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[253] How to Grow and Monetize Your Blog Even When You Feel Like Giving Up

By Natalie Sisson ·

Heads up: this post is from 2016. The ideas hold up, but some tools, prices and links will have moved on since. For Natalie’s current work, head to NatalieSisson.com.

[253] How to Grow and Monetize Your Blog Even When You Feel Like Giving Up

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I credit this wonderful blog to beginning my entire business. First I started with just a blog, a passion yet hobby.

Until the day my cofounder at the tech company we had suggested since I loved it so much, and since I seemed to be doing a great job of it, maybe I should consider doing it full time.

I’ll never forget that day as it changed the course of my history.

Essentially it saw me leave our startup and go out on my own.

I’d love to say it was all roses and unicorns from that day on but we all know that’s not true. It was bloody hard work. Long days of learning how to be a better blogger, understanding the art of a great blog post, building a community one painful day at a time.

I’d check my stats daily to see how many visitors had come, if just ONE person had left a comment and I’d do everything in my power to turn up, be consistent, get better and get the word out.

It took 6 months to start seeing any results, which is why in this Fresh in Fifteen episode I answered a listener question from Jonathan on this very topic – because I know how feels, and I imagine you may feel like this too:

“I just wanted to ask you about, early on did you ever want to quit and I’ll give you a reason why I asked that. I started a website and I’ve noticed some small success through Amazon affiliates and I just feel like I write the best content, I spend all these hours doing it and nobody cares. I see a little bit of success. Maybe $20 a month income off 1 article that did well on it’s own because I got lucky. And I just think I am doing everything I should be but I am doing it all wrong. I know your busy but can you guide me to finding my problems?”  

Listen in to this episode to learn:

  • My key piece of advice to Jonathan and to you, to understand the ONE key thing you can do to get more traffic and readers of your blog that so many people make the mistake of not doing.
  • The key resources for blogging advice I used when starting out and still do to this very day.
  • What I suggest for Jonathan’s blog in a live website/ blog review!

So listen to this Fresh in Fifteen episode now:

 Subscribe in iTunes | Play in Browser | Download

Key Resources I mention or add value to this podcast:

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Living the Dream!

5 Starin iTunes by Parenting Abroad from USA

I hope to move from being a fairly stationary expat (in Switzerland) to truly taking my show on the road! This show both guides and motivates me as I build my business.

Watch this short video on how to leave a review for my show on iTunes

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