Five (5) common mistakes to avoid if you want to be successful as a blogger

Many new bloggers have the misguided idea of what to do to be successful on their blogging journey early on. They spend their time creating articles, filling up their profiles with writing that often goes nowhere. Checking in daily and hoping to attract a centipede of visitors but are often met with disappointments. And while all this does is lay the foundation for a blogging journey that doesn’t work, it is important to avoid some of the common mistakes new bloggers tend to make.

Have you ever heard the phrase "write what you know?" Well, there are some things that you just don't want to know. And no, I don't mean you won't be able to write about it because you don't know about it. I mean you won't be able to write about it because you don't care about it. We are all experts in our own rights, but when it comes to writing, it's best to choose stories that matter to you.

Blogging is an excellent opportunity to get your opinion out and make a difference in today’s society. However, we must learn to avoid the common mistakes that many new bloggers make in order to reach the people that need to be reached. These are five of the most common mistakes that new bloggers tend to make that could ruin their blogging journey.

1. Working alone

When you first start out as a blogger, you probably don't realize how important collaborations with other bloggers can be. A blogger might say that he or she can make a difference without any help from others because they have good writing skills but in reality, it’s actually very difficult to get along on your own no matter how talented you may be. The sooner you realize that having a network of peers is extremely important, the better.

In a social blogging platform, interactions with other bloggers on a daily basis build a bond that helps to increase your followers. It also helps you develop ideas through interactions, which results in an interesting and valuable piece of content.

2. Following everyone's opinions

While it might be good to stay abreast of the trends that are happening, don't be a sheep and follow every opinion of a blogger you follow. This can get messy when you end up being asked to take a stance on issues you have no clue about. It’s best to stay on the fence and make a point of finding out what is going on before you make any statements.

Similarly, when it comes to blogs, don’t just subscribe to the comments section of an article you really don't understand because you see a few other comments on the same post. Those are usually the opinions of one or two people, so stay on the same page and enjoy the conversations and ideas that will come your way.

3. Using jargon and terms too liberally

There are many ways to use words or jargon without actually knowing what you are talking about. You don't need to be a linguist to write and yet you will be labeled as being ignorant if you write in a way that others can't understand. You must understand the intent behind the term you are using, otherwise, the meaning will be lost on the reader.

Just as important as understanding what you are writing about is the way you write it. An easy way to improve your writing style is to write with a purpose. Otherwise, you might end up sounding like a salesman. Your goal should be to help people understand your message, not to sell them your brand.

4. Seeking validation

There are many people out there who will tell you how great you are because they want you to follow up with them. There are also those who will try to sabotage you to try to boost their own ego. In fact, most people do what they can to have your attention. It's best not to get swept away by what other people are doing or saying in order to keep your credibility intact. Instead of relying on people's opinions, develop your own value as a writer.

Although blogging is meant to help people reach their own full potential, you still need to have self-esteem and self-confidence. Not everyone is going to agree with what you write, but this is why they are bloggers too. If you always seek validation from others, you might want to follow up with them to see what exactly they have to say about you. If there is nothing positive, you should be wary of being influenced by others' opinions.

5. Not improving your writing

So far, we have talked about how important it is to be good at what you do. The same can be said about improving your writing skills. This doesn't mean that you should be afraid to put in the time and effort to learn new things. But the key is to write about something you have a lot of experience with. If you are writing about cryptocurrency investment, for example, you shouldn't be afraid to write from your own experience as an investor. That's the only way to keep your writing sharp.

In the case of article writing, keep your content fresh by re-visiting the topics that have been written about the topic in the past. Try to stay as current as you can and make sure to pay attention to current events and the trends happening in the field of your writing. If you find yourself having difficulty writing, do a bit of research to find out what's been written about your topic.

These are just some of the common mistakes that people make when they get started blogging. With a bit of practice, you will find that your writing becomes much more polished and valuable to your readers.

Conclusion

Making sure that what you write makes sense will improve the quality of your writing. In the case of blog posts, the quality of the content is going to make a difference in how well your content will be received by your audience. Do not be discouraged if the content you are writing is not received well. Always try to work hard on improving your writing and use what you've learned to become a better writer.

Putting your heart into what you write will pay off in the long run. Your hard work will be appreciated and you will stand out from the crowd of other bloggers in your field.

Do you have any additional tips that you'd like to share? Have you been guilty of any of the mistakes listed above? Share your thoughts and suggestions with us in the comments section below.