Common Amateur Blog Mistakes– How Not to Blog:
Mistakes New Bloggers Make:
Are you a blogger looking to improve your blog? You may be making some of these amateur blog mistakes that are tanking your blog’s growth and success. Here’s how not to blog, and some of the most common amateur blog mistakes you don’t want to be making:
#1 Not Self-Hosting
What platform you use to host your blog matters. Not self-hosting your blog is one of the biggest amateur blog mistakes that bloggers make. I guess it can be confusing. Free platforms like WordPress.com and Wix seem like a good idea but they have limitations.
For example, they may include monetization restrictions and limited customization. By self-hosting you have more control over site’s design, functionality, and content. I use Hostinger and I’m happy with it.
#2 Unclear Niche or Target Audience
Not having a distinct niche or target audience is one of the most many mistakes bloggers make. How can you expect to create content if you don’t know who your audience is? Make sure you research a good niche that’s specific and focused so that your readers can enjoy your content, and you can monetize your blog.
Related: Starting a Blog When You Lack Skills: What Should You Blog About? + Worst Niches to Avoid
#3 Poor Content Quality
Poor article quality is another error that new bloggers do. Your blog posts should be well written and informative. Typos and incorrect spelling can make your blog seem, well, amateurish. If you struggle with this, Grammarly can be of great help. So no, thanks to Grammarly I don’t think you’re doomed if you can’t write English correctly.
#4 Inconsistent Posting Schedule
Another mistakes amateur bloggers often make is not being consistent with their posting. Your readers can stop visiting your blog if you don’t post frequently. It’s also not great for SEO. Make sure you have some sort of a posting schedule (doesn’t have to be fancy) or at least post consistently. This will keep your readers interested and help you develop a devoted following.
#5 No Call to Action
A call to action is a sentence that encourages your audience to do something. At the end of the day you want your readers to do something. Right? It can be to subscribe to your email list, leave a comment, or share your post on social media. If you don’t include a call to action it can totally be a missed opportunity to interact or even monetize your blog.
#6 Using Copyright Photos
Using photos with copyrights in your blog is another major mistake that can cost you BIG. I know it can be super tempting to use photos you find on Google. But don’t. Please don’t. Without permission, using copyrighted photos can get in legal trouble and cause you to pay sums of money you probably don’t have.
#7 Lack of Promotion
Another common mistake made by amateur bloggers is a lack of promotion. You can’t just put something on your blog and hope that people will read it. You can have the best product in the world but if people don’t know about t or hear it then you have nothing. You need to actively promote through channels like email marketing, social media, and other platforms. To expand your audience, promote your blog posts on social media. You can also join Tailwind, Facebook groups, and team up with other bloggers.
Design and Layout
#8 Jumbled/ Cluttered Design
Readers can feel overwhelmed and confused if your design is too busy or cluttered design. For them to scroll around your blog easily, it’s important to have a neat and structured layout. Make sure your writing is easy to read and avoid using excessive color or jumbled fonts.
#9 Too Many Ads Can Harm User Experience
I get it you want to make money from your blog. But too many ads can be a total turn off to your audience. You need to find the right mix between user experience and monetization is crucial. Make sure to perform A/ B testing in your advertising platform to see what works. Make sure your advertisements are relevant to your writing and don’t distract viewers.
#10 Poor Navigation
If your website’s navigation is bad- it can be hard for your readers to find what they’re looking for. A user-friendly and intuitive navigation system is a must. Use clear and descriptive labels for your categories and pages. Also make sure your search function is easy to find.
#11 Invest in a Good Theme
Investing in a good theme can make a big difference in the look and feel of your blog. Your blog will appear more professional. It will also be simpler to optimize for search engines. Choose a theme that is user-friendly, responsive and offers good support.
SEO and Analytics
#12 Ignoring SEO Best Practices
Let’s say you’re the best writer but you ignore SEO practices. Unless you’re a hot shot personality or have a lot of followers already, not using SEO is a big ouch. It means you’re not doing everything you can to make sure your blog is visible to search engines. This includes stuff like using relevant keywords in your blog posts, optimizing your meta descriptions and making sure your site is mobile-friendly.
#13 Keyword Stuffing
One of the most common amateur blog mistakes is keyword stuffing. You know like let me use this word over and over again to rank higher in search engine results. Don’t do this. Most of the time it will make you’re writing bad. This can also hurt your SEO ranking as search engines see it as spammy behavior.
#14 Not Tracking Analytics
Another mistake amateur bloggers make is not tracking their analytics. Analytics can tell you how many people are visiting your blog, where they’re coming from and what they’re interested in. This info will help you make better decision on what kind of content to create plus how to optimize your blog for search engines.
Make sure you set up Google Analytics 4 on your blog and check it regularly. This will help you figure out which blog posts are performing well and which ones need improvement.
Overall, ignoring SEO best practices, keyword stuffing, and not tracking analytics are common mistakes amateur bloggers make. By avoiding these blogging mistakes and you can increase the visibility of your blog and attract more readers.
Engagement and Community Building
#15 Not Responding to Comments
One of the biggest amateur blog mistakes is not responding to comments. When readers take the time to leave a comment on your blog they’re essentially looking for engagement and a connection with you. If you don’t respond to their comments, they can feel ignored and may not return to your blog.
To avoid this, check comments regularly and respond to them when you can. Even if you don’t have the time to respond to every comment- make sure you are acknowledging folks and letting them know that you appreciate their feedback.
#16 Lack of Social Media Integration
Another common amateur blog mistakes that amateur bloggers make is a lack of social media integration. Unless you’re big and already have a following or name in the industry with the big guys, social media is a powerful tool you should be taking advantage of. Not using it would be missing out on a huge opportunity.
Make sure you are promoting your blog on social media and engaging with your followers. Figure out which social media your readers are on and post there. If you’re readers are on Pinterest, there’s no point posting on Twitter.
Some other tips for building engagement and community on your blog include:
- Encouraging reader feedback and participation through polls, surveys, and contests
- Creating a forum or community section on your blog where readers can connect with each other
- Hosting live events or webinars where you can interact with your readers in real-time
- Offering exclusive content or perks to your most engaged readers
Final Takeaway
- Choose a clear niche: Define your blog’s focus and stick to it. This will help you attract a more engaged audience and create more targeted content.
- Quality over quantity: Don’t sacrifice the quality of your content for the sake of publishing more frequently. Focus on creating high-quality content that provides value to your readers.
- Engage with your audience: Respond to comments, ask for feedback, and create a community around your blog. This will help you build a loyal following and increase engagement.
- Use social media wisely: Don’t spam your followers with self-promotion. Instead, share valuable content, engage with your followers, and use social media to build relationships.
- Be patient: Building a successful blog takes time and effort. Don’t expect overnight success. That’s not how it works. Please, please, please don’t give up if you don’t see immediate results.
Remember, the key to success is to stay focused and CONSISTENT. You need self- discipline. Do the THING even if you don’t feel like it, be it writing that blog post, or replying to comments. By avoiding common mistakes and following best practices, you’ll have no trouble creating a blog that provides value to your readers.
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