Personally, I wouldn't worry about whether or not your blog has lots of personal self-improvement in it if that's simply not you, although there is a readership for it. The largest finance blog is the consumerist and they are strictly a finance news agregator. So there's plenty of readership out there for people who never talk about thier personal finances.

As everyone said, blogging is a long-term activity. If I could make a recommendation I'd say try new things every now and then and see what works. Adjust your content over time to meet what you've learned. Until you've figured it out, spend 50 percent of your time networking, reading others and seeing what works for others.

It wasn't until I hit the 6 month mark that I started to really gain traction.  My blog is now approaching a year and it's finally getting where I want it and I'm now doing a reader survey and recently did a redesign after really feeling I had given it time to solidify as a blog.  

You're doing fine this isn't a matter of "doing something wrong," but matter of finding an audience and how you can help them and build loyalty.  :) 

Guest post, help promote other bloggers (try to pick those a little bigger than you and those a little smaller) and comment on blogs you most want to be like when you grow up.  Develop a relationship with those aspirational blogs.  Being humble is always better, but I know that's tough when you're twenty something and making 6 figures, but try... :)

You are doing great! Just keep writing good content, interacting with people as much as possible, and having fun. If you focus on the stats you'll probably burn out, or if you don't burn out, you'll just never be satisfied with your progress. 

Try checking your stats only once a week or so, and focus on content and building relationships.

Burn out.. nope.  Never be satisfied.  Yes!  I'm never ever ever satisfied.  But, I view this as one of my strengths.  Instead of shutting down.  I usually kick it up another gear.  I'm constantly self-assessing to maximize strengths and improve weaknesses.  Hence, the reason this post was created.  Thanks you for the kind words and responding

Try checking your stats only once a week or so, and focus on content and building relationships.

Hmm, I guess I'm not doing that bad.  I had over 4k visitors in my 2nd month.  75% of those visitors are unique. It just felt like I was missing something.

I think that's way better than most people do on here (and certainly better than me). Just keep doing what you're doing and your site will continue to grow. Guest posting and interacting with others helps, too, of course. It's just going to take time either way.

In 2 months, you have developed quicker than most. You asking "what am I doing wrong" is like a 2 week old baby turning to his mother and saying "hey ma! why am I not walking yet?"

bahaha..well played sir.. well played

YFS you don't have to ask any one further SPF had it all answered already.

Now analyse your GA and trackbacks closely. On which articles people spent time most? which articles were selected for roundups? which articles were chosen as editor's pick in carnivals? which articles have lower bounce rate? which social media/site gave you traffic?...Get these answers and you'll solve the problem.

 

 

Funny you say that.. my most viewed articles have been all how-to's or motivational.  The self help articles aka my "Motivational Saturday's" really draw in the self-improvement crowd.  But, great suggestions on how to identify content your readers enjoy.

Now analyse your GA and trackbacks closely. On which articles people spent time most? which articles were selected for roundups? which articles were chosen as editor's pick in carnivals? which articles have lower bounce rate? which social media/site gave you traffic?...Get these answers and you'll solve the problem.

20sFinances said:

YFS,

 

I agree with everyone else that it takes time. I would also emphasize that people love the personal stuff. I remember in a comment on my blog that you wrote some pretty cool goals. If you write about your progress in those crazy high goals, I think people will flock to your site faster than... (well, I can't think of a great analogy, but FAST). Keep doing what you are doing and I think you will see success.

 

Also make sure that you don't kill yourself. A lot of people have said that it is a marathon, not a sprint. I have a theory that you can overdo your time investment in a blog... meaning this: That you can work X amount of hours per week to build up a site and see decent results. If you put in X + 3 hours per week, you will probably see better results. But, there is a point that you reach where your extra time is not worth as much. Putting in more time/guest posts NOW doesn't always equate with results in readership like length of a blog and reputation does. After all, You can't go from nothing to GRS in a month or even a year.

 

Anyways, that's just my personal thought on the matter. :)

Corey people really do love the personal stuff but, my story doesn't suit my audience or the personal finance audience in general.  I can never be as personal as other personal bloggers for 2 reasons.

1.  My wife would kill me. All of our friends and co-workers read my blog

2.  Nobody wants to hear about my non-financial struggles. 

I can write about my progress on those crazy high goals but, I feel as though it will alienate me from my intended audience and I will come off as an elitist or a person who is out of touch. 

From my experience, people like people who they can relate to. 

Not too many people can relate to making 6 figures at 23 and my wife exceeding 6 figures at 25.  So, when I talk/preach about living off 1 income.  My readers will say.. "Yea, you can live off 1 income because you make 150k from just 1 job" 

This is why I write more from a educational perspective instead of a personal financial perspective.

As far as working hard.  It's not work when you love it. I eat, sleep, breathe personal finance.  You have to when you make a lot of money at a young age or you will end up broke.  Besides, I only sleep about 3-4 hours a day anyway.  If I'm going to be up.  I might as well write. 

I am thankful for everyone's responses.  Good to know I'm not missing much aside from patience and adding a bit more of a personal perspective. 

4k visitors /month on your second month is awesome. I think it took me 9 months to get that many visitors.

It just take time to build up a site and you are doing great so far. Keep it up and you'll catch up to SPF in no time.

YFS,

 

I agree with everyone else that it takes time. I would also emphasize that people love the personal stuff. I remember in a comment on my blog that you wrote some pretty cool goals. If you write about your progress in those crazy high goals, I think people will flock to your site faster than... (well, I can't think of a great analogy, but FAST). Keep doing what you are doing and I think you will see success.

 

Also make sure that you don't kill yourself. A lot of people have said that it is a marathon, not a sprint. I have a theory that you can overdo your time investment in a blog... meaning this: That you can work X amount of hours per week to build up a site and see decent results. If you put in X + 3 hours per week, you will probably see better results. But, there is a point that you reach where your extra time is not worth as much. Putting in more time/guest posts NOW doesn't always equate with results in readership like length of a blog and reputation does. After all, You can't go from nothing to GRS in a month or even a year.

 

Anyways, that's just my personal thought on the matter. :)

Corey people really do love the personal stuff but, my story doesn't suit my audience or the personal finance audience in general.  I can never be as personal as other personal bloggers for 2 reasons.

1.  My wife would kill me. All of our friends and co-workers read my blog

2.  Nobody wants to hear about my non-financial struggles. 

I can write about my progress on those crazy high goals but, I feel as though it will alienate me from my intended audience and I will come off as an elitist or a person who is out of touch. 

From my experience, people like people who they can relate to. 

Not too many people can relate to making 6 figures at 23 and my wife exceeding 6 figures at 25.  So, when I talk/preach about living off 1 income.  My readers will say.. "Yea, you can live off 1 income because you make 150k from just 1 job" 

This is why I write more from a educational perspective instead of a personal financial perspective.

As far as working hard.  It's not work when you love it. I eat, sleep, breathe personal finance.  You have to when you make a lot of money at a young age or you will end up broke.  Besides, I only sleep about 3-4 hours a day anyway.  If I'm going to be up.  I might as well write. 

I am thankful for everyone's responses.  Good to know I'm not missing much aside from patience and adding a bit more of a personal perspective.