21 Off-Center Blogging Mistakes to Avoid

According to the State of Inbound report, blog posts are among the most shared content online, and thus, blog content creation is the top priority for 53% of marketers.

Let’s touch on the brief definition of a blog. A blog is essentially a regularly updated website or web page, typically run by an individual or a small group, written in an informal or conversational style.

Blogs are one of the most important types of content in content marketing. If done correctly, blogs have the potential to grow an audience online and be an effective lead generator. 

But, blogging requires persistence and consistent effort to maintain credibility among readers. Moreover, it requires attention to detail. As a result, avoid making as many mistakes as possible. 

Most blogs focus on technical mistakes you mustn’t make while blogging. But this post looks at some off-center blogging mistakes people tend to make.  

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21 Blogging Mistakes to Avoid in 2022

1. Everyone loves unicorns, right?

Don’t they? Well, we don’t know. One of aspiring bloggers’ biggest blogging mistakes is writing only about what interests them. Don’t just regurgitate the first idea that comes into your head. 

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Plan your blogs according to your business’s requirements. If you are blogging for a company, focus on the long- and short-term business goals. If you are an individual blogger, plan for how you want your readers to perceive you after your 100th blog.

2. I am Drone

Did you imagine this in Groot’s voice (reference: Guardians of the Galaxy)? 

Trust us; you don’t want to become a drone. The most common blogging mistake is creating boring content that will put anyone to sleep. Blogs are a way to make dry content enjoyable. 

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You don’t want to be the person soullessly sitting hunched over your keyboard writing content for the boss. Find ways to keep yourself engaged with the topic. This will allow you to keep your ideas and tone fresh.

3. Who am I?

You need to find a voice that your audience can hear. This means that you need to create a character or a presence that may not necessarily be your own but is the one that the reader sees you as. 

You may have to create different moods or tones according to your client if you are a freelancer. If you are not keeping your target audience in mind as you write, it will be the biggest blogging mistake. 

4. Super professional: Is that the way to go?

Being professional has been the talk of the town for ages now. Dress sharp, talk clearly, and make your intentions clear! However, when it comes to most of your readers, you will find that they prefer a more relaxed, laid-back tone. 

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The biggest mistake to avoid while writing a blog is to make it sound like a thesis on the history of morticians. Relax, allow your readers to engage with your content, and converse with them. 

5. I am a writer

We get it; you’re a writer. It feels cool to say that. Honestly, the guy sitting next to you in the subway doesn’t care who wrote the piece of information he is absorbing. He cares about the content. 

Be yourself, be unique and quirky. If you are trying to someone you aren’t, it will backfire and probably turn out to be the biggest blogging mistake you could make. Never forget that your content is more important than who you are.  

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6. I already said that

Repetition is key. You have mentioned your point once, but it does not mean it has resonated with the reader. More importantly, it is unlikely that every reader will read the entirety of your content, so make sure you reinforce your point cleverly throughout the blog. 

However, one of the mistakes to avoid in a blog is using the same sentences repeatedly. So if you want to repeat something, do it differently so that it is not that obvious to the reader. 

7. Behold, my work

Yes, you’ve got readers. Great… This doesn’t mean they need to know every personal detail about how you and the topic are connected. Focus on your topic and keep personal stories to a minimum. Your audience may just not be interested in your relationship with your goldfish.

8. Starting big, really big

Starting with lofty ideas is probably one of the most common blogging mistakes to avoid while writing a blog. Choose specific topics, and don’t hesitate to get to the point. You may want to solve the world’s problems. We applaud you. This doesn’t mean someone wants to read 45,879 words on how to do it while on their way to work.

9. Is the devil in the details?

Yes, we guess that could be true. Although when it comes to content writing, make sure your specific blog connects to your or your company’s long-term goals. Stay to the point, concise, and get the point across as fast as possible. 

10. Dropping ideas like their hot

It can be tempting to just jab away at your keyboard and splatter your imagination across the screen. Sometimes you just may spit out Beethoven; however, most of the time, only you will understand what you have written. 

This is a blogging mistake you need to avoid. It’s best to figure out what kind of post you want to do and then start laying out a plan. Once you have an outline, organize your thoughts and create a flow of ideas. Your writer’s instinct will take care of the rest. Have a look at an example of outlining your blog’s content: 

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11. They’re going to love this

Sure, your audience reads your work because they like it. This doesn’t mean that they have read every word you have written. Most readers skim through your written content and read the bits and pieces that interest them. Make sure you are aware of that and allow for that in your creative process. Knowing your audience is the critical factor.

12. You’ll understand if you want to

That isn’t the case. It wasn’t the case in school, and it isn’t the case now. The most important aspect of blog writing is passing information to your audience. One of the mistakes to avoid while writing a blog is trying to sound unnecessarily smart or filling up a page with unrelated information. 

The reader should be able to walk away from your blog and act upon the information you provided. It has to be useful.

13. I got this

Data, research – these cannot be underlined enough. Use relevant data to give the information you are sharing a solid foundation. It will give readers confidence in your content and drive your point home. 

If you take a few minutes to read Pamela Bump’s blog on HubSpot, you will see how she uses data to drive her point home. You aren’t a verified source of information just yet. Back yourself up with accurate data and figures.

14. This is my point, okay?

Not adding enough roughage around your point can be a turn-off for many readers. Use examples and expand on your thoughts to allow the reader time and visual space in their minds to absorb your content. 

Look at the points in this blog. It is concise and, therefore, forgettable because there is not enough information around it to drive the point home. Thank you for re-reading that point.

15. Too short, too long

In general, don’t be too wordy or too brief when writing content or a blog. Ideally, an article should be over 1000 words, and this article says the optimum word count is 1600 words per post. 

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We have probably said this a thousand times, but let us repeat it. One of the biggest blogging mistakes you can ever make is writing for the sake of reaching a word count. Write as much as you need to to ensure information is delivered and absorbed well.

16. Thou shalt not pilfer

There is no harm in stating a fact or presenting information that someone else has put out there. We all know that copycatting isn’t cool. If you will use someone else’s hard work to bolster your content writing skills, the least you can do is give them credit for it. 

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It may always be difficult to sound original; being honest about your content is important to keep your readers’ trust. Content plagiarising is the most common blogging mistake to avoid while writing a blog. 

17. I’m done; send

Great, so you’ve thrashed out the work assigned to you and are busy with the next one. Awesome typing speed! But wait, stop; spend as much time as you can proofreading. 

Check, double-check and then check again. If you don’t feel like reading your work a few times before sending it out, how could you expect someone else to read it?

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18. On the other hand

Right, like we said. Read and read again before you submit your blog. Submitting a blog with grammatical errors would not only make you a laughingstock, but it is one of the biggest mistakes to avoid while writing a blog.

Then again, there is a limit; you don’t have to be the best every time. You have to DO your best and once you’ve proofread it a few times and are happy with it, let it go. You cannot always put out the perfect blog that breaks the internet. Once you are sure, it’s the best you have now, go ahead and publish it.

19. I don’t feel like writing.

The thing about information is that it is addictive. So what happens when you don’t get your info fixed on time? You look for it elsewhere. You don’t want your readers to forget about you. Make sure you blog regularly and consistently. 

If you have other things going on or get writer’s block, use a calendar to map out your blog plans for the week, month, or even year.

20. Nobody loves me

Traffic, traffic, traffic. That seems to be what’s on everyone’s mind. And rightly so, for the most common blogging mistake one can make is to not care about the SEO strategy. 

Instead of just using it as a yardstick to measure how good you are, learn how to use it to improve your articles and learn how to target specific demographics. Don’t let the lack of traffic discourage you. It takes a while to get a steady flow of readers. 

You have to remember that people have a million things on their minds. A sudden drop in traffic or lack thereof could be due to many reasons, including world events. Keep at it; they will come as long as what you put out there is relevant.

21. I’m much too modest for that.

Don’t be. Make sure you ask your readers to subscribe and let others know about your content writing if they like it. Get the word out, and don’t be shy. Give people options to subscribe to your blogs. 

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You want them to hit that button and keep coming back for more. Do not hesitate to market yourself or your work. 

The Final Word

Blogging has the potential to be your leading lead generator if done correctly. The distance between the buyer and seller is diminishing every day. If you pay heed to which blogging mistakes to avoid, you will soon have a growing audience on your blog.

Imagine getting paid for writing on some topic that interests you.  Most famous blogs are targeted to their primary audience; hence it is essential to zero in your capabilities and expertise and choose a “micro-niche” from it. 

It is a common blogging mistake to go on and on. Do not make it too long, for you want your readers to come back for more the next time. The best blog examples are succinct and catchy. They hold their readers’ attention and foster engagement. 

So, now that you know what blogging mistakes to avoid, go ahead and start that blog confidently. 

Key Takeaways

• Your blog should be easy to read, and you should always proofread it before publishing it. 
• One of the most common blogging mistakes is never sounding like a robot or a preacher. If your blog is not engaging enough, people will stop reading it. 
• Never plagiarise content.
• Similarly, some rookie blogging mistakes are copying templates or layouts. If you adopt a similar layout, tag the person, or ask the creator personally. Most likely, it will foster a connection with a person from your niche. 
• Another blogging mistake to avoid is to put too many ideas in one blog—zone in on one idea. 
• Always write keeping the target audience persona in mind. 
• Don’t be overconfident. Your content may be great according to you. However, your success depends on the audience’s reception. 

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