Blogging is a crucial part of online marketing in today’s digital and AI-driven world. Even if you’re blogging regularly, at least a few times a month, you may not be getting the results you want or expected. Moreover, it’s challenging to find the time to write an article that’s at least 500 words. You can go longer if you need to explain something in depth. AI tools can help you save time. However, there are many details you need to remember. Therefore, the question is…are you making these blogging mistakes?
When I’m asked to do a free analysis, I usually find the same mistakes on many people’s blog sites. First, let me tell you that you’re in a big boat with lots of folks who don’t know what they don’t know. I’ve been doing digital marketing for over 30 years, and I’ve seen it all! Sadly, I’m still seeing rookie mistakes from people who should have done their research but didn’t.
However, ignorance is no longer an excuse.
Here are the Top 12 Blogging Mistakes and Some Simple Fixes…
With the evolution of AI search, your blogs need to be structured properly. Otherwise, the AI answer bots won’t cite your content.
- Using the free WordPress or other free blogging platforms. On any other platform, whether a free blogging site or social media, you’re just borrowing the space there. You don’t own it. To boot, you have to follow their rules, and they can change them at any time, and use your content as they wish. I recommend having your own WordPress website. If you have a tight budget and you do want to start for free, go with WordPress.com. At least when you do want to migrate to your own WordPress site, your content can be exported easily. However, keep in mind that as your business grows, you will outgrow the free-to-a-point platforms. Moreover, know that you are limited to what you can do with it.
- Using industry jargon. You’re the expert. Your reader is not. You don’t want your message to go right over their heads, right? Write for an 11-year-old. Use the Flesch Reading Score. Several WordPress SEO plugins will test your posts for you. Obviously, if you work in a tech or medical industry, you are talking to peers. Thus, you talk in their language.
- Not creating fresh, relevant content regularly. To be effective and grow a following or build an email list, you should blog 2-3 times a week. And, once you’ve built an audience, you can get away with blogging weekly, no less than that.
- Not writing for the human reader. Write for your target market with the search engine, the AI search bot, and subject matter keywords in mind. Use a thesaurus. Don’t overuse your keywords.
- Forgetting to proofread before publishing. Check spelling and grammar. Moreover, Google notices! Furthermore, it is your online reputation! Preview the post, then read it aloud to yourself. Now with AI tools like Claude, you can upload your article and have the AI tool check it for you. Be careful if you use AI to write it. You must add your own NEEATT!
- Writing long paragraphs. Break up your content with bullet points, lists, and H2 and H3 sub-headings. (This helps with AI-SEO, too!)
- Not sharing your content on social media. This is the main way to publicize your blog posts. Furthermore, it drives people to your site. Besides that, it helps with AISEO. Google loves those relevant backlinks. Besides that, the AI Answer Engines like short, concise answers to questions.
- No credible internal and external links. Add internal links to related content on your site and external links to related, relevant content on someone else’s site. The keyword here is “relevant”.
- Trying to be cute with your headline. Your headline should entice people to click on the link to get them to your website. Yet, creating “clickbait” is a no-no. Write a good headline, then deliver the content.
- Not adding the title of the post or keywords to image “alt text” descriptions. If someone pins your picture on Pinterest, this is the description that comes up. Don’t make the user have to add their own description. On top of that, doing this also helps with SEO. The search engine picks up the file name and the “alt text” description. Also, don’t leave the file name with the original file number like from a camera. Call it what it is.
- Leaving default widgets like “archives”. Widgets are the boxes you see in the sidebar with calls-to-action. No one is going to look for what you wrote on a specific day. They’re looking for topics or categories. If anything, put a widget with a drop-down menu of your categories.
- Not having a “tag cloud” with the tags (keywords) that are relevant to your article. This is another way to keep people longer on your site. Additionally, keywords are what the search engine sees. Look over to the right sidebar, and you’ll see mine. >>>>>
- Bonus! Relying solely on AI for the content. Obviously, AI can help you save time with research. HOWEVER, you MUST add your personal expertise and experience to each article. That will help you rank on Google and get cited by the AI chatbots!
In conclusion, learning how to properly and effectively blog on your website can only benefit you.
Furthermore, stop thinking of blogging as a chore. Consider it as a way to talk to your target market, to educate your potential customers, and to provide value to their lives.
Think these are a lot? Check out all the other mistakes that I see people making online with their marketing.
