10 Common Blogging Mistakes to Avoid in 2023
Blogging is a great way to share your knowledge with your audience and build a community around your content. But it isn’t always easy; blogging mistakes can derail a blog quickly. As a new blogger, avoid common mistakes to keep your blogging journey productive.
This post will discuss 10 common mistakes new bloggers often make. We’ll also cover tips for avoiding these mistakes and for building a blog community that loves your content.
Blogging at a glance
Let’s start with a quick refresher on blogging. A blog is another name for a website where content is conversational and updated frequently by those who operate it.
Blog posts often include links to other websites and media (photos, videos, etc.) and are generally published chronologically.
The content of a blog can be about anything the blogger chooses- from hobbies and interests to social commentary and news.
While anyone can start a blog for free (on platforms like WordPress.com or Blogger), many bloggers choose to host their own blogs (on platforms like self-hosted WordPress) for more control over design and functionality.
Why start a blog?
There are many reasons to start blogging, but here are a few of the most common:
- To share your knowledge on a particular topic
- To build an online community around your interests
- To connect with like-minded people
- To become known as an expert in your field
- To make money
Why do bloggers fail?
- Not doing any target audience research
- Ignoring SEO
- Blogging inconsistently
- Steering away from your niche
- Not sharing your content on social media
- Promoting yourself too much
- Forgetting to link to other sites
- Using poor grammar
- Using copyrighted material
- Giving up too soon
The list is long, but these are common mistakes that bloggers fail to avoid when writing content for their blogs. If you want to succeed in blogging, avoiding common blogging mistakes is essential.
Let’s dive into each of these more to provide some depth and tips on avoiding each.
Mistake #1: Not doing any target audience research
One common mistake bloggers make is not researching the target audience before writing content for their blog posts. Without this, they cannot identify the audience they are writing for and serve them with relevant and engaging content.
Also, blogging without knowing your audience can lead to inconsistent content creation and quality issues. Blogging requires planning. Blogging without a plan will result in content creation that is unfocused and disorganized.
How to avoid mistake #1
First, research the types of content you want to write about and then look at that content, the comments, and the social media channels, and see who is reading it, commenting on it, and engaging with it. This will tell you if who you think is the audience is actually paying attention.
Mistake #2: Ignoring SEO
Ignoring SEO will cause your blog to fall behind the competition. SEO involves many facets and various factors influence search engine rankings. It’s important to keep up with these trends and incorporate new techniques as they emerge.
Second, ignoring SEO can also lead to frustration and confusion for your audience. As you begin experimenting with different types of content and strategies, you may discover that certain aspects of your site won’t work as well as you thought. This could cause your audience to feel discouraged or confused, which will only contribute to your overall Google ranking woes.
Additionally, ignoring SEO can undermine your authority and credibility as an expert. Google SEO guidelines want the content to follow their E.E.A.T. mantra, which stands for Experience, Expertise, Authority, and Trust. You want your content to reflect each of these so your audience receives the value of your content in the best way possible.
How to avoid mistake #2
SEO for blog posts doesn’t have to be difficult. Essential SEO tools are available to help you in almost every aspect of search engine optimization. Here are some tools to get you started.
- Google Search Console – An effective and free tool provided by Google that allows you to take a deeper look into your site’s SEO, the keywords your site ranks for, and other performance and site health benchmarks.
- SEO Minion – This free Chrome extension and Firefox addon allows you to review any web page’s metadata, and header tags, check for broken links, perform a SERP preview, and more.
- AI Writing tool – Hundreds of AI writing assistants are available to help you write content effectively. Some come with optimization tools onboard. Try Scalenut or Frase.
- SurgeGraph – Need an optimization tool for your content. SurgeGraph provides a great tool for keyword research, content optimization, and more for an affordable price.
Mistake #3: Blogging inconsistently
A blogging mistake to avoid is being inconsistent with your posting schedule. This can cause readers to become frustrated or confused about when they’ll be able to read new content.
An inconsistent blog can also be considered an abandoned blog, which will not likely earn any search engine rankings. Blogging needs to be consistent, organized, and disciplined.
How to avoid mistake #3
One way to avoid this problem is to set up a consistent posting schedule. This might include publishing at set times each week, month, or season. It’s also important to stay on top of your blog and post regularly so that readers don’t worry about missing out on valuable content.
Additionally, it’s a good idea to experiment with different types of content and topics as you build your blog. This will help you find what works for you and keep your blog interesting and engaging for your readers.
Many content publishing tools are available, including a free editorial calendar from CoSchedule here. Use the tools effectively to research better blog post ideas, craft better blog post topics and titles, and create blog posts that meet the needs of your readers.
Mistake #4: Steering away from your niche
As a blogger, you probably have a niche you’re passionate about. Chances are, you’ve spent much time researching and developing your blog’s content.
But let’s face it: no matter how much passion you have for your niche, there will be times when you find yourself steering away from it. And this can lead to some big mistakes!
Steering away from your niche can happen if you don’t feel there are enough compelling topics to explore. For example, if you’re a food blogger and write on general hospitality or travel.
If you’ve done this, it could be time to reevaluate your blogging strategy. You may consider expanding your horizons by diversifying your content and exploring new topics, or you may need to steer back to your origins.
Another mistake people make is becoming too stuck in their niche. This can happen if they become so entrenched in certain topics that they no longer feel excited about the possibilities of exploring new ideas and concepts.
If this happens, it’s important to step back and reassess what interests you most as a blogger. You never know where your interests may take you!
Finally, steering away from your niche can sometimes result from bad Blogging habits. If you’re not learning new skills or exploring new ideas outside of blogging, it could be time to reevaluate what you’re doing and try something new to spark new ideas and perspectives within your blog.
How to avoid mistake #4
When researching a niche, ensure it is big enough to encompass all the topics and subtopics you might want to post. You might also consider the various content types that appeal to you and your audience to ensure they will work in the niche.
If we take the same food blogging example, we researched the hospitality industry before starting the blog.
We may discover that blogging about food may be expanded to include blogging about restaurants, food TV shows, recipes, and unique dining experiences. And all those might take you to blogs about travel destinations and trips focusing on the food experience.
There are numerous pathways a blog can take, so ensure you’ve discovered some before planting blogging roots in your niche.
Mistake #5: Not sharing your content on social media
Not sharing your content on social media is a mistake you certainly want to avoid. Bloggers sometimes get too focused on search engine rankings to understand social media’s value in terms of exposure, brand awareness, and social signals as part of SEO.
Sharing your content on social media is a great way to promote your blog and get visibility for your content. Social media platforms are popular because they allow you to share your content with a large audience interested in similar topics.
This can help drive traffic to your site, increase engagement, and build a loyal audience.
How to avoid mistake #5
It’s important to be selective when deciding what to share on social media. You don’t want to overload your followers with too much information or become distracted by constant updates.
Instead, think about what is most relevant to your audience and how you can compellingly share that information.
All in all, social media is an important part of blogging and should not be overlooked. By using it effectively, you can increase the reach of your blog and attract new readers.
Mistake #6: Promoting yourself too much
Bloggers often make the mistake of over-promoting themselves and their blog in their posts, which can come off as self-absorbed and egotistical. This is especially true for those new to the blogging scene who haven’t established a loyal following.
For example, bloggers might post about their personal life, including details about their hobbies, passions, and beliefs. While this may interest some readers, it can also come off as insincere and ego-driven, leading people to dismiss the blogger’s content.
Bloggers might also post about their fame, influence, big wins, or triumphs, which can be belittling to the new bloggers who are readers.
It’s important to balance self-promotion with a clear focus on your blog and its contents so that you aren’t too focused on yourself while still providing value to your audience.
How to avoid mistake #6
Stick to the business side of blogging and build your success by creating content that is both helpful and valuable to your audience. Keep the personal mentions to a minimum and stay humble.
Remember that if you are successful at blogging, your brand is also successful, and you don’t want that tarnished. Your brand image will be important for years beyond your blog.
Mistake #7: Forgetting to link to other sites
Forgetting to link to other sites is among beginners’ most common and biggest blogging mistakes. Losing sight of the importance of including external resources in the blog can result in an information void for the reader, making it difficult for them to fully understand and engage with the content. SEO is about backlinks.
Add to this the age-old SEO debate about whether external links should be marked as nofollow, and you’ve got misinformation overload.
Linking to other websites or resources benefits readers and helps increase a blog’s search engine optimization (SEO). It helps attract new audiences, build trust and credibility, and improve visibility online.
So, it’s important to ensure you’re actively incorporating external links into your posts and website.
How to avoid mistake #7
When blogging, if you’re debating whether you should link or not, always link. If you’re using images, videos, creative elements, quotes, snippets, or anything else from somewhere that is not your own knowledge, link externally to that resource.
Mistake #8: Using poor grammar
There is nothing worse than trying to read a blog post littered with misspellings and punctuation mistakes. There are heaps of junk content across the internet, don’t let your blog contribute to the waste.
Poor grammar can lead to more confusion and difficulty for readers, as well as a diminished overall quality of the blog. Poorly written posts can be difficult to understand, making it difficult for readers to engage with the content or to pass on the information to others.
In addition, poor grammar and punctuation can also make it harder for a blogger to communicate effectively with editors and other professionals within their field or network.
How to avoid mistake #8
Excellent tools are available to help you create better blog posts and content overall. Invest in a good spell checker if you’re not a good speller. If you don’t have the best sentence structure, invest in a tool like Grammarly or Hemingway. They are designed to help you craft better content.
Successful bloggers use these tools, and a good blog post deserves the use of these tools to ensure it has the most potential to accomplish your goals. Don’t make the mistake of your own blog not spending the time to ensure it is of great quality.
Mistake #9: Using copyrighted material
Plagiarism is bad and will likely get your blog banned from search engine rankings, or at least a copyright violation reported by another blogger that will derail your blog before it amounts to much.
This is also true for image use. You don’t want to use copyrighted material without properly citing and linking to the original source, regardless of its form.
Some restrict use altogether, and some have strict usage guidelines that you must follow. Make yourself aware and avoid violating copyright laws.
How to avoid mistake #9
One key area of investment is in visual resources to support your blog. A business blog should have an image for each post at a minimum. A blogging platform like WordPress allows you direct access to free image sources like Unsplash, Pixabay, Pexels, and Openverse via a single click.
Additionally, you should invest in a design tool such as Canva or GrooveDesignerPro, which are short money and provide instant access to as many content creation resources as most bloggers need.
Mistake #10: Giving up too soon
Giving up on a blog quickly can be a big mistake for many reasons. First, it can leave you feeling lost and frustrated without a clear direction or purpose. Second, it can mean that you are missing out on valuable opportunities to grow and develop as a blogger. Third, it can lead to unhappiness and depression as you wonder what might have been had you stuck it out longer.
Giving up too soon can also limit your chances of reaching your goals and achieving success in your blog. So the next time you feel like giving up on your blog, resist the urge and hold on tight!
How to avoid mistake #9
Here are some inspirational memes to keep you going.
Tips for building your blog “community”
Social media has made blogging easy to connect with a large audience. However, jumping into blogging without researching and planning risks producing content that doesn’t resonate with readers.
The best way to start blogging is by setting a specific goal for each post. This will help you develop content ideas and focus on topics that matter to your audience.
Be personal
When writing blog posts, focus on creating interesting and personal content for your readers. Be open and honest in your posts, and share experiences or stories from your own life. This will help build an authentic connection with your audience and establish trust.
Be consistent with your content, post regularly, and respond promptly to comments. Remember to engage with other bloggers in the same niche, comment on their posts, and share their content.
This way, you can all benefit from each other’s writing and build a community of fellow bloggers interested in the same topics.
Encourage readers to comment
Comments on blog posts are an important part of a thriving blog community. They allow readers to share their thoughts and feedback about the post and engage in a two-way conversation.
Comments can be a great way to build relationships with your readers, especially those with similar interests or valuable insights.
It’s important to ensure comments stay on-topic and respectful so avoid making assumptions about the reader’s views or background. Instead, focus on engaging in a thoughtful and respectful discussion about the post.
Respond promptly to comments to show that you value their input and appreciate their contributions. By encouraging conversations and responding to questions from your audience, you can foster an engaged community around your blog.
Offer readers value
Blog posts are a great way to share valuable content with your audience. In addition to offering insightful content, visually present your ideas in photos and videos.
There is no telling what might propel a blog post idea into being a viral sensation drawing in a large, engaged audience. Every blog post has an opportunity to ensure each new post is given time to shine.
Use social media
Social media platforms can be powerful tools for driving traffic to your blog and building relationships with readers. However, social media posts should be quality content that provides value to your audience.
This means posting quality content relevant to your blog niche or audience. It also means engaging with your social media followers in a way that encourages them to return to read more posts from you.
In addition to quality content, social media posts should include social media analytics, such as engagement metrics such as likes, comments, and shares. These measurements help bloggers know how successful their posts are and help them improve their content marketing strategies.
Read, comment, and share on other blogs in your niche
The blogging community is vital to the growth and success of any blog. By reading, commenting, and sharing content from other blogs in your niche, you can learn from others and build relationships within the blogging community.
This helps create a thriving ecosystem for all bloggers involved and can generate valuable social media engagement. It also shows that you are an active blogging community member and helping to create meaningful connections within the niche.
When posting content on your blog, ensure it is original and high-quality to stand out. By engaging with others in your niche and sharing content from other quality blogs, you can help each blogger grow their audience and strengthen the blogging community as a whole.
Read Next: 16 Blogging Tools to Write Better Blog Posts
Blogging Mistakes to Avoid Final Thoughts
While blogging may sound like a great way to share your ideas and experiences with the world, it’s essential to clearly understand the most common blogging mistakes so you can plan for them and avoid each.
Readers might be able to look past some blogging mistakes, but search engines like Google are unlikely to be as forgiving. To create a successful blog, give your readers the experience you would want if the shoe were on the other foot.
We hope this blog post has helped you understand blogging better and now know how to plan and execute blog content better. As mentioned, blogging can be time-consuming but will pay off in the long run.
If you consistently post quality content, you’re already on your way to avoiding key blogging mistakes. Best of luck in your blogging journey!