10 Common Blogging Mistakes to Avoid for Beginners in 2023

Intro

Blogging is simply creating and publishing content on the internet for business or as a hobby. But in 2023, blogging is more than that. Right now, it is a powerful tool for businesses, individuals, and organizations to reach a wider audience, build relationships, and share information.

Additionally, blogs can be used to drive traffic to websites and generate leads. Unfortunately, blogging is not always easy, especially for beginners. Some have made fatal mistakes that have locked them out of the benefits of blogging.

So, to do this the right way read on as I delve into the common blogging mistakes to avoid in 2023, and get ready to elevate your blogging game. Whether you're a hobbyist or an aspiring blogger, this guide is your key to blogging success. Let's dive in.

Lack of Content Strategy

Whenever I mention content strategy to new bloggers, they think it’s a long technical process, so they hesitate. But it's simply planning your content topics and deciding when and how to post them across various content channels.

That way, it's easy to create content instead of being all over the place regarding tone, style, and message. So, if you need help understanding what you're trying to say in your blog, here is what a content strategy looks like.

• Goal: Increase brand awareness and generate leads for a mom blog
• Target audience: Mums, stay-at-home moms, working moms, single moms, and married moms.
• Content types: Blog posts, e-books, newsletters, and social media posts.
• Content topics: Information on parenting, pregnancy, childbirth, traveling, and other motherhood-related issues.
• Distribution channels: Website, social media, and email marketing.
• Promotion tactics: Paid advertising and guest blogging.

This content strategy is helpful because it is:

• Focused on the target audience
• Aligned with the business goal
• Comprehensive
• Promotional

Another thing is to seek inspiration from other blogs in your niche. In this case, you can search for a successful mom blog like Savvy Sassy Moms by Jenna. This blog has won awards, earned hundreds of dollars, and has been rocking since 2009 because of the helpful, thoughtful content Jenna puts out there.

Overlooking the Importance of Quality Content

One of the most common pieces of blogging advice you will get when starting is putting quality content out there. However, most beginners hardly get this. They think quality content is writing what they love with some keywords, and people will read it. But the truth is, people want to read something well-written, informative, and enjoyable. But don't get me wrong, I’m not saying that all new bloggers are clueless.

It's just that your target audience has expectations, and search engines like Google rely on that to rank your blog. According to Google’s Helpful Content Update, we need to be providing original content that informs and helps people do their jobs. That means that you need to understand how to create quality blog posts. You will need to research, write about topics your audience is interested in, and promote your blog through social media and other channels. Editing is another skill to ensure that your content is well-written and error-free.

Fortunately, now there are tools and resources that you can use to help you create quality content. Here are tools and resources for content Improvement:

• Grammarly: A lifesaver for catching grammatical errors, plagiarism, and improving sentence structure.
• Hemingway App: Highlights complex sentences and suggests simplifications for better readability.
• Udemy: An e-learning platform with thousands of courses to help you where you’re stuck.
• BuzzSumo: Discover trending topics and what's working for your competitors.

Ignoring SEO Best Practices

Passion, brilliant content ideas, and writing skills are good, but people must find your blog. And that's where SEO (Search Engine Optimization) best practices come into play. This means you must do a set of things to secure your ticket to get noticed on search engines.

Source: BrightEdge

But don't let SEO overwhelm or scare you off blogging. You can start with the basics. For instance, you can use tools like RankTracker Keyword Finder to research relevant keywords and use them naturally in your content, titles, and headings. Also, ensure that your hosting platform will give you perks like website fast loads because nobody likes waiting around in the digital age.

Now, here are common mistakes that bloggers make when it comes to SEO. Many bloggers dive into thinking SEO is a magic button, or they can trick search engines, which can sink their blogs badly. For example, people new to SEO would think that stuffing keywords into every blog post will get them the first spot on Google. That's a no-no. Google's smarter than that, and it's against their spam policy. Other SEO mistakes include poor automated content, and deceptive click baits on ads.

Finally, remember you need to be more than just SEO-savvy; you need to be reader-savvy.

Neglecting Social Media Promotion

Source: DatarePortal

In today's digital age, you must recognize social media promotion as a blogger. Social media is a huge bonus as much as it adds extra work. Think of it like your megaphone to the world. You can use it to connect you with your readers and discover new ones. Again, in such platforms, It's where conversations about your niche happen, you need to be part of the voices there.

However, note that there are already so many social apps, so choose your battleground wisely. The best way to benefit from social media is to focus on about three platforms that align with your blog's content and your target audience. Facebook, Instagram, Reddit, Quora, X(formerly Twitter ), Pinterest, and LinkedIn are popular options, so you’ve options here.

Finally, once you sign up for an account on those platforms, ensure you do the following :

• Be consistent in your posting schedule using scheduling tools like Hootsuite.
• Take social media courses on platforms like Hubspot.
• Engage with your followers by responding to comments and messages.
• Use relevant hashtags to increase discoverability.
• Make engaging graphics, memes, and videos using Canva.
• Share valuable content, not just your own, to establish authority.
• Collaborate with fellow bloggers to expand your reach.

Social media is a marketplace where your blog's potential can shine, so make the most of it.

Ignoring Blog Design and User Experience

Regarding blogging, bloggers focus so much on content and ignore blog design and user experience. But it does matter. A proper design makes your content appealing, and it's easier to navigate through pages on your website. That's what we call a positive user experience. On the other hand, if your blog has a poor user experience, it is frustrating to use, causing users to abandon the site altogether. It will also reflect poorly on you, making it less likely for users to take your content seriously.

But what defines a user-friendly blog? It keeps visitors returning for more, and it has a clear and concise navigation system, well-organized and readable content, and high-quality images and videos. Also, ensure your blog is mobile-friendly, making it easy for visitors to share your content on any device.

The most common design that cost bloggers is cluttered design, poor readability, slow loading time, and inconsistent design. So keep these in mind while using web builders like WordPress, Wix, or Squarespace to create a website that is easy to use and enjoyable to read.

Failing to Engage with the Audience

Some bloggers publish and post great content but are slow or never interact with their followers. This is like throwing a huge birthday party and not talking to your guests. As a blogger, you can't afford to pay attention to the comments, content shares, and emails your readers send you. It builds a loyal community and sparks discussions around your content.

The best way to keep your customers involved is to :

• Ask questions about your posts and industry trends.
• Respond quickly to comments and feedback.
• Create polls, contests, and giveaways.
• Create exclusive content.
• Thank them for mentioning and sharing your content.

This will make them heard and valued. Engaging content, like contests and giveaways, can also work wonders.

Want proof that engagement matters? Let's take a look at one successful content creator who has built empires by connecting with their audience and learn from their strategies:

Case study: Nas Daily - engaging readers on social media works

The best example is Nas Daily. He is an Arab-Israeli vlogger who quit his job to travel and has amassed 46 million followers on social media. The start of Nas Daily was him posting informative and thought-provoking videos daily on Facebook. With time, he has grown and has helped him build a following and launch Nas Academy, an online education platform with 78,000 alumni and 100,000 students.

Inconsistent Posting Schedule

You may notice it initially, but the more you post, the more people expect from you. This means readers are watching you, and your job is to provide them with new content like you would expect from your favorite TV show. So, if you can maintain this, your readers will trust and find your content credible since you’re always present.

Inconsistency makes readers wonder if you're still interested in blogging or have simply abandoned your blog. This can lead them to lose interest in your content and eventually unsubscribe from your blog.

To achieve consistency, you can use an editorial calendar scheduling tool to help you plan your content. An editorial calendar is a tool that allows you to organize your content and schedule it for publication. You can also batch-write, as this can save you time and help you to be more productive. Platforms such as Notion, Canva, Social Bee, and Buffer can automate posts and maintain your blogging rhythm.

Not Analyzing and Adapting

Analyzing your blog's performance is vital because it provides insights into what works and does not. This information can help you to improve your blog and make it more successful. For example, if you see that a specific type of post is getting a lot of traffic, you can focus on creating more of those types of posts. Or, if you see that a particular social media platform needs to drive more traffic to your blog, you can focus on promoting your blog on other platforms.

You can use several tools to analyze your blog's traffic and engagement. The most popular tools include Google Analytics, social media insights, and website analytics tools. These tools can provide data on how many people are visiting your blog, where they are coming from, what pages they view, and how long they stay on your site.

Once you have analyzed your blog's performance, you can use the data to improve your blogging strategies. For example, you can use the data to identify popular topics, create relevant content, promote on target platforms, optimize for search engines, and track and adjust.

Monetization Mistakes

One of the reasons blogging is attractive is because it can help you earn money. However, most think it is a get-rich-quick scheme, often leading to disappointment and financial loss. But this can be someone other than you since you simply watch tutorials online. This will help you understand blog monetization's nuances and potential pitfalls that can sink your efforts. So, awareness is your first line of defense here.

Another challenge you're going to face is how you’re going to monetize your blog. I know most people will tell you about ads, but this goes beyond merely slapping ads on your pages. You need well-thought-out strategies to maximize your earnings and satisfy your audience. So, educate yourself on monetization methods, such as affiliate marketing, sponsored content, and product sales, to find the right mix for your blog's niche and audience.

Finally, keep in mind that monetization comes with responsibilities, including legal and ethical ones. I’m discussing regulations regarding advertising disclosures, sponsored content, and affiliate products. Avoid shortcuts that could legally land you in hot water or damage your blog's reputation.

Lack of Patience and Persistence

Finally, another mistake you can make in blogging is a need for more patience. You will need to publish your first post today and expect to have millions in traffic and revenue. So when it comes to building with patience, I would ask bloggers to lean heavily on ‘Rome wasn't built in a day,’ and neither is a successful blog. For example, posting high-quality content, growing your audience, and seeing tangible results will take time and mistakes.

So, get through the phase of waiting for dreams to come true. I suggest you seek inspiration from successful bloggers who have faced setbacks and challenges on their paths to success.

Branded blogs prove that long-term persistence's rewards are worth the wait. Be patient and build a strong foundation for your blog that will stand the test of time.

Conclusion

As you’ve seen, blogging mistakes can kill your blogging ambitions before you can even start. So steer away from get-rich-quick schemes, embrace persistence, understand blog monetization, and be aware of legal requirements to set you on the right path to blogging success.

For those just starting their blogging journey, remember that success doesn't happen overnight. Keep honing your writing skills, staying updated on industry trends, and adapting to changes in technology and algorithms. The more you learn and grow, the better equipped you'll be to meet the demands of the blogging world.

Good luck on your blogging journey!