It’s Hard To Build An Online Business In 2014

From 1998 to 2012 it was a lot easier to build an online business. There was less competition and all this was new to many people. As of today there are 900 million websites, 250 million blogs and 175,000 blogs being added everyday.

I started my online business in 2011 but didn’t get serious until 2012. Back then you could guest post on a large blog and literally get tens of thousands of visitors and thousands of subscribers.

This one guest post on Michael Hyatt’s blog alone got this blog 6,000 subscriber’s and over 20,000 visits. A few guest posts like this and you were set. In 2014 a lot of big blogs don’t take unsolicited guest posts anymore.

Don’t misunderstand me. Guest posting is still my favorite and number one way to build traffic to a website. I send out one guest post a week and will continue because I believe the value is still there.

I’ve now even started to expand my horizons. Last week I had an article on the Huffington Post and the Good Men Project. These two articles brought in 100,000 visitors and counting!

If you’re building an online business in 2014 I know I’m preaching to the choir. It’s hard isn’t it? It’s hard to get people’s attention and keep it. There are just too many people talking about the same things.

I hope I’m not coming off as a downer because I absolutely believe in online business. I love it and the freedom it can provide. I love living life on my terms and knowing I can wake up and do what’s right for my life.

If you are building an online business and not seeing traction my message is; hang in there. Yes it’s harder and yes it’s slower but it’s possible. Everyday people are experiencing their “freedom date.”

Focus on your why

Why did you start? Who are you trying to help and with what? If you’re going to be successful you always have to focus on your why. When you deal with those hard times focusing on that why will get you through it.

More than that it will remind you that this isn’t about you. It’s frustrating when things just don’t go as planned but if you take the focus off yourself it puts things into perspective.

Whatever you do online the focus shouldn’t be about you. If you’re writing a guest post, for example, your focus should be about teaching that other bloggers audience. The focus shouldn’t be about all the subscribers you’ll get.

When you approach things from a “give me” mindset it will come through and repel people. Focus on the message and ways you can get that message out to the world in a bigger way.

Stay in hustle mode

Even though it’s hard you have to always be hustling. Keep sending out those guest posts. Keep doing those interviews. Keep creating killer content for your website.

Remember: perseverance is what wins in the online business-building world. Too many people will start and eventually quit. Decide right now that you’re going to be the one that sticks it out.

What does it take?

In 2014 it takes more work, more patience and a greater focus. Anyone who is first to market has an easier time. Not an easy time but an easier time. Look at John Lee Dumas at Entrepreneur on Fire. He was the first seven-day-a-week podcast. He was first to market and that among many reasons is why he makes over $200,000 a month.

If you’re first to the market with a fresh twist then you’ll do well. If you’re not, that’s ok because you’ll hustle harder and make your thing work. Hard work teaches you to appreciate what it takes and will make you a better teacher.

What does it take? It takes using frameworks that work and adding your unique spin. It takes getting more personal and really connecting with your audience.

It takes the right focus and not losing the information overload battle. It takes building your business one person at a time. Yes it’s hard but you can do this and make your dream a reality.

What’s been the hardest part of building your online business?