Most people know that blogging is a valuable business tool that helps you connect with current and potential customers. What some people don’t know is that committing serious blogging mistakes can actually hurt their businesses. If you just started your blog, or if you’ve been using a business blog for years, you must avoid these 7 mistakes when writing posts and interacting with readers.
Copying Content
Although many bloggers graciously share their insight with millions of people, that does not mean their ideas are yours for the taking. When writing your blog posts, do not copy content directly from someone else’s website. If you want to quote someone, limit the quote to one or two sentences. Be sure to link back to the source’s website so your readers can read the original text in its entirety. Not only is copying content against the law, it can also ruin your reputation.
Failing to Edit
Before you publish a new post, you must check it for typos and other types of errors. This is especially important if you provide a service where attention to detail is especially important. Potential customers notice errors, especially if you make several in one post. Always check your content before you hit the publish button.
Complicated Designs
Sometimes, simpler is better. Your blog must be easy to navigate and easy to read. If you force your readers to click multiple links to find one piece of information, it shows that you don’t value their time. Designs that don’t have enough white space also make it more difficult to read your blog, especially for readers with vision difficulties. Stick to simple themes and traditional font styles to avoid alienating readers.
Low-Quality Content
High-quality content should be a priority if you are using your blog as a marketing tool. Avoid publishing short posts that don’t really say anything about the subject. Instead, publish in-depth content that teaches readers something or gives them more insight into a particular topic. If you are struggling to come up with post ideas, check your newsfeed to see if there is any news you can cover that is relevant to your blog topic. If you really can’t think of anything, solicit a guest post from another blogger in your industry.
Failing to Write for the Right Audience
When you start a blog, you must have a target audience in mind. Defining a target audience will help you decide what topics to cover. If you do not define your target audience before you start writing, you will find it difficult to engage readers and get them to share your content or comment on your posts. If you have been having trouble with this aspect of blogging for business, make a list of all the problems you might be able to help your readers solve. If you write a personal finance blog, some of the problems your readers might have include too much credit card debt, not enough money saved for retirement, and not enough money saved in an emergency fund. Once you list all of the problems your readers face, come up with post ideas that will help your readers solve them. If you want to help people get rid of their credit card debt, you might write a post about the pros and cons of each debt repayment method or post information about negotiating lower interest rates with credit card companies.
Failing to Post Regularly
Every time you publish a new post, your blog gains momentum. If you publish a few posts one week and then don’t write anything for a month, you’re hurting your business in two different ways. The first is that readers are less likely to bookmark your site and come back looking for new content. The other is that you are not getting the full SEO effect that you would get if you posted daily or at least weekly. Create a publishing schedule and stick to it to get the full benefits of blogging.
Failing to Select a Niche
If you define your target audience before you start blogging, you may not have this problem, but some people fail to select a niche when they start their blogs. If your blog is about business, you can’t really cover every possible business topic out there. A better bet would be to talk about a narrower topic, such as inside sales or cold-calling techniques. This will help you meet the needs of your readers.
Your blog can be a very valuable business tool, but only if you use it properly. If you are not sure how to avoid these mistakes or any of the other common mistakes bloggers make, a business blogging consultant can help you define your target audience, come up with content ideas, and create a blog that makes it easy for people to read and share your content.
