There are millions of blogs on the internet, many of which are inactive. This got me wondering why bloggers just stop blogging, only to start again after months of not publishing a new blog post, and to stop again for good.

I must admit that blogging is not easy. It took me a lot of time, hard work and dedication to get my blog to where it is today. And right now, I am only starting to reap the fruits of my labour.
But why didn’t those bloggers stay long enough to enjoy the benefits that owning a blog has to offer? Why do bloggers who start out full of enthusiasm and zeal fizzle out in a matter of months? Here are the reasons why I think most bloggers fail:

1.    They spend time creating content hoping readers will drop by
There’s this misconception that as soon as you start a blog and publish content for your blog, the readers will suddenly appear. That’s so not true. And then, many lose the passion when they discover no one is reading. When you first start your blog, the only way you can get readers is by putting your content in places they can see it. So sharing on all your social media platforms with the right hashtags help, more about this in my book – How to Cash In as a Blogger, so go have a read if you haven’t read it already.
2.    They don’t promote their blog; and when they do, they do it badly
This tip works hand in hand with the first tip. You spend so much time creating content but you don’t promote it on social media, or share your content with bloggers in your niche. If you don’t promote your blog posts, except your Zoella, no one is going to read it. Even Zoella has to share her blog posts.

And when some bloggers promote their blog, they do it in a spammy way. Bombarding every Facebook group with their links every hour or annoying their Twitter followers with the same old link every 30 minutes. Many would find this very annoying.

3.    They don’t earn any money from their blog
This is a common reason why many bloggers fail. People go into blogging for so many reasons, but when your main reason for owning a blog is to make money, you’re going to have a very hard time.
Blogs do have a potential to give you a nice source of income, but it may not be immediate, and it may never be as much as you think. so soon.

4.    They are not focused
You need to be specific when you’re blogging. You need to know who you are appealing to and the type of content you’ll create for your audience. Some bloggers talk about all manner of things, which is fine, as long as they are connected somehow, and that is why your creativity comes in.
5.    They do not post valuable content
People go to blogs because they want to learn, be entertained or solve their problems. If the content you post on your blog does neither of these, then your blog will most likely fail.

6.    They ignore the importance of SEO
When I started blogging in 2012, I knew nothing about SEO, but I had to learn and I am still learning as the Google rules keep changing. Majority of people looking for solutions or information consult Google first. If you want your blog to be noticed then you need to learn about SEO and apply its principles. Some bloggers completely ignore this and end up not being found out in the search results.

7.    They are too focused on themselves
Now this is where many bloggers get it so wrong. Your blog is not about you. It’s about your readers and you need to do everything you can to make them happy. If you spend time blogging about things concerning your life, without adding value to the life of your readers, then your blog will likely fail.

8.    They aren’t consistent
Consistency is key. You can’t blog one day and stop another. You need to do it consistently. You need to promote your blog, engage with your audience and build relationships consistently. This will guarantee your success.

Why do you think bloggers fail?