Top 7 Mistakes to Avoid as A Blogger
December 31st, 2007 by Andrew
Image Source: wetwebwork
Since my previous post 33 Reasons to Start a Blog generated a lot of interest, I thought this post might be a good follow-up. Also to clarify, By blogger I’m referring to any kind of online content contributer or publisher.
I’m guilty of all these mistakes myself and thought I’d come clean 
1. Spending too much time on SEO - Search Engine Optimization. In certain weeks I have made the mistake of spending more time on learning and implementing SEO techniques for this blog than I spent on writing original quality blog posts. While SEO is important, I’m realizing now that original unique interesting posts is what creates loyal blog reader. SEO will bring new visitors, however only the quality blog posts will turn them into regular readers. I like how Steve Pavlina sums it up “write for people first and search engines second”.
2. Spending too much time on social news networks like digg, reddit etc. Submitting my blog posts to social news sites is a great way to generate traffic, however I try to make sure it’s not a priority. Using digg, reddit and other social bookmarking sites has been a very big destraction for me at times. I realize now that putting more of that time into writing quality posts will generate a lot more traffic in the long run.
3. Trying to write perfect blog posts. I have fallen into this trap myself whether I’m trying to find the perfect words, worrying about capitalization or constantly going back into each post of my posts and editing it and making it prettier. I now try to think of a blog post as food for thought not a piece of art 
4. Not being personal in your blog posts. I think what makes a great blogger is the unique combination of their past circumstances and experiences. Sharing those circumstances and experiences allows readers to relate to a blogger’s writing on a deeper level.
5. Sharing the good and leaving out the bad. I notice that when sharing a personal problem that I’ve dealt with, I’m tempted to not talk too much about my shortcomings and focus a lot more on how the “powerful strong immortal me” overcame it . This ends up creating this image of a super-star blogger who no one can relate to.
6. Writing about subjects of little interest. There can be various motives for this, whether it’s to generate more buzz about a new blog, or just feeling the need to regularly publish content. This takes away all the fun of blogging. The most successful bloggers tend to be very passionate and genuinely interested in their topics of choice.
7. Constantly Checking Blog Stats. I’ve noticed that this is a big time waster for me. When I first started blogging I would even check my blog’s number of visitors multiple times in a single day. I now realize that this is just a waste of time. I now try to only check my blog’s traffic and performance statistics once or twice a week.
Feel free to share any other mistakes you have made as a blogger, I’m sure many of us will relate.
January 4th, 2008 at 10:02 am
[…] presents Top 7 Mistakes to Avoid as A Blogger posted at Personal Hack, saying, “Anywhere from Big time wasters to useless bad blogging […]
January 5th, 2008 at 6:54 am
[…] presents Top 7 Mistakes to Avoid as A Blogger posted at Personal Hack. Anywhere from Big time wasters to useless bad blogging habits. Are you […]
January 6th, 2008 at 10:17 am
[…] http://personalhack.com/2007/12/top-7-mistakes-to-avoid-as-a-blogger/ […]
January 7th, 2008 at 12:18 pm
[…] Top 7 Blogging Mistakes […]
January 9th, 2008 at 3:04 pm
Productivity at Work Blog Carnival First Edition
Here's the first edition of Productivity and Work and at Home Blog Carnival. But before you start reading the rest of the submissions, I'd like to present my top three submissions: Steven Aitchison presents The GOYA method for Personal Developm…
January 9th, 2008 at 10:22 pm
[…] unknown article is brought to you using rss feeds.Here are some of the top articles on search engine optimization.Spending too much time on SEO - Search Engine Optimization. In certain weeks I have made the mistake of spending more time on learning and implementing SEO techniques for this blog than I spent on writing original quality blog posts. … […]
January 10th, 2008 at 3:58 am
[…] presents Top 7 Mistakes to Avoid as A Blogger posted at >> Personal […]
January 13th, 2008 at 3:53 am
[…] Top 7 Mistakes to Avoid as a Blogger - Andrew Since my previous post 33 Reasons to Start a Blog generated a lot of interest, I thought this post might be a good follow-up. Also to clarify, by blogger I’m referring to any kind of online content contributer or publisher. I’m guilty of all these mistakes myself and thought I’d come clean. […]
January 13th, 2008 at 8:21 pm
I always try to ask a question in my posts, in hopes that it would encourage people to respond with their experiences and tips.
I notice you get a lot of trackbacks for your posts - you may want to try this method to separate your WordPress trackbacks and comments. I did it on my blog, and comments are now neater and easier to read.
January 14th, 2008 at 12:18 pm
In item #3, “I have fell into this trap myself” should be either, “I have fallen into . . .” or “I fall into . . .”
Just a friendly correction!
January 14th, 2008 at 2:11 pm
Re: Red Ink’s “friendly correction”
(I guess it’s a joke but) Wouldn’t being bothered about such a slip of grammar be precisely an example of the problem cited in #3 itself…
Now…as requested…Can I suggest an additional blogging failure (that may or may not also apply to Red Ink)? That would be — to spend (and arguably waste) time — making posts that are meant to have some value on other ‘blog’s comment’s section without leaving a link to your own ‘blog or site!
Naturally ‘we all hate spam’! But when a real comment is suggested, that adds some value or relevant info to the foregoing ‘blog post, then the little ‘pay-off’ for the commenter is surely that useful link back?
Maybe Red Ink has a passion for going round scrawling virtual ‘red ink’ (hence the Nom de Plume) on folks ‘blogs in a laudable attempt to try and preserve us from the evident decline in writing standard that is witnessed in much of what appears online! Whilst I have no qualms about that in and off itself, if Red Ink is also a blogger, then it would certainly be a waste of valuable time (and promotional opportunity) merely going about commenting without leaving a link back to their own (no doubt perfectly written) weblog…But then again that brings us back to point #3 …doesn’t it
January 14th, 2008 at 3:43 pm
Tip Diva, separating the comments from track backs is a great idea, thanks for the link, I have added this to my to-do list.
January 14th, 2008 at 3:45 pm
Red Ink, thanks for your friendly correction, I have made the change
January 14th, 2008 at 3:49 pm
Net Remedy, I love the philosophical argument
Thank you
January 14th, 2008 at 7:30 pm
[…] Hack - Top 7 Mistakes to Avoid as a Blogger saying, “Anywhere from Big time wasters to useless bad blogging habits. Are you spending a […]
January 14th, 2008 at 7:37 pm
Hi,
Your article is now published in the first edition carnival over at Fresh Geeks. Thanks for participating.
January 14th, 2008 at 7:53 pm
jblu, thanks for including this article in your carnival.
January 16th, 2008 at 5:53 pm
[…] presents Top 7 Mistakes to Avoid as A Blogger posted at Personal Hack, saying, "Anywhere from Big time wasters to useless bad blogging […]
January 17th, 2008 at 10:46 am
Brain Blogging, Twenty-Fifth Edition
Welcome to the twenty-fifth edition of Brain Blogging — a semi-monthly blog carnival that aims to review posts “related to the brain and mind that go beyond the basic sciences into a more human and multidimensional perspective.”
Pleas…
February 1st, 2008 at 8:46 pm
[…] presents Top 7 Mistakes to Avoid as A Blogger posted at Personal Hack, saying, “Anywhere from Big time wasters to useless bad blogging […]
February 1st, 2008 at 9:39 pm
Hi,
Thanks for a great article. I’ve included it in my February Edition of the Technology Blog Carnival on Techiegirl.
Just Digg and/or Stumble the post to bring even more readers to see your article:
Digg this!
Stumble This!
If you have any questions at all, just let us know.
Thanks
February 11th, 2008 at 2:12 pm
Man, guilty for all of them
Thanks for the advice, wouldn’t have changed my way otherwise.
Sam
February 11th, 2008 at 8:33 pm
Sam,
Thanks for your comment. The more I learn about successful bloggers, I’m finding that their number one priority is writing quality original content that offers the reader value. This is where the bulk of their time goes. This is what inspired to write about the top 7 mistakes to avoid as a blogger.
August 4th, 2008 at 11:37 pm
Url Posted at C4G Forum…
I find a very good article on not making mistakes as a bloggermy big mistake……
August 5th, 2008 at 9:24 am
a big time waster too is researching for a lot of things and you end up reading nothing…
August 5th, 2008 at 2:51 pm
I checked out the C4G Forum, good stuff, and thanks for linking to my post.
@devil - I agree, too much research is often a waste of time. It also usually kills your creativity and originality. What you end up writing about is all your findings, so basically you re-hash and paraphrase all the information out there. Which this can be beneficial for certain topics, readers often enjoy an original perspective.
August 8th, 2008 at 5:42 pm
a make money blogging carnival - August 8, 2008…
Welcome to the August 8, 2008 edition of a make money blogging carnival.
First Lady Of Poker presents Women?s Poker - A Growing Trend posted at Shopping and Poker Blog, saying, “Few people expected that women would take such an interes…
August 9th, 2008 at 10:38 am
carnival of struggling bumbling newbies - August 9, 2008…
Welcome to the August 9, 2008 edition of carnival of struggling bumbling newbies.
Lexi Sundell presents Noticing Opportunity posted at Energies of Creation, saying, “It pays to be alert to unexpected opportunity.”
Paul Gallion…
August 11th, 2008 at 7:40 pm
Generating Internet Traffic: Carnival 03…
Welcome to the August 12, 2008 edition of internet traffic.
AndrewB presents 33 Reasons to Start a Blog posted at Personal Hack, saying, “Thinking about starting a blog but need Motivation? Or maybe you have a blog but have lost…
August 12th, 2008 at 8:17 am
Yup, I’m sure I’ve done all these too. I understand where you’re coming from with number 5, but also bear in mind that people are coming to find answers to their problems, and part of your credibility rests on being able to convince them you know what you’re talking about. I think it’s a bit of a balancing act between coming across as human, but also someone to look up to.
August 12th, 2008 at 9:37 am
Rob you bring up a great point. There are certainly two extremes. The one extreme is the expert or the guru, the person who kinda of talks down at people. The other extreme is someone who’s too nice and respectful and never really gives honest advice or feedback. Usually their too scared to offend anyone.
I found that with blogging the balance can often be found in being honest and genuine in your writing. It’s all about authenticity sharing the good, the bad and the ugly. A great book on this topic is Radical Honesty by Brad Blanton.
Thanks for the comment
September 12th, 2008 at 3:20 am
Thank you very much for submitting your article to the 7th Edition of the “Bringing more traffic to your blog” Blog Carnival. The edition was published today: http://blogging4good.blogspot.com/2008/09/bringing-more-traffic-to-your-blog.html
Have a good weekend!
April 14th, 2009 at 8:48 am
[…] presents Top 7 Mistakes to Avoid as A Blogger posted at Personal Hack, saying, “Anywhere from Big time wasters to useless bad blogging […]