In this article, you will learn about major blogging mistakes made by new bloggers and how you can easily combat them.
Blogging has become a cornerstone of online communication. It’s a platform that allows individuals and businesses alike to share their thoughts, expertise, and stories with a global audience.
However, while blogging offers immense potential, it’s not without its pitfalls.
If you do not make mistakes, that means you are not trying new stuff.
So making blogging mistakes is a good thing it shows that you are trying to do something amazing.
When it comes to online blogging, the rule here remains the same. You will definitely make mistakes.
All of the Pro Bloggers today made mistakes in the past. But they fixed it up before it became too late.
If you are new to the blogging game, there are possibilities that you are making some mistakes, but it is OK.
To assist you with this, I am going to share some common mistakes made by new bloggers as well as their solutions.
Major Mistakes Made By New Bloggers
1. Starting A Free Blog
Unless you are blogging for fun, you should not use free blog platforms like Blogspot or free web hosting services like 000webhost.com or even the dependent WordPress.com.
Maybe have a plan in your mind that you will switch over to paid web hosting once you make some money. But it might be too late.
Read a blogging story from today’s pro blogger.
“I created my first blog on Weebly.com. It was making some cash via referral and affiliate programs.
One beautiful morning, I discovered that Weebly had erased my site because of some so-called TOS issues. Then I decided to start a WordPress.com, and I had the same kind of fate.”
I have never tried the free hosting services. But I heard so many horror stories about free hosting. That is why I do not recommend free web hosts.
To fix this, you have to invest some money to create a self-hosted blog. If you are on a budget, then you can buy a domain and web hosting service from Namecheap.
It will cost you about $25. But if you want to invest more money, I would recommend you to go with Bluehost. They are one of the best as long as hosting is consigned.
2. Choosing the wrong Domain Name
Choosing a perfect Domain Name is very crucial to every blogging success. If you look at the most popular blogs’ domain names, you will observe that most of them have a good domain name.
Just because of the unavailability of the most desired domain names, new bloggers make mistakes in choosing the wrong domain name.
Domain Blogging Mistakes
- Selecting the wrong Top-Level Domain extension,
- Choosing a long domain name,
- Choosing a domain that is very difficult to spell or remember,
- Using hyphens in your domain name,
- Trying to make your domain name look like another domain name in other miss lead people.
To fix this, you will have to choose an easy-to-spell domain name.
3. Choosing the Wrong blogging Niche
To succeed in the blogging business, you have to choose a blog niche (topic) that you are passionate about and well-grounded about. It is sad seeing lots of bloggers choosing their niche based on profitability and traffic records.
There is nothing wrong with choosing a well-profitable niche. But if you do not have good knowledge or let’s say you are not passionate about that niche, you might end up failing.
Blogging is not just about money-making. It is also about helping people to solve problems, also about inspiring others to do something and making the world a better place to leave in.
To fix this, you will have to choose a niche you are very passionate about, and as well make sure that it is profitable and it has a good audience.
4. Not Being Real
I have seen a lot of new bloggers trying to imitate Pro Bloggers and failed miserably. It is not wrong to follow them.
But it does not look real when you try to make yourself look expert on something that you aren’t so familiar with.
Do not write about making money online when you have not made any penny yet. You do not need to write about pro blogging when you are just a new blogger.
You do not have to write a review about the iPhone 15 when you have never even seen the iPhone 12, lol.
Please never fake who you are.
5. Not Having A Good Blog Design
Your first impression matters much. If your blog fails to impress your first-time visitors, they will hardly come back again.
New bloggers like to use lots of widgets, colors, and advertisements on their blogs. Sometimes these make the blog very annoying.
You need to have a good-looking and simple blog design to impress your blog visitors.
6. Not Writing Quality Contents
Content, we all know is the king and key to the success of most bloggers.
You must have the right amount of quality content that can attract lots of visitors to your blog.
You have to spend over 80% of your blogging time on creating quality content and promoting them as well.
7. Publishing Copy Paste Content
Copying other blog posts is a common mistake made by most new bloggers.
It could be a reasonable mistake that you like the post and ended up copying and pasting it on your blog. But at the same time, it is a violation of copyright.
The major problem with copy and paste is that Google hates it. You will never get a good rank with a copy-and-paste post.
Even if you end up getting the rank, the original writer can appeal to Google to remove the copied content from Google Search.
Try to stay away from copying other people’s blog posts. Instead, you may consider using a blog post as a reference to strengthen your blog post.
8. Not Promoting your Blog and Posts
When you start your new blog, only your family and maybe friends know of it. But they aren’t much to make your blog successful.
You need to reach more people out there. Most new bloggers sit and wait for Google to send traffic. But it takes lots of time to get ranked on Google and get good traffic.
To generate good traffic, you need to promote your blog extensively.
No traffic = No income
Try to promote your blog posts on Social networks. Or if you have a good budget, then you can as well advertise it on Google, Facebook, etc.
You can as well join Quora and forums that are related to your niche and promote your blog posts there.
9. Not Using Proper On-Page and Off-Page SEO Techniques
If you can properly do your SEO, you will get the right amount of traffic from Google and other search engines.
So you must be careful while doing SEO for your blog. Especially, the Off-Page SEO. Many bloggers do get penalized because of using wrong Off-Page SEO techniques.
When you start your blog, pay more attention to On-Page SEO, and at the same time, start learning about the Off-Page SEO techniques.
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10. Not Building an Email List for Your Blog
This is the mistake that most Pro Bloggers did in the past.
Over 80% of your new blog visitors may never come back to your blog. The best way to keep them as regular readers is to collect their emails addresses.
Join an email marketing platform like GetResponse or MailChimp.
11. Neglecting Proper Keyword Research
One of the most common blogging mistakes is failing to conduct thorough keyword research.
Keywords are the foundation of SEO, and without them, your content may not reach its intended audience.
Using tools like Google Keyword Planner or SEMrush can help you identify relevant keywords and phrases to incorporate into your content.
12. Lack of Consistency in Posting
Consistency is key in the world of blogging. Many bloggers start strong but then falter when it comes to maintaining a regular posting schedule.
This inconsistency can lead to a loss of readership and reduced search engine rankings. Create a content calendar and stick to it to keep your audience engaged.
13. Ignoring the Importance of High-Quality Content
Quality should always trump quantity when it comes to blogging. Some bloggers make the mistake of churning out content for the sake of frequency, sacrificing the quality of their posts.
Your readers will appreciate well-researched, informative, and engaging content over a flood of mediocre articles.
14. Overlooking SEO Optimization
Search engine optimization (SEO) is crucial for increasing your blog’s visibility.
Failing to optimize your content for search engines means you’ll miss out on organic traffic. Learn the basics of on-page SEO, including optimizing meta tags, headers, and image alt text.
15. Failure to Engage with the Audience
Blogging is not a one-way street. It’s a platform for engagement and interaction.
Neglecting to respond to comments or engaging with your audience on social media can make your readers feel undervalued.
Foster a sense of community by actively participating in discussions.
16. Neglecting Mobile Optimization
In today’s mobile-centric world, ignoring mobile optimization is a grave mistake. Ensure that your blog is responsive and looks great on all devices.
Google also considers mobile-friendliness when ranking websites, so this is essential for SEO.
17. Excessive Use of Ads and Pop-Ups
While monetization is important for many bloggers, bombarding your readers with ads and pop-ups can be a major turn-off.
Balance monetization strategies with a user-friendly experience. Too many distractions can drive visitors away.
18. Not Utilizing Social Media
Social media platforms are powerful tools for promoting your blog and engaging with a broader audience.
Share your content on platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Building a social media presence can significantly boost your blog’s reach.
19. Ignoring Analytics
Blogging without analyzing your performance is like driving blindfolded. Use tools like Google Analytics to track your website’s traffic, user behavior, and conversion rates.
This data will guide your content strategy and help you make informed decisions.
20. Lack of a Clear Monetization Strategy
If you intend to monetize your blog, it’s essential to have a clear strategy in place.
Whether it’s through affiliate marketing, sponsored content, or selling products, a well-defined monetization plan will help you achieve your financial goals.
Conclusion
Blogging can be a rewarding and profitable venture, but it’s not without its challenges.
By avoiding these ten major blogging mistakes, you can set yourself up for success in the competitive world of online content creation.
Remember to prioritize keyword research, maintain consistency, focus on quality content, and engage with your audience.
Keep a close eye on SEO, optimize for mobile, and strike a balance with monetization. With the right strategy and dedication, your blog can thrive in today’s digital landscape.
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