I’ve been making blogging mistakes for 8 years now. More recently with the launch of Commission Academy, I’ve seen hundreds of aspiring bloggers make mistakes too.
Mistakes are a part of life and you’re going to make them regardless.
And that’s OK.
It’s all part of the process of launching a profitable blog.
But let me share these most common blogging mistakes with you anyway.
Maybe they’ll save you from a blunder or two.
26 Most Common Blogging Mistakes To Avoid đźš«
1. Not Defining Your Target Audience
One of the most common mistakes bloggers make is failing to define their target audience. Without knowing who you’re writing to, it’s difficult to produce content that resonates with your readers.
To avoid this mistake, take some time to define your target audience before you start blogging.Â
Consider factors such as age, gender, location, and interests when defining your target audience. Doing so will help you produce content that appeals to your readers and helps you achieve your blogging goals.
2. Failing To Plan Your Content
When it comes to blogging, it’s important to have a plan in place so that you can stay organized and on track.
So create an editorial calendar that outlines the topics you’ll be covering in your blog posts.
Google Sheets is great for this and it’ll mean you never have to worry about what to write about next.
3. Not Promoting Your Blog Posts
Once you’ve published a blog post, don’t make the mistake of forgetting to promote it!
In order for your blog posts to be seen by your target audience, promote them through social media, email marketing, and other channels.
4. Not Being Consistent
Consistency is key when it comes to blogging. If you want people to keep coming back, you need to give them a reason to do so.Â
That means posting new content on a regular basis. It’s also important to maintain a consistent voice throughout your posts. This will help create a cohesive brand identity that readers can identify with.
5. Not Interacting with Your Readers
Most bloggers fail to interact with their readers and they’re missing out.
So allow comments on your blog and if someone takes the time to leave a comment on your blog post, take the time to respond!
Engaging with your readers will help create a sense of community around your blog and encourage people to come back for more interaction in the future.
6. Not Measuring Your Results
It’s important to track your progress so that you can see what’s working and what isn’t. There are many metrics you can track, including pageviews, unique visitors, bounce rate, and time on site.
By regularly measuring your results, you can adjust your strategy as needed and ensure that you’re on track to achieving your goals.
7. Not Proofreading Your Posts Before Hitting Publish
One of the most common blogging mistakes is not taking the time to proofread your posts before hitting publish.
While it’s understandable that you might be eager to get your thoughts out there, it’s important to remember that your blog represents your personal brand.Â
Use Grammarly if you have to – just don’t lose credibility over silly typing errors.
8. Posting Articles That Are Too Short Or Too LongÂ
On the one hand, if your articles are too short, they likely won’t provide enough value to keep readers engaged. On the other hand, if your articles are too long, readers might get lost or lose interest before reaching the end.Â
The best way to avoid this mistake is to strike a balance by writing articles that are somewhere in the middle—not too short and not too long.
Aim for around 500-800 words per post. This will give you enough space to share your thoughts while still keeping readers engaged from start to finish.
9. Ignoring Search Engine OptimizationÂ
Ignoring search engine optimization (SEO) techniques altogether can lead to you troubles in the blogging field.
If you’re not familiar with SEO, it’s basically a set of best practices that help Google (and other search engines) index and rank your blog posts in search results.Â
There are a number of different SEO techniques you can use, but some of the most important include using keyword-rich titles, using relevant keywords throughout your article, and adding alt text to images.
By taking the time to implement these techniques, you can help ensure that your blog posts are being seen by as many people as possible.
10. Poorly Formatted Content Â
When you’re first starting out, it’s tempting to just hit Publish as soon as you’re done but if your post is poorly formatted, it will be difficult for readers to read and they will likely click away quickly.
And remember:
60% of people will read your blog on mobile.
So what might look like a short 3-sentence paragraph to you actually turns out to be a massive block of text on mobile, so take the time to format your posts using headlines, subheadings, and bullet points.
Additionally, be sure to use images and videos throughout your post to break up the text. This will make your content more scannable and easier to read.Â
11. Not Linking To Other ContentÂ
When you’re creating a blog post, be sure to include both internal and external links.
Links to your other blog posts. Link to other articles, websites, or resources that will help support your argument or provide additional information for readers.
12. Not Revisiting Old Content
Just because a post is a few months or even a few years old doesn’t mean it’s not worth revisiting.
In fact, updating old content can be a great way to drive new traffic to your site.Â
When you update old content – even if it’s evergreen content – be sure to add new information that addresses any changes or developments in your industry since the original post was published.Â
You should also test for broken links. If you have new products or services to promote, be sure to mention them as well!
13. Forgetting to Track Your Progress
It’s important to keep track of your page views, unique visitors, and other metrics so that you can see how your blog is performing over time. This information can help you adjust your strategy and ensure that you’re on track to reach your goals.
It’s actually easy to see how many people are coming to your blog.
Google Analytics is your best bet.
Whichever tool you choose, be sure to check in on your progress on a regular basis so that you can make necessary adjustments along the way.
14. Not Interacting With Other BloggersÂ
The best way to turn your competitors into collaborators is to find out how you can work together.
This can be done by leaving comments on other blogs, guest posting on other blogs, or even just reaching out to other bloggers via social media or email.Â
Interacting with other bloggers can help you build relationships, drive traffic to your site, and learn from others in your field.
So don’t be afraid to reach out and start building relationships with other bloggers today!
15. Not Using A Variety Of Content
You might think that sticking to text-based posts is enough, but that’s not the case.
In order to keep your readers engaged, you need to mix things up.
Use a variety of content types, including but not limited to:
- Text-based posts
- Images
- Videos
- Infographics
- Podcasts
16. Not Monetising Your Blog
If you have a blog and you’re getting good traffic already, not making money with your blog is a huge mistake!
Even if started your blog as a fun side project, you can make it profitable by:
- Recommending products as an affiliate
- Promoting your own products or services
- Joining an ads network like Ezoic and displaying ads
- Accepting sponsored posts
By far the best way to make money blogging is affiliate marketing and don’t worry it’s not hard.
Simply mention the products you’re already using and believe in within your blog posts and make a commission every time someone clicks your affiliate links and buys.
And the good news it’s never too early to start affiliate marketing on your blog and it could start paying off for you within hours.
Watch this video on how to become a successful affiliate marketer to find out more:
17. Having A Mobile-Unfriendly DesignÂ
Another common mistake that holds bloggers back from reaching their full potential is using unresponsive WordPress themes that make your blog mobile-unfriendly.
You want your blog to look great on PCs, laptops, tablets and mobile.
We use and recommend the GeneratePress WordPress theme because it’s simple, beautiful, 100% responsive and constantly updated.
18. Lacking Imagination With Headlines
Your headline is the first thing people will see when they come across your blog post, so it’s important to make a good impression.Â
A terrible title will not only turn people off from reading your post, but it will also hurt your search engine optimization (SEO).
So how do you write a great title? Here are a few tips:
- Keep it short and sweet: A title should be no more than 60 characters. If it’s too long, people will lose interest before they even get to the meat of your post.
- Make it keyword-rich: Include keywords that accurately describe what your post is about. This will help people find your post when they’re searching for information on those topics.
- Use numbers or lists: People love lists! If you can structure your title as a list, do it. For example, “3 Ways to Improve Your SEO” or “5 Common Blogging Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them).”
19. Not Giving Next Steps
Once someone has finished reading your blog post, what do you want them to do next?
You should always include a call-to-action (CTA) at the end of your post so that people know what the next step is.Â
Maybe you want them to sign up for your email list, download a free guide, or purchase one of your products or services. Whatever it is, make sure it’s clear and easy to follow.
20. Writing For Google, Not For People
Including keywords in your blog posts is important for SEO purposes.
But beware of keyword stuffing – when you include too many keywords in an attempt to game the system and boost your ranking.Â
Not only will this irritate your readers, but it will also hurt your SEO in the long run. Google’s algorithm has gotten very good at detecting keyword stuffing, so it’s best to avoid it altogether.
21. Coming Across As Too Pushy
A quick way to turn off your readers is to make your blog all about you and your product or service. While it’s important to promote yourself, you need to do it in a way that is subtle and helpful to your reader.
For example, if you’re a life coach, don’t write a blog post entitled “10 Reasons Why You Need a Life Coach.”
Instead, focus on writing helpful content that provides value to your reader. If they like what you have to say, they’ll be more likely to seek you out as a life coach.
22. Choosing A Bad Name For Your Blog
Your blog’s name is important because it’s how people will remember you and find you online.
Avoid choosing a name that is difficult to spell or pronounce, or one that doesn’t give any indication of what your blog is about.
For example, “The Musings of Sarah” is not a good name for a food blog. A better option would be something like “Sarah’s Food Blog.”Â
23. Writing Like A Robot
When people are reading your blog, they want to be able to understand what you’re saying without too much effort. Avoid using jargon or overly-technical language, and write in a way that is easy for the average person to understand.
Also, be sure to proofread your posts before hitting publish! Typos can make your writing appear sloppy and can turn off potential readers.
24. Blogging In The Wrong Niche
Choosing a blogging niche is a major struggle for newbie bloggers but find yourself stuck in a niche you hate and you’ll find your blogging career is a miserable one.
- What are you passionate about?
- What are your hobbies?
- What do you know more about than anyone else?
Once you’ve found your niche, stick to writing about topics that fall within that area.Â
Not only will this make it easier for you to come up with ideas for new blog posts, but it will also position you as an expert in your field. And when people see you as an expert, they’re more likely to keep coming back for more.
25. Not Using A Keyword Tool
Every blog post you write should be focused on targeting ONE specific keyword.
This means using a keyword tool like Mangools to find the types of questions your target audience is asking in Google.
A keyword tool will tell you how many searches (on average) a given phrase gets searched each month and with this valuable info, you’ll be able to create a content plan that’s going to get your blog seen and read.
Not using a keyword tool is no better than throwing spaghetti at a wall and seeing what sticks!
26. Plagiarizing ContentÂ
Finally, one of the biggest mistakes you can make as a blogger is plagiarizing someone else’s content.
Not only is plagiarism morally wrong, but it’s also not going to help you get indexed in Google.
They’ll just mark your blog as duplicate content and make sure it never sees the light of day.
It can get you in legal trouble too. If you’re caught plagiarizing someone else’s work, you could be sued for copyright infringement – so don’t do it!
To avoid plagiarism, always give credit where it’s due by linking to the original source of any quotes or ideas that you include in your post.
If you’re unsure whether something is considered plagiarism, use a tool like Copyscape to double-check and always err on the side of caution and don’t include it in your post unless you have permission from the original author.
Blogging Doesn’t Have To Be Hard IF You Do It Right
Blogging is a great way to express yourself, build a loyal tribe of worldwide followers and make money at the same time.
But there’s a lot of stuff you have to get right and you’ll have plenty of opportunities to make a wrong turn.
Making blogging mistakes isn’t the end of the world but it might mean it takes you longer to reach your goals, which is why having a proven roadmap to follow can save you years of meandering in the desert.
Join Commission Academy now and we’ll give you just that – a free step-by-step blogging blueprint that will empower you to take your blog to the next level.
Over To You
What are the biggest blogging mistakes you’ve made and what advice would you give to aspiring bloggers?
Let us know in the comments below!
