30 Blogging Mistakes to Avoid

 

Blogging Mistake # 1 – Don’t choose a niche you are not interested in

One of the common blogging mistakes people do when starting a blog is choosing a niche they are not passionate about.

This is really important and should not be underestimated. Many people choose a niche they are not interested at all.

This is a direct way to your failure. Even if you don’t know anything about your niche you must have a desire to learn about it.

This is absolutely possible with some desire and effort.

 

 

Blogging Mistake # 2 – Don’t focus on quantity alone

When you start blogging you need to focus on quality first. Because it’s a common mistake that bloggers start to write a lot of useless content and don’t get any traffic as a result.

They think the more content they create the more traffic they will get. This is not so often times. Google doesn’t care about number of posts you write.

It cares about finding, indexing and ranking top quality content that answers peoples’ questions.

But it doesn’t also mean you can write 5 or 10 posts and then sit wait for a massive traffic. 5 or 10 posts is not enough.

You need to create at least 50-80 high quality posts per year. This means 1,2 posts per week. You have to keep the balance between quantity and quality.

 

 

Blogging Mistake # 3 – Don’t give up too soon

Don’t give up too soon. When starting a blog you must realize that monetization will not start in 2,3 months though it’s possible.

I know stories when bloggers earned their first dollar after 2,3 months of starting their blog. But more realistic time frame is 6 to 24 months.

Many people don’t have right expectations which is why they give up after 2,3 months of blogging. As a result they never make money online.

 

 

Blogging Mistake # 4 – Don’t use pop ups (content blocking ads)

This is really important. Because many bloggers use ads that don’t even allow readers to read content. This is annoying and distracting.

Google and readers hate such sites. Especially when you start blogging there is no reason to use ads because you have no visitors.

Using ads does make sense only if you get at least 100 visits a day. Until that time you better avoid using any kind of ads.

Your primary focus is on creating quality content and building traffic. Monetization will start a few months later when you have content and traffic.

And remember that Google’s main focus is showing people best content, not ads.

When you have many ads, people leave your site which sends a warning signal to Google that your site is not interesting to people.

As a result you lose trust, rankings and traffic. Don’t attack people with ads. If you attack them with a good and engaging content success will come.

 

 

Blogging Mistake # 5 – Don’t start using affiliate links too soon

Some bloggers when start blogging fill their site with affiliate links trying to monetize it. Of course, monetization is the ultimate goal of any online.

You can do it later when you start getting traffic. In the first few months, probably first 6 months you should first focus primarily on creating content.

It doesn’t make sense to fill your site with affiliate links until you start getting at least 100 visits a day.

That’s why keep your site free from affiliate links. It will positively impact your blog rankings.

 

 

Blogging Mistake # 6 – Don’t put money in the first place

Don’t write too many promotional (product selling) articles. Too many product review articles can send Google a signal that your main goal is making money from your visitors.

When you start blogging it’s highly recommended to do some research using Google search console (alphabet search technique) to determine most common asked questions.

When you find those questions Google will also show you many other related questions on the search results page.

Based on that you will write high quality articles answering those questions.

By doing so you will help a group of people (audience) and Google will notice it.

You will mix it with other quality content featuring some of the best products in your niche.

This will lead to better rankings, more traffic and more money in your pocket.

Always mix product review articles with helpful content that teaches and educates your audience.

 

 

Blogging Mistake # 7 – Don’t start collecting emails too soon

When you start blogging I recommend to avoid unnecessary expenses, such collecting email leads.

Because this doesn’t make sense when are getting a few visitors a day.

I recommend to start collecting emails only when you start getting at least 200-300 visitors a day.

 

 

Blogging mistake # 8 – Choose right titles for your blog

When you write articles for your blog write clever titles that attract your audience. They must be short, clear and helpful.

Don’t name each of your article “….review”. Titles can be tips, guides, response titles, “How to” titles. Write titles that help and teach not sell to people.

 

 

Blogging mistake # 9 – Don’t focus too much on social networks

Don’t focus too much on social networks like Facebook. In fact, Facebook doesn’t send any traffic to blogs.

Only those who have a huge following can get some traffic. Facebook can easily eat your time and get you zero visitors.

Pinterest or Instagram can send you a good traffic if you focus on them. Before that you need to have great, helpful content on your blog.

 

 

Blogging mistake # 10 – Avoid using ugly wp themes

Avoid using ugly wp themes. It can break or slow your site and hurt your rankings as a result.

It’s highly recommended to pay $50 – $60 for a good WordPress theme and start your blog the right way.

It will save your time and get rid you of a headache. Bad coded, slow themes can hurt your rankings and ruin both your reputation and business.

 

 

Blogging mistake # 11 – Don’t use too many plugins

Don’t use too many plugins on your blog. Use only those that you need. Because too many plugins slow your site and even conflict to each other.

Sometimes they can even crash your website. You don’t want it.

 

 

Blogging mistake # 12 – Don’t use cheap and slow web-host

Using cheap and slow web-host can destroy your business.

Imagine you start getting visitors and sales and at this very time your blog runs into technical issues and can’t receive those visitors due to a bad and slow web-host.

It can also hurt your search engine rankings and you will lose traffic as a result. Some of the best web-hosts that I know are Bluehost, WealthyAffiliate, Godaddy.

 

 

Blogging mistake # 13 – Back up your website

When you start blogging it’s highly recommended to have your blog local backup. All web-hosts do it by default.

Still it’s recommended to keep your backup files on your computer. You can do it using one of plugins listed below.

They are paid but worth the money.

• Vaultpress
• BackupBuddy
• BackWPUp
• UpdraftPlus
• BackUpWordPress
• WP Time Capsule

 

 

Blogging mistake # 14 – Don’t buy backlinks

Don’t buy backlinks for your blog. It’s true that sometimes they can improve your rankings but there is no 100% that they will help.

Especially buying links from unknown companies can destroy your blog.

There are hundreds and hundreds of blogs that get high rankings on Google without a single backlink. I’m living proof of it.

I have multiple pages ranked in top 10 without any backlinks. Quality content is what matters, not backlinks.

 

 

Blogging mistake # 15 – Don’t be too serious

Don’t be too serious, official with your audience when you write for your blog. Getting personal is the best way to build trust with your audience.

Writing for your blog is like talking to your friend. Never be too serious or official. People don’t like it.

 

 

Blogging mistake # 16 – Don’t be lazy

Writing consistency is important for your blog success.

If you write one article today and leave your site without a piece of content for the next month it’s not good either for your audience or search engines.

Google likes frequently updated sites. Write at least one article per week and you will be ok.

 

 

Blogging mistake # 17 – Don’t forget to edit before you publish your content

Edit before you publish your content. Content with poor grammar is not good either for your audience or search engines.

You will lose your audience trust very fast. Minor grammar errors are ok. It’s normal. Major ones are not good. Always edit your content before you publish it.

 

 

Blogging mistake # 18 – Don’t write for search engines

Don’t write for search engines. Always keep your audience in your mind. Because you write for people, not search engines.

If you write for people and have done a proper keyword research Google will reward you with a good traffic and sales.

If your main goal is search engines your business will die. We do keyword research to understand better what to write for our audience.

 

 

Blogging mistake # 19 – Be honest with your audience

Give your audience what you promised in the title of your post.

Because very often bloggers write an engaging title then write 1000-1500 word article and answer that same question put in the title only in the last paragraph.

This can lead to a high bounce rate of your blog which means most visitors will leave your blog.

Because they can’t find an exact answer to the question you promised to answer in the title of your article.

Always remember to stay on topic and write subheadings relevant to your general topic to keep attention of your readers.

 

 

Blogging mistake # 20 – Respond to blog comments timely

It’s really important to respond to your blog comments timely. It will increase trust between you and your audience.

It’s also one of ranking signals for Google. Doing the opposite is bad for your blog.

 

 

Blogging mistake # 21 – Don’t spend too much on promoting your blog content

Don’t focus too much on promoting your blog content. Because you may be spending hours and hours of research, sending emails to authority sites while getting zero attention from their side. It’s a wasted time and effort.

It’s better to spend the same time for research and writing quality content for your blog for which Google will reward you.

Of course, you can spend some time for content promotion but don’t focus too much on it.

 

 

Blogging mistake # 22 – Don’t use free domain for your blog

Because free domains never get ranked high in search engines. Google doesn’t take such sites seriously.

Pay $10 for your domain and make it secure (SSL). Having a secure website is important for your blog rankings.

 

 

Blogging mistake # 23 – Format your blog post properly

Many bloggers still don’t underestimate this though it’s critical for your blog success.

When you write for your blog remember to allow spaces between lines and split your content into short paragraphs to make it readable.

People don’t like reading long paragraphs. They simply leave such blogs.

 

 

Blogging mistake # 24 – Do a proper keyword research

Use keyword research tool and Google search console before writing content. This will allow you to understand what to write about.

Because some topics may be having zero traffic because no one searches for them.

This means creating such content is a waste of time and effort for you as a blogger.

 

 

Blogging mistake # 25 – Don’t overoptimise your blog

Optimize your blog (SEO) and don’t overoptimise it by doing keyword stuffing. This strategy doesn’t work.

Write naturally and use keywords wisely when they fit into your content. This will lead to better rankings on Google.

 

 

Blogging mistake # 26 – Don’t write too short or too long content

Some bloggers write 500 word article and wait for high rankings. In some niches it may be working well but for most niches 1000-1500 word article is the minimum for high rankings.

Some articles may require more in-depth research around 3500-4000 words. I wouldn’t recommend writing 7000-8000 word article.

It’s too long in my opinion and I don’t think most people are going to read such a long content.

 

 

Blogging mistake # 27 – Avoid copying other blogs

Talk about really valuable tips (spend some time to find them). Try to write about things that are not discussed on other blogs or on very few of them.

If other blogs write about 10 tips you can do a research and write about 15 or 20 tips.

It will require some effort and research but will be rewarding for your blog.

 

 

Blogging mistake # 28 – Do a proper research before writing

If you write without doing a proper research you can give wrong opinion on a certain topic.

This can ruin your reputation because you will look as a dilettante. Spend some time, do an in-depth research and then write about your chosen topic.

 

 

Blogging mistake # 29 – Procrastination

Procrastination is a very serious problem for almost all bloggers. It distracts your attention, keep you from doing what you must be doing for your blog.

Especially with an abundance of info on the internet. Set a schedule and follow it.

Make it a habit to write at least one high quality 2000 word, well-researched article for your blog and you will be ok with your blog.

 

 

Blogging mistake # 30 – Set up your links properly

When you start blogging you need to set up your permalinks properly.

In your wp dashboard in general settings there are 5 types of links, such as plain, day and name, month and name, numeric and post name. Choose “Post name” for all your blog links.

This will allow Google to see your blog posts exactly as you name them.

This is good for your blog rankings because it is clear for search engines and your blog visitors.