Welcome to blogging, where the only thing more overwhelming than the amount of content out there is the number of “expert” opinions on how to do it right.

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But don’t worry, I’m here to cut through the noise and give you the no-nonsense rundown on what you should and shouldn’t do when it comes to starting and maintaining a successful blog.

Before I dive into some of the most important “do’s and don’ts” let me give you a list of many different ones that you should keep in mind.

Blogging Do’sBlogging Don’ts
Create a clear and focused topic for your blogPlagiarize content or steal ideas from other sources
Research your topic thoroughlyWrite blog posts that are too long or rambling
Use high-quality images and videos to enhance your blog postsUse overly complicated language or jargon that may be difficult for some readers to understand
Use headings, subheadings, and bullet points to break up your text and make it easier to readNeglect the design and appearance of your blog
Proofread your blog posts carefully to ensure that they are free of errors and typosIgnore your readers or neglect to respond to comments and questions
Use internal and external links to provide additional resources and information for your readersForget to promote your blog through social media and other channels to reach a wider audience
Encourage reader interaction through comments and social media sharingNeglect to use proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation
Use SEO best practices to help your blog rank higher in search engine resultsBe afraid to experiment with different formats, such as videos or podcasts, to keep your content fresh and interesting
Be consistent in your posting schedule to keep your readers engagedBe afraid to ask for feedback from your readers
Have fun and enjoy the process of blogging!Give up! Blogging can be a lot of work, but it can also be very rewarding. Keep at it and you will see results.

Do: Choose a specific niche or topic to focus on

Now let’s talk about choosing a specific niche or topic to focus on when it comes to blogging. This is a crucial step in the process but if you get it wrong it also isn’t the end of the world.

If you choose the wrong niche you can easily get a different domain and start a new site in a new niche in the future.

You see, when you try to be a jack-of-all-trades and cover a wide range of topics instead of a niche, you risk spreading yourself too thin and coming off as a superficial expert on everything. Plus Google has been putting more and more emphasis on topical authority so you will want to make sure to cover as much as possible in you’re chosen niche.

Afterall, no one wants to listen to a person (or a site) who tries to talk about fashion one day and then jumps to discussing quantum physics the next. Talk about a recipe for disaster.

On the other hand, if you choose a specific niche or topic to focus on, you can dive deep into the subject matter and establish yourself as a go-to source for information on that topic. Plus, it’ll be easier for your audience to know what to expect from your blog and why they should keep coming back for more.

Do: Research and plan your content ahead of time

Now onto the oh-so-exciting topic of planning and research. Doing research about your topic is vital as not only does it keep you from writing the wrong information but it can also help you learn what you should include in the article as well.

You see, when you wing it and try to come up with the content on the fly, you risk coming off as unprepared and unprofessional. Plus, you run the risk of repeating information that’s already out there or missing important details.

And let’s be real, no one wants to be known as the blogger who constantly puts out half-baked content.

On the other hand, if you take the time to research and plan your content ahead of time, you can ensure that your blog posts are well-informed, thorough, and engaging.

It’ll also save you time in the long run because you won’t have to constantly scramble to come up with something to write about.

Do: Engage with your audience and respond to comments

Engaging with your audience and responding to comments is actually a really important part of the blogging process.

You see, when you ignore your readers and their comments, you risk coming off as aloof and uninterested in their feedback. And no one likes to feel like they’re talking to a brick wall.

However, if you make an effort to engage with your audience and respond to their comments, you show that you value their input and are interested in hearing what they have to say. It’ll also help to foster a sense of community on your blog and keep people coming back for more.

Do: Use visuals, such as images and videos, to enhance your content

Have you ever heard the term a picture really is worth a thousand words? While that might be a bit of an exaggeration, the point stands. Visuals can really enhance your content and make it more engaging for your readers.

You see, when you rely solely on text to convey your message, you risk boring your readers and losing their attention. No one wants to be a blogger who puts their readers to sleep.

But, if you incorporate visuals, such as images and videos, into your content, you can break up large blocks of text and make your blog more visually appealing. Plus, it can help to illustrate your points and make your content easier to understand.

Don’t: Plagiarize or copy content from other sources

In the blogging community, plagiarism is about as welcome as a skunk at a garden party. There is nothing that bloggers hate more than when someone steals or copies their content.

When you plagiarize or copy content from other sources, you risk damaging your reputation and credibility as a blogger. No one wants to be known as the person who steals other people’s ideas and passes them off as their own.

Plus, it’s just plain unethical.

Not only that but your site could easily be penalized and you could even be sued if you steal someone’s blog post, images, etc. Although getting sued might not be as likely as other outcomes none of them are good for you as a blogger.

So don’t plagiarize someone else’s work and only use images that you purchase or have the right to use.

If you take the time to create original content, you’ll establish yourself as a thought leader in your field and build trust with your audience. It may take a bit more effort, but the payoff is worth it in the end.

So don’t be a copycat, put in the work and create your own unique content.

Don’t: Neglect SEO best practices

In blogging it sometimes seems like the only thing more confusing than the acronyms that you have to learn is trying to figure out how to make your blog rank on Google.

When you neglect SEO best practices, you risk making it difficult for your blog to be found by search engines and potential readers. So you will want to make sure that you check all of the SEO boxes and know the ins and outs of what you should and shouldn’t do.

If you take the time to learn about and implement SEO best practices, you can increase the chances that your blog will rank higher in search results and reach a wider audience. It may seem intimidating at first, but there are plenty of resources out there to help you get up to speed.

Don’t: Ignore the importance of proofreading and editing.

When you are editing and proofreading your own content it can sometimes seem like the only thing more tedious than catching typos is trying to resist the urge to pull your hair out.

But don’t just ignore this part of the process altogether.

You see, when you neglect proofreading and editing, you risk putting out content that’s riddled with mistakes and typos. No one wants to be a blogger who can’t even spell their own name correctly. Plus, it can make you look unprofessional and make it difficult for your readers to take you seriously.

However, if you take the time to proofread and edit your content, you can ensure that it’s polished and free of errors. There are tons of tools that you can use to help you get the grammar right while you are writing a blog post and many of them are entirely free.

For example, I am currently using the FREE Grammarly Chrome extension while I am writing this blog post in WordPress. It automatically changes misspellings and underlines (in red) any that it is not sure what I mean so I can easily go back and edit them.

Using a tool like that will help your blog appear far more professional.

Final Thoughts

Well, that wraps up our crash course on blogging dos and don’ts.

The bottom line is this: if you want to be a successful blogger, it’s important to put in the effort and follow best practices. It may not always be easy, but it’ll be worth it in the end.

So don’t be a slacker, take the time to choose a specific niche, plan and research your content, engage with your audience, use visuals, and make sure your content is original and error-free.

Matt R
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