Top Blogging Mistakes To Avoid: Lessons I learned after starting and ending my first blog

When I started my first blog 5 years ago I was definitely  your stereotypical “new mom blogger”.  I was a new stay at home mom that just had baby number two, who was in desperate need of a creative outlet. 

I’ve always loved writing so I knew it would be a great way for me to share my stories, tap into my creativity and have something that was just for me! 

In addition to my creativity,  I had also been reading so many articles about blogging being a great way for moms to earn a little extra money on the side.  

So I did a little bit of research, then dove head first into the blogging universe with a blogging checklist I found on Pinterest ( of course) and thought all my blogging dreams would come true!

Well, things didn't go quite as planned. And if you  fast forward to the present day, I’ve actually  shut down my first blog and I’m starting from scratch with creating a  brand new one. 

There are several reasons why my first blog didn't work out.  But there are a few key lessons I’ve learned in particular,  that I feel I really missed the mark on -  and those are the blogging mistakes I want to share with you!

I hope you  gain a little insight, inspiration and more clarity from this list of Blogging Mistakes to Avoid, and I hope it helps on your blogging journey!

Investing Too Much Time on The Design

Blogging Mistakes To Avoid: Lessons I learned after starting and ending my first blog

One of the first blogging mistakes I made was spending way too much time on the design aspects of my website.

I put hours and hours of energy into choosing fonts, making slideshows, and arranging page layouts instead of focusing on the content! 

I don't want to downplay the importance of a professional looking website, because it is very important especially if you want to monetize your blog at some point.  But it's not something you need to put as much energy into as you think.

Being super preoccupied with “measuring up”  aesthetically to other amazing blogs you've  seen can lead to:

1. constant comparison

2. Taking time away from all the great content you could be putting out there!

I experienced both of those side effects lol,  and have learned that a simple web design is best, especially in the beginning. 

The people that are coming to your blog  will be spending most of their time reading  the posts and articles - and that's where you need to spend the bulk of your time to keep them engaged and coming back for more!

Inconsistent Content Schedule

Blogging Mistakes To Avoid: Lessons I learned after starting and ending my first blog

Maaaannnn, if I could go back to my past newbie blogger self, I would tell her that this is THE most important tip of all!  Before the design, the monetization plan, or marketing strategy.  

I was so inconsistent with my posting schedule. I would post a few times in a  month, then wouldn't be heard from again until a month or so later ( I know, it was bad).  

Even when I created the content calendar to keep me on top of things, my posts would still get behind and before I knew it I was back on another hiatus. 

I really lacked a certain amount of discipline that was necessary to post regularly and discipline beats out motivation every, single, time!

Content truly is king and you have to create your posts regularly to see any growth from your blog. 

Posting regularly helps your reader know that you are serious about blogging and creates trust by showing you won't just ghost them and stop providing the advice, entertainment or inspiration they find valuable. 

It also builds a loyal readership that will ultimately help grow your blogging business in the future.  

So whatever schedule you choose: weekly, bi-weekly or monthly, pick a content schedule you can realistically stick to, stay disciplined and execute!

Not Having a True Monetization Plan

Blogging Mistakes To Avoid: Lessons I learned after starting and ending my first blog

f you're starting a blog because you love writing, need a creative outlet, and just want to blog for fun then,  I’m so excited for you, that's amazing and congratulations! 

If you're starting a blog because you love writing, need a creative outlet, and also want to make some money in the process- then this part is for you!!

Prior to starting my blog at the end of 2019, I was doing a lot of research on the blogging ins and outs to learn everything I needed to do to start my blog.

I knew from the beginning I wanted to monetize my website and a lot of the articles I was reading were telling me to start monetizing asap. 

They were so enthusiastic about utilizing all the monetization outlets that I had at my disposal and that this would help me to “start making money right away!” 

So that's what I did, everything! 

I signed up for every affiliate marketing company that would accept me.  I did the ads, banners, texts and pop ups and while I did see a few trickles of revenue, it wasn't a sustainable amount.  

I credit this to my  lack of direction to really understand what I was doing and which form of monetization would be best for me and my blog, ie: a monetization plan.

My energies were not focused or researched enough and I was just grasping at straws, hoping something would stick!.. 

Creating a monetization plan means doing the demographic research and looking at the analytics to see what kind of ads your readers will respond to most and that are most suitable for your blog.  

And even though it may take time to gather some of this information when you're first starting out, it's better to gather as much as you can on the front end so that you can set yourself up for more success in the future.

Blogging Mistakes To Avoid: Lessons I learned after starting and ending my first blog

Through this process I learned that starting a blog involves more than just writing and publishing content. It requires strategic planning, continuous learning, and a lot of patience.

But, by avoiding a few of these common mistakes I made, you can increase your chances of building a successful blog that resonates with your audience and achieves your blogging goals, and so can I during this blogging journey the 2nd time around!

What kind of mistakes do you hope to avoid on your blogging journey?  How are you setting yourself up for success with your blog? I love to hear your tips and ideas!