You don’t want to make these amateur blogging mistakes this year.
No matter how successful each of us is now, we were all once amateur bloggers.
We’ve all made them – those common mistakes bloggers make when just starting their blogging journey. I’m talking about the biggest amateur blogger mistakes that could be holding you back.
Don’t worry; although it may not seem like it, being an amateur blogger is actually a good thing because it shows you have the bravery to start and learn from your mistakes along the way.
But you’re in luck! I can help you avoid the pitfalls and challenges that could trip you up as an amateur blogger by telling you what you should do instead.
As someone who has been creating content for myself and others for over seven and a half years, blogging and running multiple online businesses has become much easier but still presents many challenges even this many years on.
In this post, I’m covering over 25 mistakes amateur bloggers make, how to avoid them, and tips for becoming a more profitable and successful blogger this year (and next).
Let’s dive in!
Amateur Blogger Mistakes to Avoid
1. Not Using a Self-Hosted WordPress Blog
Many amateur bloggers, overwhelmed by the complexities of setting up a website, often opt for a free platform like Wix, Blogger, or WordPress.com. While these options seem easier, they severely limit your capabilities. Without a self-hosted blog (WordPress.org), you don’t truly own your own website or control your servers.
Free platforms often place ads on your site without your input and limit your access to essential plugins that enhance security, functionality, and income potential. That’s why experienced bloggers consistently recommend starting with a self-hosted blog.
While navigating a self-hosted WordPress blog can be challenging for beginners, it’s worth the effort. If I can learn it, anyone can.
If you’re brave enough to try it, you’ll need a good web host. Here are my recommendations:
Bluehost – The least expensive web hosting for beginners, but not one you want to stay with. I suggest it as a decent starter option, but if you can afford it, go with one of the ones below.
Siteground – A better option than Bluehost that’s only slightly more expensive
BigScoots – This is my current hosting and costs more, but it is totally worth it as your blog grows.
2. Not Using an SSL Certificate
This is one of those mistakes almost every newbie blogger makes, including myself. I’ll never forget the first custom domain I bought and when it asked if I wanted an SSL certificate or not. I was like, what the hell is an SSL certificate?
So, I chose no—wrong decision. The SSL certificate ensures a secure site, as in HTTPS, instead of just HTTP. These certificates encrypt data between a browser and a website, preventing hackers from stealing personal or financial information, which is a big deal for your readers.
Without an SSL certificate, your readers could get the warning antivirus software gives that says the site they are navigating to may not be secure.
Many web hosts and places you purchase domains from, like Namecheap, will give you a free SSL certificate when buying, so, YES, you do need an SSL certificate.
On a side note, read this article with tips on choosing a business if you’re not sure where to start.
3. Not Working on SEO Sooner
I hate to break it to you, but the success of your blog relies on getting traffic to it, meaning you need to start working on search engine optimization immediately.
Now, that being said, there are plenty of ways you can get organic traffic, and you definitely should diversify. If nothing else, Google’s 2023 Helpful Content System Update showed us that relying on Google alone is not a smart option.
To start, you’ll want to learn how to do proper keyword research using one of the numerous keyword research tools out there. I recommend KeySearch because it’s very affordable and has many great features like rank tracking, competitor research, content assistant, and more!
To make it even better, you can save 20 percent if you use the coupon code KSDISC. Read this KeySearch review to learn more. I cannot stress enough how important doing some form of keyword research is to the visibility of your blog.
Pinterest is another excellent platform for getting organic traffic while you wait for your SEO to start working. They are both long games that can generate more traffic for you for years.
As you learn more about SEO, you’ll find that other things can affect your rankings, like user experience. This means your website should load fast, be easy to navigate, and offer your readers valuable content people are actually searching for.
Link building is also important, but it’s okay to add that in slowly, as SEO can be overwhelming in general. Understanding keyword research, finding keywords you can rank for, and all the SEO terms and information can be overwhelming.
This is why optimizing your website and content for SEO is one of the most common amateur blogging mistakes.
4. Using the Wrong URL Structure
Besides optimizing your quality content, your permalink or URL structure is also crucial for SEO and rankings.
The permalink structure default in WordPress is https://writerslifeforyou.com/?p=123, and that doesn’t convey anything about the content of your post, making it difficult for search engines to understand and rank it effectively.
Many bloggers start their first blog with this plain URL, which can harm their SEO since web crawlers use the URL to help determine what the post is about. Unfortunately, changing the URL after publishing can cause redirect issues and broken links, negatively impacting SEO and user experience.
This is a common mistake in amateur blogs. To avoid this, go to Settings in the WordPress side panel, select Permalink, and choose “Post Name.”
This ensures that if you forget to change your URL before publishing, it will contain relevant keywords, help search engines understand your content, and improve your post’s visibility.
5. Putting All Your Eggs in One Traffic Basket
Putting all your eggs in one basket when it comes to traffic is one of the biggest mistakes I see new and experienced bloggers make, and I already touched on it.
Another SEO expert, Eb Gargano, sent out an email talking about the personal finance website Hardbacon. Before the Helpful Content System Update, they were making about $55,000 a month from their 400.000 monthly visitors.
Then they lost 97% of their traffic! You can learn more about how Google destroyed this CEO’s bacon and use it as a cautionary tale. They relied almost entirely on SEO and Google traffic. There’s more than one way to get blog traffic.
You can get:
- – Social media traffic
- – Email traffic
- – Organic traffic from YouTube
- – Pinterest traffic
- – Substack
- – Paid ads
- And more!
Please heed this warning and do not make this amateur blogging mistake. Diversify your traffic.
6. Not Starting an Email List Sooner
Not starting an email list early on is a common amateur blogging mistake. Many newbie bloggers skip this step because it feels overwhelming, but it’s crucial. Unlike social media, which can change or disappear (remember Clubhouse?), your email list is always yours.
I’ve seen bloggers lose huge followers on platforms like Facebook due to sudden account suspensions, forcing them to start from scratch. My own Pinterest account suffered after a mass suspension incident, even though my blog content was unrelated.
Building an email list gives you direct access to your audience and is one of the best ways to nurture relationships and monetize your blog. Don’t wait—start your email list now to avoid this common mistake.
7. Spending too Much Time in Blog Sharing Groups
As a newbie blogger, many of us spend a lot of time in blogging Facebook Groups, where you can share your blog posts, social media accounts, and more.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s a great place to start sharing your website and articles, but your time is best spent on other traffic and promotional efforts.
Blogging is all about being strategic, and this is one of those common mistakes an amateur blogger makes that takes time away from activities that help you make money, such as digital product creation, building an email list, and SEO.
Don’t get me wrong, these groups are great places to share and promote your blog; you just don’t want to spend all your time there.
8. Focusing Too Much On Social Media Instead of a Platform You Own
The previous mistake flows right into this one: spending all your time on social media and neglecting your blog or email list.
Now, there are ways to make money on social media, such as selling in the DMs or Instagram stories, but most of us make less money on social media than we do with our email list.
But this is a mistake most amateur bloggers make because we see big influencers killing it on social media. When you first start, trying to be everywhere at once and spreading yourself too thin is a huge issue.
You should start with building an email list and diversifying your traffic sources, such as SEO-optimizing for Pinterest and Google traffic.
9. Not Networking and Connecting With Other Bloggers
It’s easy to focus solely on writing blog posts and blogging alone, but collaborating with other bloggers is where the real magic happens. Blogging can be lonely, so connecting with others who understand your work is invaluable.
One of the best ways to grow your blog is by leveraging other people’s audiences. Participating in online summits or contributing to bundles like the Genius Blogger’s Toolkit or BC Stack is a great way to increase visibility, network with other entrepreneurs, and earn through affiliate marketing.
Though it can be intimidating initially, and you might face rejection, the effort is worth it. Start by creating smaller digital products and applying them to bundles.
As you gain acceptance, your name will become more recognized, and soon, more people will start inviting you to participate in even more opportunities.
Remember, if you’re not feeling those butterflies in the pit of your stomach, you’re not pushing yourself hard enough.
10. Starting Ads Too Early
This mistake is one I see in many amateur blogs. They’re just starting to see other bloggers making money from display ads, so they start with an ad platform like Ezoic or Google Ads that accept blogs with fewer page views, but this can make for a horrible user experience.
Think of those websites you visit with ads plastered everywhere, slowing down page load times.
I’m not downing Ezoic because some bloggers have decent experiences with them. When I tried, they slowed down my pages so much, and I couldn’t get help from my “Ads manager,” so I decided the mere pennies weren’t with it.
First, Google’s 2023 algorithm update showed us that relying on ad income alone is not a good idea. It’s better to wait until you can get into an ad platform like Mediavine or Monumetric, as they help you optimize your website for a better user experience.
On a different note, Mediavine has introduced a new ad network called Journey, which has lower pageview thresholds for growing blogs.
Work on diversifying your income with services, digital products, and other channels.
11. Not Niching Down
If you’ve been following me, you know I strongly advocate for choosing a blog niche. I’ve seen firsthand how focusing on a particular niche helps bloggers rank higher and faster and build credibility and authority more easily.
With Google’s algorithm updates, having expertise in your blog niche is more crucial than ever. Search engines prioritize content from writers with proven experience, which is why E.A.T. has evolved into E.E.A.T.—Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness.
For example, if you’re a travel blogger writing about Maui, you should have firsthand experience and original photos.
Focusing on one particular niche helps establish your expertise and authority. This doesn’t limit your content options; it deepens your authority within that niche. For instance, I focus on content creation, and there’s plenty to explore.
Lastly, there’s no wrong niche as long as it’s profitable. Without a profitable niche, making money blogging becomes much more challenging.
12. Trying to Be Everywhere at Once
Most bloggers think they need to post everywhere at once, meaning every social media platform, Medium, Substack, YouTube, email, etc. Just because you see other bloggers killing it on every channel doesn’t mean you need to be doing it, too, now.
The people who show up in many places often have at least a couple of team members doing the heavy lifting that beginner bloggers don’t have the luxury of.
The key is choosing social media platforms that your audience is actively engaging on and I guarantee they aren’t everywhere. For example, DIY craft bloggers will be active on Pinterest but most likely not on LinkedIn. And middle-aged male CEOs are going to be on LinkedIn but not Pinterest.
I recommend choosing one main channel to start with and mastering it before moving on to the next. That said, signing up for social media accounts on the most popular platforms is a good idea.
Even if you aren’t using them right now, you should still sign up because someone could get your ideal username like someone got @writerslifeforyou on Twitter. Now I am stuck with Writers78!
See, that was an amateur blogging mistake I first made when I created a new blog.
13. Focusing on Busy Work Instead of Money-Making Activities
When starting your blogging journey, it’s easy to focus on tasks with low ROI, leading to busy work without significant progress. Many amateur bloggers, including myself, make this mistake.
I initially spent too much time in Facebook groups instead of building an email list, optimizing for SEO, or creating my first digital product.
The key to a successful blogging journey isn’t just monetization—it’s about managing your time and focusing on the right tasks. Time equals money.
Instead of spending hours in Facebook groups, concentrate on your top social media channel and connect with other bloggers and your audience.
Don’t wait to have the “perfect” number of articles to launch your blog; start with a few posts and publish consistently. Remember, done is better than perfect—consistent action drives results.
Regularly review your tasks to ensure they’re yielding results and adjust as needed. Planning and reviewing data are crucial for eliminating busy work and achieving success.
14. Not Publishing Content Consistently
Many amateur bloggers struggle to create content and post consistently, which is understandable, given how overwhelming it can be.
However, it’s crucial to blog consistently and maintain a consistent posting schedule across all your blog content—whether it’s articles, social media posts, or emails.
Here’s why consistent posting matters:
- Increased traffic: Google indexes your site more frequently when you blog consistently and post quality content.
- Improved audience relationships: Regularly publishing valuable blog content builds trust and establishes you as an expert.
- Audience growth: Consistency encourages readers to share your content, helping to grow your audience.
Maintaining a consistent posting schedule is key to achieving these benefits.
Focus on quality content over quantity, and commit to a schedule you can maintain, whether that’s four blog posts a month or twenty. For social media, that could mean posting three to seven times a week. Social media schedulers like Publer or SocialBee can help you stay on track.
15. Giving Up Too Soon
Did you know most bloggers quit within six months? Blogging is hard, and many feel like giving up, especially when algorithms change, traffic drops, or social media accounts get suspended.
As bloggers, we juggle many tasks, and it can be exhausting. But consistent action leads to progress. Remember, everyone’s journey is different—what took one blogger six months might take you longer.
Success in blogging requires tenacity, adaptability, and resilience. Don’t give up too soon.
16. Choosing the Wrong Name for Your Blog
The mistake has a catch-22 because choosing the wrong blog name can be a problem, but you also don’t want to get bogged down in choosing the perfect name because that can prevent you from starting your blog.
Your blog name is one of the most important parts of your website because it’s what someone types into the search bar. It’s the custom domain name you choose for your site.
Here are a few essential things to keep in mind when it comes to naming your new blog.
- Don’t be clever with spelling; it will only be confusing. That means don’t intentionally use zeros as o’s or misspell words to be cute (WurdPressProTips, Th3BloggingWorld, BizNessSavyy, etc).
- Your name/URL should be simple, short, and easy to remember so someone can search for it easily if they can’t remember the URL.
- Be descriptive: Choose a name that gives readers and search engines an idea of what your blog is about.
- Use keywords that describe your focus or niche.
- Make it unique and not too similar to existing blogs to avoid potential trademark issues and confusion.
- Avoid hyphens and numbers, as they can be confusing and difficult to remember.
17. Not Diversifying Your Blog Income From the Start
This issue is similar to not putting all your traffic in one basket and is one of the most common blogging mistakes you can make. Like many other amateur blogs and bloggers, I put all my eggs in one basket and left my day job when I got a client that replaced my part-time work income.
That was great until they no longer needed me to write for them! Then, I was in panic mode, trying to find another way to make enough money, just like Hardbacon, who only monetized their Google traffic and soon found that income stream turned off.
There are so many ways to make money blogging without spreading yourself too thin.
Affiliate marketing: You can sign up with affiliate networks and promote the courses and digital products you love.
Digital product creation: Create and sell your own digital products and courses.
Sponsored posts: Partner with brands and write sponsored posts.
Offer services: Many new bloggers overlook services as an income stream, but this is how many of us started making money with services like freelance writing, social media management, VA services, etc.
Display ads: Make money with display ads, though, as I mentioned above, it is worth waiting until you meet the requirements of Mediavine or Monumetric.
18. Writing What You Want, Not What Your Audience Needs
When it comes to writing content for your blog, most newbie bloggers write on topics they enjoy or what they “think” their readers want.
Many bloggers do this, which could be why no one is reading your blog! Back in the day, blogs used to be more like diaries, but this is no longer the case. Sharing your experience helps people relate to you, but don’t talk about yourself too much.
Don’t feel like you are alone in this. Just make sure you’re writing on topics people actually want to know about and create helpful content that solves your audience’s problems.
19. Comparing and Despairing
Shout out to Faith Mariah on this one.
There are many inspirational things about the blogging world, but they also give us more people to compare to. You can compare your messy middle to someone else further down the path to blogging success.
This leads to comparing and despairing because you aren’t making enough money as so and so, or you don’t have as many followers on your YouTube videos as that big-name blogger making $100,000 a month.
We all compare ourselves to others and find ourselves lacking. That’s called imposter syndrome, and even the most famous people get it! Your blogging adventure is not the same as someone else’s, so stay in your own lane, keep your head down, and use others’ success as inspiration, not to beat yourself up.
20. Treating Your Blog Like a Hobby Instead of a Business
Almost every amateur blogger, including myself, has made this mistake! One key factor that every successful blog shares is that its creator treats it like the online business it truly is.
Blogging as a hobby is entirely different from running a blogging business. To succeed, you need a smart strategy, a solid plan, and a commitment to prioritize your online business—more than any other job you’ve had.
Success comes down to your commitment and determination to make it work. And believe me, you can do this!
21. Not Being Strategic
Which leads to not being strategic with your blog. Amateur bloggers don’t create a plan and strategy for success.
Every successful blogger looks at the data so they understand what is working and what is not. They make data-driven decisions and not on assumptions.
You need to consider things like:
- – Who your audience is, and what keeps them up at night
- – What your goals are
- – How you’re going to make money from your blog
- – Where are you sharing and promoting your blog
- – How often will you post content?
Don’t waste time looking for the “perfect” strategy because you can make any of them work with a good plan.
At its simplest, you need ways to get traffic and eyes on your content and offers. You must understand your audience well and create content and offers that are truly valuable (and something people need).
There are many ways to do this! Just remember, it’s your business. Do what feels right to you.
22. Not Purchasing a Professional and Fast Website Theme
This mistake is one of those things that you don’t know what you don’t know! While it’s okay to start with one of the many free themes available, you eventually need to upgrade to a fast, paid website theme like Astra or Kadence (great for SEO and user experience).
Paid themes allow for better customization and branding and come with many great features that can really make your website look good, load fast, and have essential built-in functions.
Because they load fast and have more SEO functions, professional websites are often better for SEO.
Pretty websites get more readers as no one takes ugly amateur blogs seriously. Attractive ones make a good first impression.
One of the first things you should invest in is a professional, reliable website theme for your blog.
23. Stealing Someone Else’s Content
Stolen content is a massive problem in blogging today.
Beginner bloggers might unintentionally—or intentionally—use someone else’s content, leading to serious legal trouble. At a minimum, you could receive a cease and desist letter; at worst, you could be sued for content theft.
Content theft isn’t just about copying and pasting anymore. It can involve publishing stolen content as legitimate work or even selling it as a product. In some cases, thieves use methods like link generators to alter and steal your content, or they exclude hyperlinks to claim the work as their own.
To avoid plagiarism and protect your blog, always cite your sources and be mindful of trademarks and intellectual property rights. If you’re unsure, it’s better to avoid using the content. However, you can still curate content or use it with proper attribution.
Also, make sure you aren’t making these legal mistakes with your blog. There are certain legal pages you must have on your website.
24. Not Implementing What You Learn
Staying in learning mode is one of the common mistakes amateur bloggers make when starting out.
Many new bloggers prefer to keep learning without implementing because they’re afraid to move forward. This fear might stem from the unknown, the responsibility, or the consistency required to take the next step.
As a lifelong learner, I understand the appeal of constantly absorbing new information, and it’s one of the reasons I love having an online business.
However, it’s crucial to apply what you learn. Without implementation, all that knowledge remains untapped potential, and your blogging business won’t grow.
To succeed, you need to strike a balance between learning and action. Put what you’re learning into practice, test new strategies, and don’t let fear hold you back. Progress comes from taking action, not just gathering information.
25. Not Monetizing From the Start
One of the biggest mistakes amateur bloggers make is not monetizing their blogs right from the start. I get it—many of us think we need to wait until we have more traffic or feel more established before even considering how to make money.
But let me tell you, that approach can actually hold you back and leave money on the table.
By monetizing early, you allow yourself to try out different income streams, whether it’s affiliate marketing, sponsored posts, or selling digital products.
Plus, it sets the expectation that your blog is a business, not just a side hobby. When you start integrating monetization strategies from day one, you can grow your income alongside your audience, and your readers will get used to seeing monetized content as part of your brand.
So don’t wait to start monetizing—every piece of content you create is an opportunity to earn. Even if your blog is still small, experimenting with different ways to make money early on will help you figure out what works best for your niche and audience. Trust me, you’ll be glad you did!
Affiliate marketing or offering services are great places to start.
26. Not Investing In Your Blog
Too often have I heard bloggers say they won’t spend money until they make money. The thing is that investing in blogging courses, tools, and resources usually provides a faster road to success.
If I can take a course that will help me learn how to create content faster, then that is a good investment in my business. I know I will see a return on my investment.
The key is to understand the difference between a necessary and unnecessary expense. When you’re new, it can be hard to tell the difference.
Necessary Expenses:
- Quality Hosting: Investing in reliable hosting is crucial for your blog’s performance and security.
- Essential Plugins and Tools: Tools like SEO plugins, email marketing services, and security plugins are worth the cost because they enhance your blog’s functionality and help you grow.
- Educational Courses: A course that teaches you how to monetize your blog, improve your SEO, or streamline your content creation process can pay off quickly. (This free challenge is a great place to start for SEO.)
Unnecessary Expenses:
- Premium Themes or Plugins You Don’t Need: It’s easy to get caught up in the allure of fancy themes or plugins that offer more than you need. Stick to basics until you’re sure you need the extra features.
- Expensive Design Work: While a good-looking blog is important, splurging on custom design work right away isn’t necessary. Start simple, and you can always upgrade your design as your blog grows.
- All the Latest Gadgets and Tools: You don’t need to buy every new tool that comes out. Focus on the essentials that will directly impact your blog’s growth and save the rest for later. Avoid shiny object syndrome; it’s something we all get.
Final Thoughts on Amateur Blogging Mistakes
Whether you’re an amateur blogger just starting out or have been at it for a while, the path to building a successful business is paved with mistakes. And that’s okay—it’s all part of the blogging journey.
The key is to learn from these common mistakes and adjust your approach as you go. Every successful blogger has been where you are now, making the same missteps. What sets them apart is their commitment to keep pushing forward, learning, and growing their blogging business.
Remember, mistakes aren’t the end of the world; they’re stepping stones to success. So, take what you’ve learned here, apply it, and watch your blog transform from an amateur project into a thriving, successful business. You’ve got this!
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Don’t be afraid to make amateur mistakes as you grow your blog.
