Hardest Part Of Running An Online Business

Most people think the hardest part of running an online business is…

Getting traffic.
Making sales.
Figuring out the tech.

But after running blogs for more than 8 years, I’ve realised something.

That’s not the hardest part.

The hardest part is something no one really talks about.

It’s the mental weight of it all.

You’re building something that doesn’t have a clear path.

There’s no roadmap.

No certification.

No formal structure like traditional careers.

No one is telling you,
“Do this, then this, then this.”

You’re figuring it out as you go.

And that can feel… heavy.

Here is a real exchange between my husband and me recently

Real talk – there are days when I want to give up.

When I can’t see a way out.

For example, when Google updates decimated lots of our sites and traffic, many bloggers were so devastated and shaken that they just went back to traditional work.

Jacked in 15-20 years’ worth of online work and went back- it felt too risky to keep trying.

There was no plan, no surefire strategy to guarantee traffic- that was too big a risk for many bloggers who had families relying on them.

There’s also a side of this work that feels surprisingly isolating.

I don’t really have blogging friends in real life.

Most of my work happens alone.

And sometimes, I feel embarrassed to even ask for help.

Because I’m supposed to be the “expert.”

So I end up carrying a lot of things quietly.

It’s also a really weird industry in some ways because your peers can become your competition.

I lost a good 2 years of my peace when I befriended a fellow blogger who stole, copied, and belittled me, behind my back, to other bloggers.

I later found out she’s done this to 5, yes, FIVE, other bloggers. Total nutjob narcissist.

It’s no wonder we become hermits! O_O

At the same time, you’re constantly exposed to other people online.

People who seem faster.
Smarter.
More organised.

And even when you know it’s not the full picture…

It’s hard not to compare.

I have this little ugly voice in my head (I’ve named her Brenda) that says :

Of course, they are making more than you, they are wayyy more organized.

Of course, they are more successful than you; they are more tech savvy than you ever will be

Quite frankly, I want to punch Brenda in the nose. But I can’t because she’s an imaginary voice -__-

Then there’s the way people perceive this kind of work.

If someone sells a physical product, people understand it.

They support it.

They buy it.

But with online businesses, especially digital products and social media…

There’s still a bit of a stigma.

Like it’s not a “real” business.

Time and time again, I’ve seen family, friends, and acquaintances spend hundreds supporting and buying physical products of new businesses, but then ask me to give them access to my training for free because ‘it didn’t cost you anything, right?’

And on top of all that…

Everything keeps changing.

Algorithms shift.
Platforms evolve.
Competition increases.

You’re constantly trying to keep up.

It can be exhausting.

But despite all of this…

I still choose this path.

Because of what it gives me.

Because every day I don’t wake up to make someone else richer who doesn’t give a hoot about me

I have complete freedom over my time.

I can structure my day around my life, not the other way around.

I don’t have to deal with toxic colleagues.

Or a boss who controls my schedule or decisions.

There’s no commute.

No sitting in traffic.

No rushing through mornings just to be somewhere at a fixed time.

I can pick up my daughter from pre-school if she needs me and look after her at home while she’s sick.

And my income isn’t capped.

It’s not fixed.

There’s no ceiling on what I can earn.

That combination: freedom, flexibility, and unlimited upside- is hard to walk away from.

So instead of trying to avoid the challenges…

I’ve focused on building a business that feels more stable and supported.

No matter how hard or how tiring- I just KNOW in my heart it’s worth it!

Because the alternative is going back to a life of less freedom and flexibility.

The alternative involves conversations LIKE THIS!

Seriously, watch it, can’t believe this really happens in the world!

For me, that looks like a few things.

1. Creating digital products

Instead of only earning when I’m actively working,
I create small products that can sell in the background.

These products can help people improve their skills, to have more time, money, peace, making their lives better 🙂

—– You can learn how to sell $1,000 in digital products for beginners here

2. Building affiliate income

Recommending tools and resources I already use.

So income doesn’t rely on just one source.

—– You can Master Affiliate Marketing for Beginners here

3. Growing my email list

It’s one of the few things I actually own.

No algorithm decides who sees my content.

Just a direct connection.

——-You can learn how to grow, engage, and monetize your emails here

4. Building more in-person connections

Workshops.
Training.
Meeting people face-to-face.

Because online work can feel very isolating otherwise.

None of these removes the challenges completely.

But together, they make the business feel less fragile.

More balanced.

More sustainable.

I hope this email doesn’t come across as ranting or too negative

I guess I wanted to share the reality of what it feels like to run an online business, in case you, too, feel the same?

In a space filled with AI-generated content pushing a fake narrative to suit sales.. I wanted to share a bit behind the scenes of the lows some of us face.

Because many of us are happy to shout about the highs, right?

Now, I’m curious about something.

What do you personally find most challenging about your work right now?

Just hit reply, comment and tell me.

I read every response.

Thanks for reading

Aisha Preece from Outandbeyond.com

PS: I share my bare minimum low effort strategy to grow my blogs on my Instagram stories — if you want more behind-the-scenes like this, come hang out: @aishapreece

PPS; Here are some pics of a trip to Bali, where I was able to stay at amazing and eat tremendous food due to the income and flexibility of my blogs. Its so nice to reminisce and remind myself of the good, it’s all been worth the struggle, keep going if you are finding it hard too xx