Your blog is your brand’s voice. It allows you to differentiate yourself from your competition, and it gives your company a personable side that allows visitors to connect to your content. That doesn’t mean successful blogging is as easy as writing whatever/whenever. Let’s take a look at these 6 common blogging mistakes to see where you can improve your blog.
The focus is all on you
Are your blog articles all based around how great your services are, or why they are better than your competitor’s services? Your visitors don’t want to be told to like you, their attraction should come from admiration of your knowledge/services.
Your blog has to provide value to those visitors that may someday become your customers. Use your buyer personas, figure out what these people care about, what their pains are, and what questions they have. Then go write about it.
You don’t provide a next step
Now that you’ve answered your persona’s question, or solved one of their pain points, what’s next? You’ve offered them something of value, and they’ve consumed it. It’s time to ensure your blog post has a call-to-action at the end. Give your reader more, while you have them engaged.
You don’t participate on social media
Do you share your posts on social media? How often? Don’t expect your blog to get much traction after only being shared once. Share thought-provoking content and establish yourself as a thought leader in social media. Make sure you also follow your social posts and thank those who shared/retweeted, and answer any questions that may have come up.
Be careful to not to overdo it! No one likes his or her timeline flooded with an article every hour, you’ll be quickly unfollowed. Build a schedule that works for you, and make sure you share/retweet other articles that your followers could benefit from.
You are inconsistent with your publishing
When was the last time you published an article? When is your next post scheduled for? Your publishing schedule should be a predetermined and consistent activity. Without a strategy, it is easy to forget, overlook, and ignore your blog. Furthermore, if your readers don’t know when your next post will be, why would they bother to return?
If you don’t have one already, establish an editorial calendar for your blog. This will help you set up dates and accountability making sure you stay on a consistent publishing schedule.
You don’t include an image
Not only will this help with social media sharing, (Tweets with images receive 18% more clicks, 89% more favorites, and 150% more retweets. – Buffersocial), but it helps engage potential readers, catching their immediate attention. It can help your audience determine if your post is worth reading.
Check out this article, on the 5 Best Commercial Use Photo Sites if you’re struggling to find content. Make sure you give credit where credit is due!
You ignore blog comments
Let’s not forget why we strive to post great content on our blogs, to engage. When a visitor feels engaged enough to leave a comment, comment back! Even with only one comment, all other readers are waiting to see your response, the response you provide will encourage further comments and keep readers engaged.
As a blogger, it’s your job to make sure your efforts make an impact on your marketing efforts. Often times, it is through a Google search of their “pain” that visitors will come to your site, and your post (answer to the pain) can either make or break a potential client. Business blogs are often the first line to new visitors; don’t let these 6 avoidable mistakes get in the way of new leads.
Subscribe to Our Blog
Join hundreds of people who get free and fresh content every week.
