I still remember the day I decided to start my first blog. My mind was bursting with excitement, dreaming of passive income, financial freedom, and the joy of working from anywhere. I had read so many success stories—people making thousands of dollars a month just by writing online.
But what nobody told me was how hard it would be in the beginning. The struggles, the frustrations, and the moments of self-doubt nearly made me quit. I want to share my journey with you, not to discourage you, but to prepare you. Because if I had known these challenges beforehand, I might have handled them better.
So, here are the 10 biggest difficulties I faced when starting my first blog to make money online—and how I overcame them.
1. Choosing the Right Niche – The Paralysis of Overthinking
The internet is filled with advice like, “Pick a niche you’re passionate about!” or “Choose a niche that makes money!” But what if those two don’t align? That’s exactly the dilemma I faced. I spent weeks trying to decide whether to write about travel, personal finance, or self-improvement.
I kept overanalyzing, fearing I’d pick the wrong niche and fail. But eventually, I learned that there is no perfect niche—only the one you’re willing to stick with. So, I chose a topic I could see myself writing about long-term and just started.
2. Setting Up My Blog – Feeling Like a Total Beginner
I had zero technical skills when I started. Words like domain, hosting, WordPress, SEO—they all felt foreign to me. Setting up my blog took longer than expected, and I made so many mistakes (like installing the wrong plugins and crashing my site!).
But instead of giving up, I Googled, watched YouTube tutorials, and read forums until I figured it out. Slowly, I built my confidence. And the best part? Now, I can set up a blog in under an hour!
3. Writing My First Blog Post – The Fear of “Not Being Good Enough”
When it was finally time to write my first post, I froze. My inner critic whispered:
❌ “What if no one reads this?”
❌ “What if people think it’s bad?”
❌ “Who am I to write about this topic?”
I rewrote that post five times before finally hitting “publish.” And guess what? Nobody even read it at first! But that was the best thing that could have happened—because it showed me that I needed to write for myself first, and my audience would come later.
4. Getting Traffic – The Pain of Writing for an Empty Room
Days turned into weeks, and my blog had zero visitors. No comments. No shares. Nothing.
I felt invisible. I started doubting if this whole blogging thing was even worth it. But then, I realized something: Traffic doesn’t come automatically—you have to bring people to your blog.
I started:
✅ Sharing on social media (Facebook groups, Twitter, and Pinterest)
✅ Using SEO techniques to rank on Google
✅ Guest posting on other blogs to get exposure
It was slow at first, but over time, I saw my traffic grow.
5. Making My First Dollar – The Long Wait for Results
One of the hardest parts of blogging is that the money doesn’t come overnight. I thought I’d start earning within a month, but the reality was six months before I made my first dollar online.
I tried:
🔹 Google AdSense (got rejected twice before approval!)
🔹 Affiliate marketing (made only $3 from my first sale)
🔹 Selling digital products (had zero buyers at first)
I won’t lie—it was discouraging. But I kept pushing because I believed in the process. And one day, I woke up to an email saying: “Congratulations! You’ve made your first sale.” That moment made every struggle worth it.
6. SEO Struggles – The Confusing World of Keywords and Rankings
Everyone said SEO was important, but nobody told me how complicated it was.
🔹 Which keywords should I use?
🔹 Why isn’t my blog ranking on Google?
🔹 What the heck is domain authority?
I spent months learning SEO, reading guides, and experimenting. Some things worked, some didn’t. But today, SEO is one of my biggest traffic sources—proof that consistency pays off.
7. Dealing With Self-Doubt – “Maybe I’m Not Good Enough”
There were so many moments I wanted to quit. I’d see other bloggers making thousands of dollars while I struggled to earn even $10. It felt unfair, and I questioned if I was even cut out for this.
But one thing kept me going: I reminded myself why I started.
💡 I wanted freedom.
💡 I wanted to create something of my own.
💡 I wanted to prove to myself that I could do this.
Whenever doubt crept in, I focused on my vision. And slowly, I saw progress.
8. Staying Consistent – The Battle Against Procrastination
Blogging success isn’t about writing one great post—it’s about writing consistently. But staying motivated was hard. Some days, I was excited; other days, I didn’t feel like writing at all.
What helped me stay consistent?
✔ Creating a content schedule
✔ Breaking tasks into small steps
✔ Celebrating small wins (like publishing 10 posts)
Momentum is everything. The more I showed up, the easier it got.
9. Handling Negative Comments – Learning to Ignore Haters
The first time someone left a mean comment on my blog, I felt crushed. It made me question everything. But then I realized—criticism is a sign of growth.
Not everyone will like your content, and that’s okay. What matters is focusing on the people who do.
10. Balancing Blogging With Life – Avoiding Burnout
At one point, I was spending all my free time on my blog—writing, promoting, tweaking. It became exhausting. I felt drained, and my passion started fading.
That’s when I realized: Blogging is a marathon, not a sprint. I started setting boundaries, taking breaks, and remembering to enjoy the process. And that made all the difference.
Final Thoughts: Every Struggle Was Worth It
Looking back, every single challenge I faced made me stronger. Blogging isn’t easy, but it’s possible—if you keep pushing forward.
If you’re struggling right now, just remember:
✅ Everyone starts as a beginner.
✅ Progress is slow at first, but it compounds over time.
✅ Success isn’t about talent—it’s about persistence.
So, don’t give up. Keep learning, keep experimenting, and keep believing in yourself. Your blog has the potential to change your life—just like mine did for me.
Are you facing similar struggles? Drop a comment below—I’d love to hear your story! 🚀
