How I Overcome Self-Doubt in Blogging: 7 Real-Life Challenges

How I overcome self-doubt in blogging is a question many aspiring bloggers face. Blogging has incredible income potential, attracting more people to start their journey.

However, self-doubt often comes in, with worries about writing skills, reader engagement, and profitability. But, these fears can delay or even give a break to the start of a promising blogging career. If these concerns hold you back, remember you are not alone.

In my early days, I constantly questioned my abilities and wondered if anyone would read my posts. But over time, I found strategies to push through.

In this blog, I will share my journey of overcoming self-doubt and discuss seven real-life problems new bloggers commonly face.

Stay tuned to discover how to tackle these challenges and succeed in blogging.

How do I Overcome Self-Doubt in Blogging?

Do you know that you can achieve almost anything you choose to? But, to start a successful blog, nothing can stop you but your self-doubt.

Doubting yourself is scary, especially in the blogging world. However, instead of letting it hold you back, it is crucial to seek solutions actively.

If you face any challenges in between, it is important to look for ways to overcome them instead of thinking about the negative aspects. This proactive mindset can significantly boost your confidence and enhance your blogging journey.

Also, to stay ahead in your blogging journey or achieve your goals, you must focus on the actionable steps instead of doubts.

The next section will share specific solutions to common blogging issues and my real-life experiences. These tips for new bloggers will address your doubts and move forward with your blogging goals.

Let us see the practical advice and actionable strategies.

1. I Don’t Have a Unique or Interesting Topic

When I first thought of starting a blog, the main problem was choosing a niche/topic. I had 2-3 topics in mind, but nothing worked while researching.

— Because there are many topics on the internet already, almost every aspect and what new I can produce is covered.

Then, I realized that competitors and similar content creators would already exist in any field I chose. They might also have established themselves as experts in that niche.

So, instead of choosing a random niche, I asked myself why I shouldn’t create my niche based on my passions and interests.

Moreover, being passionate about this niche will help me stay consistent in the long run. Thus, a small shift in my mindset helped me overcome this problem.

Solution for you:

• Remember that blogging is about sharing your passion, experiences, and perspectives, even if the topic seems common.
• Bring your authentic voice and storytelling to make it engaging because no one else lived your story but yourself.
• Identify your unique experiences, perspectives, and expertise so that they can provide value to a specific audience.

2. I’m Worried About Putting Myself out There

When I first thought about starting a blog, the idea of putting myself out there on the internet was terrifying.

And these constant thoughts started coming into my mind — What if people judged me or made fun of my writing? What if they disliked my opinions or how I expressed myself?

These fears almost stopped me from ever hitting “publish” on my first blog post.

But then I realized I didn’t have to immediately share every detail about myself. I could start my blog using my name and put myself down until I felt more comfortable opening up.

This took so much pressure off and allowed me to focus on writing without worrying about who was reading it. Over time, I gained confidence as I saw positive comments and engagement from my small audience.

Slowly, I started sharing more personal stories and details about my life. Years later, I’m fully open about who I am on my blog. But I’m glad I eased into it at my own pace when I was starting.

Solution for you:

• If you, like me, are worried about starting a blog, remember that you can remain anonymous until you become comfortable and want to share.
• Ultimately, people need more valuable content that solves their problems, and the person who wrote it may be next.

3. I’m not a Great Writer

When I look back at some of my earliest blog posts, I laugh a little at my writing.

The vocabulary was basic, the stories weren’t super, and the content wasn’t that great. But you know what? That was okay!

I reminded myself that professional writers and authors don’t become amazing overnight. It takes years of practice, studying the art of writing, and getting feedback from others.

Thus, it truly helps to develop strong writing skills. So, instead of getting discouraged, I made a point to consistently write new blog posts.

With each new piece of content, my writing improved little by little. I was never a professional writer, but writing in my journal daily helped me write my blogs confidently.

Over time, the quality of my posts improved dramatically. Now, I’d say that I’m a good writer!

But it was a journey of constant practice, learning, and being patient with myself. Your writing will improve if you stick with it and strive to improve.

Moreover, the problem is thinking about your lack of confidence in your writing skills or feeling like your content will need to improve.

Solution for you:

• I suggest practicing writing regularly, taking online courses, or joining writing communities for feedback and improvement.
• Your writing skill improves with practice. So start simple, focus on providing value, and engage readers through storytelling and personal experiences.

4. I Don’t Have Time to Blog Consistently

As someone who works full-time and has a busy family life, I understand the struggle of finding time to blog consistently.

When I first started, I thought I needed to publish multiple in-depth posts every week to succeed. It was completely unrealistic and led to me burning out quickly.

Also, when I began blogging, I had a month-old baby, and it was difficult to manage my health, child, office, and house.

I was uncertain about the time commitment I could make to my blog and struggled to find a balance with other responsibilities.

Hence, I used to get overwhelmed often. Eventually, starting small worked better — even if that meant one short 500-word post per week.

— Moreover, setting aside some quiet time to write daily helped me a lot, as I needed to avoid finishing a lengthy article in one go.

Batching small, similar tasks has become my go-to technique for consistency. For example, I can write, edit, and design images for my blogs, work on meta titles and descriptions, perform SEO, and more.

Thus, I need not run away from my other responsibilities and can happily spend time blogging.

During this process, I also learned that it’s better to post less frequently but with higher quality than to rush out with less quality content just to meet my schedule.

Now, I aim for one high-value-packed post each week rather than spreading myself too thin.

Solution for you:

• Start small, batch your work, and set realistic goals based on your current lifestyle. Schedule posts in advance for consistency rather than perfection.
• Finally, be patient with yourself as you find a schedule that suits you. Don’t obsess over posting daily—your audience will appreciate quality over quantity.

5. I’m not Tech-Savvy for Website Maintenance

You may think every area we discussed is fine now. But how do I overcome self-doubt related to technology in blogging?

I’ll be honest. When I started blogging, I was pretty overwhelmed by the technology side of it.

My thought process was: How was I supposed to make a website and keep it running smoothly when I could barely check my email?

However, I quickly realized that modern blogging platforms are designed to be user-friendly, even for total tech beginners like myself.

Learning how to optimize blog posts for SEO can boost your confidence and help attract more readers to your blog.

Then, I opted for a popular self-hosted platform, WordPress.org, as I wanted complete control over my blog. However, the main problem was understanding the basics and setting up my website.

That is when I got a mentor who helped me understand all the technical aspects of blog creation, hosting, maintenance, etc.

He also guided me throughout my blogging journey and made me confident I could handle my website smoothly.

Trust me, I did not regret getting guidance when I needed it. It allowed me to focus on writing great content without getting overwhelmed due to technical roadblocks.

Solution for you:

• Many platforms have user-friendly interfaces. Learn the basics, leverage online resources, and consider outsourcing complex tasks if needed.
• Moreover, do not take a back step when you get an opportunity to learn from someone. Therefore, don’t let a lack of tech knowledge stop you from starting a blog.
• Find a newbie-friendly platform, use online resources to learn the basics, and outsource any major tasks if needed. Tech skills come with time and practice.

6. I’m Overwhelmed by the Competition

In those early blogging days, it was easy to get discouraged by all the competition. Millions of bloggers were already creating amazing content in my niche.

— What did I have to offer that was different or special? But then I realized that everyone’s journey is different.

As an individual writer, I could share my unique perspective, personality, and first-hand experiences in a way that resonated better with my target audience.

So, instead of trying to make my blog appeal to everyone, I leaned into my voice, stories, and point of view.

I also prioritized community-building by engaging with each commenter, replying to every message, and encouraging insightful discussions around my content.

Eventually, I gained a small but loyal audience who kept returning for my unique opinions and writing style on topics we both enjoyed.

These days, I no longer worry about “beating” the competition. And focus on continually adding value to my community in my special way.

Solution for you:

• Don’t get overwhelmed by focusing on others. Focus on your unique voice and perspective and building a loyal community rather than competing.

7. I’m Worried about Negative Comments or Criticism

I’m not going to sugarcoat it – putting your writing and ideas out into the online world opens you up to criticism and negativity from random strangers online.

Also, I questioned whether I should continue blogging after I received some mean comments in my early days.

But over time, I developed a thicker skin and realized that some level of criticism is inevitable when you put yourself out there publicly.

Eventually, I understood that not everyone would support me or agree with my views 100% of the time, and that’s okay.

These days, when I get a negative comment, I have a process:

• I pause, feel my feelings, and then try objectively looking at it. Is this criticism constructive and meant to be helpful? Or is it just someone venting negativity?
• If it is the latter, I simply delete or do not approve the comment. I don’t owe negativity a platform.
• If constructive criticism is shared respectfully, I try to use it as fuel to improve myself and my content.
• I remind myself that for every negative comment, hundreds of positive comments and emails make this worthwhile.

The more you put yourself out there, the more you realize that a few negative voices cannot take away all the wonderful people you can positively impact through your blog. Stay focused on adding value to those who appreciate you.

Solution for you:

• Develop a thick skin, moderate comments, and remember that not everyone will resonate with your content.

Final Thoughts

It is fantastic to see that you have been with me until now, learning how I overcome self-doubt in blogging. I hope my stories and lessons helped you understand that doubting ourselves is our biggest hurdle.

Starting a blog can feel daunting, and fears and doubts constantly come to mind. But as I’ve learned through my blogging journey, most fears are mental roadblocks that can be overcome.

The key is to start small, be patient with yourself, and not let perfectionistic thoughts hold you back from hitting that publish button.

Focus on providing value to your audience through your unique voice and perspective. Your skills and confidence as a blogger will improve with:

• Consistency
• An open mindset
• Willingness to keep improving

So don’t wait for the “perfect” time or until you erase your doubts and fears because they will always be there to some extent in your life-long journey.

The medicine is to start before you feel 100% ready. Have faith in yourself and let your passion drive you forward.

If you’re feeling inspired to launch your blog after reading this, I’ve got some additional resources that may help:

1. Starting a Blog in 2024
2. Blogging Mistakes to Avoid
3. How to write a blog
4. Top 10 blogging platforms

Let me know if you have any other questions! I’m always happy to provide more tips and motivation for aspiring bloggers like yourself.

Happy Blogging, my friend!!