Hello again,
Can you believe that it’s Thursday already? This week is really flying and makes me question whether I have done everything I had planned to for the week. So today I am back with a post about blogging and most importantly mistakes most bloggers make when starting out, by the way here are some of mine. Almost everyone wants to be a blogger these days and as much I am all for it, some tend to forget that it’s not just creating a website and letting it be, blogging is not a walk in the park but rather lots of hard work, patience and also trial and errors which open up doors to learning even more about the blogging world. So before I bore you with all my rumbling, let’s get into it and see some of the mistakes most bloggers tend to do.
Disclaimer: I am by no means an expert nor pro blogger, these are just my opinions and what I have noticed so far in my blogging journey.
1. USING A FREE PLATFORM
I am sure you’ve heard of this before and sadly it’s true, I know that starting with a free platform is the way to go when testing the waters, but 50% of the time, most bloggers do want to continue and end up having to figure out whether they should switch to self hosted or not, or they want to start to monetise their blog and notice that they can’t do it using a free platform. My advice is that try and be self hosted from the get go in order to not have the disturbance of figuring it out down the line. If you are interested in a step by step guide on starting a blog, do check it out here.
2. NOT KNOWING THEIR NICHE
Another mistake I see most bloggers making is that once they have already started, they are all over the place with their content making it hard for readers to know which niche they are in, which in turn affects their traffic and gaining an audience who will stick by them and their blogs. Making sure you have figured out what niche you will be in and what your content will be about from the start is the only way to do it right. If this is you, here are answers you need when choosing your niche.
3. LACK CONSISTENCY
Blogging is all about being consistent and having content at a regular basis is what will make your blog succeed. I know this can be difficult even for me but I realised that when I published often, my blog did well and when I didn’t it all went sideways. Most bloggers start on a high then after a while stop being consistent and then wonder what happened to their site’s traffic and if they did something wrong yet all they need to do is just continue creating content and ensuring that they be consistent.
4. NOT PROMOTING
This is another mistake most bloggers make when starting out whereby they forget that it’s not all about build it and they will come but rather, give them the direction and let them follow instead. When you don’t promote your posts, there is no way anybody can know if you have started a blog or if you have new posts written so promotion is key and it really is a huge mistake bloggers do when starting out. If you’re having problems promoting your posts, here are 10 effective ways to do it right.
5. HAVING NO SHARING ICONS
We all know that we need our content shared around in order to gain traffic and gain more followers but most bloggers do the mistake of not including sharing icons in their sites which makes it really difficult to share their content be it on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter you name it, yet it really is beneficial. Have you ever read a great article online only to want to share it and find no sharing icons available? Well I have and I do feel bad for the blog’s owner since their site’s traffic suffers and no traffic can be a reason for a blog to fail, hence causing the blogger to give up.
6. COMPARING ONESELF
Another mistake most bloggers make when starting out is that they start comparing themselves to other bloggers out there which is the worst thing to do. This only ends up hurting them because everyone’s journey is different and those other bloggers are probably doing the same too. It’s almost unavoidable sometimes when you see someone who has been blogging for the same duration as you and is already way up and has even started making money and you are just there still figuring it all out. All I can say is focus on you, congratulate them, let them be and your time will come, it always does.
7. LACKING AUTHENTICITY
As I said above on comparing oneself, it does tend to end up affecting most bloggers thus making them lack authenticity in their content if they try to copy what other bloggers are doing. Most bloggers starting out already have their own voice when it comes to their writing style which makes them authentic and makes them stand out in their own way but once that is lost, it is a mistake that ends up affecting their blog.
8. IMPATIENCE/GIVING UP
Last but not least, comes lack of patience. This is another mistake since bloggers think it’s going to be smooth sailing but run into obstacles along the way which make them either give up too early or are just impatient and don’t want to give it time to come into fruition. What I can advice them is to stay focused, organised and always plan ahead.
110 Comments
Great insights! I wish I knew this when I started out a few months back…
Yup, this is so true! I try not to make any of these mistakes. I always keep going even when it gets frustrating.
Great info for bloggers to know. Blogging is hard work but when you enjoy it you are willing to do the work.
Thanks for sharing, when reading your post I realize the worst mistake I did when I started blogging was failing to promote and relied solely on organic traffic.Was just too scared to use FB as I felt the place was already crowded and no one would want to read my post.
Looking back, I wish I had started promoting my site earlier but having said that, I have learned from my mistakes.
Great tips! I only started couple of months ago so I found it very useful
As much as I think starting on a free platform should be on this list, I must also add that the free platform is better for new bloggers who are still learning the ropes. It’s also good to make all the mistakes there so that once you move to self hosted, you are not starting over with learning the basics. Lovely read
Thank you very much.
These are all really true. Sometimes you know you are doing them and don’t change it thought- because if you are like me- you have pretty much said blogging is a hobby and if I make a few dollars from it- then cool, but I am not expecting it to turn into a full time job. So it definitely depends on your goal for your blog as well.
These are some great tips for new bloggers, my blog was a huge heap of mess when I started out but I still leave it up as it reminds me how far I have come.
We have all made so many of these mistakes! I know I preach not using a free platform because in the long run it is not worth it~
Initially, I lacked consistency. I was so sporadic with it, it was a shame. When I bought my planner, my consistency shifted drastically and so did my traffic!
this is so true. i feel like often we start and have no exact niche or we are confused and it takes a while before you kind of get into the groove of things and figure it out. great post!
Totally agree about going self-hosted from the start. I think we all think we’ll “try” this blogging thing and don’t want to invest much. But, it’s a total pain to switch later on, especially if you have a lot of content!
Wow! I’ve learned a lot from this. Thank you so much!
Comparisons are a HUGE issue for new bloggers! You nailed it!
These are some great tips!! Thank you for sharing.
Those are some really valid and great points! Great job at explaining each one so well too.
I know a lot of people who have given up blogging quickly because they didn’t see results. These things take time!
thank you for sharing this helpful information for bloggers. Blogging can be a lot of work but if you are passionate about it then you can surely enjoy it. i have learned a lot
Such great tips and insights. 🙂
Thanks for sharing this. I do have a little trouble with the niche. I also started on a free site but quickly switched when I couldn’t do anything fun, unique, or cool with the themes. Being Consistent is also difficult for me. Hopefully, I will get a nice routine ironed out here soon. When it comes to promoting, I wasn’t sure when I was actually “big” enough to promote. I have already been discouraged once because blogging isn’t easy and I realized I was in the comparing trap. I had to recenter myself and remember that I want to blog to help others, if one person gets help, that’s enough to keep on trucking along. 🙂
I understand all that you’re going through, I also fell into the comparing trap but quickly changed that by just focusing on me and my site and just avoiding even looking at what others were doing for a while and it truly helped. Also, the best time to promote is from the start which I didn’t do and my site did suffer with no traffic. Wishing you all the best.
Some great advice here, we agree with all of it. It’s a lot of work but you ahve to stick with it.
These are some really useful tips! I know consistency is the most important when starting a blog. But sometimes it’s really hard to keep creating new posts. Definitely need to stick to it and keep up!
Such a insightful post on blogging. Blogging is not easy thing to do so much hard work and input involves.
This is all true, but not necessarily all are “mistakes”. However, I know I am still struggling with choosing my specific niche, but I think blogging is all about the journey or finding oneself and their passion to write about along the way.
Le | http://www.marvelingmillennial.com
This is a valid point as well…
Great post! I actually started on a free hosting site and ended up having to switch about a year after I started. Hardest thing ever!
You nailed it with niche and consistency because I don’t even stay engaged as a reader without subject and content
i think impatience is a big issue because people want everything right away while blogging requires hard work! Consistency is so important but i am not sure you ned a niche though
Indeed…
totally agree on your point 3 and point 8. it is important to keep consistency and do not give up easily!
I am one of those who recently started a blog, so thanks for the tips. I am working to get more consistent content and promoting the site.
Wow this is such an interesting post. I totally agree with point #8. I think bloggers need to find out why they started the blog in the first place and have a right mindset in mind that the journey would be a marathon, not a sprint. 🙂
I absolutely agree Ola
It’s easy to tell when people don’t really have a plan ahead of time, leading to lack of niche-awareness and lack of authenticity. A lot of people start out thinking it’s this easy thing you can just whip up but just like many other things, it takes WORK if you want to be good at it!
I am less than three months in and still working on finding my niche. I am not sure what it is yet, but am enjoying the process of “story telling”. Eventually find my way.
The promotion of the blog is what takes the most work and requires so much patience. I am learning every single day and can’t wait to see what blogging is like three months/six months/a year from now.
You will love it, keep at it and enjoy your journey. Happy blogging.
I’ve recently started my blog. Thank you for pointing these out. I’m trying to work on them. ❤️
The first step is the most difficult. It’s okay as we can learn from the mistakes and have the commitment to do continuous improvements.
I wish I had read this when I was starting out. My blog has definitely changed direction since I began and I am too intimidated to change the name and have to start all over. But these are great tips for new bloggers for sure.
this was a very nice post with real advice.
This is so true! We all start at some point, it’s definitely important to not give up.
xo, Sondra
cuisineandtravel.com
These are really great tips, I only started blogging about six weeks ago, and reading posts like this are helping me to iron out any issues quickly. My main one right now is consistency and how often I should post. What is a good amount of posts to do a week? 2 – 3? 3-4? more?
It actually depends on how many you can write in a week I started with 2 per week, but that ended up draining me and I stuck to one per week but I know writing more gains you more traffic that’s what I want to go back to writing 2-3 in a week to keep my views high and stable.
I’m a new blogger and this describes me. Struggling with consistently is major for me. I’m going to try to make a schedule of getting at least 2 post out per month. Thanks for the great tips!
Having time and discipline to be consistent is often challenging. Remaining authentic as well can prove to be trying especially when brands are micro-managing every single creativity process!
For me the biggest problem is comparing myself because I do what most people do. I compare myself with the biggest blogs in my niche and that can get very depressing. It takes time to get there.
These are all so true! I remember starting on a free platform and wishing I had just gone straight in with being self hosted x
I forget to promote sometimes and I’m horrible about comparing myself to others. Love these tips! I needed this
I think there are some cruel bloggers out there who inflate numbers and statistics to make other bloggers feel badly about where they are. Eventually the other bloggers quit. Although sometimes even those people with those inflated numbers quit too. It’s always interesting to see the journey of everyone and how it all plays out. But quitting too soon I feel like people do often. They don’t give themselves the chance to succeed.
These are some really great insights for new bloggers! I would certainly start off very differently today if I began again. Advice like this makes a huge difference 😊
Thank you.
Wow, you really nailed it!
Love the post, it’s chock full of useful info. I completely agree that consistency and promoting your work are key if you want to start getting noticed and known for what you do.
Thank you.
I think you collected pretty much every important thing a blogger should be aware of. Thank you:)
What great points here, this is a very helpful article for the ones who are at the beginning of blogging!
couldn’t agree more. I am definitely am struggling with being consistent and just finding the inspiration to write all the time..
Because of first point, I am not able to do 5th point. Any Idea how to overcome that? But rest I am following blindly. Any Idea how to over come with that? And as well as earning section also?
If you want to make a business out of your blog, I think going self hosted is key but you should not hurry if you are not able to, think about it and decide when ready.
These are all so true, and most of us have done at least a few of these! I know that free platforms really aren’t worth it, and i see so many people without any sharing icons and it bugs me!
Not promoting, not being consistent or even blogging too much! I find those to be common mistakes bloggers make and yes, I was once a victim. But if one gets these key pointers while starting out, it becomes much better and easier.
I definitely think that the first one depends on the person. I am on a free platform until I am better established. I do think that promoting and consistency are key.
I think that starting on a free platform is a big mistake, especially if you want to create a business or have any future plans for your blog. Moving everything from free to paid is a nightmare.
You nailed everything right on the head. People think blogging is such a piece of cake and something we do for fun. The free platform is a huge mistake and should be corrected as soon as possible.
Comparing is a serious mistake that haunts even long time bloggers I think. But knowing what your goals are and then learning to work toward them is the key to success as blogger I’ve realized.
Blogging is a learning curve and you will make a lot of mistakes when you start out! these tips will help bloggers move faster!
thanks for sharing! great tips. I find myself struggling with consistency!
YES YES and YES! The same can be said for photographers! Just by having a website people think that they can drive all the traffic there !
Thank you so much for these amazing tips! As a photographer I find that I can use these to drive traffic to my website!
Wow! I needed to read this. I have been wondering if I should take the leap of having my own site! Thank you! I look forward to checking out your other post on blogging… Can you tell I’m still new lol
It is much more common than people think too. Lessons are learned though!
So many fab tips!
Not knowing my niche was the mistake I made. My blog was all over the place when I got started. Talk about having trouble gaining traction.
I agree with all but the first 2. I use blogger and just purchased a domain. To me it costs too much upfront to go self hosted and I know I can switch over at any point. Blogging is more of a hobby so I actually haven’t made enough to consider switching over and I’m doing pretty well on the free service, so it kind of makes no sense to pay, lol! I also think niche isn’t as important because I prefer to read blogs where the author writes what they want to write and I prefer to also write what I want to write. I think it’s good to have a niche you mostly focus, but it never hurts to go outside of it every now and then.
Wow! Honestly as blogger I have a lack of promoting because my blog is all about life journey and my writings I wish I will improve my promotions in my blog
These are definitely mistakes and habits that are easy to fall into.
These tips are great and helpful for not only the new bloggers but for each and every blogger. Thanks for sharing the tips.
i do like reading your insights about this matter and I do agree that those are commonly mistakes by new bloggers in making their own blog.
I definitely feel you on that lacking consistency thing! So often life gets in the way of blogging and I end up having to put it on the back burner! I do always have the goal to post once a week, but sometimes that just doesn’t happen for me!
Life does happen,don’t let it get you down. Even for me I still struggle but I keep on trying to make it steady.
These are great! I definitely agree that having patience is a big part of being a blogger. It’s so important not to give up and always push yourself. 🙂
Kasey Ma
thestylewright.com
These are such great tips! I am happy that I knew what my niche was when I first started and that it has expanded and become more focused at the same time over the years.
I am also struggling with Knowing the niche and how many per week are perfect to make the blog successful. I feel drained out some days ,though i wanted to write ,i cant.Your article gave real insight about blogging for newcomers like me.
So true! Consistency is one of the most important things!
not being authentic is indeed a major mistake. And comparing yourself to other as well!
I think this is a post that all bloggers should read! It is so important to not give up – things don’t always happen overnight as we know 🙂
These are on point! Definitely agree about being authentic!
Lots of great tips here – Thank you!
Thank you for the advice!
Definitely a hard part for me has been to keep going and not get impatient! How long have you been running your lovely blog? Awesome post 🙂 xx
Thank you so much, this is my second year but had a month break in between with a newborn. Either way it’s all about consistency.
This is much required piece of advice
These are some great points to remember!
Great points. I am going through the complexities of step 1 right now.
Hello Jo
Thanks so much for sharing, I think most bloggers start blogging and expecting it to be as easy as going to the local store, what no one tells you is that blogging is hard and most of the time you`re alone with no one to help you solve problems.
I have been blogging on and off for 4 years, it`s hard to keep things going but at the same time i do ask myself what did I do with my time before I started blogging because it`s so time consuming.
thanks so much for sharing.
great info here, I definitely was not consistent when I first started!
Thank you for the tips! Choosing a niche was the hardest for me. I keep getting ideas about something that has nothing to do with my website/blog and it’s hard to discard them. I may open a second blog in the future to be able to talk about another subject.
Great post girl! I think that I have been through all of those points lol But hey we all learn from our mistakes. I totally agree with you it’s all about consistence.
XO
Candace
I think if you wanna be successful quickly then blogging isn’t for you. Luckily I love creating content so for me it’s not a tast, it’s a passion.
Working in influencer marketing, my best advice for new influencers is to make your social channels and contact info easy to find. No forms, no verification, no hundreds of click throughs to find your email address and Facebook page – just make it easy for people that WANT to work with you!
I agree with the points you made especially about the consistency. thank you for sharing this insightful post.
Love this information. Definately special for any blogger starting out. Really need to spread this to my friend who is about to start. Thx!
I think I am not the most patient person so maybe there lays my biggest flaw. Or promoting. Some days I don’t engage at all, which I know is not being consistent!
I agree with a lot of these! When I first started out I lack consistency, still do to be honest and that really hurts when you’re trying to grow your blog!
I agree with most of these, but I do think a free platform is fine in the beginning. Blogging is definitely something that takes time to be successful at.
Avoiding these mistakes early on will save you so much time and money. It can be tricky when starting out!
Wow! That was fantastic! You have good points and I am glad to know all these from you. I will keep these in mind.
Good things come to those who wait, and work REALLY REALLY hard in the time being. Being a blogger nowadays is much more difficult than it used to be!