As a new blogger, there are plenty of pitfalls you’ll want to avoid. We asked 16 experienced bloggers to share their experiences from their early days and what they’ve learned about the art and science of blogging. Here are the mistakes they made, along with their advice on how to avoid repeating their errors.
- Focus on Your Niche and Mission
- Write for Your Audience’s Needs
- Invest in a Professional Page Design
- Prioritize Readers Over Search Engines
- Focus on Core Elements Over Aesthetics
- Choose Your Blogging Platform Wisely
- Prioritize Quality Over Quantity
- Be Cautious with Guest Post Offers
- Regularly Refresh and Update Old Content
- Target a Specific Niche
- Start with Niche Topics
- Understand Your Audience’s Engagement
- Focus on Your Unique Voice
- Use Clear and Actionable CTAs
- Use Proper Structure and Visuals
- Maintain a Consistent Posting Schedule
Focus on Your Niche and Mission
One mistake I made as a new blogger was focusing too much on creating content I thought would be popular rather than content that aligned with my expertise and resonated with my ideal audience. Early on, I would chase trends or write about broad entrepreneurial topics, hoping to attract a larger audience. While some posts performed well, the disconnect between my content and core mission diluted my brand and attracted readers who weren’t my ideal clients. This led to lower engagement and missed opportunities to build trust with the audience I wanted to serve.
My advice to new bloggers is to start with clarity about your niche, your ideal audience, and your unique value. Write content that addresses their specific pain points or aspirations, even if the topics initially feel more niche. Consistency and authenticity are far more powerful than chasing viral success. Over time, you’ll attract the right readers, build credibility, and turn your blog into a valuable asset for your brand. Stay focused on your mission, and the right audience will follow.
Kristin Marquet
Founder & Creative Director, Marquet Media
Write for Your Audience’s Needs
When I started blogging, my biggest mistake was focusing too much on creating content I thought would impress rather than truly resonate with my audience. I often prioritized technical jargon and lengthy posts without considering readability and engagement. This led to lower audience retention and minimal feedback.
I learned the importance of audience-first writing—crafting content based on readers’ needs, pain points, and interests. Now, I focus on simplifying complex ideas, using relatable language, and incorporating feedback loops through comments and surveys. My advice: start by understanding your audience deeply and create content that educates while keeping it approachable. Authenticity and clarity always outperform complexity when building a loyal reader base.
Olivia Tian
Marketing and Innovation Manager, Raise 3D
Invest in a Professional Page Design
One mistake I made as a new blogger was underestimating the importance of having a visually appealing page design to complement the content. Early on, I focused solely on writing the blog posts, but I quickly realized that a clean, professional-looking page plays a huge role in keeping readers engaged. To avoid this mistake, invest time in choosing the right layout, fonts, and images that enhance readability and reflect your brand. Having an eye for design or working with someone who does can elevate your blog and make a lasting impression on your audience.
John Reinesch
Founder, John Reinesch Consulting
Prioritize Readers Over Search Engines
When I began blogging, I made the mistake of focusing too much on what search engines wanted instead of what my readers needed. I thought that stuffing my posts with keywords would help me rank higher. But my content ended up feeling forced and wasn’t helpful to anyone.
I realized that our readers value genuine connections and useful information. I shifted my approach to writing posts that addressed real problems and answered my audience’s questions. I used keywords naturally, weaving them into conversations rather than forcing them in.
My advice is to always put your readers first. Think about what they want to learn or solve and create content around that. Don’t worry too much about trying to impress search engines. When you focus on helping your audience, the search rankings will follow. Keep your writing clear and honest, and you’ll build a loyal readership that trusts and values your blog.
Danny Veiga
Founder, Chadix
Focus on Core Elements Over Aesthetics
When I started my blog, I had a clear vision of how I wanted it to look and feel. I had a vision for a modern, visually appealing site with everything custom-made, from the smallest buttons to the entire menu, using a well-known page builder. Basically, I got caught up in the aesthetics and perfection of the site.
This obsession came at a cost. I spent many days tweaking the design, time that would have been better spent writing blog posts! Worse, it created many minor but frustrating issues, such as poor responsiveness on mobile devices and slower loading times due to all the custom adjustments.
Eventually, I realized that I had been focusing on the wrong things. Instead of prioritizing aesthetics, I needed to focus on what truly matters: speed, content, and navigational convenience.
Here’s what I learned: Prioritize the core elements of your blog because that’s what keeps visitors coming back. A fast, user-friendly site with valuable content will always outperform one that’s simply beautiful but impractical.
Chris Oberman
Blogger, Moving Jack
Choose Your Blogging Platform Wisely
Choose your platform wisely. When I first started out, I just chose what was easy, free, and what everyone else used. As time went on, I realized that the platform I chose was actually quite limited on what it could offer in terms of design, and ended up paying a large amount of money to switch years later. It was stressful and time consuming; if I could do it again, I’d consider design, how user-friendly it is, SEO, real life reviews, and cost.
Kendra Hagerman
CEO, Owner, Kendra Found It
Prioritize Quality Over Quantity
One mistake I made was focusing too much on quantity over quality. I felt pressure to post constantly, but many of my early posts lacked depth and didn’t truly resonate with my audience.
What I learned: Posting more often doesn’t always lead to better results. It’s more important to create valuable content that reflects your brand and connects with your readers.
Advice for others:
- Prioritize quality. Make sure each post adds value—whether it’s styling tips, trend insights, or behind-the-scenes.
- Engage with your audience. Listen to their feedback and adjust your content accordingly.
- Consistency is key. It’s better to post less frequently but consistently, rather than overloading your readers with content that feels rushed.
This approach helped me build a more engaged and loyal following over time.
Kirti Poonia
Founder, Caimera
Be Cautious with Guest Post Offers
I received “guest post offers” via email fairly early on as a blogger. I initially assumed that these were well-intended offers. I was honored that people wanted to be featured on my blog so I readily agreed to post their content. I later realized they were really just seeking backlinks. I’d just encourage new bloggers to be aware that many use the concept of “guest posts” to get backlinks to their site, rather than really wanting to share content with your readers. I’d also encourage everyone to look into different types of links that Google is okay with, as some of these guest post offer emails will try to mislead you about the differences between white hat SEO and black hat SEO practices.
Emily E
Blogger, Wavy Hair Care
Regularly Refresh and Update Old Content
One mistake I made as a new blogger was neglecting to refresh old content. Once I published an article, I’d move on to the next without revisiting previous posts. Over time, I noticed that older content, which initially performed well, started losing relevance and traffic.
My advice is to regularly review and update your existing content. Refreshing an article can be as simple as updating outdated information, adding new data, or improving SEO by incorporating recent keywords. This practice not only boosts your blog’s performance but also signals to Google that your content remains relevant, which can lead to higher search rankings.
Consistently updating your content keeps it valuable to readers and ensures your blog stays competitive in a constantly evolving digital landscape.
Gursharan Singh
Co-Founder, WebSpero Solutions
Target a Specific Niche
One mistake I made as a new blogger was trying to appeal to everyone instead of focusing on a specific niche. This diluted my content and made it harder to build a loyal audience. My advice: choose a niche you’re passionate about, and create valuable, targeted content.
Sarah Wilson
Travel Blogger, Life Part2 & Beyond
Start with Niche Topics
One mistake I made as a new blogger was punching above my weight—going after big, competitive topics that I had no chance of ranking for. I’d spend hours on posts that got buried under more established voices, which was frustrating and disheartening. Eventually, I realized the best thing I could do was start small. I focused on niche topics that resonated with a specific audience, building trust and connection with them over time.
My advice? Don’t try to compete with the giants right out of the gate. Instead, write about what you know deeply but also what your audience wants to hear. As you grow and gain traction, you can start tackling bigger topics, but building that foundation first makes all the difference. It’s not about going big right away—it’s about going where you can genuinely make an impact.
Antonio Tourino
Blog Owner, Star And Strength
Understand Your Audience’s Engagement
I think the hardest part of beginning as a blogger was understanding audience engagement.
Our site has a clear demographic, the elderly, and I wrote about all the usual topics that often interest senior citizens, without understanding that just because they might be interested in topics like gardening or travel, it did not mean that they would read about them on our blog, or find them on the first page when I was competing with sites like the BBC, Booking.com, and The Guardian.
My advice, based on what I learned, is to write about customer pain points. Create buyer personas. Use tools like alsoasked.com to find long-tail searches related to typical problems and issues that your customers experience, and write about those. Build your articles into clusters of hub and spoke articles for increased visibility. Then your engagement will start to increase, and the blog will become a success.
Tiggy Bradshaw
Founder, The Live-in Care Hub
Focus on Your Unique Voice
When I started blogging, I made the mistake of focusing too much on what others were writing and trying to copy them. I spent hours reading posts from popular blogs and thought, “If they’re writing about this, I should too.” My goal was to improve their content, but I was just repeating ideas that were already out there. The result? My posts didn’t stand out. They blended in with hundreds of similar ones online. Even though I put a lot of time and effort into my content, it wasn’t connecting with people or getting the engagement I wanted. I felt stuck.
Things changed when I focused on what made our blog unique. Instead of following the crowd, I analyzed our internal data. I looked at common questions customers asked before and after interacting with us and noticed patterns in different geographic areas. For example, while most blogs focused on broad, generic content, I wrote about specifics. I created case studies, shared niche insights, and used firsthand experiences only I could provide. The results didn’t happen overnight, but the improvement was clear.
If you’re just starting out, here’s my advice: don’t chase what works for others. Focus on your voice, your experience, and your perspective. It’s easy to stick to what feels safe, but real growth comes from finding your niche and building trust with original, specific, and personalized content.
Margarita Hakobyan
CEO and Founder, Movers Corp
Use Clear and Actionable CTAs
One of my biggest mistakes as a new blogger was underestimating the power of calls-to-action (CTAs). In the early days, I thought great content would naturally lead to engagement—whether that was subscribing, commenting, or sharing. My CTAs were vague—”Let me know your thoughts!” or “Check out more posts”—which gave no real incentive or direction. As a result, engagement was low and I couldn’t work out why my audience wasn’t taking the next step.
The lightbulb moment came when I looked at high-performing blogs in my niche and noticed how intentional their CTAs were. They weren’t just casual nudges—they were clear, actionable, and value-driven. Instead of a generic, “Subscribe for updates,” I started using CTAs like, “Subscribe now to get exclusive travel hacks delivered straight to your inbox.” The change in tone and focus on reader benefits made a big impact. My subscription rate went up by 40% in weeks.
This taught me an important lesson: an effective CTA isn’t just about asking readers to do something—it’s about framing it in a way that aligns with their interests and needs. CTAs should feel like a natural extension of your content, guiding readers toward deeper engagement.
So don’t make the same mistake. Take time to test and refine your CTAs. Try different placement, wording, and even design. Analyze metrics like click-through rates or conversions to see what works. A good CTA can turn passive readers into loyal followers and grow your blog.
Soubhik Chakrabarti
CEO, Icy Tales
Use Proper Structure and Visuals
One mistake I made as a new blogger was not paying enough attention to the structure and format of my posts—specifically, neglecting to properly use H1, H2, and H3 headings. Early on, while my content was valuable, the lack of clear hierarchy made it feel overwhelming and difficult for readers to scan, which negatively impacted readability and SEO performance. I also overlooked the importance of visual content. Walls of text can be off-putting, and I didn’t include enough images, infographics, or videos to break up the content and engage readers visually. Once I started incorporating multimedia, I noticed a significant improvement in how long visitors stayed on the page and how well they absorbed the information.
My advice to new bloggers is to prioritize structure and visuals from the beginning. Use headings strategically—H1 for the main title, H2 for sub-sections, and H3 for sub-points—to create a logical, skimmable format that enhances user experience and boosts SEO. Incorporating visuals, even simple ones, can make your content more engaging and memorable. Ultimately, thinking like your reader and presenting information in a clear, visually appealing way will keep them coming back. Making these adjustments helped my blog grow significantly, and I’ve seen firsthand how small changes in format can lead to better results.
Dr. Jonathan Spages
Doctor, Author, Advanced Natural Health Center
Maintain a Consistent Posting Schedule
One mistake I made as a new blogger was inconsistent posting, which affected audience engagement. Early in my blogging journey, I lacked a structured schedule, uploading content only when inspiration struck. This sporadic approach left readers uncertain about updates and reduced overall traffic.
Consistency is essential in blogging. A predictable posting schedule keeps readers engaged and establishes trust. Regular updates signal reliability, encouraging your audience to return. Planning content in advance helps maintain frequency and reduces last-minute stress. Tools like content calendars or project management platforms can simplify scheduling and help you stay on track.
To avoid this mistake, start with a realistic posting frequency. If weekly updates feel too demanding, begin with biweekly or monthly posts and adjust as you grow. Focus on quality within your chosen schedule to maintain interest. A structured plan not only strengthens audience retention but also enhances the visibility of your blog in search rankings, reinforcing long-term growth.
Marin Cristian-Ovidiu
CEO, Online Games
