A blog is one of the most important assets for any content creator, course creator, or online business owner. That’s because it’s a safe and secure platform that you own that attracts your target audience, builds trust, and gets them to become raving fans. However, there are 16 common mistakes to avoid as a new blogger, especially since they can cost you a lot of time and money.

Whether you’re a new or experienced blogger with a couple of years under your belt, avoiding these common blogging mistakes can be tricky.

That’s because there’s so much to consider when it comes to building a blog that works for you, represents your brand, sounds like you, and attracts hoards of your target audience.

So if you feel like your blog posts aren’t achieving the results you’ve been hoping for, keep reading.

16 Common Mistakes to Avoid as a New Blogger

While everyone can start a blog at every price point, there are some fundamental elements you want to be aware of before you even secure your domain.

In this post, I’ll dive into the 16 common mistakes that both new and experienced bloggers make. From picking the right platform and web hosting, to not having a way to nurture your readers beyond your blog…

I’ve organized this post of the most common mistakes in the exact order in which you will encounter them.

Starting with…

Common Blogging Mistake #1: Choosing the Wrong Blogging Platform

The first thing you need to do as a brand new blogger is choose which blogging platform you want to use. 

Wix, Squarespace, and WordPress are the most common options new bloggers are presented with. But this is where the first mistake happens.

Squarespace is an enticing choice because it’s user-friendly and easy to design.

However, if you want to start your blog off on the right foot, I recommend starting off with a self-hosted WordPress.org blog.

This is the route I teach all my students in the Blogger Bootcamp. That’s because if you want to have complete control over your website, a self-hosted WordPress.org site is the way to go.

Although the interface looks intimidating, WordPress is very easy to navigate and is quite user-friendly. It also allows for multiple users, so it’ll be easy to create additional accounts for anyone on your team, if you eventually choose to outsource any part of the blogging process.

Common Blogging Mistake #2: Not Having a Target Audience In Mind

Once you have the bone structures of your blog in place, it’s time to start designing, writing, and creating content for it. But before you do that, you need to brainstorm who your target audience is.

Not defining and identifying your target audience is a huge mistake because you need to know exactly who it is you’re writing for before you write your first post. Knowing your audience will also help you determine how to design your blog in a way that attracts and appeals to them.

For example, how you design a blog will greatly differ if your target audience is a young woman between the ages of 18 – 25, versus an audience of moms who tend to be in their 30s – 40s.

Knowing exactly who your target audience is is also crucial to the types of content you decide to write for your blog. You need to know that there’s genuine intrigue and interest in the topics you write about, so knowing your audience is a step you cannot miss.

Common Blogging Mistake #3: Not Establishing a Niche and Relevant Content Pillars

I know, I know… “Find a niche” is overplayed advice for bloggers and content creators. Although I’m all for pivoting and expanding along the way to write about topics you’re passionate about, establishing a niche as a new blogger is important.

I recommend going deep and narrow with your niche. Don’t try to encompass a largely undefined niche from the get-go. For example, being a “lifestyle blogger” can be tough, especially starting out. Because “lifestyle” doesn’t give anyone a lot to go off on when they’re Googling answers to their question.

On the other hand, if you start a blog within the “budget travel” niche, that calls in a very specific group of people searching various questions to meet their budgeting and travel needs.

Common Blogging Mistake #4: Treating Your Blog Like a Diary and Not Writing for Your Audience

This is one of the biggest mistakes I see bloggers make. So many people start blogs thinking it would be a personal recount of their trips, days, or anything they find interesting.

But if you want your blog to be searchable and discovered by your target audience, you need to write with them in mind.

The basic premise of SEO is to write strategic posts that accurately answer questions your target audience looks for. Your blog post needs to be packed with valuable information that your target audience can benefit from.

This is also the key to building a loyal readership since it establishes trust with your audience.

Common Blogging Mistake #5: Not Blogging Consistently

Another overplayed piece of advice – consistency.

But in case you need to hear it again, consistency matters greatly when creating content and growing an audience online. You need to give your audience a reason to keep coming back.

Not creating content consistently is similar to your favorite show being canceled suddenly. It’s one of the quickest ways to lose the trust of your audience.

Common Blogging Mistake #6: Not Formatting Your Blog Appropriately

Bringing it back to mistake #2 (not having a target audience in mind), you need to know where your target audience will likely consume your blog content.

Are they scrolling on their laptops? Are they browsing on their phones? This will help you determine the format of your blog.

Generally, it’s good to keep paragraphs short and images strategically interspersed within the blog post. That’s because most people tend to scan blog posts, and breaking things up makes them more readable and accessible.

Common Blogging Mistake #7: Not Researching Keywords and Optimizing Your Blog Posts for SEO

I mentioned SEO earlier, but really, you shouldn’t be writing a blog post without doing the proper research you need to beforehand. 

If your blog posts are optimized for SEO, and you’re writing it without researching keywords you can rank for, you might be wasting your time. That’s because your blog post won’t be as searchable as you think it might be.

In the Blogger Bootcamp, I recommend using a keyword research tool like Keysearch to perform your research. This will help you identify keywords you can rank for, which will help you determine the best title for your blog post.

Common Blogging Mistake #8: Not Linking to Relevant Blog Posts

When someone discovers a blog post you wrote through Google, it’s because Google has deemed it the most valuable answer to their question.

This is a prime opportunity to capture your audience’s attention and retention in the long run. It’s why I highly recommend linking each blog post you write to a relevant one that a potential reader could be interested in.

Take this blog post, for instance. I’m writing about the 16 common mistakes to avoid as a blogger. And if you’re reading this, I can safely assume that you’re interested in starting a blog, or at least scaling and growing your content.

It would also make sense for me to link a post about how I turned blogging into a 7-figure business. Another option would be how to use your blog to build a strong personal brand.

Common Blogging Mistake #9: Not Adding a Clear Call to Action, Invitation, or Call to Value

In that same line of thought, every piece of content should prescribe the next logical step for your reader to take.

While it doesn’t always have to be a call to action, you could include another resource or helpful blog post (a call to value), or an invitation to join your mailing list.

Common Blogging Mistake #10: Not Updating Your Existing Blog Content

Blog posts take a bit of time to rank on Google. It also is an evergreen piece of content which means if written well, people will find your blog post for years to come. 

And since Google is constantly crawling the internet for up-to-date and relevant content, you want to be on top of updating your blog posts.

Common Blogging Mistake #11: Not Using Pinterest to Grow Your Blog

Like Google, Pinterest is a search engine. If you’re not using Pinterest to grow your blog, you’re missing out on a huge opportunity to be discovered and searchable.

It’s also easier to rank on Pinterest than it is on Google. Plus, if you’re already researching keywords to rank for, you might as well rank for them on Pinterest as well!

Common Blogging Mistake #12: Not Establishing a Clear Brand Voice

Unlike writing your school essays and papers, your blog must establish a clear brand voice. Throw out proper grammar rules and “professional” writing. Your blog is meant to communicate your personality and your brand’s personality.

One of the most common blogging mistakes I see new bloggers make is that they get caught up and stuck in analysis paralysis when it comes to writing.

However, my advice is not to overthink it and write how you speak! It’s the most personable way to write for your audience.

Common Blogging Mistake #13: Not Promoting Your Blog Post

If you’re not cross-promoting your blog post across your other channels, you’re not maximizing your reach. Sharing a link to your blog post on Instagram Stories is a great way to let your audience know that your new blog post is out. It’s also a great way to attract new readers to your blog once you hit publish.

Common Blogging Mistake #14: Not Growing an Email List to Further Nurture Your Readers

Wondering how I scaled my blog into a multiple 7-figure business? This right here is the key – building my email list. 

If you’re creating content, writing blog posts, and offering incredibly valuable resources, you’re also putting time and energy into fostering a trustworthy relationship with your audience.

And if you want to take it a step further, I highly recommend nurturing your audience and readers further by growing an email list. This will pay off in the long run, especially if you have affiliate links.

Or if you plan on creating and launching your own products and offers in the future (like an online course), you’ll definitely want to start growing your email list asap.

Common Blogging Mistake #15: Ignoring Comments and Not Interacting with Your Readers

Fostering relationships with your readers is a great way to build trust and likeability. If you receive a comment on one of your posts, be sure to respond, even if it’s just a simple “thank you.” Return the favor if your readers spend time reading and interacting with your post.

Common Blogging Mistake #16: Not Repurposing Your Blog Posts

Last but not least, repurpose your blog posts – especially the highest-performing ones. If you have a YouTube channel, film a video about the same topic. Or, if you have a podcast, record an episode all about it.

Furthermore, repurpose your posts into short-form video content, such as Instagram Reels and TikToks. Or get creative and create carousel posts from them.

And if you need a little help repurposing your content in a fresh, new, and exciting way, I have a post about it right here.

Starting Your Blog Off On the Right Foot

This blog post will help you steer clear of the 16 common mistakes so that you can feel confident as you build your blog. Or, if you’re an experienced blogger looking for ways to improve and grow your blog, cross reference this post to see if there are areas where you can make improvements and tweaks.

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