Starting a blog is exciting. It’s an amazing feeling when you see your content online for the first time, but that’s only half the battle. Now it’s time to hustle!

For some bloggers, this is where they thrive. This is where they create content, market their blog, expand their reach, and ultimately earn money with their blog.

However, this is also where a lot of bloggers fall off and give up. It’s sad, but I see it far too often. I even see it from clients of mine. They spend their hard earned money for me to build their blog, but when I hand it off it just sits there collecting digital dust…so to speak.

A lack of motivation is what’s keeping a handful of bloggers from taking their blog to the next level.

I’m not a psychologist, but I think the main reason why some bloggers don’t move forward is that they have trouble staying motivated. This isn’t always their fault because sometimes life gets in the way. I get that, but I have a sneaking suspicion that a lack of motivation is what’s keeping a handful of bloggers from taking their blog to the next level.

This post isn’t meant to put a negative light on anyone who hasn’t moved forward with their blog. Quite the opposite. This post is meant to help you formulate a strategy so that you can stay motivated. So, let’s take a closer look at some ways that you can stay motivated when you start your blog.

1. Have a Plan

One of the main reasons people tend to become unmotivated is because they don’t know what to do next. This is especially true during the beginning stages of starting a blog because there’s so much information and everything is brand new.

That’s totally normal, but it shouldn’t be a reason for you to give up. Instead, you should coordinate a plan that outlines the steps you need to take in order to get where you want to be. Even if you’re planning in baby steps, the more you plan the better you’ll feel about where you’re going with your blog.

I recommend that you start with a basic business plan. I’ve created a one-page PDF that helps you outline the most important aspects of your blog, while also giving you a high-level view of what needs to be done. It’s definitely not a step-by-step plan, but it will definitely help you to stay busy and motivated if you feel that you’re running out of steam.

2. Focus on the Basics

Starting a blog can sometimes feel like you’re trying to drink from a fire hose, especially when you’re just starting out. There’s so much information coming at you that it can get overwhelming pretty fast. This pushes some bloggers to try and take on too much, which ultimately leads them to give up on their blog.

That’s why I recommend you start small and focus on the basics during the beginning stages of your blog. Doing so will allow you to not only build a solid foundation, but you’ll be so much more prepared when it comes time to scale and grow your blog.

Every blogger may have a different idea of what the “basics” consist of, but here is a quick list of what every new blogger should focus on:

• Create quality content
• Be active on social media
• Stay engaged with your email list
• Help your audience
• Keep SEO in mind

This list covers the basics (in my opinion); content, email marketing, SEO, social media, and your audience. Once you get the hang of the basics, you can start adding things like sales funnels, analytics, a/b split testing, different types of acquisition channels, etc. The possibilities go on and on, but if you focus on the basics then you’ll be in a much better position to scale and grow your blog.

3. Blog for Yourself

It’s easy to get burnt out whenever you’re not blogging for yourself. What I mean by this is that a lot of bloggers create content as a means to an end, instead of blogging about a topic that interests them.

When you start blogging for yourself, you’ll find that your content will improve. This ultimately benefits the reader and will open doors that you didn’t think were there.

For example, when I first started blogging, I created a niche blog solely for the purpose of generating money. I hated the niche, but I knew that I was starting a blog within a profitable industry. Big mistake.

The blog made a quick buck, but I was miserable. In the end, it was the reader who ultimately suffered the most. That’s why it’s important to blog for yourself. Find something that you enjoy and that you have a decent understanding of…and everyone will win in the end.

4. Celebrate Your Wins

This is a fun one. This is when you get to pat yourself on the back! I don’t care how big or small your accomplishment is, it’s important to always celebrate your wins. This not only creates a sense of accomplishment, but it also keeps you hungry for the next milestone.

Far too often bloggers get lost in the process and they forget to take a step back and recognize how far they’ve come. Instead of celebrating when something positive happens, they just move on to the next task. Some people mistake this for motivation when it’s a surefire way to get burnt out.

I honestly don’t care how small you think an accomplishment is, it’s worth celebrating. So, the next time someone leaves a comment on your blog, or if you get your first affiliate commission, remember to treat yourself for a job well done. You deserve it!

5. Keep Learning

As you move through the different stages of your online career, it’s important to have a continued thirst for knowledge. This is one of the single most important things that have helped me to stay motivated over the years.

The great thing about learning is that there’s always something new to learn. Plus, we have a ton of options when it comes to accessing knowledge. Just take a look at these online course platforms:

• Udemy
• edX
• Lyndia.com
• Udacity

Online education has become a billion-dollar industry, and nowadays it’s extremely easy to learn a new skill from the comfort of your own home. Whether you’re looking to learn how to code, or how to think and act like an entrepreneur, there are multiple opportunities for you to increase your brainpower.

All in all, I know that starting a blog can be daunting. However, staying motivated is paramount to your online success. Try implementing these five tips for staying motivated and let me know in the comments below how things changed for you and your blog. Good luck!