Although today’s web seems to revolve around Twitter blasts and Instagram selfies, blogging is still a viable way to reach an audience. Many bloggers undermine their own efforts by committing easily avoidable mistakes. Be sure to avoid the following when publishing a blog.
1. Using a Dated or Trite Design
Like it or not, appearances matter to potential followers and customers. Within seconds of arriving on the site, an average blog visitor will decide whether they’ll keep reading based on looks. To stand out, use a unique web design layout when creating your blog.
2. Catering to the Wrong Audience
Probably the biggest blunder that any blogger can make is targeting the wrong audience niche. To truly succeed, you’ll need to first figure out who you’re really going after and what they want from your content.
3. Misunderstanding the Buying Cycle
Even if your blog isn’t trying to promote sales, you’ll need to know where your readership is in the buying cycle. Whether you’re selling them on a product, an idea or a future action, it’s important to understand how your content affects readers on an individual basis.
4. Putting Quantity Over Quality
Far too many bloggers feel like they need to methodically crank out product on a strict timetable no matter what. While consistency is a laudable goal, it’s more important to ensure that your content is top notch above all else.
5. Failing to Go the Extra Mile
Organising your words into a cogent blog post is only half the battle. Using social media to promote those posts to the right people is equally vital. Develop a social media strategy for disseminating your content around the web.
The Zen of Blogging
At the end of the day, effective blogs are the result of a cornucopia of factors. Getting it all right can be a challenge and take a fair amount of effort on your part. If you stick with it and work out the kinks as you go, you’ll become a blogging virtuoso in no time.
