Most of us who blog really love what we write about and love the idea of having a captive audience. This blogging thing is both fun and addicting, and I know that I personally always have the urge to start a new blog to talk about whatever it is I’m into at the moment.
But I’m also a fan of focusing on one blog at a time. I’ve tried to juggle multiple blogs and it just doesn’t work for me. Here are 5 things that keep me grounded and allow me to focus on the success of my one main blog.
1. Let it settle
I can’t tell you how many domain names I’ve rushed out and bought right after coming up with an idea for a new blog, only to realize in the morning that the idea wasn’t so great after all.
In fact, let me look at my domain portfolio right now… I currently have 40 domain names. About half a dozen of those are ones that I keep and manage for friends and family. Another half dozen I’m currently using for my own purposes. A lot of the remaining domains are simply ones that I bought for aborted blogs.
When you have that “awesome” idea, let it settle for a bit. Sleep on it. Bounce your idea off of some other people. More often than not, your enthusiasm for the idea will wane before too long.
2. Start writing posts
If you’ve let the idea for a new blog settle but the idea is still burning a hole in your brain, just start writing posts for the new blog. Don’t buy the domain name or install WordPress or anything. Just start writing posts like the ones you’d publish on the new blog. Save them in a Word document or publish them to a private Blogger or Tumblr blog.
Doing this saved me from spending $1,000 on a domain name.
It’s one thing to like a subject; it’s another to write about that subject. Once you write a few articles, you might just realize that starting a new blog around that topic wasn’t the best idea after all.
3. Write guest posts
Instead of starting a brand new blog, why not just write guest post for existing blogs in that niche? The benefit of doing this is threefold: 1) you scratch that itch of wanting to write about that niche, 2) you can drive traffic back to your existing blog, and 3) you build relationships with other bloggers.
Even if your two niches are entirely unrelated, it’s still not a bad idea to link back to your main blog in your guest post. Sure, your blog might not be interesting to everyone that reads your guest post, but I’m sure some people share the same two passions you do.
And regarding the relationship thing… If you DO decide at some point in the future to start a new blog in that niche, you’ll already have friends in the space that can help you promote your new blog.
4. Have a personal blog
While I’ve already said that I’m an advocate of focusing on one main blog at a time, I do have a personal blog in addition to Blogging Bookshelf. I love having a personal blog because I can write whatever I want on it whenever I want. I can write about travel, rock climbing, or minimalism all in one place without having to start separate travel, rock climbing, or minimalism blogs.
I don’t do any real promotion of my personal blog. I don’t want or expect it to become its own big entity in the blogosphere. I like posting to it when I have the time, and I know it’s there when I need it.
5. Come at it logically
I was about to start a new blog a couple weeks ago. I was super excited about it, but then I just sat down and thought about the situation logically. My brain told the rest of me that I just don’t have the time or energy right now to spend on an entirely new blog. Starting a new blog right would detract from the money-making endeavors I need to focus on in the immediate future. It would jeopardize the blogging goals I have for Blogging Bookshelf.
I was able to convince myself that it was a bad idea (which it was). I did NOT start the new blog.
Don’t let your zeal for a topic or for blogging hinder your ability to think clearly about your abilities and realistic expectations.
Final words
Each one of us only has so much time. We can only spread ourselves so thin. As awesome as blogging is and as awesome as you might be, you won’t be able to run a quiver of blogs and have them all be successful. That’s a lesson that’s only come to me after 8 years of blogging. For the foreseeable future, this blogger is going to be monogamous, dedicating all of his time and energy to his one true love, Blogging Bookshelf. How about you?
- Do you ever try to stop yourself from starting a new blog?
- If so, how? If not, why not?
- How many blogs do you currently run?
- How do you manage multiple blogs?
{ 25 comments… read them below or add one }
Tristan, you nailed it buddy.
I’ve been kicking around a few blog ideas over the last few months and at this point, about three of them have turned out not working on yet I also thought of two that is still burning me to get started – kind of like the 30 day rule on wanting to buy something.
What I’ve told myself, before I start a blog, is to get a freebie created, strategy for the blog and about a months worth of content – just like you said, you find out what you truly want to work on when you load up the stuff you need to do.
Just gotta resist that temptation but also remember that missing an opportunity sucks – just gotta be smart about it.
You’re right Tristan :) Definitely right
In the past, I was always being in the mood of finding some very new and promising topics that I can write about and generate countless streams of online income. Like what you have stated out, I spreaded myself on too much niches that I couldn’t succeed at a single one.\
In recent days, I have changed my mind. Everytime I come across an idea, I will think about my strategy for it. If I don’t have a clear strategy, I won’t take it.
Like it very much and agreed 100%…..Do whatever but do for our First Love one and then if you have time left then think for NEW….
Am I right???
Thanks a lot for wonderful suggestion.
Well said. I completely agree with you on the “letting it settle” bit. You know, it’s not just with starting new blogs, it fits for any sparkling idea that pops up. Even a blog post idea. I have deleted umpteen number of drafts just because the ideas don’t look that attractive the next morning :)
Yeah, letting it settle is key. I’ve started a blog or two that went nowhere fast because I just went with the initial excitement and didn’t follow through.
As someone who also owns several dozen domains, I heartily concur with your advice here Tristan. I have three of my own blogs, plus one I write for a local hiking trails nonprofit. It’s important to marshall one’s resources: you can’t do everything, and if you try to do too many things, you don’t do anything well.
Tristan, this coming from you is a lesson-must-learn. I know how much you loooove buying domains,starting blogs… But with all the stuff you do, no way a normal human being could do it all.
I appreciate the fact that you are telling us this, but let me ask – are you stopping your self 100%?
Lol, just picking on you, friend!
These tips are really helpful for newbie. I think when a newbie wants to enter in this field he/she shouldn’t think so much for blog post in starting. But most important thing in that he/she should prepare himself for new blog post without gap. He/she should keep a notebook and a pen with himself because naturally what happens with us most of the time in life ideas can come any time in our mind so we should write ideas very quickly in notebook.
OMG! I’ve just met you and you’re already reading my thoughts. My solution? Instead of getting a new domain and starting a new blog is to make use of my BlogHer account and write them there. If after a few months the desire is still there to start another blog, then I’ll do it.
OMG! I’ve just met you and you’re already reading my thoughts. My solution? Instead of getting a new domain and starting a new blog is to make use of my BlogHer account and write them there. If after a few months the desire is still there to start another blog, then I’ll do it.
I used to be terrible about starting a new blog every time I’d come up with a killer domain name. I’ve actually gotten to the point where I force myself to think about the long term of a site before doing anything else. I also remind myself of the long term cost and that usually stops me in my tracks. LOL
Great post, thanks for sharing
I like the guest posting idea. I’d never thought of using guest posts in that way for some reason. I guess it makes more sense to do it outside of your niche, increasing your reach. I like it!
I was on the fence about making a personal blog, but you bring up another good point. It will, once again, help extend my reach.
Thanks for the tips!
An interesting, must-read post Tristan!
You are so right in your assessment to stick to just one blog, though I would add by saying that make that one blog the best one you can, instead of having more blogs and diverting your attention. Though I have two blogs because of my interest in the two subjects, but yes, I must admit, it sure takes a lot of time and effort putting up posts on them, alongside taking other writing projects!
Thanks for sharing!
Glad to read that I’m not the only one with the urge for starting new blogs. Currently I have 4 active ones (though only of them are self-hosted), and to be honest, I have a hard time managing these 4 all together. Yet I occasionally get the idea to start another one. I guess it will be easier for me to either start another on blogger, or just post some articles on my portfolio blog as samples.
Fortunately, this doesn’t apply to me since I barley have time to keep up with the only one I have.
By the way, I think your idea of writing posts and saving them is a great idea. I mean, we all get excited about a new subject and writing about it, but after a few initial posts, you may find out that you really dont have much to say or cant produce enough content to keep a blog going.
Hi Tristan,
I have a lot to learn from you, and since I’ve been following you for a while, I know that you’ve bought a lot of domains and started several new blogs, and that you have the experience. I have also started new blogs that I shouldn’t have started. At one time I was in the bathroom doing my thing, and I got this brilliant idea, a few minutes later I had bought the domain name and I had installed wordpress. I wrote one blog post, that was it. I just couldn’t find anything interesting to write about. At that time, it was all about money. If I thought that I could earn money from blogging, I would get so eager to start the blog, no matter what the topic was. Now, it’s all about having fun :)
Jens
When i read you article…i sen myselft in the article…all you said above are just excaly like what i do, really I should need slowdown a bit, at least I am not alone like that hahahahaha
As you I bought some domains and then realized my original idea was not that good. So I have only 6 domains at the moment. 2 of them are finished, they just need daily content. I have another one under construction and another 3 waiting.
My point is, don’t start a new project unless you finished all your current developing projects. Because let me tell you…you can work on all of them at once. You need to focus.
Oh my, I have enough of a job maintaining my one blog, I can’t imagine adding any more to that. You are a blogging rockstar if you can maintain as many blogs as you do.
Really, really good post. I can relate to so much of this. Earlier this year, I maxed out at 47 domain names, almost all of which were mine. I know exactly what you mean about buying a great domain name and either abandoning the idea early on, or never actually putting anything on it! I don’t know if you’re into web development, but it’s what I do for a living (and for fun), and I think the situation is far worse when you think about all the sites you could BUILD. Installing a blog is one thing. Coding an entire site is another thing entirely. Multiply by 10-12 ideas and you can see why I didn’t build any of those sites ;)
I particularly like your suggestion to have a personal blog. I have one of those too. It’s not a personal blog in the sense of me rambling about my life, but it works well as a multi-topic blog, reflecting a number of my main interests. I once tried combining blogging tips with a “me” blog. It didn’t work!
Anyway, it’s always nice to read a post that reminds the reader why they subscribed to a blog in the first place :)
Sure, you write this now, as I just started blog #5 two weeks ago. lol Actually, each of my blogs has a different focus, and two of them are business blogs. Only two blogs have content that could sometimes go with each other. Overall though, I tend to agree with you when I talk to people, mainly because they don’t write a lot and thus have issues with keeping even one going.
I also thought about starting a technology blog. But after reading this I wont. I have a question. Can I implement Technology Niche in a Blogging Blog? I got this doubt because many popular blogging niche blogs also have technology articles :)
I got close to starting a new blog almost every week, lucky me i manage to partially control myself before clicking the Order button, saving my sanity by a hair’s breadth.
I have started blog and some people told me about to change domain but i stacked with that.
I get what you mean, we can’t rush these things. Sometimes our visions are blurred by the excitement we get from coming up with new ideas. It would be great to get a second opinion(a lot) on these things, just to get to see clearer. Thanks for your advice, Tristan!
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