Blogging: What You Absolutely Need to Know to Avoid Common Mistakes
Over a decade ago, I took my first step into the world of blogging. At that time, I had no idea what blogging strategies to follow or common blogging mistakes to avoid. So, naturally, I learned everything the hard way—through real, hands-on experience. And while this was valuable, it also cost me a lot of time. Time, after all, is our most precious resource; therefore, whenever we get a chance to save it, we should act on it.
That’s precisely why I decided to write this ultimate guide for bloggers. My goal isn’t to boast but to help new bloggers avoid top blogging mistakes and accelerate their growth. Shared knowledge, after all, is priceless because it enables us to serve others better.
Like many, I learned from the best—analyzing successful blogs, studying proven blogging tips, and filtering out what really works. I’ve also made my fair share of mistakes, which I see as lessons on the road to blogging mastery.
And if, by sharing my insights, I can help just a few aspiring bloggers find their way faster, I’ll be fully satisfied. I remember those early days back in 2013—and I hope this blogging advice will save others that same time and effort.
My list of the 5 most common mistakes bloggers make—and how to avoid them
1. Poor Content: No Value, Too Personal, or Copied
What it looks like?
Posts that read like a diary—lacking a clear lesson or value. Rehashed articles, copying what dozens of others have already said. And AI-generated drafts that go live without editing or proper attribution.
Why It Hurts?
When your content offers no real value or insight, readers tend to skim or leave early. Naturally, search engines also penalize duplicate or thin content, leading to lower rankings and less organic traffic. Over time, this damages your brand authority and erodes trust with your audience.
How to Fix It?
Start by leading with the key takeaway—immediately highlight the problem and what the reader will gain. Add your original insights—whether it’s tested tactics, a quick case study, or your unique perspective. Turn personal stories into lessons by stating clear conclusions and next steps. Additionally, refine AI drafts—rewrite in your voice, verify facts, and add specific examples or data. Always run a plagiarism check and cite sources.
Finally, focus on depth over breadth: one well-researched, comprehensive post beats several shallow ones.
Quick checklist
Ask yourself:
Does this post answer a clear reader question?
Can I state one actionable tip clearly?
Have I added a personal insight or data?
Did I check for plagiarism and refine AI content?
2. Weak Keyword Strategy in Blogging
What It Looks Like?
Picking keywords based on gut feeling or chasing high-volume search terms that don’t match user intent. Creating posts targeting multiple unrelated keywords, which leads to a diluted focus. Publishing without researching search demand or competitor analysis.
Why It Hurts?
This approach prevents your blog content from reaching the right audience. As a result, your search engine rankings and click-through rates stay low, wasting valuable SEO efforts. Ultimately, your blog traffic and conversions suffer.
How to Fix It?
Begin with understanding user intent—do your readers want to learn, compare, or buy? Next, focus on one primary keyword supported by two related keywords; keep your SEO efforts focused. Use tools like Google Search Console, Keyword Planner, or Ahrefs to verify search demand.
Map keywords to content types—write long-form guides for informational searches, and create product pages for transactional intent. Use People Also Ask and related searches to develop helpful headings. Finally, monitor your keyword performance and adjust your strategy accordingly.
Quick checklist
Ask yourself:
Is this post targeting one clear keyword with aligned user intent?
Did I verify search demand?
Do my headings answer real user questions?
Am I tracking SEO performance to optimize future
3. Lack of Original Images in Blogging
What It Looks Like?
Many bloggers rely on generic stock photos that feel disconnected from the actual content. They often reuse images without checking whether they have the proper licenses or attribution requirements. This results in a visually flat blog that lacks a consistent brand identity.
Why It Hurts?
Firstly, your blog risks appearing boring or unprofessional—which can diminish reader engagement and reduce the likelihood of social shares. Moreover, using unlicensed or improperly attributed images exposes you to copyright claims or even legal action, which can severely damage your credibility and brand reputation.
How to Fix It?
Start by creating your own original visuals—using your smartphone or simple setups. Use tools like Canva or Figma to design branded graphics for headers, quotes, and thumbnails.
When you prefer stock images, choose reputable sources—whether free or paid—and always check licenses before use. To make images more engaging and unique, customize them by cropping, overlaying text, or adding your brand colors.
Lastly, optimize your visuals—add descriptive filenames, alt text, and compress images to improve your site’s loading speed and overall SEO.
Quick checklist
Ask yourself:
Are all my images original or properly licensed?
Do my images support and enhance my content’s message?
Are filenames and alt tags descriptive and SEO-friendly?
Are my images optimized for web performance?
4. Inconsistent Publishing in Blogging
What It Looks Like?
Many bloggers publish sporadically—long gaps followed by short bursts. They start strong but lose steam when other priorities take over, often forgetting to tell their audience about breaks.
Why It Hurts?
Inconsistent posting erodes audience trust, reduces search engine visibility, and wastes initial engagement efforts, leading to slow or stagnant growth.
How to Fix It?
Set a realistic, sustainable publishing schedule (weekly, bi-weekly, etc.). Batch-create content to maintain consistency, and use scheduling tools (Hootsuite, Buffer) to automate posts. Repurpose evergreen content to fill gaps, and always communicate schedule changes with your audience.
Quick Checklist
Ask Yourself:
Is my publishing schedule realistic and sustainable?
Do I have buffer content prepared in advance?
Am I using automation tools to stay consistent?
Have I planned for visibility during busy weeks?
5. Not Promoting Your Blog Enough
What It Looks Like?
Many bloggers publish and expect traffic to appear magically, relying only on organic search while ignoring email, social media, and community outreach. Moreover they also neglect repurposing content or involving influencers.
Why It Hurts?
Lack of promotion means even great content struggles to attract attention, limiting relationship building, subscriber growth, and social shares, ultimately wasting your effort.
How to Fix It?
Create a clear promotion plan for each post involving email, social media, and community engagement. Schedule email campaigns and create engaging social snippets. Repurpose articles into threads, videos, or carousels, and reach out to relevant influencers. Track channel performance to focus on what works best.
Quick Checklist
Ask Yourself:
Is there a promotion plan?
Have I prepared engaging content?
Scheduled emails/newsletters?
Is there a list of contacts to notify?
Ready to avoid common blogging pitfalls and optimize your content? Grab my free CHECKLIST and start creating better posts today.
By Fernando Raymond, CEO of SeekaHost and ClikDo — fernandoloves.com