Creators often blame the algorithm when content outside their core niche underperforms. The more likely reason is that the content simply isn't good enough. Success across topics requires a genuine obsession with providing value to the audience, not just going through the motions of creating.

Journalists known for breaking a few big stories a year at established outlets find the independent model challenging. A subscription business demands consistent value, but the time required for sales, marketing, and administration detracts from the deep-dive reporting needed for major scoops, creating a difficult trade-off.

Continuously engaging in vociferous public debates to defend an investment can create intellectual lock-in. This emotional attachment makes it significantly harder to remain objective, think clearly, and ultimately change your mind when new information contradicts your thesis.

Despite the lucrative potential, best-selling author Morgan Housel intentionally avoids a subscription model. He believes the pressure to consistently produce content for paying subscribers ("feed the ducks because they're quacking") creates a dangerous dynamic, forcing creators to publish even when they lack inspiration, which harms the work's quality.

Focusing on already-liquid stocks is often superior to buying illiquid but "transparently cheap" names. The fight for an illiquid company to gain market attention and liquidity is a significant, often underestimated, risk that can negate the perceived valuation advantage.

A16z discovered their most successful content wasn't market commentary ("are we in a bubble?") but timeless, practical guides like "Good Product Manager, Bad Product Manager." This type of actionable content provides enduring utility to the target audience (entrepreneurs), building a deeper, more trusting relationship than fleeting, topical chatter.

A common failure pattern for online creators is "audience drift." As they gain notoriety, they stop creating content for their original followers (e.g., "how to make your first $1,000") and start producing content designed to impress other high-status creators, alienating their base.

The proliferation of investing blogs has led to intense focus on US stocks. An analysis of popular sites showed 85% of ideas were US-based, with none from Australia or Japan. This saturation creates an information arbitrage opportunity for investors exploring less-covered international markets.

A16z found its most successful blog posts weren't hot takes on market conditions, but timeless, practical guides like "Good Product Manager." This evergreen content provided real value to entrepreneurs and demonstrated deep operational expertise to LPs, building a more durable brand than fleeting commentary.