Why Do Bloggers Quit

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Recently, when I linked up to a blogger party, I noticed many new blogger faces. Then, I recognized, maybe, a handful of bloggers faces from parties that I attended last year. What happened? Where did everyone go?

So, I did some searching and I discovered a few statistics. According to this 2009 article appearing in, The New York Times,

“According to a 2008 survey by Technorati, which runs a search engine for blogs, only 7.4 million out of the 133 million blogs the company tracks had been updated in the past 120 days. That translates to 95 percent of blogs being essentially abandoned, left to lie fallow on the Web, where they become public remnants of a dream — or at least an ambition — unfulfilled.”

“Others simply tire of telling their stories. “Stephanie,” a semi-anonymous 17-year-old with a precocious knowledge of designers and a sharp sense of humor, abandoned her blog, Fashion Robot, about a week before it got a shoutout in the “blog watch” column of The Wall Street Journal last December. Her final post, simply titled “The End,” said she just didn’t feel like blogging any more. She declined an e-mail request for an interview, saying she was no longer interested in publicity.”

When I Googled blogging and quitting, I discovered Allison Barrett Carter discussing a very popular blog that recently decided to stop writing and contributing to their blog.

Allison wrote, “There is a huge trend I am noticing, now, towards disconnecting, unplugging. It feels as though after years of spastically and enthusiastically embracing ALL that social media has to offer, we are now regretting that decision and trying to take steps back. We want to reclaim our lives. I struggle with this myself. I want my life but love the career and open doors social media gives me. So I haven’t quit. Yet.”

I did notice that she included that word, yet, at the end of her paragraph.

Convert with Content wrote an article detailing, Why blogging is still killing it-Stats and facts about blogging. Number 28 was intriguing:

28. More than two-thirds of bloggers have not updated their blogs in over a year. (Source: Blogging.org)

Yes, blogging is difficult. Blogging requires hard work and dedication. Finding content to write about week after week is stressful. The questions alone can be daunting. Do you use WordPress or Blogger? How many times a week do you need to blog? Do you allow comments or not? How do you handle mean comments? The list goes on…

Do you throw in the towel because of this? Or is there another reason?

Some bloggers quit because:

Some become too busy with everyday life
Some quit because of lack of reader interest
Some graduate to anther form of social media example: Twitter or Instagram
Some want to reclaim their personal privacy

Many bloggers write blog posts explaining how to grow your traffic and give advice about blog tactics. Most of the time the final tip or trick they offer is just to keep blogging.

However, according to Number 28, many bloggers just pull the plug.

Now to you-

I pose this question to readers of this blog post, “What motivates you to continue to post and produce content on your blog?”

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About Brittany Bullen

When Brittany’s not busy writing, singing or wrangling freelancers at NerdyGirl, she wrangles her three sons. She has the world’s coolest husband, who expertly shushes said sons while Brittany makes fabulously nerdy YouTube videos to help people make money online. Visit http://nerdygirl.co/entrepreneurs/ to see her in all of her pink-bespectacled glory and get the NerdyGirl Guide to Making the Most of Your Marketing Budget (for free, of course).

Brenda Lee

Hi Kathy,

I’ve been blogging for over 3 years and have seen many of my blogging acquaintances discontinue their blogs. I think too many people start blogging with a “get rich quick” theme and then reality kicks in. Blogging is a business and it takes time to build and network with others. Some don’t have the time, can’t make the time, nor want to give up other leisures to build their community. Blogging can also be very competitive if you get sucked into trying to be like the more popular and established bloggers.

It’s sad to see bloggers give up but I’m sure they have valid reasons for doing so. Great post!

B
- Kathy
  
  I agree Brenda,
  Blogging is difficult and very time consuming. As you said if you get sucked into being like the big bloggers then you lose the essence of what you want to blog about. Great points!
  
  Thank you for your comment.
Tonya Moore

I’m the first to admit that I don’t blog as regularly as I imagined I would when I started. My foremast passion is writing fiction, so blogging is something that I do only when I feel like it. When I do blog, I only blog about topics that genuinely interest me. Strangely enough, I think this is what KEEPS me blogging.

I am unfettered.

I don’t feel obligated to update my blog on a schedule or meet deadlines. My approach may not make for a very popular (trendy/viral) blog but it’s what keeps me going. If I’d gone the route of trying to be some kind of ultra-serious blogger, I would have thrown in the towel long ago too.
- Kathy
  
  So true Tonya,
  Blog to make yourself happy. Don’t blog to be like others.
  First and foremost write about what pleases you and not what you think others want to hear.
  People want to hear what you have to say, not others.
  Thank you for the comment, Tonya,
Louise Wise (@louise_wise)

I’ve been blogging for many years, mainly to create awareness for my books, but then I discovered I enjoyed the buzz I had from comments and people wanting to appear on my blog.

Five years on, I’ve stopped enjoying it. I still blog, but the content people send me to put on the blog is, frankly, unedited crap. And the complaints I get because they haven’t had the response they expected from appearing on my blog… unbelievable.

I’m very particular who appears on my blog now. It’s my FREE time I’m giving them after all.

Thanks for allowing me this rant. Interesting blog (I shall be following!) 🙂
Kathy

Louise,
Rant anytime. That was what this post was meant to do, allow people to share what happens after you start to blog. When you share how you feel this helps others. Blogging can be lonely sometimes. Especially when bloggers do not see the results that they want.
Thank you for the comment. I will be following you as well.
Joanne T Ferguson

Another great article Brittany; one am sharing today!
I have only been blogging for about 18 months, give or take a month and now feel like an oldie in the blogging world lol
In listening to many former and current bloggers) worldwide, I think the #1 problem is unrealistic expectations of the bloggers themselves, as they think blogging is easy, they don’t have to work ‘that hard” and it makes me cringe when I hear new bloggers say they are into blogging for the money!
My success is if I am proud of what I write and I believe like-minded people and bloggers find each other naturally!
Joanne T Ferguson

And of course the original credit for the article goes to Kathy! Well done! 🙂
- Kathy
  
  Joanne,
  
  I have been blogging approximately as long as you have and I feel just as you wrote, “an oldie.” Even by no means are we oldies, we are newbies still trying to find our blogging ways. Thank goodness for Reginald Chan, what would we do without him! Yes, blogging has this stigma attached to it that it is easy money. As you said many believe that it is not that hard. But we know how difficult blogging really is. I totally agree with you also in the fact that success is having pride in what you write. As long as you have that everything else will fall in place.
  
  Thank you for the sweet comment!
Michelle

I’ll have been blogging for 2 years this summer and I can definitely understand why some people quit! Just today I was saying how I need to start setting myself schedules to make all the tasks feel a little less overwhelming! It is really hard work and I only post twice a week currently because that’s all my time and budget will allow (I’m a baking recipe blogger and it can become quite expensive developing recipes).
I continue to do it, and I see myself carrying on with it for the foreseeable future, because I genuinely enjoy it. I would have given up a long time ago if I didn’t! Sure there are some parts I don’t enjoy, but I think that’s true with any hobby (I mean, who enjoys getting mud stains out of their football kit or cleaning up glitter after crafts!).
I think one of the biggest downfalls can be when somebody starts blogging with the goal of making. It does happen, plenty of blogs I follow make a great living out of it, but that’s just not going to happen for everyone. And if money is your primary reason for doing it, it’s going to get old really fast – particularly if you’re not actually making money.
And once you’re doing it for money, I imagine it gets that much harder! If I can’t make a post on one of my days for any reason (maybe I’m sick or I had a really busy week and fell behind, or I’m just plain lacking inspiration) it’s no big deal, but when it’s your livelihood you don’t have that luxury!
Kathy

Yes Michelle that is another aspect of blogging that people do not realize when they decide to start a blog, it can be expensive. For example you, as you wrote, buying food to create recipes to blog about. That in and of itself is expensive. Plus people who blog about crafts. Craft items are not cheap and can add up when you need to buy more crafting supplies. Also, bloggers who blog about refurbishing furniture, I can not even imagine how much goes into that process.
As you said I also follow blogs who make money at it, but they have been blogging for a few years. Their success did not happen over night. Blogging takes blood, sweat, and tears. Something prospective bloggers do not realize when they start their blogging adventure. But for those of us who just keep blogging along, the experience is very rewarding.

Thank you Michelle for your comment!
Andrea

I started blogging a a year and a half ago when I was in the middle of a stressful period of my life. Blogging was a way for me to deal with that stress, a way to escape life for a little while. Since then, it has grown a lot more than I had at first imagined. But when I first started blogging, I had so much time since I wasn’t working yet. Now that I’m working, I find it so much harder to find time to blog, but I continue doing it because I enjoy sharing my recipes with other people. For me, it’s fun to interact with readers, and all that encourages me to continue blogging. I have started making money off my blog, and with that comes even more responsibility, but for the moment, it’s extra income so it’s not a big deal if I’m not making much.

Many bloggers ask me how I get traffic and make money, and I feel there’s really only one answer, to keep writing and be passionate about what you do. If you’re not passionate, or lose your passion and enjoyment, about blogging, which takes up so much time and dedication, it’s going to be stressful and probably not as fun to write for as it did originally.
Kathy

I agree Andrea when you blog as an outlet or make the experience fun, then you grow. And even though you make blogging your source of income, still have fun because once it becomes a chore then readers can tell this through your written words. Plus you have a greater chance to just quit. So yes, be yourself and have fun.
Thank you for the comment and your Roasted Asparagus Snap Pea salad looks amazing!
Stephanie

This article was so interesting. I’ve always been curious about bloggers who quit. I’ve seen a few quit myself. When I first started about a year and a half ago, I had NO idea the world that I was entering. There seems to be a never ending learning curve, it’s outrageously time consuming (especially with a full time job, whew…) and all of that can be overwhelming. But along with that, are amazing blogger friends out there that are so relate-able and friendly, (like Kathy & all of my fellow comment peeps!). I love challenging myself. Blogging gets me up and motivated in the morning, it gives me something to get excited about every day. Without it, I think I’d feel a big void. Buttttt, there have been times when I’ve felt like I didn’t have a life outside of work and blogging (which sometimes feels like work and work). Those are the times I’ve talked about quitting. My husband is so proud of me and what I’ve done with my blog that he won’t let me quit- love him for that:) He’s encouraged me to just take a week off in the past, & I’ve found that I can’t even take a DAY off… I can’t stay away. Thanks for sharing this Kathy and for letting us have a discussion about it!
- Kathy
  
  Hi Stephanie,
  Yes thankfully at times I am glad that there is such a large learning curve for blogging. Especially like today when I forget to click on the reply button. Lol Sometimes it would be nice if there was a cookie cutter design for blogs. But then I really enjoy the fact that even though blogs have the same idea, they are all different. For example, I love the girl graphic on your blog header, with her knee high socks!!! Adorable! And that recipe looks delicious. I need to search for gluten free tortellini. 🙂
  I was grinning when you shared how your husband is proud of you. That sounds exactly like my husband. Because last weekend, I was done. My blog broke and I was upset. He said those exact same words. “Take a break. Take a week off.” And just like you, I did not.
  Thank you for joining the discussion Stephanie, Have a great day!
Jamie

Wow, interesting!! I’ve been blessed with a great blogger family and have a bunch of friends who always help each other out and share posts, etc., so maybe that’s something that these people didn’t have. You’re right, it is a lot of work, but in the end, it’s worth it!! Especially for me. Working from home, being a Mom and then being a blogger, let me actually see things of the world. Living in a small town, I don’t get the exposure that some do, but my blog is mainly for me and not the numbers. I would love to get my numbers up, but I think if you make that your only goal, you end up losing. 🙂 Thanks for the great story!
- Kathy
  
  High five for small town living Jamie,
  I live in a small farming community and we do not have blogger meet ups anywhere close to me. The closest is 3 hours away. My blog has introduced me to new things in the world, also. People share ideas and I write in my planner, a wishlist for when we take a trip to the “big city.”
  And I read somewhere to stop worrying about the numbers, because numbers never end, so you could never be satisfied. There is always a bigger number.
  Thank you for the sweet comment!!
Karen Marie Kedzuch

Kathy,
Thank you for asking why am I a blogger. Because I love to create, inspire, and transform almost anything into something beautiful and useful. I am a teacher at heart. I love to learn and the interaction between sharing creative ideas, and the continued changes and strategies of blogging quite honestly intrigue me. Is this an expensive hobby or a way to make a living? It is hard work, determination was my first year of blogging. To date in my second year I have chosen Joy as my mantra. I found myself yearning to keep learning and moving towards something I lover in a new way. I raised my children to follow their dreams and now I am following a new dream too. I am not looking to be rich in the monetary sense but, being compensated for work I which supports a brand or product should be the norm. I am searching to be rich in how I spend my time. I want to bring value to the people who read my blog as well as how I feel I represent myself. I must say that this is a misunderstood place the blogging world. Family, friends, and companies seem to think It is a given that you do it as a hobby and if it doesn’t matter, it costs you money then your doing it wrong. When you start a business which is your passion you spend your money wisely. Reinvest in your business while you build until you can create a steady income. These two views are very different in the blogging world. Companies see a newbie blogger and want advertising for free. Friends and family do not always understand and say go for it but get out if your not making any money. I find it interesting that because, others do not understand your passion, or work it is an expensive hobby You should be grateful for the long hours, pouring your heart and soul into sharing your work on the Internet, trying to protect your families privacy and safety. I am happy I chose to lead my own path following it with passion towards my future but, don’t think for one minute I am not determined, while finding joy to be compensated for building my brand if I am helping yours.
Happy Creating,
Karen Marie
Owner of Dragonfly & Lily Pads
- Kathy
  
  I like how you wrote, I am happy I chose to lead my own path following it with passion towards my future. I think as bloggers too often we fall into the comparison trap. For example, my pictures are not as pretty as her’s or my house is not decorated as pretty as other houses. The old self doubt syndrome. Don’t listen to it. Bloggers, as you said, should follow their own hearts, because in the end that is what we want to see. Even if it is the same recipe that has been made a million times, your spin on it may just be what someone needs to see.
  Thank you for the great comment and dropping by today. Have a great day!
Linda A Cassidy

I think many quit because blogging is like golf, frustrates the heck out of you most days if you are looking for ” success” and then bang that one good shot /offer and you are back in. Bloggers can get tired of the ups and downs, the frustration of watching one blog take of for no apparent particular reason yet yours remains stagnant. Sometimes Trolls drive them away. Most start blogging for fun and then they see success and they they want it and reach out to grab it but it may remain just out of reach and thus they end up just leaving. ( just my observations)
- Kathy
  
  There are alot of ups and downs in blogging. Some posts do well and others do not. Who knows why. I love the analogy of blogging like golf. I do not golf well, but I still enjoy the game. Even if it just to enjoy being outdoors. But if you were to get the beloved hole in one that would be fantastic!
  And thank you for sharing your observations. We all want to know what everyone has to say on the subject!
  Thank you for sharing! Have a great day!
Katelyn Fagan

Wow! Those statistics are outstanding! I had no idea! But, I once followed a blog that just stopped suddenly, but they stopped because they knew their son was going to be born with major heart problems, and so life got in the way, and was much more important than pursuing the blogging dream.

I have been thinking about quitting sometimes lately, yes, even with great stats and regular money coming in. Because I want to be a better mom, homeschooler, homemaker, and wife. I have three young kids, another on the way, and husband who is gone a lot as he works on getting a Ph.D. However, we need the money, and it is a tremendous blessing to our family. The blogging money will help us pay his tuition, help me pay off my student loans, and live a more comfortable life. So, I continue to blog. And I honestly LOVE it most of the time. And lately I keep thinking about writing more of what *I* want to write about, and not necessarily what may be “expected.”

So, I totally get why bloggers quit, even big bloggers! It’s so much to keep up with. Life happens. Situations change. Priorities change.

And honestly, I would love to have a life off my computer more often too. But, for now I’m just trying to figure out more productive ways to manage a schedule and find that ever allusive balance.
Lisa of Fresh Eggs Daily

I agree with many of these comments, that many bloggers quit because they expect it to be a get-rich-quick-scheme, and when it instead turns out to be hard work to do it well, and take time to build an audience, they give up and lose interest. Others sell out and let others dictate their schedule or content or get to wrapped up in sponsored posts and analytics and all that.

I have been blogging for 3 years and consider myself one of the ‘lucky’ ones. I love what I do, I make a lot of money blogging and I have stuck to being able to write about what I want to write about when I want to write it. There are aspects I don’t enjoy – like the sometimes mean comments or a post that flops – but on the whole I love what I do and I love that I can make a living sitting at home in my pajamas drinking coffee.

If blogging were easy, everyone would be doing it….and sticking with it.

Lisa
Fresh Eggs Daily
- Kathy
  
  Congratulations for 3 years of blogging, Lisa. In “blogland” that is considered a long time. So far from the comments I have seen a pattern. You have to love what you do. Yes, blogging is difficult but as long as you love creating for your blog, you will keep at it. But yes those mean comments do hurt. Even though you know you will get them they are upsetting. You put work into blog posts and when someone is hurtful, somehow it takes some joy out of it. But just as Taylor Swift says, “Shake it off.”
  I thought your sushi ball treats looked delicious, until I read for chickens!! Lol
  Thank you for participating in the conversation. It is great t hear what everyone has to say! Have a great day!
  - Lisa of Fresh Eggs Daily
    
    Yes! If you’re not passionate about it, you will burn out I think. And actually you could eat the sushi balls yourself! They did look really delicious!
    Lisa
    - Kathy
      
      They do look delicious. You have some lucky chickens there!!
Richi Reynolds

I started my blog as a way to stay connected to two very close friends after we all retired. We had all worked together for years and wanted to make sure we made getting together a priority, so we decided to travel around, visit interesting places, sample interesting food and blog about our adventures. We also had a more pressing motivation. One of the friends was battling multiple myeloma and wanted to live life big while she still felt like going places and doing things. So, Three Friends and a Fork was born. How long will I continue? I don’t know. My friend, sadly passed away last September. I keep doing it because I really like to write, but I get discouraged by it sometimes. If it was just writing, fine, but all the marketing and promotion, social media overkill, and understanding SEO’s, analytics and plug-ins kind of take the fun out of it for me. I want it to be enjoyable, not a chore, but nobody reads it without all the self-promotion. So, to answer your question…I don’t know. I love the little nuggets of encouragement I get from time to time. Right now they keep me working on it. I guess when they dry up I will quit.
- Kathy
  
  What a great idea to start a blog. I am so sorry for the lose of your friend. You are the exception. I think anyone would understand why you would quit. Yes worrying about all of the things such as marketing, etc. does get exhausting. Something we don’t think about when we start up a blog.
  Again, I am sorry for your lose and thank you for contributing to the conversation. And thank you for sharing your story.
Nica

Hi Kathy!!,
I am an extreme newbie
- Kathy
  
  Welcome to blogging! Nica
Marie @mariestravels.com

My blog is not only for my readers – it’s also for my family, friends and myself.
It’s kind of a diary and I love reading old blog posts.

When I think back of the places I’ve been to last year, I often forget some details. My blog posts help me remember everything or just the most important things.

I couldn’t quit now. There are things I need and want to remember.
And hopefully my blog can inspire and help other travelers.
- Kathy
  
  What a great way to share your adventures with family and friends. A way to add in depth stories and feelings during your travels. It is nice to hear that you are not going to quit.
  Thank you for sharing!
Angela Alcorn

I have so many blogs I sometimes forget about them entirely. Some lie quite dormant for months at a time until I have something worth saying on them. Those ones are not money-making blogs, for sure. 🙂

But I get the whole quitting thing. When I first had kids I barely even thought about my blogs at all. My eldest is now three and a half and I’m just getting back into the swing of it now.
- Kathy
  
  I honestly do not know how you mommy bloggers do it. Coming up wit content while raising little ones. My hats off to you. I would have quit blogging after the first week!
  Thank you for joining the conversation, Angela
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