This is a collaborative post: It’s hard enough being a stay-at-home mum who turned her blogging passion into a business, only to face the most upsetting challenges along the way. Indeed, every job comes with its own set of difficulties, but for bloggers, these points discussed below take the ultimate crown. The worst part is when the nightmares begin, and they seem to come in droves and from all angles. It is a significant concern especially considering that over 20 billion blog pages exist worldwide. Here are some problems you may know about (or honestly do not) and how to handle them.
- Relentless blog copycats
It is upsetting, annoying, and downright disrespectful to see a post you worked so hard on reflected on someone else’s website. The worst part is, the copycat claims your work (word for word) as theirs and back-dates the article to make it look like you copied instead! It’s almost like seeing your reflection in the mirror and being told that it’s not you. Apart from the plagiarism issues associated with this, it has strong elements of copyright infringements.
As a crime bordering on intellectual property, what can you do? For starters, the resistance can commence on your blog. You have the option to disable text selection on your website. That way, nobody can pick your content word-for-word to be republished elsewhere. Another option you can explore is to sue.
- Poorly functioning PC
Even with the most well-maintained computers, anything can happen when you least expect it. This could be a computer crash leading to a blank screen or an unresponsive PC that worked perfectly just a few minutes ago. It is a machine, and really, there isn’t much you can do. However, for those things you have control over, it is recommended to stick to them. For example, if you’re using a laptop that suddenly overheated, it could be something you did or didn’t do.
These devices are meant to be used while fitted on appropriate laptop stands that enhance ventilation. If you fail to do this, the heat increases. You can cool it down by placing the machine on an elevated platform that allows proper air circulation. Take the opportunity to check the number of opened tabs, CPU usage, etc., to resolve it.
- Loss of access to your site and disappearing blog articles
Unfortunately, this is a reality that countless bloggers have faced in their blogging careers. Two main reasons account for this. These are server failures or the handiwork of a hacker. Without a doubt, it is even more worrying if you fail to back up all your blog articles either on cloud storage or a reliable separate platform that doesn’t connect to your main blog. In the meantime, if you can afford it, you can join other bloggers who pay Sucuri (site protectors) to create enhanced blog backups for their websites.
This is why website protection is a significant factor if you want to grow your blog for the long term. Unfortunately, malware, viruses, and worms abound in these virtual corridors, making your task even more difficult. It is critical to be proactive in your blog’s protection, which requires staying up-to-date with website security trends. Additionally, invest in plug-ins that offer enhanced security for your entire website.
- No feedback from readers
The irony is bloggers, through their articles, present themselves as social individuals. Every blogger wants to generate discussion among readers and the target audience. However, one of the worst things that can happen is silence. There is no feedback to either acknowledge the quality of your content or lack thereof. Over time, a silent blog will start to lose momentum, and before you know it, you develop apathy towards something you initially put all your commitment into.
Sometimes, though, the silence is a reaction to the poor quality of your content. There may be nothing for your readers (that’s if you have any) to comment on. Usually, when you notice this, it would be helpful to reassess your blog. Through social media, you can try basic market research. This involves finding out from people topics that appeal to them most.
If suggestions fit into your niche, all the better. However, when their ideas seem unrelated to what your blog stands for, it may be time to expand your writing expertise into other areas. To avoid writing sub-standard content on topics you know nothing about, it helps to thoroughly research or speak with experts.
- Writer’s block
Every professional author and wordsmith experiences writer’s block at some point in their career. For whatever reason, science has no explanation for why this happens. A writer’s block refers to the inability to think of new ideas to write. In other words, it is the slowdown of creativity. For a blogger, why is it considered one of the worst nightmares? This is why. As a blogger, you are expected to put up at least five new posts every week. Moreover, your target audience is waiting for new content to keep up with their reading momentum.
In the unfortunate event that you experience writer’s block, what would you have to post? In a literal sense, your creative mind feels stagnated and cannot be forced to think of new things to write! Even worse, according to research and observation, writer’s block can last for at least a week. Therefore, without backup writers or contributors to your blog, you risk waiting for quite a while until you get your mojo back.