Every now and then, I receive a reader’s email, saying they love the blog, and they admire my success in the personal finance and blogging world. While those mails make my day and are always nice to receive (so keep’em coming!), I don’t think I am a big success at all. I am doing fine for myself, generating a solid income for a couple of hours of work a day, but in order to take it to the next level, I need to add many things to my belt.
I don’t have an oversized ego
I was offered a few times to appear on TV or online videos, and on major publications that would certainly have boosted my stats and grown my readership, and said no. I don’t think I am interesting enough to go there, and would feel like a fraud if I did. When other bloggers are able to jump from national press to podcasts to TV just to talk about a debt repayment journey, I wonder how they do it. More power to them, it just isn’t my thing.
In order to become a top blogger, you need to put yourself out there, sell your image to sell your products, like Ramit does when he sells his courses on I Will Teach You To Be Rich for example. I’ll pass.
I am a girl
Have you had a look around? Almost all the big sites that sold for, generate, or are valued at over seven figures (The Simple Dollar, Get Rich Slowly, Bargaineering, I will Teach You to Be Rich, Financial Samurai, etc…) are owned by men. Why is the industry so male dominated? I would start with a rough guess that only half the readership may be eager to hear about shopaholism and cupcake overdoses, and even that half will not always tolerate it. Women certainly write about serious topics too, but rare are the ones treating blogging like a business. And among the successful female bloggers, the majority I know are just looking for a comfortable income and stop there, while men tend to always look for ways to improve and grow even a successful business.
I won’t push affiliate products I don’t use
Most bloggers starting to make big bucks use a ton of affiliate programs, and seem to be selling you a different credit card in every post. I refuse to do that for a number of reasons, first because I am not a seller, then because once more I would feel like a fraud doing it, and third because I would rather watch paint dry than write post after post about credit cards.
Now some bloggers have very smart and almost non intrusive affiliate policies, which is what I try to do when placing some of the affiliate links for products I do use and recommend, and they manage to place a link in every other post. I just put them when I remember them, and when they fit well.
Another barrier is that my blogs are not based in the US so I have been denied by many affiliate programs. I could also write about my UK financial products, but outside Savvy Scot, my UK readership is too small to make it worth my while.
I don’t do politics
Just like real life, the blogging world is full of petty people, gossip, and politics. I prefer to live in peace and not engage in anything like that. If you are nice to me, I will be nice to you, even if you are “below” in the hierarchy, and if you are a jerk, I will simply stop interacting with you.
The same way I don’t write fired up posts about how mean someone was to me, I don’t brown nose, and end up generally giving back more than what I received in the first place to people who deserve it.
If you want to make it big, you’ll have to be friends with everyone, even the ones you don’t like, and I just can’t do that.
I am not nice
See above, if you are an a**, you are out of my good graces.
I don’t write crappy SEOptimized posts
I write about what I want, when I want, and I don’t care if the post doesn’t have keywords that will drive 10,000 clicks from Google each month, or will be bland enough to be featured in a generalist publication. I prefer to have a small community of engaged readers than waves of SEO browsers that will stay for 36 seconds and leave.
I lack the discipline
Just look at this site’s archives for the past couple of months, most posts are the investing posts from Troy, some guest posts and the blog income recap which is a template I just have to fill in every month. I haven’t been working much because I was traveling and didn’t feel like it. Great bloggers write day in, day out, plan their editorial calendars, make a yearly strategy, and try to be everywhere from social media to live platforms. If you want to make it big into the blogging world, you need some discipline. Something I lack since the day I was born.
My niche is weird
Frugal blogs, money management blogs, family money blogs, mommy blogs… have way more chances of success than an expat living, early retirement, personal blog. I get very targeted traffic which has brought me sales for my 90 acres land development or booking for my guest house when people travel to Guatemala or plan on buying land there. That should actually be added to my blogging income! But if I wanted to monetize only with adsense and affiliate, I should have a more generalist blog, with personal finance advice for people from 18 to 75.
I won’t do more
Serial hustlers in the blogging world have several blogs, staff writing gigs, they edit podcasts or video blogs, attend every conference, network, contact the press… I love writing in the peace and quiet of my little house, as a lazy introvert. What I get in exchange for the effort I put in (several thousand dollars for a few hours a day) is a fine balance and I won’t do 5 times more for a chance at twice the money. I am happy they way things are.
Considering all that, I haven’t done too bad from myself, but I guess that is as far as I could go without changing.
I’m honestly a little bit surprised by this coming from you as I always kind of considered you more in the Successful Blogger camp than not. I don’t engage in the community as much as I used to so obviously I lack some perspective, but it seemed that you have a healthy readership which tends to translate into decent ad returns. Or perhaps that’s on your other blog?
Other than that, I don’t have much to offer in the way of constructive criticism, I’ve been around for ages but not in that camp myself 😉
Revanche recently posted…Net Worth: June 2014
Don’t get me wrong, I think my blogs are a success for me, as they have a nice community around them and generate a very nice hourly rate since I rarely put in more than 3 hours a day into them. But I think I have plateaued and am not willing to put in the extra hours to make it something more. I prefer to work 3 hours for $5-6K than 12 hours a day for $10-12K. And I know some top bloggers work less than 12 hours because they have a small army in the background taking care of stuff for them, but there is still a lot of work to get to that level, and a lot of management which I loathe, so blogging stays a hobby, not a business.
Ha. While I’m not sure about getting into the gender thing, I’m with you on pretty much all of these.
NZ Muse recently posted…Damned if you do, damned if you don’t
PF is pretty male dominated when it comes to big money generating blogs with over a million pageviews a month, outside mommy/coupon blogs. But there are very successful female bloggers on other niches.
Blogging isn’t as easy as some people make it out to be. I don’t push much on my site likely because I don’t view it as my main source of income. Money doesn’t always equal success either… having dedicated fans who come to the blog is more than enough to make me know I’m doing something right otherwise they wouldn’t be back. Keep up the great work… you’re very inspirational to many.
Canadian Budget Binder recently posted…How to chop everyday food costs without coupons: The Grocery game challenge #3 June 16-22, 2014
Thank you Mr CBB! I enjoy blogging and the community very much, which is lovely. For me it is a success, I just don’t look for more like ambitious bloggers would.
I disagree that you won’t be successful because you are already successful. There are all types of success. If you are making $ and getting paid to do what you’re doing, then you are a success.
Holly@ClubThrifty recently posted…Cash Money: $5,370 in May Income and Life Updates
Yes, to my definition, I am successful with this blog, but compared to the big big ones, I am just on the good side of average, and perfectly fine with that.
I’m with Holly…I think you are a success. You’re making money and getting paid to do what you do. We all have different paths to success, blogging or otherwise and there are all types of success. That’s part of what makes life interesting in my opinion. 🙂
John @ Wise Dollar recently posted…Overlooked Costs When Buying a New Car
I am happy with where I am, don’t get me wrong. But I won’t give the extra push that will put me in the top tier where you get on TV and publish books and promote yourself like crazy, it’s just not me.
Fun topic! I think everythig is relative as someone will always be more successful or less successful. Just gotta figure out what makes you happy based on your effort. Seems like you have done just that!
I still really enjoy blogging. And I don’t think I’ll ever sell my sites. It’s just too fun, and a great way to communicate with family all over.
Financial Samurai recently posted…Your Obsession With Being The Best Is Killing Happiness
I think you are comparing yourself to the “Jones Bloggers” when you are saying you won’t be successful. There are all different measures of success, and if you are too busy trying to keep up with the Joneses and live a blogging life that makes you uncomfortable (i.e. product pushing and SEO optimized posts), then it is not worth it. I agree with all of your points and I don’t want to do many of those things myself and I don’t care what that means for my blog traffic. As long as I am happy with what I am doing and what I am saying, then I feel successful and you should too!!
Shannon @ Financially Blonde recently posted…Financial Fitness Steps from My Kid
Sound to me like you are really expressing contentment in where you are at. You have the ability and skill to do more but are happy with the space you have carved out for yourself in the blogosphere. I don’t see anything wrong with that. And as someone “below” you in the hierarchy, I’d like to express my thanks for what I’ve learned from you. You are impacting others and to me that’s being a success.
Brian @ Luke1428 recently posted…How Being Flexible Saved Our Vacation
I think success is in they eyes of the beholder. To me you have reached success as a blogger because you can sustain yourself on that income, which a lot of people would really love to do. I try not to pay attention to what everyone else is doing unless it’s something I can learn from them. And if someone posts something that I don’t agree with or don’t like, for the most part I just move on. Or come back when they post something I can relate to more. I’m sure people do the same with me.
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While I totally b get what you’re saying, you my friend are a success to me. I also won’t ever be a huge top blogger. I really just don’t want to be it! I want to find ways to mskeb enough money to help me pay my debt off and have fun doing it. I also don’t write in SEO ( unless a freelance site requires it). I admire you though!
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Way to know yourself WELL, friend! It’s hard not to get caught up in all the hub-bub.
(Do you all have a French word for that? Hub-bub? ;))
Isn’t success really a state of mind. Don’t each of us get to define what is a success in our own terms. Why are you so concerned with what other people think? If you are happy with what you are doing and are making enough to support yourself, on your own terms, it seems to me that that is the definition of success. Be kinder to yourself!
Brad @ How To Save Money recently posted…Drive a Fuel Efficient Car to Save Money
I definitely consider you to be a success, but not just because you’re earning money from your sites. I consider you to be a success, because you’re living life on your terms and you do the work needed to make it a reality. You made interesting and perhaps unorthodox decisions at a very young age that put you in the position to live in Guatemala, travel when you desire and for great periods of time and found some interesting and unique ways to earn money that support you life you want. Now that’s success to me.
Shannon @ The Heavy Purse recently posted…The Surprising Consequences of Keeping Your Kids in the Dark about Your Finances
I was thinking the same as Revanche above…I always considered you one of the successful bloggers! You are doing well Pauline! When I started I was hoping to be a “successful blogger” in the financial sense…I’m not sure I’ll make it there. I don’t do many of the things you mentioned and I don’t have half the knowledge that you probably have as to how to build a successful blog. Of course, it’s still very enjoyable as I’ve really enjoyed interacting and learning from fellow bloggers.
Pauline, whatever works for you! For me, I want to help more people, and touch more lives, so any fame I’ve received, I feel blessed for. Being interviewed on brand.com, and getting my guest posts published on authority sites helped me help more folks and inspire others, so this made me happy 😉 All the best!
Ryan Biddulph recently posted…13 Blogging Fears You Need to Let Go Today
I always thought you were one of the TOP bloggers, at least in the female niche! Anyone who could self-sustain themselves on the blog totally keep me going every day.
But I totally agree. I will not do plugs for business that I do not support. I will not sell credit cards or home mortgages. I just have a moral objection with that.
Michelle recently posted…The Five Year Plan?
I had this discussion last night with my fiancé. I am fine with making a few dollars here an there, but I realize it isn’t going to make me rich. And I’m okay with that.. because honestly, I don’t want it to turn into a job. It’s just something I do for fun and use as a way to interact with people in the community.
That being said… you’re one of the people many of us look up to in terms of money being made (I think of you, Holly and Michelle when I think of women making large amounts of money through online self-employment… if not directly from their blog).
Alicia @ Financial Diffraction recently posted…Trip Round-up: The Second Half.
I think you are pretty successful. You don’t need millions of dollars to be a success, if you are content with the way your life is going and you feel like you are leaving a good legacy then you should consider yourself successful.
I wish I get to be as successful as you.
Aldo @ MDN recently posted…Spent: Looking For Change (Documentary)
I’d also agree that you’re a successful blogger – you earn an income from it that you are happy with which means you’re doing what you love for your job! I want to help people with my blog, not necessary become blogger “famous” but enjoy the journey as it happens 🙂
Nicola recently posted…How meal planning benefits your health and your wealth.
I have to agree with everyone else’s sentiments – you are definitely a successful blogger in my eyes! You own/run three blogs, and make a decent income from them, enough to comfortably live off of. Plus, you’re traveling and making donations on top of that! All great things. I don’t think I’ll ever be a “top blogger.” If I could make enough to live off of, that would make me happy.
E.M. recently posted…When Was the Last Time You Adjusted Your Budget?
I really enjoy your blog, I see myself traveling down the same path you have created. I’m currently on the zero income approach because I enjoy writing and getting myself out there, but I myself have the same affiliate plan(someday), only sell what I myself use. Success is what makes set up your definition as and then surpassing your own expectations.
Even Steven recently posted…What I Learned Working for Michael Jordan
I agree with many of the other comments, that success is what you define it to be for yourself. Besides… living a simple, low environmental impact life doesn’t require a lot of money and can be much more fulfilling than chasing “the American dream”. At least you are not stuck in a cubicle somewhere, commuting several hours a week and doing work you don’t enjoy. You have achieved what I consider true success… control over your schedule and your work!
You have passion, purpose and prosperity in your life and you share that with others. Congrats!
Green girl success recently posted…Sustainable Philanthropy
I’ve always enjoyed reading your blog. You’ve taken such a cool journey into real estate investing. I really enjoy reading your updates and progress while developing. I think your writing is authentic and that makes it very enjoyable to read : )
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I will say this… your title really grabbed my attention and was the reason I read this post. And while it probably wasn’t SEO optimized you still got my traffic and attention. I guess the bottom line it write for the sake of writing. Write for you, write what interests you and who cares if it is mainstream or super niche. Continue doing what you are doing and success will tend to find you rather than you looking for it.
DivHut recently posted…Dividends From The Grave
Pauline – I consider you a very successful blogger and a helpful one at that. When I was full of dumb questions, you helped answer some for me, same as John from Frugal Rules. I identify with a lot of your reasons listed above. I’m still trying to find my way, and you are an inspiration in that regard!
debt debs recently posted…The New Multitasking – Fragmentasking
I consider success to be in the eye of the beholder. I would consider you a success for sure. You are doing quite well, especially when you look at the statistics of blogs that actually make money. Very few of us make money on our blogs.
Grayson @ Sprout Wealth recently posted…My Tricks to Making Money With Affiliate Marketing
Pssssch! Silly. I get where you’re going with this, but if the Ramits of the world are the only successful bloggers, then your bar is set too high. Also you are nice.
Kathleen recently posted…How I Got Into a Mountain of Consumer Debt
aw, thank you! You are right, success is just achieving your own goals, so for me it is a pass.
The consensus is you are successful. Even though it is not to the levels of others, it seems you are just fine keeping it small compared to the big boys. Anyways if you get too big then I can’t visit in Equador, so you can show me around town.
EL @ Moneywatch101 recently posted…The Habits we Keep
haha true! let’s keep it simple. I think I have a high hourly rate for the work done and that is just fine by me.
Interesting topic. My main limitation is time. I don’t have time to do a redesign and the designs from the designers I considered hiring (even made an initial payment to one) didn’t blow me away. I don’t have time to research and track affiliate programs to the degree you would need to be successful. So yeah, I’d say time is by far my biggest success inhibitor.
I think the pf area is extremely crowded, too (obvious statement), so you really need to lean into it and put in crazy hours to be successful. My goal is mainly just to develop the site enough to sell for a decent amount of money a couple years down the road.
Time is complicated, but I am not sure one would get twice the revenue by putting twice the time. Also, I don’t think the niche is too crowded, some like health and fitness look even more crowded.
Hey Pauline, I think you are a successful blogger but I also know what you mean. (In fact the one who probably will never be successful blogger is me). I find particularly interesting the ‘I am a girl’ factor. You are right – the biggest blogs are owned by men. I don’t write about cup cakes and frugality; still, when I wrote a post arguing that ‘investing women rock’ I got a lot of bad messages from men. Make me want to fight harder (after all I share Margaret Thtcher’s birthday :)).
maria@moneyprinciple recently posted…Eat for less: tasty breakfast for the weekend
Our age may give us a little more weight, so we got that going for us at least!
This was my first visit to your blog, and I’m hooked!
Amy recently posted…Last Week’s Frugal Highs
I consider you a successful blogger, in that you are able to make an income without working on your sites more than you have to, and you also have an engaged readership. If that’s the level of success you are comfortable with, that’s great! I’m not convinced that being on TV and on the radio all the time is for me. I’ve had a couple of inquiries locally but since I’m anonymous for the most part, I’ve not been interested.
Daisy @ Prairie Eco Thrifter recently posted…The Power of Mindfulness
Just found this post on Pinterest and am glad I found it. I like your minimalistic attitude. You’re content and you don’t really feel the need to overexert yourself. People make blogging out to be so easy, but “blogger overwhelmia” is definitely real, and not everyone wants to go through that. You’re definitely successful, and just saying that you can make a few thousands a day in a few hours is enough to back that up (assuming the money you get is from people buying your products and services/coming back for more). I sorta clicked this blog post to wonder if we’re doing the same thing, because I’d be disappointed if I was doing what you were doing and, therefore would not be successful! However, I’m all about marketing myself and really putting myself out there. Plus, like I said, you seem like you’re already a successful blogger. You just don’t wanna be EXTRA.
Good read, nonetheless 🙂
Thank you! my blogs make “several thousand dollars for a few hours a day” not a few thousand dollars a day (I wish! last month was $8,000 https://makemoneyyourway.com/blog-income-and-expenses-february-2016/) I do freelance writing and otherwise monetize with ads and affiliate. I just don’t really treat the blogs like a business, trying to bring more all the time. I am aware my income is higher than that of many bloggers, and thankful for that, I won’t put in 80 hours a week just to double it.
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I love your blog and your style of writing. It’s genuine and always has been!
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