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May 23, 2017 by Nina Amir 7 Comments

4 Myths that Stop Your Blogging Career from Moving Forward

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Dispell common blogging myths

If you are just starting to blog or thinking about becoming a blogger, you’ve probably noticed how much information you can find on the topic. However, not all of it is correct. Today, Jennifer Brown Banks (@PENPROSPER1) dispels a few common blogging myths to help you get your blogging career up and running—or move it forward faster.

When it comes to blogging, it’s easy to experience “information overload.” A recent Google search I conducted rendered 147,000,000 results for blogging related terms.

With a plethora of information out there, it becomes increasingly important to distinguish fact from fiction if you want to build and sustain a stable blogging career.

That’s why today I want to help you dispell a few blogging myths.

MYTH # 1: You should not use a free blogging platform.

Operating a blog on a free platform, like Blogger.com, WordPress.com, Tumblr.com, will “cost” writers their reputation. According to the experts, “Doing so serves as a scarlet letter branding them unworthy of serious consideration by clients, readers, and advertisers.

TRUTH:
Not true–at least not always.

Some prominent professional authors and bloggers like Kelly James-Enger, Erika Dreifus, and Hope Clark maintained successful free sites on Blogger platforms for many years.

The founder of this blog, Nina Amir, started her career with free sites, both on Blogger.com and WordPress.com, although she later switched to WordPress.com. She often tells those starting out on a blogging journey to begin with a free site if they can’t afford a self-hosted site.

So, I decided I would too. Since 2009, I have opted to venture the “road less traveled.”

The results? You be the judge.

In my eight years of professional blogging, my “free blog” has:

  • Been recognized for five consecutive years with “Top Writing Blog” honors, alongside uber-popular sites like Pro Blogger, Copyblogger, and Seth Godin.
  • Has allowed me to garner clients that include major brands, such as Good Earth Tea, Fanstory.com, and R. King & Associates.
  • Has enabled me to attract good paying gigs and collaborative projects.

But, this post is not about what I have accomplished; it’s about you and what you can achieve, the heights you can reach, with sound, credible information to help you make informed decisions.

Accordingly, here are three additional myths I’d like to dispel to help you move your blogging career forward in 2017.

MYTH 2: Blogging will detract from your other creative projects and take away valuable writing time.

TRUTH:
Blogging can enhance your writing skills, teach you discipline, and help you build the platform needed to sell future books and products.

The key here is to manage your time properly and to prioritize.

Blogging can enhance your writing skills, teach you discipline, and help you build platform.

Click To Tweet

MYTH 3: People don’t read blogs.

TRUTH:
Studies and surveys suggest otherwise. The Pew Internet Project reports that an estimated 30 million Americans read blogs on a regular basis.

Here are some other noteworthy stats provided by HubSpot.com:

  • 65% of Internet users read a blog.
  • Companies that blog have 97% more inbound links than those that don’t.
  • Companies that blog have 55% more website visits than those that don’t.

Also, according to the “Science of Blogging” survey, 71% of respondents stated that blogs affected their purchasing decisions.

An estimated 30 million Americans read blogs on a regular basis.

Click To Tweet

MYTH 4: You have to have a large following to have a significant impact.

TRUTH:
Real blogging success is not entirely about numbers. It’s about adding quality to the blogging community with your unique messages and content. It’s also about the connection you make with your readers.

Here are a few ways to evaluate where you stand:

  • Are other bloggers linking to your posts? Are they promoting you within their social networks?
  • Are blog comments from readers, by and large, positive and frequent?
  • Have you received requests from other bloggers to provide guest posts?
  • Have you won any awards?

If you can answer “yes” to any of the above, consider you are making an important difference as a blogger and writer.

Remember that “knowledge is power.” For real progress, never deal in falsehoods. Keep these four blog myths in mind for optimal results.

About the Author

jenniferbrownbanks-againJennifer Brown Banks is a veteran freelance writer, relationship columnist, ghost writer, award-winning blogger and author. Her work has appeared in various online and print publications including:.ProBlogger, Men With Pens, Write to Done, Tiny Buddha, Women on Writing and the Well-Fed Writer E-zine.

Banks is the managing editor of Coffeehouseforwriters.com, where she also teaches creative writing classes. When she’s not at the keyboard, she loves cooking, reading, “Jeopardy,” music, and shopping.

Find out more about Jennifer here: Penandprosper.blogspot.com/

Photo courtesy of 5second /123RF.com

 

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Filed Under: Success Strategies Tagged With: blogging, blogging myths, blogging success

Comments

  1. Lisa @ NatureImmerse says

    May 24, 2017 at 1:59 am

    You have less control over your blog when using a free blog. For instance, people who self-host their blog with the WordPress software can download plugins to expand their website’s capabilities. A free WordPress blog doesn’t allow this, limiting you to only a few options. CSS functions and theme selections are also limited on free blogging platforms.
    Lisa @ NatureImmerse recently posted..Best Electric Knife Sharpener Reviews 2017

  2. Nina Amir says

    May 25, 2017 at 10:28 am

    Lisa,

    I totally agree and don’t typically recommend free sites…unless my clients cannot afford to start blogging any other way. However, Jennifer has another viewpoint, and I’ve allowed her to express it in her guest post.

  3. Jeñnifer Brown Banks says

    July 14, 2017 at 4:37 pm

    Lisa,
    Thanks for sharing your thoughts here. I appreciate your time.
    I can attest personally that my free platform has not been problematic in eight years. It should also be noted that best selling authors
    Kelly James Enger and Seth Godin also blog on free platforms with huge success.

    By the way, I do own a self hosted site through WordPress. Comparatively it earns me less than my free site.
    Thanks again.
    Jeñnifer Brown Banks recently posted..The Day Warren Adler Gave me a Needed “Nod” …

  4. John Marc Ramirez says

    July 18, 2017 at 11:28 pm

    My favorite thing I have learned from this article is that “blogging is not just about numbers”, but is about creating a GREAT quality which adds up to the list of the blogging community and making it a better blogging community. Thank you so much for sharing. 🙂 I learned a lot.

  5. Matt says

    September 6, 2018 at 11:34 pm

    Great article with tons of good advice.
    I started blogging about 6 months ago and am now starting to get half-decent organic traffic.
    Just wanted to say to all noobie bloggers to keep going….Google will give you the traffic eventually…just keep posting good content and it will work out!
    Looking forward to your next article:-)
    Matt recently posted..8 of the finest tools every man should have in his garage or man-cave

  6. Nina Amir says

    September 11, 2018 at 3:14 pm

    Matt, Thanks for your comment! How often do you post?

  7. Marion says

    December 10, 2018 at 11:42 am

    This: “MYTH 3: People don’t read blogs.”! I don’t know how many times I’ve heard it. I personally read a lot of blogs, I can only imagine that other people do too. That thought is what has kept me going 🙂

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About Nina Amir

Nina Amir, the Inspiration to Creation Coach, inspires writers to create published products and careers as authors as well as to achieve their goals and fulfill their purpose and potential.

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