10 Blogging Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
10 Blogging Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Hi there, I hope you are having a great day.
Let’s begin our newsletter with something funny.
My teachers told me I'd never amount to much because I procrastinate so much. I told them, "You just wait!"
The biggest blogging mistake a small business can make is not having a blog. Content marketing generates three times more leads than traditional marketing, and costs 62% less.
But creating content that generates traffic, sales, and brand awareness is challenging. It’s beyond frustrating to spend time writing blogs that no one reads.
Sometimes, a few small tweaks are all it takes to turn your posts from “meh” to “amazing.” Stop making these beginner blogging mistakes right now, and start building a content creation strategy that gets results.
Mistake #1: Your title doesn’t pop
Only two in ten people who read a title click through to the article. Without a great headline, no one will see your content.
The title is also a crucial opportunity to optimize your post for search engines. Only 25% of people go past the first page on Google, so you need to convince the algorithm your post deserves to be front and center.
So what type of title appeals to both search engines and readers?
Overwhelmingly, people seem to prefer a number in the title. In a study from Conductor:
· 36% of respondents said they read titles with a number (30 Ways To Make More Money Renting a FlexPods Studio)
· 21% preferred the direct address style (Ways You Make More Money Renting A FlexPods Studio)
· 17% clicked through to a how-to article (How To Make More Money by Renting A FlexPods Studio.)
Search engines want to serve up the article that best matches the keywords entered by the user. Work out what keywords people are using, and be sure to include them in your title.
Mistake #2: Not writing an impactful introduction
Congratulations, your headline caught someone’s attention and they clicked through to the article.
However, 43% of people claim to skim blog posts, meaning you have to convince them your post is worth their time with a strong opening.
As with headlines, great introductions usually follow a formula. Start with an interesting fact or statistic to hook your reader. Follow up by outlining the problem they are facing. Empathize with them, then offer a solution based on your expertise on the subject.
Let your passion shine through and don’t forget to use your keywords.
Mistake #3: Not writing longer blog posts
As a full-time business owner, your time can get tight. But regularly publishing quality blog posts is a key part of any marketing strategy.
It’s a common blogging mistake to write short posts but research shows longer articles generate up to 9x the number of leads as compared to short blogs. According to HubSpot data, the ideal blog length is between 2,100 and 2,400 words.
That doesn’t mean all your posts have to be long-form epics. The average first-page result on Google consists of 1,447 words, which takes on average three hours to write.
Create value for your reader with your unique perspective, backed up with facts. Make it readable by breaking up your story with subheadings and including a clear conclusion. Your reader should be able to get through to the end easily with a clear takeaway, no matter the length.
Mistake #4: Forgetting your audience
Your blog is your best shot at connecting with your customers, so you need to know exactly who they are before you start writing.
Inspiration should come from your customers. What are their needs and what is stopping them from achieving their goals? Is it a lack of time, or flexibility in their schedule? Or do they have complex health needs, which make working out safely a challenge?
For example, a yoga instructor offering a new prenatal class could plan some articles about health during pregnancy. What are some of the fitness challenges moms-to-be face? Do you understand their problems and can you offer the solutions?
All your articles should speak directly to your customers. They should feel like you understand their problem better than anyone else and you have the solution they need.
Mistake #5: Your posts are too formal
This is an easy trap to fall into. Business leaders often use industry jargon or formal language to convey authority.
But your readers don’t want to see that.
A blog is a conversation between you and your customer. Build trust with your personal experience, a friendly tone, and inclusive language.
Writing with an active voice, not a passive one, can help.
For example, “Try these three workouts for better posture” is preferable to “Better posture can be achieved through these three workouts.”
A good way to check your writing is to run it through a free program like ChatGPT, which will assess readability and suggest improvements.
Mistake #6: Thinking your blog will be read by everyone, instantly
It’s a thrill to hit “publish” and have your work uploaded to the internet for the world to see. The thrill wears off quickly when you realize no one is reading it.
Don’t despair! It’s an unrealistic expectation that every post will instantly go viral. Only 11% of blog posts generate 110 shares. Most will fall well below this level.
Instead, focus on promoting your article to your customers by including it in your newsletter and sharing it on your social media channels.
Mistake #7: Not writing consistently enough
Marketing experts stress the importance of frequent blog posting for success. According to HubSpot, small businesses aiming to boost brand awareness should publish posts once or twice a week. Although this may seem like a lot of work, more blogs lead to increased traffic and credibility.
To maintain a consistent posting schedule and avoid this common blogging mistake, create a content calendar. This simple spreadsheet can outline ideas in advance for each month, reducing stress and ensuring timely content. It also keeps you on track and prevents the tendency to only write when time allows.
Additionally, organizing content in this manner helps identify posts that require updates, enabling the creation of fresh content without excessive time investment. Ultimately, prioritize quality over quantity and focus on producing fewer, but superior, posts if time is limited.
Mistake #8: Failing to capture leads on posts
Once you have written an inspiring piece of content, you need to ask for something in return.
Do you want to make them aware of your introductory offer, tell them about a brand new class, or do you want their email address for future offers? Whatever it is, give your reader a reason to take action.
Building an email list of loyal customers is crucial. For every dollar you spend on email marketing, you can get an astounding $42 back. That’s an amazing return on investment you can’t afford to ignore.
Mistake #9: You’re not linking to other content
Search engines rely on backlinks to tell them how credible an article is. Every link to your post is a vote for its reliability.
You can give your article a boost by linking relevant posts from your website and social media. Good linking between pages on your website also improves its structure.
This also helps your reader stay on your site longer, by directing them to more content that will help answer their questions.
It’s also okay to link out to other organizations. Linking to a source for a statistic makes your article more credible, for example. When linking to another website, be sure to tick the “open in a new window” box, so the reader does not leave your site.
Mistake #10: Not having some of your content gated
Not all your content needs to be free. Many bloggers monetize their most valuable content with a digital product like an e-book or a course.
If straight-up monetization isn’t your goal—after all, you’re running a business, not a full-time blog—ask for an email address in return.
As we have seen, email addresses can be incredibly valuable for lead generation and customer retention.
I hope you found this blog useful.
Need help to grow your wellness business? FlexPods provides not only fully equipped rental studio space but also FREE business consulting.
Contact us HERE for more information.
