Blogging for your business can be fantastic.
Bloggers gain followers and subscribers, and with the right audience, you gain recognition as an expert in your field.
This translates into growth and revenue for your business.
But, of course, some methods are better than others to achieve blogging success.
The truth is that becoming an effective blogger is a process.
Don’t get caught in one of these common traps!
1. Unfocused approach to your blog:
Successful bloggers focus on limited themes, rather than trying to cover a huge amount of content.
For example, if you are an expert in financial planning, why not focus on two or three of the major areas of financial planning such as retirement planning and long-term investments.
Writing frequently about retirement and investment planning will get your blog recognized in that area, and you will gain followers interested in this topic.
Alternatively, dozens of loosely related subjects may gain subscribers at first, but you’ll eventually lose many followers as they learn that their favorite topics don’t receive frequent attention.
2. Inconsistent posting or scheduling:
One of the important factors used by Google when bumping the visibility of content is consistency of content updates.
As the search engine “spiders” visit pages they’ve encountered before, they note changes and update the search engine index.
This means you should put together an editorial calendar for your blog full of ideas that will keep you on track:
Staying on track is important since sites that receive consistent new content, such as your blog, rank better. Other factors, such as links to your blog from other pages also impact your Page Rank and Domain Authority, the holy grail of content visibility.
Many bloggers start their blogs with daily posts, but over time lose their momentum. This happens a lot, and there’s no shame in it.
To keep yourself on track, consider that a blog is much like a marriage, not a date.
Long after the puppy love has dwindled and the emotion has stabilized, you’ll need to remain committed to the task. You’ll do well to save a few posts in your back pocket for those periods in which you hit a stretch of boredom.
You should also give some thought to the timing of your blog postings.
In the majority of cases, blogs focused on business advice and consulting topics should be posted early in the week during regular business hours.
You can imagine why: Most people read email and seek information and education during the day and on weekdays. Post the same content on a Friday night, and your brilliance is likely to be ignored!
3. Weak writing:
Image credit: The Telegraph
What defines weak writing in a blog? For one, language that is exclusively or mostly jargon from within your industry.
Most bloggers discover that a less technical approach to content works better.
If you develop the ability to present complex information in plain language, you can provide specific terminology or formulas in parentheses or at the end of your blog post. This approach will appeal to a greater number of readers and gain you more subscribers.
Another common mistake new bloggers make is writing blog posts that are too brief.
Don’t assume that your reader knows as much about a subject as you do because you will likely presume they know key bits of information that your readers actually need to have explained to them.
Your writing should provide complete explanations of any key assumptions, common interpretations, and industry-specific terms, so that readers can grasp the concepts.
4. Too much self-promoting:
Few things are more annoying than a self-absorbed blogger.
Your content, while clearly about what you know, is really about sharing what others should know. Blogging is about sharing knowledge not talking down to your readers.
While past successes in your chosen field are important, it’s a fine line between leadership and arrogance.
Respect that line!
5. Plagiarism:
It may seem like an easy way to develop content, but you should never copy another’s ideas or content. Your reputation in the blogosphere is very valuable.
In fact, in a web-enabled world, your digital reputation is as important a currency as any other. Copied content is easily identified by Google and many internet sites.
Also, be respectful of video, music, and picture copyrights and Creative Commons licenses and protections.
If you don’t know if a digital asset is protected, don’t use it! Better to be safe than to be perceived as a blogger who runs loose with the rules.
Your Thoughts
Does your business have a blog? What problems have you run into with blogging? Let us know in the comments below!]]>
TJ has worked in the digital marketing space since 2006. He has worked at a number of agencies and and helped hundreds of clients grow their business through SEO, PPC, Social Media and Content Marketing. He currently lives in Lehi , UT and enjoys spending time with his family.
TJ Welsh
TJ has worked in the digital marketing space since 2006. He has worked at a number of agencies and and helped hundreds of clients grow their business through SEO, PPC, Social Media and Content Marketing. He currently lives in Lehi , UT and enjoys spending time with his family.
