Common Blogging Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Blogging can be fun and even lucrative, but there are a few things you need to be careful of. Whether you’re new to the game and want to get off to the perfect start, or have been doing it for years and need some assistance, here are several things to be wary of.

Keep Your Ideas Specific

As you begin your blogging voyage, you will most likely want to write about a lot of things. After all, you have so many ideas that you started a blog! It’s important that each blog topic isn’t so broad that readers could find the same information somewhere else. Pare down your big ideas and focus on small, specific topics that can offer a unique perspective.

Edit, Proofread, Edit Again

This may seem like common sense, but your blogs should be posted only after a comprehensive editing and proofreading session. Create your post and don’t look at it again for a full 24 hours. When you come back to edit and proofread, you’ll be viewing it with a fresh perspective.

First, edit. Remove clichés, jargon, and excess wording. Again, keeping it simple will ensure a return audience.

Next, proofread, proofread, and then proofread again. It’s difficult to see our own mistakes, so share with someone you trust. They may see mistakes that you, as the writer, do not.

Remember, you want an audience that returns and enjoys your blogs. It’s crucial that each post looks and sounds professional.

Don’t Waste Your Audience’s Time

Make sure the information you share on your blog is informative, but not weighed down by jargon or complex ideas. Keeping it simple will ensure your readers return for more.

Don’t Be Boring

No one wants to read a blog that is nothing but a huge block of text. Make sure you break it into small, readable pieces.

Get creative! This is your time to shine, so add some pizazz to every blog. This means using pictures, videos, or polls to include and involve each reader. This is especially true if you are sharing information that some might consider a bit dry. For example, if you’re sharing medical information, add pictures and charts to showcase your data and engage your readers.

Runaway Ideas

When you begin blogging, you should first research how to start blogging before doing anything. After you’ve got the basics down, you will find that blog topic ideas will pop into your head at the strangest times throughout the day. Jot them down when you can.

Instead of taking one idea and running with it, narrow the focus of your piece as we discussed before. Once you have your specific topic, begin an outline. The importance of outlining your blog before beginning the writing process cannot be understated.

You will need to transition smoothly from beginning to end, without veering off-topic. By creating a solid outline, you will ensure that the blog remains informative and relevant. The outline is critical for a successfully written blog.

Write What You Know

Or at least write what you are passionate about. Readers can feel inauthenticity through your words. Remain genuine and true to what makes you happy. Chances are that you already know a lot about the things that you find interesting. This is the voice you’ll need to use so that when you don’t feel like writing, you can still find the motivation to create a post anyway. Staying motivated is important if you don’t want to feel burnt out and to ensure you won’t want to stop blogging after only five or six posts.

Be Yourself

This may be the most important takeaway for creating a blog. Along with writing what you know, write about who you are. Readers want to feel a connection to the writer. Let your quirks and personality shine through in every post. Take some time to write a comprehensive bio about yourself. Readers will be more willing to return if they feel like they can connect with you, and more importantly, if they trust you. As a writer, you will want readers that you feel a connection to as well.

These are just a few ideas to get you started on the path of blogging bliss. Anyone with the time, passion, and inclination can get started today and have readers tomorrow!