what they asked for.

This book is long overdue, but better late than never, right? :)

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How to Create a Niche Website

124 Responses to “5 Reasons Your Site is Struggling”

  1.  

    My website isn’t in affiliate marketing, rather we sell physical products online. We are also in our start up phased and often had moments where we look here and there and see how fast some websites comes up. But our philosophy has always been slow and stead wins the race and we don’t shy away at growing slowly.

  2. Do you have any document to share for beginners of SEO

  3.  

    Networking is pretty huge and I’m starting to realize the potential of social media contacts and marketing in general. Just like in the real world, often online success lies in ‘who you know’. These are overall great tips for improving your online presence, well done.
    Steve recently posted..Motorola Droid 4 Verizon Wireless SaleMy Profile

  4.  

    Although we don’t do affiliate marketing, and only sell physical products online, much of what you write here is totally relevant to our own situation.
    Ray recently posted..Brand LinksMy Profile

  5. why dont you share some tips to increase traffic for strugllers?

  6. How to start a business in the right way and how to better it continously ? I suppose everybody who wants sincerely to build up a business is thinking about it.
    Set targets, think what you are able to do by yourself and in what way you want to do it and whom you can pay to overtake other work for your business, because e.g lack of knowledge. Begin with small steps and don`t try to do all at once, not to loose overview over your activities and money. Compare with other companies of your branch, but don`t overtake all, others are doing, at once. Analyse and think a bit and then decide if it is usefull or useless for your own company.

  7. Great post! Although I agree with all the 5 pointers or reasons you have mentioned in your post, I still have a different approach in making websites popular online or get enough online exposure. I agree it is important not to disconnect from your online readers or you do not lack networking. But, if you manage your website content efficiently, you can get good online prominence. “Content is King”, and it is important to manage it properly. Why not use the best possible enterprise content management system for your official website?

  8.  

    I have started a new website for developing mobile application. But, when I could not get the enough traffic, I ask my designers and developers to redesign and recode it. Now, I got the idea what to do. I am using twitter and linkedin to connect with my followers.

  9. i have a new blog and no any taffic. but i’m still blogging coz i love blogging.
    yepi recently posted..Cheat Point Blank PB 12 Mei 2012 – Cheat WH + Auto HS + Spesial Magnet + RID All MapMy Profile

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