Common Mistakes New Bloggers Make and How to Avoid Them
A lot of people start blogs and never see success because they make common and easily avoidable mistakes. There’s so much to learn and it’s easy to make mistakes that can set you back months or even years.
We’re going to talk about the most common mistakes beginning bloggers make and how you can avoid them and be successful from the start.
Writing about a wide variety of topics
Many new bloggers are so excited to start writing and the ideas are flowing. You have so many ideas you want to share! You may love gardening and photography and have tons of ideas for preschool activities. But if you write about all of these topics on your blog, it will be confusing for both your readers and for Google.
Today there are so many blogs out there that you need to stand out as an authority to help your blog grow. No, this doesn’t mean you need a master’s degree or any sort of special education (for most topics) but what it does mean is that you need to be clear about what your blog is about.
Instead: To have a blog that stands out to your audience, you’ll need to pick just one of those topics to write about. This will help not only your audience to understand what you have to offer and to see you as an authority on this topic, but it will also help you grow organic traffic to your site because Google will better be able to understand your topic as well.
Not knowing what your audience is looking for
The ideas are flowing and you have so much to share! You sit down and just start writing! You are so excited to publish those posts and you just know people will love them. The problem? Besides your mom and best friend, you’re not getting many eyeballs on your content.
Why? You forgot to research what your audience was actually looking for. Your content may be amazing, but how will they find it?
Instead: Before you start writing, take some time to understand what your audience is looking for by doing keyword research, looking at other blogs in your niche and performing a Google search. Make sure you understand the exact phrases people are looking for and that you know how many people per month are searching for this.
Thinking people care a lot about you
Because what we share is so personal, it’s easy to think that people actually care about us and our lives as much as we do. Unfortunately, this is rarely the case.
Your readers are coming to your blog for one reason- because you have information they need or want. Yes, they may care about you and be interested in your life, but ultimately they are there so that you can solve a problem in their own lives.
Instead: While you may want to share all about your life, refrain from doing this too much. Instead, focus on how you can help your audience. Can you share a personal story as a small section of your post but also helps them in some way?
Trying to put too much in one post
Many new bloggers make the mistake of thinking they need to cover everything in one post. They want to be thorough and not leave anything out so they try to fit everything into one long post. Unfortunately, this is a surefire way to lose your reader’s attention.
Your readers have short attention spans (we all do!) and will quickly lose interest if they feel like they’re being bombarded with information.
Instead: Break up your content into smaller, more manageable chunks. Focus on one main idea per post and if you have additional information that’s perfect! Use it to create another post. You can also create a series of posts on one topic to dive deep and give your readers the information they’re looking for.
Not addressing your reader’s struggles
When you’re so close to your topic, it’s easy to forget that not everyone knows what you know. It can be helpful to take a step back and think about what questions people might have or what their biggest challenges might be that brought them to you seeking an answer. These challenges and problems don’t have to be big either. It could be something as simple as what to make for dinner.
Instead: As you’re writing, constantly ask yourself if you are addressing your reader’s struggles. Are you providing the information that they need? Are you answering their questions? Answering these questions in your content will help show your readers that you understand them and their struggles. It will also help build trust and credibility with your audience.
Looking at what other bloggers are doing too much
It’s important to know what other bloggers in your niche are doing. You want to make sure you’re not duplicating content and that you’re offering something unique to your audience. However, it’s easy to get caught up in what everyone else is doing and lose sight of your own goals and ideas.
Instead: Use other bloggers as inspiration but make sure you’re staying true to your own voice and ideas. There’s room for everyone in the blogging world so don’t be afraid to be yourself!
Not putting enough effort into growing your email list
Many new bloggers tend to spend a lot of time on writing posts and promoting on social media and they forget about or don’t understand the importance of growing an email list.
Your email list is one of the most valuable assets you have as a blogger. It’s a group of people who have already said they are interested in hearing from you and they have given you permission to contact them directly. These are people who are more likely to become loyal readers and customers.
Growing your email list should be one of your top priorities but many new bloggers don’t put enough effort into it
Instead: Make sure you’re doing everything you can to grow your email list. Add opt-in forms on your blog, share your sign-up on social media and find ways to incentivize people to join your list. Don’t forget to nurture your list once you have them by sharing valuable content directly with them.
So, if you’re a new blogger, be sure to avoid these common mistakes! They can easily hinder your blog’s success. But by following the tips we’ve outlined in this post, you’ll be on your way to creating content that engages and informs your readers. Don’t forget to focus on growing your email list–it’s one of the most valuable assets you have as a blogger. And lastly, stay true to yourself and let your unique voice shine through!
Want to dive in even deeper to this topic? Make sure you listen to our podcast episode: Top 5 Mistakes that Bloggers Make