5 common blogging mistakes (and how to avoid them)
Blogging is a brilliant way to connect with your audience, build your brand, and give your SEO a solid boost. But (and this is a big but) it’s not just about slapping words on a page and hoping they work some kind of magic.
Nope, good blogging takes strategy, structure, and a few well-placed tweaks to turn your blog from “meh” to memorable.
Whether you’ve been at this blogging thing for a while or you’re just finding your feet, it’s easy to stumble into a few common traps.
But the good news? These mistakes are easy to fix! I’m going to reveal the top 5 blogging mistakes I see people making over and over, and how you can avoid them to keep your readers engaged, your content looking sharp, and your blog working for you.
Mistake 1: Not writing for your audience
One of the biggest mistakes I see is people writing what they want to talk about, without thinking about what their audience actually cares about. And while writing for yourself might be fun, it doesn’t really serve your readers – or your business.
Don’t get me wrong - personal blogs are a thing. Documenting your hobbies, diarising your life, they’re great ways to express yourself and even provide therapeutic benefit for a lot of people. But when it comes to utilising blogs as a marketing tool for your business, your content needs to reflect the wants and needs of your potential customers.
How to avoid it
Start by getting to know your audience (I know, everyone says this, but trust me, it works).
Ask yourself:
What are their struggles?
What questions do they have?
What keeps them awake at 3 am, furiously Googling for answers?
Once you’ve got a handle on that, you can write blogs that help solve their problems. When your readers feel like you’re speaking directly to them, they’re much more likely to stick around.
Mistake 2: Skipping SEO (Search Engine Optimisation)
I get it, SEO sounds dry. But here’s the thing: if you want people to find the blog that you’ve put so much time and effort into creating, you need to make sure it’s optimised for search engines.
Otherwise, it’s like painting the Mona Lisa and then shoving her up in the attic to collect dust. No one’s going to know she’s there, no one’s going to see her, no one’s going to talk about her to their friends, colleagues, and most importantly, she’s not going to generate any buzz for your business.
How to avoid it
You don’t need to be an SEO expert to get the basics right. In fact, I’ve already outlined the essentials of SEO for blog writing for you here!
Do some simple keyword research – figure out what your audience is searching for and naturally weave those terms into your content. Make sure your images are optimised, your meta descriptions are on point, and your page speed isn’t lagging.
Basically, just make it as easy as possible for Google to find and share your content. Because what’s the point of a great blog if no one ever reads it?
Mistake 3: Winging it without structure
We’ve all been there. You sit down to write, feeling inspired, and just start typing away, your body taken over by the creative spirit. Before you know it, you’ve veered off-track and lost the plot entirely. The result? A blog that feels all over the place and hard to follow.
Here’s the thing: readers today are quick to skim. In fact, 73% of people admit they mostly skim blog posts instead of reading them thoroughly. If your content isn’t easy to scan, they’ll likely miss the key points or click away entirely.
How to avoid it
Think of your blog like a roadmap – it needs a clear path from start to finish.
Outline your main points before you start writing, and make sure there’s a logical flow. Break up the text with headings, subheadings, and bullet points so your readers can easily skim through and find the bits that matter most to them.
With readers spending an average of 37 seconds on an article, you need to make it easy for them to stay with you till the end.
Mistake 4: Neglecting proofreading (trust me, we all need it)
I get it. You’re excited to hit ‘publish’ and share your latest piece of genius with the world. But nothing undermines a great blog faster than a typo or grammar mistake that sneaks past you. It’s like serving a gourmet meal on a paper plate – no matter how good the content is, the presentation will throw people off.
How to avoid it
Proofread. Then proofread again.
Then take a break and come back to it with fresh eyes. Better yet, get someone else to take a look (Hint: that’s what I’m here for!).
It’s amazing what a second pair of eyes can catch, and trust me, polished content is far more credible. So don’t skip this step!
Mistake 5: Forgetting to engage your readers
You’ve written a killer blog post – great stuff! But if you’re not encouraging your readers to engage with it, you’re leaving so much on the table. Blogging is a two-way street, and you really want your readers to feel like they’re part of the conversation, not just passive spectators.
How to avoid it
At the end of your post, give them a little nudge. Ask them a question, encourage them to share their thoughts in the comments, or suggest they share the post if they found it helpful.
Basically, find a way to keep the conversation going after they’ve finished reading. Engagement builds loyalty, and loyal readers are the ones who keep coming back for more.
Bringing it all together
Blogging doesn’t have to be complicated, but avoiding these common mistakes can make all the difference in how your content is received.
Write with your audience in mind, embrace SEO (even if it’s not the most exciting thing in the world), plan your structure, proofread like a hawk, and make sure to engage your readers. Do all of that, and you’ll be turning your blog from “meh” to memorable in no time.
And hey, if you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed with it all, or you’re ready to take your blog to the next level, I’m here to help. Whether it’s writing, editing, or just giving your content that final polish, we can work together to make your blog shine.
Let’s chat about how we can make your words work for you.
