How to Roll With the Punches Like a Problogger

This is an encouraging article from Bob Lotich of ChristianPF.com.

Google flips a switch and you lose half your traffic (been there?).

An advertiser decides they’d be better off spending their money elsewhere.

Family dynamics change and you find yourself with less time to work on your blog.

Inevitably, change occurs. And when it does, it’s easy to freak out.

What’s a blogger to do when change comes to kick in your front door?

1. Enter the business knowing the risks.

I began blogging with the understanding that the Internet can change overnight. Traffic, revenue, relevant website design strategies, and even long-held standards are subject to the winds of change. Problogging is much like having to switch trains every few stops to reach your intended destination – you may even have to pull the emergency break every now and then.

I have now been doing this full-time for over 4 years and I am confident that the only constant is that things will change. And if you are wanting to make enough with your blog to pay the bills, you need to know how to hang on during the inevitable ups and downs.

If you’re just starting out in the blogosphere, carefully consider if you’re the type of person who can deal with change on a regular basis. If you’re not, don’t quit your day job!

2. Happen to change before change happens to you.

You’re probably familiar with this quote:

I skate to where the puck is going to be, not where it has been. – Wayne Gretzky

As a blogger, you can avoid the punches altogether by anticipating what’s coming next.

Move to the safety zone before you get hit!

In order to accomplish this, you’re going to need to stay on top of the constant changes in this business. Namely Google algorithm updates, upcoming web standards, new marketing strategies, important changes coming to social media networks, and more. Oh, and don’t be afraid to throw out the old rulebook. Best practices expire faster than a gallon of milk, so try to build something for the future – not for today.

3. Build a support system before you get hit – because you will.

You’ll try to avoid pain, and sometimes you might be successful at that, but occasionally the hurt will descend on you like a dark cloud. The best medicine for difficult times is a solid support system. This is why FinCon has been such an important conference for probloggers (and newbies too) – it gives bloggers of all experience levels the opportunity to connect, share tips, and build relationships.

4. Don’t let discouragement sap your energy.

It can be easy to let discouragement weigh us down and keep us from working hard toward our goals. Keep your head up and your eyes on the prize. You’ll get through whatever you’re going through. Think about it, you have in the past, haven’t you? Of course you have.

5. Rewrite your game plan and go win.

Taking into account your mistakes and misfortunes, create a new plan designed to help you win. Here are a few focus areas for the problogger:

• Time Management – Are you using your time effectively or are you distracted?
• Prioritization – Have you narrowed your work down to a few projects that will be most likely to produce the best results?
• Outsourcing – Are you taking on too much work and need to outsource some of it to capable individuals?
• Long-Term Vision – Do your activities take into account your long-term goals? Where do you want to be in life in the next 5, 10, or 20 years?

Final Thoughts

If you’re going through a storm right now, take heart. Roll with the punches, because you must. You will survive, and if you’re determined enough, you will even thrive!

The blogosphere looks substantially different than it looked five years ago. And in another five years, we can only imagine. Stay ahead of the game, educate yourself, and network with others who have similar pursuits. You’ll be much better off for it.

Bob began blogging in 2007 at his PF blog: Christian Personal Finance.

Image by keith ellwood