8 Hidden Blogging Mistakes

If you have been blogging for a while, you are probably aware of the basic rules of the game, like using good images, posting regularly, and promoting content on social media. However, there are often little things we overlook as bloggers that can make a big difference to both the stats and audience engagement. I have compiled this list of hidden mistakes bloggers make based on my own observations, as I make it a point to visit at least a couple of new blogs every week. Some may never have crossed your minds, and others you may not have considered of much relevance. Either way, these tips require little effort and will only bring positive results!

 

1. Not customizing your Tweet button

If you want to keep track of who has been sharing your posts on Twitter, it is important to have your twitter handle (or username) in that tweet. Usually, when your readers click on the 'Tweet' button, they will be directed to publish a tweet which has your post title and link. Sometimes, it will have the Twitter handle of the share service provider such as @sharethis or @wordpressdotcom. The problem with this is that you are none the wiser when a post of yours has been shared on Twitter, unless you have access to stats. Even then it's hard to pin every single tweet down. By adding your own handle, you will be immediately notified of the mention, allowing you to re-tweet or thank the user if you wish. In order to add your handle, simply check the support pages of your sharing service. To my knowledge, all of them allow you to customize your tweet buttons. It's a simple thing that can help you gauge your content’’s popularity on Twitter!

 

2. Neglecting your Google+ presence

If you have simply created your Google Plus account, you're clearly not taking full advantage of a network than can significantly improve your search-based traffic. Very often, I am taken to a blogger's Google+ profile which doesn't even have a link to their blogs! You will find many helpful articles online about creating a good Google+ profile but, simply, try to fill in every field. Did you know that you can add your blog link in addition to your other social media profiles such as Facebook and Twitter? Make your Google+ profile like a CV which tells visitors everything they should know about you in one place. And while you're at it, don't forget to claim Google Authorship for your website/blog, so that a neat little headshot and name appears with your blog post in search results.

 

3. Not giving photo credit

How would you feel if your post was shared without giving credit to you? You would be furious and rightly so. Well, creators of images may feel the same way when they make a photo or illustration publicly available and find that nobody recognizes them for it! Remember, even royalty-free and copyright-free images require you to give credit to the owner. All photo sharing websites (including Wikimedia Commons) have a format or guideline for crediting their images. Similarly, if you are using your own images, make sure you watermark them or at least carry a copyright warning against them being used without your permission.

 

4. Not being mobile-friendly

There's no doubt that portable devices are where most people do their online reading today. If your website takes too long to load or doesn't appear quite correctly on a mobile device, visitors might not hang around long enough to read your blog. The good news is that it's very easy to activate a mobile-friendly version of your blog on most platforms, including Wordpress and Blogger. If you are looking to update your blog template, make sure it's a design that is responsive, that is, which automatically adjusts itself to the screen size it's being viewed on.

 

5. Skipping the email address

Sure, social media is a great way to contact you, but sometimes, an email address is vital. This is because Facebook or Twitter may not present the ideal platform for someone who wants to approach you for a business proposition or otherwise wants to have a detailed correspondence. I think clearly displaying your email ID sends a message that you are willing to converse on a deeper level with your readers and potential sponsors alike. Ideally, create a separate email for your blog. You can always have it forward messages to your personal inbox.

 

6. Not testing your blog

Every time you make a change to your template, check whether your new widget or links work correctly. For instance, try using your share buttons or leaving a comment on your blog after logging out. Now, if your readers come across broken links or images, they may think it's a problem with their system and not let you know. Every few months, check your blog thoroughly for any bugs or errors. The smallest errors could be costing you valuable traffic.

 

7. Having a stale 'About' section

As a rule of thumb, read your intro section every three months to see if there is something you can add to it, or whether something needs changing. It's always good to have a few of your recent posts on your 'About' page, or any new achievements you want to share. Don't create a page that barely describes you and leave it at that. Your 'About' page could decide whether a reader returns to your blog or not. Here's an additional tip: don't forget to mention your name in your intro! Very often, bloggers talk about themselves in the first person and completely forget to introduce their names.

 

8. Being a no-reply Blogger

If you use the Blogger platform, you may be a 'no-reply' blogger. This means when you comment on another Blogger post, the owner is unable to see your email address and will not be able to reply to you. Do remember that even if you have upgraded to Google+, you could still have this problem. The fix is pretty simple. You need to revert to your Blogger profile and check the 'Show my email address' box. Here's a complete tutorial.

I would love to hear about the things that helped you improve your blogging experience!

 

Tarana Khan (or just TK!) is a self-professed ‘non-expert’ on blogging, social media, and parenting, for that matter. She loves writing and learning all things new. Mom to a toddler, she has done her stints as a copywriter, reporter, and content editor, before embracing parenthood full time. She blogs at Sand In My Toes, where you can drop by to read more of her parenting and other adventures in Dubai. You can also catch up with her on Twitter, Facebook or Google+.  

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