Here's why most Finance Bloggers Struggle to Succeed on Google
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Understanding the Challenges of Finance Blogging
In today's digital landscape, it's easy for self-proclaimed experts to mask their lack of expertise behind polished branding. Many claim to be the CEO of XYZ or an Angel Investor of ABC, but their true qualifications often remain unverified. The topic of finance draws significant attention, particularly among those just entering the workforce, leading to an influx of bloggers eager to share their insights.
Recently, I explored the profiles of several finance bloggers, only to find that many continue to hold conventional jobs, contradicting the expertise they present online. It's quite surprising!
Google's Role in Shaping Finance Blogging
Fortunately, Google employs algorithms that help identify these less-than-credible bloggers, often categorized under YMYL (Your Money or Your Life). Given the sensitive nature of financial topics, search engines prioritize content that demonstrates genuine authority and trustworthiness.
If you're considering starting a finance blog, be mindful of the following YMYL niches that can be particularly challenging:
- Medical advice
- Financial advice
- Legal topics
- Parenting topics
- E-commerce stores
Building Trust Takes Time
It's important to note that while Google does endorse YMYL content, establishing trust and authority in this space requires significant effort. Typically, you should anticipate a timeline of 16 to 24 months to gain traction. Factors that contribute to this timeframe include:
- Organic growth in domain authority
- Consistent daily content updates (if you're not committed to daily posting in YMYL, it may be best to steer clear of this niche)
- Real engagement with your audience across social media
- Operating a legitimate business (complete with a physical office)
- A robust backlink profile (ideally with over 2,000 referring domains)
Without demonstrating real authority—such as credible media coverage, appearances on reputable podcasts, or a strong social media presence—launching a finance blog may lead to disappointment.
HustleVentureSG's Journey
I founded my finance blog, HustleVentureSG, in April 2022, and we've recently surpassed 10,000 monthly visitors. To penetrate the competitive finance landscape, I opted for a unique angle focused on side hustles, which is an increasingly popular topic.
To establish credibility, Google evaluates the first seven pieces of content published on a page. This is why I concentrated on creating compelling questionnaires that potential readers are searching for. Currently, HustleVentureSG covers over six side hustle topics, supported by a team of more than 100 writers on Medium, contributing their expertise.
Establishing Credibility
We have all encountered numerous get-rich-quick narratives, and they continue to circulate on platforms like Medium. These stories, while enticing, often require a substantial readership to rank well on Google.
At HustleVentureSG, we keep our readers informed about our weekly progress, no matter how incremental, fostering engagement and driving traffic to our website, which enhances our authority.
Taking Incremental Steps for Growth
The unfortunate reality is that 90% of startups fail within their first year. It's disheartening to witness passionate entrepreneurs abandon their dreams for conventional 9-to-5 jobs. Starting a business is inherently risky, and I admire those who embrace that challenge.
To help HustleVentureSG thrive in a competitive environment, we adopted an unconventional strategy: instead of producing one article daily, we committed to publishing four comprehensive pieces (each over 2,000 words). This approach has led to over 2,000 daily impressions and remarkable month-over-month growth of over 2,400%. Our efforts have successfully navigated the challenges posed by Google’s YMYL standards.
Emerging Opportunities
As our authority within the niche has strengthened, we've begun to attract sponsorships and collaboration offers. Recently, I had the opportunity to speak at an event hosted by Ahrefs, discussing strategies for establishing authority in competitive niches. I'm hopeful this will lead to some significant partnerships!
If you're interested in joining our writing community, consider signing up at HustleVentureSG. Business owners seeking exposure in the personal finance and side hustle arena can reach out via email at [email protected].
The Reality of Consistency
If you're not prepared to generate at least 1,000 high-quality articles to outpace your competitors, entering the finance blogging arena may not be the right choice. Although the prospect of being a finance blogger seems enticing, it requires a considerable investment of time and energy. I dedicate 4 to 6 hours daily to build HustleVentureSG, and now I’m fully committed to it.
Was it challenging? Absolutely!
Was it worthwhile? Without a doubt.
Did it make an impact? Our visitor count of over 10,000 speaks for itself.
Want more insights? Support my work by following, subscribing, or even buying me a coffee. Every little contribution goes a long way in helping sustain my efforts!
Join Our Community
If you're eager to share your personal stories related to finance and side hustles, check out HustleVentureSG. We are a community of writers dedicated to supporting entrepreneurial journeys and enhancing financial literacy for a better life.