Are you making any money off your blog? Or do you struggle to generate an income, no matter how much content you post? We’ve listed 13 reasons why your blog is making no money and what you can do from today to start turning things around.
13 Reasons Why Your Blog is Making No Money (and How to Fix It)
1. You’re treating it like a hobby, not a business
Let’s start with the basics. Are you in this just for fun or are you blogging for profit? At Mothers and Shakers blogging workshops, we teach our students that if you want to go pro, you have to treat your blog as a business from day one. That means buying your own domain, paying for hosting, choosing a premium theme and/or hiring a web designer, creating a business plan (even if it’s just a basic one sheet).
Your attitude is everything. If you act like a professional, people are more likely to take you seriously. Likewise, if you’re willing to invest in your blog from the start, you’re more likely to see greater returns in the long run.
Steven Pressfield, author of The War of Art, talks about ‘turning pro’ as the defining difference between lifelong amateurs and people who become truly great at what they do. He writes: ‘To the amateur, the game is his avocation. To the pro it’s his vocation. The amateur is a weekend warrior. The professional is there seven days a week.’
Is your blog a hobby or a business? Take our quiz at the bottom of the post and find out.
2. You don’t have a clear income strategy
One of the reasons why your blog is making no money, or only making money sporadically, is simply because you don’t have a solid system in place. You can’t leave everything to chance and expect the riches to flock to you. Act like a professional and map out a money plan. First, do a self-audit (or even hire an accountant) to figure out what your expenditures are and what you need to break even.
Set yourself income goals (e.g. x amount a month) and review regularly. If you’re a newbie, work out the simplest and most effective ways to start generating money. At our Launch Your Blog workshop, we will teach you how to make your first £100 online. Yeah, it’s not a life-changing sum, but knowing the steps to get there could seriously transform your blog and even your future.
Do you have a money plan in place? If you need help with growing your blog or creating a profit strategy, get in touch to find out about our blogger consultations.
3. You don’t have a consistent work schedule
Blogging on the fly, posting whenever you feel like it. Does this sound like you? It’s cool if that’s how you like to spend your spare time. But if you want to make real progress, you need to show up consistently. One possible reason why your blog is making no money is because you’re flaky, girl.
There’s nothing more off-putting than visiting a blog to find the last post was in March 1975. Make sure you update your blog at least once a week (three times is better, or even daily if you’re still building up content). Regular blogging inspires your readers to come back and also tells Google you mean business (it’s great for SEO).
Use Google Calendar or an app like CoSchedule to create a content and promotion plan and stick to it. You are your own boss, but you are also your number one employee, so act accordingly. Just as you wouldn’t roll into an office job at 2pm, you shouldn’t treat your blog like it’s the last thing on your agenda.
4. You don’t understand your brand
When you think about brands, you probably think about global companies like Starbucks or Google. It might be hard to think of yourself as having a brand identity. But the reality is that everybody has a brand. If you’re blogging regularly, you are feeding into that brand with every piece of content you put out.
So what exactly is a brand? It’s not just your blog name, logo or business card (that’s your branding). Your brand is what you stand for and how you show up for your community. It’s what people think about and how they feel when they think about you and your blog. One of the reasons why your blog is making no money might just be that nobody can get a handle on what you or your blog are really about.
If you’ve been blogging for a while but feel unsure about your brand identity, try this simple exercise: ask a few people to describe you and your blog in 5 words. I blog at Babes about Town and the words people used were ‘Fun, Family, Colourful, London and Adventures’. Spot on.
Being true to my brand means I aim to incorporate these elements into everything I create for the blog, as well as any income opportunities. I’ve been hired for campaigns with travel companies and big names like Disney and Marvel based on having a fun, family brand.
5. You don’t understand your value
Know your worth. It’s easier said than done since many of us struggle with this in our daily lives. Women in particular are often guilty of underselling ourselves. Many of us were raised to stifle our ambition and downplay our successes. So when it comes to pushing for what we deserve, it can feel downright icky. Another challenge is that blogging and social media are fairly new and nebulous industries. It’s hard to know how much to charge when there’s no real industry standard.
How do you work out your value in the digital marketplace? Ask around. Look for bloggers at the same stage as you (or further along) and find out what they’re charging. Do casual research in blogger forums and Facebook groups. Many popular bloggers publish monthly income reports.
But don’t get hung up on what everybody else is doing. The beauty of being an independent creative badass is that you can set your own terms. That doesn’t mean charging £10k just to roll out of bed (who are you, Naomi Campbell?). It does mean considering everything from the hours you put in, expenses incurred, the quality of your content and expertise, market rates etc. and pricing accordingly. If your work is good enough, people will pay for it, so don’t sell yourself short*.
*Please do not accept pocket money or cheap product as payment for your hard work — it reflects badly on all of us!
6. You’re afraid to charge for your offer
Number 6 on our list of reasons why your blog is making no money is one word: FEAR. You’ve been putting out amazing content and getting your readers fired up. Maybe you’ve created some fab freebies to entice subscribers onto your list. Now it’s time to test out a paid product or offer, but something’s holding you back. There’s a gremlin in your head whispering: ‘Why would anybody pay for that when they’ve been enjoying all your goodies for free?’
Actually, people are more likely to buy from you now that they trust your voice and your expertise. They’re fans of your work and feel like they have a relationship with your brand. Why wouldn’t they fork out for something special you’ve created with them in mind? Make your offer and see what happens. If you’re really unsure, you could do a small test sample. Better yet, ask your audience what they’d be happy paying for. If they’re too penny-pinching, maybe it’s time to expand your audience!
Are you a beginner or new blogger wondering how to make money online? Join us at our next London workshop: Launch Your Blog and Make Your First £100
7. You aren’t using your network
Ever heard the saying ‘your network is your net worth?’ It’s cheesy but it’s true. There is nothing more important to your success as a blogger, a business owner, or a human being than your relationships. Who you know matters, and who is rooting for you can make all the difference when you’re trying to get ahead.
Focus on growing a strong, connected and respected network that inspires and supports you in every way. Stop trying to fly solo or hoard everything for yourself, like some desperate squirrel. Don’t be afraid to exchange ideas, opportunities and contacts with your blogging mates. If you give generously, you will receive in kind. Collaboration beats competition any day.
8. You’re not being your own best PR
Hands up who’s afraid of self-promotion? Guilty as charged. We’re Brits, innit? It’s against the average British sensibility to go around boasting about your qualities. We’d rather fold up like umbrellas in the corner than open up and parade ourselves for all to see. However, if you don’t put yourself out there enough, you’re doing yourself, your blog, and the world at large a disservice.
And here’s the kicker. What we think of as humility (downplaying our talents) might actually be false pride. So get over yourself. Imagine you – and by extension, your blog – are a client that you have been hired to promote. Would you feel too ‘shy’ to tell people how great your client is, or would you rightly shout it from the rooftops?
Quick PR tips: create a Work with Me page, a snazzy media kit, a portfolio of your best work. Update your logo, email signature and business card, network regularly at PR and industry events, stay on top of social chatter about your brand. When you have a blogging win, put out a ‘press release’ (or a Tweet, for heaven’s sake) to let folks know you’re making moves. Most importantly, nurture your contacts and always stay true, kind and professional. As stated earlier, relationships are key to your success.
9. You’re not growing an email list
When we started blogging (back in the year 14 BC), nobody was thinking about email lists. Nowadays, every digital diva will tell you ‘the money’s in the list’. It’s nice to have a social media fan base, but followers aren’t necessarily customers. When you write to someone regularly via email, they are more likely to feel a connection with you and be more receptive to what you offer. And once they’ve bought from you, they’re more inclined to buy from you again.
Did you know: You only need a small amount of subscribers compared to followers to start making money. For instance, you need at least 1000 followers (10k is the standard) to attract brand sponsorships on Instagram. Whereas you can make sales off a list as small as 250 subscribers, since you only need a handful of people to buy what you’re selling (average email conversion rates are around 2%). Nomita says: ‘When I ran an online shop via my previous blog Ebabee, I got at least 10 sales every time I sent an email to my list and I had just 500 subscribers.’
10. You’re not trying out multiple revenue streams
Ask any blogger about making money online and you’ll get a range of answers. Some rely on sponsored posts, others swear by affiliates, while those who know vouch for digital courses. The bloggers making serious bank, however, are mixing it up. For most bloggers, there is no such thing as a steady paycheck. So why lock yourself into one gig when you can be a hustler?
This isn’t an invitation to drive yourself crazy trying to be all things to all people. Pick one or two income streams that make the most sense (and cents) for your blog. But also don’t be afraid to try new things and get creative. If you’re wondering why your blog is making no money one way, switch things up and see what happens.
11. You’re following too many gurus
You bought a course on SEO. You watched a webinar on video courses. You signed up to a membership site on Pinterest. You joined a Facebook group about social media advertising. You watched another webinar on funnels. Now your head is spinning.
Sound familiar? There’s nothing wrong with getting advice from experts (hey, that’s why we’re here). But when you find yourself chasing every shiny new strategy, and not making any real progress, it’s time to hit that unfollow button. Unsubscribe from all those spammy marketing emails. Invest in the wisdom and support of just one or two pros who speak to your core values and vision. Most of all, invest in you. Take risks, trust your instincts, listen to your gut. Focus on growing into a leader, not just a follower.
12. You’re too busy being busy
Busyness (not business) is one of the biggest ailments of our 21st century society. We’re plugged in 24-7, with no proper boundaries between work and regular life. Also, and let’s just admit it, there’s something about being ‘so busy’ all the time that makes us feel important. Necessary. Valued.
Number 12 on our list of reasons why your blog is making no money is that you’re spinning your wheels without going anywhere. It’s easy to get stuck on the busy-go-round, filling your days with vaguely meaningful tasks. Not doing the real work to drive your business forwards.
Our advice? Do one thing. That means, ignoring your endless to-do list and focusing on the one thing that will move you towards your greater goal. Ask yourself, is this task bringing me money, bringing me joy, or simply cluttering my schedule? If it’s clutter, dump it. Marie Kondo that crap.
13. You’re not being authentically You
‘Just be yourself,’ I said to my son one day and he replied, ‘but I don’t know who that is!’ He was only 11 at the time and he actually has a very strong sense of self. But I get it. Whenever people say ‘be you’ or ‘be authentic’, it can break you out in a sweat. Suddenly there’s pressure to perform, almost like putting on an act when all you’re trying to do is be yourself.
However, if there’s one piece of advice we swear by, it’s the importance of being happy in your (blog) skin. We’ve seen bloggers transform their careers from social media nobodies to digital superstars, simply by stepping into their brilliance and owning their shit.
Where to begin? Speak to your readers as if you were having a conversation. Express yourself in your own rhythm and turn of phrase. One reason why your blog is making no money might be because you’re hiding in plain sight. When all is said and done, people buy from people and it’s important that clients/customers connect with the real person behind the blog. Open up to your audience, share what matters to you, let them see YOU truly. Faking it will only get you so far in this game. Authenticity creates a lasting impression.
Is your blog a hobby or a business? TAKE OUR QUIZ and find out!
Craige Hardel says
Really good post Amy. It’s important to gain clarity of the fundamentals sometimes. Made a few notes
Uju says
Thanks so much Craige, glad you liked the post 🙂