If you’ve just entered the blogging world or if you’ve been a blogger for a short time and found things not going as you’d expect, it’ll be helpful to spend some time understanding the common mistakes bloggers make, mistakes that make it difficult to enjoy what should be fun, a satisfying experience: blogging!
The five most common new blogger errors are :
- Dive in (instead of going into)
- Unrealistic expectations
- Loss of concentration
- Cheating
- Ignore the reader
Dive in! Many bloggers are so keen to start that they dive instead of going slowly – it’s a mistake in an unfamiliar pool or pool and it’s wrong to enter a new arena like “The World of Blogging.” Keep in mind these things before you start your blog:
Look for a focus for your blogs . . . A focus that reflects what you know, what interests you and what you enjoy talking and writing about. There are no topics beyond borders: politics, religion, science, sexual orientations, comedy, exercise, diet, diseases, etc., etc.
Take the time to read dozens of different blogs: note the colors, graphics and layouts to get an idea of what you like. Also note that some bloggers are long wind and others are short and to this point. . . Others are just gossipy and entertaining and don’t have a certain point to make . . . This is also a personal style you can choose.
You need a host for your blog, some free, some charging a small amount per month for their service, some easy to use and some requiring more technical knowledge, some with more features than others; choose carefully, once you create your blog and have a few regular readers, you may not want to change your address (your URL).
You may or may not want to use your real name on your blog, depending on many factors, not least your position on controversial issues and how much you want to get to know your opinions publicly.
Unrealistic expectations! If you come to blogging expecting immediate results: a large number of readers and many free comments, you may be disappointed. There are tens of thousands of online blogs competing for the same audience. Patience and perseverance are essential on your part. If you’re writing well, find a unique place to fill, get attractive titles for your posts and promote your blogs tirelessly, and readers and comments will come (some of which will be free).
Loss of focus! When you started your blog, you had a certain reason to do so; Readers will come to your blog for the first time or be interested in your topic or not, and they will like your style or not, and if they like your topic and style, they may comment and then return later. Once you create a theme and tone for your blogs, you are free to change it but to do so, you basically start over.
Be aware that you can get more than one blog, each one dedicated to a particular topic and each one, if you choose, under a different identity.
Cheating! There are some great bloggers out there, and while you’re browsing blogs, you might find someone who said something really good, something that resonated with you and something you want to put in your blog. Don’t just copy and paste someone’s words into your blog without giving them credit, making it look to the world as if the words are yours. If you’re writing it, write it in your own words and type it better, add your own thoughts and feelings and then be generous, remember where you got the idea and give a link.
Ignore the reader! Some people who read your blog will leave comments. Some readers will agree with you and some readers may praise your visions, but most will choose a point you have made and criticize. People leave comments on others’ blogs for the same reason they write themselves, to share ideas and express their views. Always respond to readers’ comments; If you ignore your comments, readers may end up ignoring your blog.