7 Common Blogging Mistakes and How to Fix Them [Infographic]

Blogs are an important part of today's web, with over 409 million people reading more than 17.6 billion blog pages every month. Because blogging has become so big, people who are just starting out may have received some bad advice on how to become as popular as the big sites. Here's a closer look at the most common blogging mistakes to avoid and what you should do instead.

1. You Need to Blog Every Day

The thought behind this is people think if they're not posting every day, their blog won't have enough fresh content to keep readers interested. This isn't an effective blogging strategy. You'll be too focused on writing to worry about anything else and will burn out quickly. Instead, focus on posting regularly and consistently. Take the time to create well-written content, at least once a week, that your readers will benefit from.

2. Search Engine (Over) Optimization

No, blog post do not need to have a certain number of words, keywords, and links in order for search engines to pick them up correctly. Keywords are important, but Google's algorithms are very advanced. It takes more than just a lot of keywords to improve your rankings. Focus on these things instead:

• Write content for the end user, not just a search engine.
• Be funny, informative, and thought-provoking.
• Pay attention to SEO, but don't go overboard. 

3. If You Write It, They Will Come

Some people think that writing a quality blog post is all they have to do in order for it to become successful. The truth is, nobody will read a blogging masterpiece if they never hear about it. You need to spend time marketing your blog. Share your posts on social media and build a list of subscribers who want to be notified when your next post is live.

4. Blogging is an Easy Way to Make Money

Making a living from a blog typically requires more than just quality content. A steady stream of visitors are needed to make money from advertising, affiliate marketing, and eCommerce.

5. No One Uses Email Lists

For whatever reason, some bloggers think social media is the only thing they need in order to promote their posts and connect with their audience. Email lists offer a more personal user experience and should be a part of every blogging strategy.

6. Only Write Short Posts (or Long Ones)

Wrong. Mix up the length of your blog posts - some readers like skimming the most important information, while others enjoy a long, informative read. Everyone is different, so make sure your blog reflects that.

7. Words are the Only Part of a Post That Matters

What a blog post says is important, but so is how it looks. People won't stay to read a well-written post if it's difficult to read. Here are some things you can do to make your blog stand out:

• Use the right images to grab your readers' attention.
• Use whitespace effectively. 
• Choose different-sized headers and short paragraphs to break up long strings of text.

For a more detailed look at these common blogging mistakes and how avoid them, take a look at the WhoIsHostingThis? infographic below.

Was this infographic helpful to your business? Which common blogging mistakes were you making? Let us know in the comments below!