Are you a new blogger wondering about the biggest mistakes new bloggers make and how to fix them?
When I started my first blog, I had no idea what I was doing. I knew I wanted to blog, but I knew absolutely nothing about blogging. I made plenty of blogging mistakes.
We all start as newbies, and we’ve all made newbie mistakes along the way. So let’s talk about blogging mistakes made by new bloggers, and how to fix them. I hope these tips can give you a head start on your blogging journey.
1. Leaving Spammy Comments
Leaving comments like “I’m following you, follow back!” or “excellent post!” on someone’s blog post is just not cool.
It shows that you have absolutely no interest in what you just read (if you read it at all) and that your only motive is to gain followers and comments for your own blog.
You can’t expect someone to visit your blog or follow you if you’re leaving comments like that. When networking with other bloggers, it’s important to leave thoughtful and genuine comments.
2. Infrequent Posting
When you’re just starting out, I recommend sticking to a posting schedule.
Think about what happens when a blog you enjoy reading posts infrequently. What usually happens? Well, generally, you stop looking out for new content.
The same thing will happen to you if you don’t create a blogging schedule for yourself. When creating your posting schedule, stick to a schedule, you know you can commit to.
Whether you’re posting three times a week or once a week, your readers will appreciate knowing that they can look forward to posts from you at a specific time.
Plan your posting schedule using this free weekly planner!
Click here to download the planner
3. Posting Small Images
I strongly dislike when bloggers use small images in their blog posts. You can’t see the details in the photo, and it’s not appealing to the eye. I always recommend that your photos be the full width of your post content area. Doing this will make your photos easy to look at, and your posts visually appealing.
4. Using Free Themes Long Term
Your blog design is your first impression to the online community, and you want that first impression to be a lasting one.
I’m not against the use of free themes, but I am against the use of free themes long term. Free themes are fine to use when you’re just starting out. However, once you’ve gotten into the swing of things, consider upgrading to a paid WordPress theme.
I recommend taking the time to find a premium theme that reflects your blog and personality, as well as include features that enhance the functionality of your blog.
If you’re looking for a free WordPress theme, check out the free version of my Enamored theme.
Tip: Always download your free theme from a reputable source. If you don’t, there’s a chance that it could contain malicious code.
5. Not Using Social Media
I get it; social media isn’t for everyone. But guess what? If you want to be a successful blogger, you have to get on the social media train. The good news is that you don’t have to post on every single social media platform out there.
I recommend picking one or two that resonate you and learning as much as you can about using them.
Recommended Article: Guide to Choosing the Right Social Media Platforms for Your Niche
6. Not Promoting
We’ve all heard the quote “If you build it, they will come.” Well, I hate to break it to you, but that’s just not true.
Granted, sometimes the stars will align and you will get lucky with a spike in traffic, but that luck won’t last forever. Eventually, you’re going to have to do the work and put yourself out there.
How will anyone ever know how to find you if you don’t tell them? I know this part can be scary in the beginning, but Nike said it best, “Just Do It.” Comment on blogs, join communities for bloggers and share your posts on social media.
Find ways to tell people “Hey, I’m over here, and this is what I have to offer.”
Recommended Resource: MiloTree is a smart popup that helped me reach over 17,000 Pinterest followers! It can be used for Instagram, Facebook, email, and more. Try for 30 days FREE.
7. Not Being Yourself
It can be difficult to find your voice as a new blogger. You may find yourself trying to imitate other bloggers, or writing in a way that you think you should, even if it’s not the way you want to write.
Remember, your blog is an online extension of your unique ideas and personality. If you look at your favorite blogger, I can guarantee that you enjoy their blog because of what they bring to the table as themselves.
The same goes for your readers. They will read your blog because they like who you are and what you have to bring to the table as yourself.
I hope you found this tutorial on the biggest blogging mistakes by new bloggers. Please share this post with your friends, and leave any feedback below!
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