20 blogging mistakes to avoid (+ solutions)

Discover how to avoid common blogging mistakes with our comprehensive guide, offering solutions to enhance your blogging success.

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Starting a blog can feel overwhelming. What to write about, how often to publish, and where to distribute your content are just a few questions you might have. Blogging mistakes happen, but if you want to build authority and engage with a global audience, learning the basics is crucial.  

That’s why I created this comprehensive guide (based on my 10 years of experience as a content marketer and writer) to demystify 20 of the most common blogging mistakes and offer practical solutions to each, so you can navigate through these challenges smoothly. You’ll also learn eight essential tips for beginners to kickstart your blogging journey on the right foot.

Let’s dive in. ⤵

Blogging mistakes: why they happen

Blogging is often more complex and time-consuming than initially anticipated. Many of these mistakes in blog marketing stem from a lack of proper planning and strategic thinking. Without a detailed content strategy, you might find yourself facing issues with maintaining a consistent posting schedule, properly formatting your posts, and effectively promoting your content. This challenge is particularly relevant if you’re new to blogging, but don’t worry. After reading this guide, you’ll have the knowledge you need to fix your mistakes and avoid future ones! 

20 common blogging mistakes to avoid

1. Ignoring SEO best practices

SEO is crucial for making your blog visible to potential readers through search engines and increasing website traffic. Overlooking this aspect is one of the biggest mistakes for blogs and can result in spending a lot of time creating great content that never gets any eyeballs on it. 

Solution

Start by understanding SEO basics, such as keyword research, which involves finding words and phrases that potential readers are searching for. Use tools like Google Keyword Planner or Ubersuggest to identify these keywords and incorporate them naturally into your titles, headers, and body text. Also, learn about meta descriptions and alt text for images, which further optimize your posts for search engines.

💡Not sure where to start with SEO and keyword research? It can feel overwhelming and complicated, but it doesn’t have to be. If you’d like some tips to get started, book a 1:1 meeting with me here.

2. Not defining your target audience

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Trying to appeal to everyone, usually means you’ll connect with no one is a common blogging mistake. If you don’t niche down on exactly who you’re writing content for, you’ll risk attracting the wrong audience, or worse, no one.  

Solution

Clearly define who your audience is. Develop detailed personas representing your typical readers, including their demographics, interests, and problems they need solving. This clarity helps you to tailor your content more precisely to the people most likely to be interested in your blog, enhancing engagement and loyalty.

3. Skipping the planning phase

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With a plan, blogging can become more active and focused. So instead of scrambling to figure out what to write about each week, make a plan.  

Solution 

Develop a content calendar that outlines when and what you will post. This helps maintain a consistent publishing schedule and keeps your content strategy aligned with your marketing goals. Planning also helps in batching content creation and scheduling posts in advance, saving you time and stress.

💡PRO TIP: Not sure what to write about? Use this ChatGPT prompt to come up with topics relevant to your target audience. 

Act as a content strategist and expert content writer to help me do reserach about [insert target audience].

Give me a list of 20 pain points (in question format) that these [insert audience] face when it comes to [insert action/task/thing audience is struggling with].

Generate the results in a table and include keywords and blog article topics to help these [insert audience] overcome these challenges/pain points. 

4. Focusing on quantity instead of quality

While maintaining a regular posting schedule is important, sacrificing quality for quantity can harm your blog's reputation and reader retention. 

Solution 

Focus on creating well-researched and thoughtfully written posts that provide real value to your audience. Quality content is more likely to be shared and can establish your blog as a credible source in your niche.

5. Failing to optimize for mobile users

With more people accessing the Internet via mobile devices, mobile responsiveness is crucial.

Solution 

Make sure your blog's design is responsive, which means it automatically adjusts to fit the screen size of a device, providing a good user experience for all readers. Test your blog on various devices to ensure compatibility and ease of navigation.

6. Neglecting analytics

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Analytics provide insights into your blog's performance but are often ignored by bloggers and small business owners, making this a big business blogging mistake. Without measuring the effectiveness of your blog content, you can’t learn, improve, and optimize content for search and readers.

Solution

Regularly review your blog’s analytics to understand what types of content perform best, where your traffic comes from, and how readers interact with your posts. Tools like Google Analytics can help you make data-driven decisions to improve your content and strategies.

For example, I took a peek today at my analytics for this blog post you’re reading right now (at the time of writing this update, it has only been live for less than a week). I noticed that it’s gaining impressions for more terms related to “blogging mistakes” — see the screenshot below. This means people interested in learning more about blogging mistakes are also typing these queries into Google Search.

What to do next? I updated/optimized this article to include these queries. If you click command + F (on Mac) and type in the queries, you’ll find them throughout this article. Adding the top queries that I see in Google Search Console, can help boost organic search rankings for this article. Blog articles should never be static. Think of them as a living, breathing content asset.

7. Inconsistent posting schedule

Inconsistency can frustrate readers and lead to a decline in returning traffic. 

Solution

Set a realistic posting frequency that you can maintain and communicate it to your readers. Whether it’s once a week or twice a month, a predictable schedule keeps your audience coming back at regular intervals.

8. Writing poor headlines

Headlines are the first thing potential readers see and can make or break their decision to click through. 

Solution 

Craft headlines that are clear, intriguing, and reflective of the content. Use numbers, provocative questions, or powerful adjectives to make headlines compelling.

9. Not engaging with readers

Engagement builds communities and fosters loyalty but is often overlooked. 

Solution

Encourage interaction by asking questions at the end of your posts, responding to comments, and facilitating discussions. This makes readers feel valued and more likely to return.

10. Overusing keywords (keyword stuffing)

Keyword stuffing can make your content unreadable and is penalized by search engines. 

Solution 

Use keywords thoughtfully. Aim for a natural flow in your writing while subtly incorporating keywords where they make sense contextually.

11. Ignoring internal linking

Internal links connect your current content with your past content, keeping readers on your site longer. 

Solution 

Whenever you write a new post, look for opportunities to link back to older posts. This not only boosts SEO but also provides value to readers by directing them to related information.

12. Failing to use images and multimedia

Text-only posts can be boring and hard on readers’ eyes.

Solution 

Break up text with relevant images, videos, or infographics that complement your narrative. This can help illustrate points more clearly and keep readers engaged.

💡PRO TIP: Use stock image sources like Unsplash or Pexels to add high-quality images to your blog posts.

13. Not distributing and promoting your blog posts

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Simply publishing your content isn’t enough. 

Solution

Promote your posts through social media, email newsletters, and other channels. This increases your visibility and drives traffic back to your site.

14. Forgetting about content updates and repurposing

Content can become outdated, reducing its usefulness and SEO ranking. 

Solution

Periodically update your posts to keep them current. Also, consider repurposing content into other formats such as videos, podcasts, or infographics to reach a wider audience.

15. Overlooking the power of guest blogging

Guest blogging on other sites can introduce you to new audiences. 

Solution 

Write high-quality guest posts for relevant blogs in your niche. Simultaneously, hosting guest bloggers on your site can provide fresh perspectives and content to your readers.

16. Writing in large blocks of text

Large text blocks can deter readers. 

Solution 

Use short paragraphs, subheadings, bullet points, and plenty of white space to make your content more readable and visually appealing.

17. Not including a call-to-action (CTA)

A clear CTA guides your readers to the next step, be it subscribing, sharing, or reading another post. 

Solution 

Make sure each post includes a strong CTA that aligns with your blog's goals. Make it easy for readers to know what you want them to do next.

18. Poor research and fact-checking

Publishing inaccurate information can quickly ruin your blog’s credibility. 

Solution 

Thoroughly research your topics and double-check all facts before publishing. Citing reliable sources and linking to further information enhances trust and authority.

19. Ignoring the use of categories and tags

Properly categorizing and tagging posts helps readers find content more easily. 

Solution

Use categories to broadly organize your content, and tags to describe specific topics mentioned in individual posts. This not only helps users navigate your site but also helps with SEO. 

20. Not securing your blog

Security threats can compromise your website and your readers' trust. 

Solution 

Implement basic security measures such as regular software updates, secure passwords, and backups. Consider using security plugins that help protect against common threats.

8 blogging tips for beginners

1. Start with a clear vision

Understand the purpose of your blog and what you wish to achieve. This will guide your content decisions and strategies.

2. Learn basic SEO

Mastering basic SEO is essential for making your content discoverable. Invest time in learning about keyword research, meta descriptions, and content optimization.

3. Create engaging and original content

Quality content is key to engaging readers. Focus on creating original, insightful posts that provide real value to your audience.

4. Understand your audience

Tailor your content to the interests and needs of your audience. Conduct surveys, read comments, and use analytics to gauge reader interests and preferences.

5. Use social media

Leveraging social media platforms to promote your content and engage with your audience can significantly amplify your content's reach. Develop a strategy for sharing your posts on platforms where your audience spends the most time.

6. Network with other bloggers

Building relationships with other bloggers can lead to collaborative opportunities and mutual growth. Engage with peers through comments, social media, and networking events.

7. Keep learning and updating your skills

Stay up-to-date with blogging trends and tools. Continuous learning can improve your skills and keep your content relevant.

8. Be patient and consistent

It takes time to build an audience and see significant results, so maintain a consistent effort and don't get discouraged.

9. Write like you talk

Last but not least, read your blog article drafts out loud before you publish and distribute them. Use simple language (maximum 8th-grade reading level) to break down complex topics and avoid overwhelming or confusing readers. It will also make your content more personable and fun to read.   

Now you’re equipped to avoid blogging mistakes 

Blogging successfully is about more than just writing; it involves strategic planning, engagement, and continuous improvement. By avoiding the common mistakes outlined and implementing the suggested solutions and tips, you can enhance your blog’s quality, increase its reach, and achieve greater success in your blogging endeavors.

💡If you found these insights helpful, subscribe for more tips, share this post to help others, and join the conversation by leaving your thoughts in the comments below. Let's journey together in mastering the art of blogging.