Aside from being a passion or a hobby, creating a blog helps you improve your site visibility, position yourself as an expert in your field and get in touch with your clients.
So the light bulb above your head went off, the required research was made and you're ready to start a blog. But wait. There are common mistakes we’re all a bit guilty of when it comes to blogging. If you don’t pay close attention, your article might pay the price. Fortunately, we’ve compiled some frequently-seen blogging blunders and some helpful ways to avoid them, when learning how to make a website, or when figuring out how to make money blogging. So whether you're a beginner blogger, or a little more experiences—we have 8 mistakes to avoid.
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Blogging mistakes not to make
01. Provide valuable content not the opposite
Getting paid per word is the standard payment method for many column writers, but when it comes to your own blog, longer isn’t always better. It’s important to remember that one of the main goals of your blog is to provide valuable information for your readers. Don’t write like you’re blowing a balloon, write like you’re a chef cooking a 5 course dinner.
One of the main goals of your blog is to provide valuable information for your readers.
A quality blog article should be precise. If your ideas are clearly explained in 200 words, there’s no need to stretch it out to a short novel. Additionally, most of us have an inherent tendency to talk (or on the web, to write) about ourselves. Sprinkling some personal touch is great, going on and on about your life – isn’t. Keep the reader in mind. In other words: Thou shalt love thy reader as thyself – and more.
02. Don’t settle for an OK title
The title is the gateway to your article. You want it to be sure you're writing catchy blog titles that are short, mobile-friendly and attention grabbing. As you know, the competition is tough: your content will probably have to compete with cats dancing on pianos and pandas sneezing rainbows for the attention of your potential readers. Don’t devalue your article with a boring title that will remind them of their last tax review. But careful! You don’t want to turn it into an online equivalent of a Vegas billboard, either.
The title is the gateway to your article. You want it to be a short, mobile-friendly attention grabber.
The title needs to kill it. It should be explanatory, attractive and short while keeping in mind Google. An easy way to create that golden title time after time is by using the magic formula:
Number or Question + Adjective + Keywords + Promise
For instance, if you run a food blog and you just wrote the War and Peace of Pizza recipes, don’t name it “Pizza recipe for everyone.” Go for, “How to easily make a pizza that your guests will never forget.”
If you're stuck on coming up with ideas, take a look at this article on how to write a powerful headline. You can also use this blog title generator for guidance.
03. Don’t neglect your blog intro
Remember that Kylie Minogue song, “Love at First Sight?” It’s one of the pillars of early millennium pop music. Besides the catchy tune that’s now going to stick with you for days, you can actually take away an important tip from her smash hit. Make your readers fall in love with your text right from the start. The intro, the very first words you write, holds the first and only opportunity to set the tone and reveal your approach for the whole article.
Make your readers fall in love with your text right from the start.
Web readers won’t give you second chances – they read quickly and decide even faster if the content in front of them is worth their time.
04. Don’t underestimate or overestimate your reader
Unless your blog reviews academic research about quantum physics, it’s probably better if you keep the content light. Additionally, even if you just learned about a shooting technique used by left-handed photographers in Romania, please spare us the name dropping. Only ultra-niche blogs can get away with using highbrow language and professional terms without warding off half of the subscribers.
Keep your content light.
On the other hand, your readers aren’t looking for content that will go well with a bottle of warm milk and a huggable teddy bear. They chose to read your blog, so you know they are bright, intelligent and knowledgeable human beings. Treat them with respect. The most important and easiest rule to follow?
Write like a regular person. Imagine you’re talking to a colleague, a friend or family member (except your nephew. Wait until he’s at least 4 years old).
05. Don’t forget your internal and external linking
Imagine that your blog post is a new community situated on an island. Every hyperlink implemented in the text is like another bridge, a new shipping route, or even a semi-reliable low cost airline that departs from the island at horrible hours. Hyperlinks are your connection to the outside world. They help you boost your SEO ranking, improve your usability and allow you to credit other sources for their contribution to your rich, magically crafted post. They're an important part of making a website, specifically a type of website such as a blog.
Hyperlinks are your connection to the outside world.
Web readers are used to interactive reading – jumping between pages and following interesting side notes. The user experience your blog post provides shouldn’t be different.
06. Don’t publish without editing your text
Spelling mistakes are a great way to let your readers know you don’t take them seriously. To err is human; to use spell checker, divine. With modern blogging tools, publishing content containing spelling mistakes is just unprofessional. Don’t let them kill your post. Oh, and illogical sentences that were cut in the middle aren’t welcome either.
To err is human; to use spell checker, divine.
Can’t stand to look at the screen for one more second? No problem. Send the text to family members and friends to have another look at it. Fresh eyes will provide new insights and are always sharper when it comes to spelling errors. Get your blog template content right before hitting publish.
07. Don’t overlook your article structure and text appearance
When people visit your blog, their decision to read an article deeply depends on the appearance of the text. But don’t Google “how to make your articles do a duck face” just yet. We are talking about spacing, sub headers, etc - your blog format. When people review a page, they take a quick glance first (most of the time they will scan the page in an “F” shape). They won’t start reading your work if they’ll discover they have to cross a 400 word paragraph. Dividing the text, placing titles and providing non-verbal information will help readers know if your article will be the perfect companion for the next 15 minutes on the train.
When people visit your blog, their decision to read an article deeply depends on the appearance of the text.
To conclude, make it easy for your audience to read by:
Breaking the text into different paragraphs
Adding sub headers
Adding tables, charts and graphs
Including photos and illustrations
Bolding or italicizing to emphasize parts of your text
08. Don't forget to share your blog articles
Sharing is caring. People didn’t set an alarm clock for your weekly publishing hour and they won’t search your name on the web in order to find your new post. Even if you have a small group of followers who like your writing, promoting yourself is a must. The few social buttons at the bottom of the page, aren’t there for decoration. Use them to promote your blog.
Share on social media
Share your blog on every channel you’re operating while avoiding the common destructive social media mistakes. Maybe it’s time to open accounts on LinkedIn and other social platforms that will help you attract new and loyal readers.
Start email marketing
Simultaneously, send your friends and colleagues an enticing email with Wix email marketing to announce your new creation. You could also consider starting a newsletter to distribute your content. Oh, and there’s nothing wrong with asking your parents to share your posts, it’s not so different from hanging your drawings on the fridge.
Share your blog on every channel you’re operating.