It’s hard enough getting into blogging, but when you also have to learn how to do it right as well — it can be too much to take on. That’s why I decided to write this post. I want to reach out and help any aspiring bloggers who are looking for guidance in their journey. After all, no one got good at something overnight, so if you are feeling discouraged about making a slew of beginner blogging mistakes — fear not!
I know how blogging for the first time can be both rewarding and frustrating. There are a lot of roadblocks that arise when you start out and seldom do they come in the shape of money.
There are many blogging tips available on the internet. But not all of them are worth your time. So, I’ve decided to share with you what mistakes most bloggers encounter and how you can correct them.
1. Not doing enough research about platforms and hosting plans
I’m a member of several blogging groups on Facebook and every day there is a question about what platform to use and what hosting provider to choose. Or how they started on some platform and later realized it doesn’t match their needs. The same goes for hosting providers and plans.
You need to understand that most bloggers will tell you what works for them and in most cases slip you their affiliate link (nothing wrong in that, supporting others is great, but not at any cost).
My advice is to think about what exactly you want your blog to look like. You might even write down what you like about other blogs you follow, or what theme they use. It can come in handy when choosing a platform.
Most bloggers use WordPress because it’s been here for a while and that’s what they are familiar with. There are amazing blogs built on Squarespace or Showit. Also, don’t believe them when they say your blog won’t rank if not built on WordPress and that you can’t use SEO on other platforms besides WordPress.
I use WordPress because other platforms were too expensive when I started out.
When it comes to hosting make sure to compare several providers and their plans. Don’t get fooled by “you can get hosting for $2 a month”, you will have to pay on a yearly basis and the first year is much cheaper than the following ones.
For me, this was a breaking point because I didn’t have $100 to start this blog, I needed a monthly payment plan and not many hosting providers have that.
Also, it’s a game of affiliate links for hosting providers, most pushed are BlueHost and SiteGround, I don’t know if they are any good since a lot of bloggers use it and then a lot of bloggers say they suck.
2. Thinking too much about niches
This is one of the most common blogging mistakes I’ve seen, new bloggers getting lost in finding that perfect niche (you’ve probably learned by now that bloggers love using the word niche).
My only advice to you is to write down no more than 5 things you are passionate about. The next step is to do some quick research on how “popular” those passions are. Choose the one you would love to write about, and have a lot to say, and there is some demand for the topic.
I know it sounds easier than it is. I couldn’t do it so my blog is all over the place. But, I still have an audience and get subscribers. Also, there is nothing wrong with starting a blog without having a niche. Some things you learn along the way or lose interest in. It’s easy to switch when you know what you want.
Check out these blog posts:
Ultimate list of free blogging courses for beginners: from how to start a blog to how to earn money blogging
Introducing: 21 tips for beginner bloggers
3. Being all over the social media
Don’t give yourself a headache with not focusing on one (max two) social media platforms when you are just starting out. There is a debate among bloggers about participating in Facebook/Twitter share threads and if it’s harmful to your blog.
I’ve found some amazing blogs in those threads I would probably never look for them otherwise. You will get a burst of traffic, but it’s not really sustainable.
Pinterest is a great place to share your work. Just remember that it takes time to get traction on Pinterest and it takes some time to get a hold of it.
My advice is to focus on Pinterest at first and then spread your “wings” on other platforms.
4. Thinking that you’ll grow your blog in a jiffy
I know a lot of new bloggers get in this “game” thinking that they’ll grow their blogs easily and start making money as soon as they hit publish. The truth is, this is a marathon, not a sprint. It takes time to get a hold of all things blogging.
I also know that a lot of “senior” bloggers use the phrase “grow your blog in a month” and I’ll show you how. When you see that, keep this in mind, that is not their first rodeo. They already had blogs, and some failed, after incorporating all that into the latest one, it is possible to grow so quickly, but not for a newbie.
Take your time and grow at your own pace. Blogging is not a get-quick rich scheme as many preach. Good things take time.
5. Plugin will not help you rank on Google
I can’t even begin by telling you how many times I’ve seen the plead of a new blogger for help since the plugin of choice is not helping them rank.
A plugin is there to help you and guide you through writing a blog post. Think about the plugin as a checklist you go through to see if you covered every important thing. A plugin itself is not a tool that will rank you on Google. You’ll need more than that.
There are a lot of free resources you can learn SEO from, and as soon as you start learning it and using everything you’ve learned, the quicker your blog will grow.
Also, a very important thing – submit your blog post for indexing on Google Console as soon as you hit publish. This will make your blog post visible to Google and therefore eligible to rank better.
Most of these common blogging mistakes can be fixed with practice. But the best way to learn from your mistakes from the get-go is by doing some research before you ever hit that “post” or “publish” key.
I hope this post has helped you identify some mistakes you have been making, or at least prevented you from making them in the first place. If you find there are more common blogging mistakes a beginner blogger should be aware of, please feel free to share them in a comment.
If you find this text useful, share it with your friends on social networks, or send it to someone who you think will find it helpful. Thanks for reading.
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