If you are writing your first blog, there must be lots of thoughts running through your head.

There are many ideas you want to write about, but do not know where or how to start. Maybe, you now realize blogging is not an easy thing to do or accomplish right away, contrary to what some say.

[bctt tweet=”#Blogging is not an easy thing to do or accomplish right away, contrary to what some say.” username=”@MediaMaven_CN”]

Blogging for Beginners

When I started this blog, it was just for fun. I wanted to rebel after leaving TV news and say whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted. A few month later, my traffic grew and I started to monetize Mascara Maven and turn it into a side hustle.

Still, I didn’t know a lot and was just kind-of going with the flow. Some bloggers wouldn’t help me, some bloggers (who considered me their competition) would only help a bit, and others helped me immensely. I credit those bloggers for my growth and am so grateful.

Blogging Tips for Beginners

I have learned a lot in the last two years, and continue to learn even more.

Do you want to know what I consider my biggest mistakes?

1. Not doing SEO Keyword Research

• I consider this the biggest mistake I’ve made. I thought I could rely on my social media following to bring in traffic. Then Facebook changed its algorithm. Then a couple of days would go by, and everyone had seen that post’s promotion and posting anything else again would be old news.
• Now, I do extensive keyword research before posting anything. After learning about SEO from Brandon Gaille, I feel like all of the posts prior were a waste of time. Although I did get lucky with some of them. This one is an SEO hit!

2. Not making my posts easy to read

• Today, I use headlines and bullet points to make my post easy to read. Most people don’t sit and read an entire blog post. We’re too busy. If your post is skimmable (is that a word?) more people are likely to read it a little longer than if it wasn’t. Now, I make sure to include different fonts and images to make it more appealing to the eye.

3. Not knowing which fellow bloggers to align myself

• Coming from the TV business, I was shocked at how petty and cutthroat some bloggers can be. Andy Cohen really needs to start a reality show called, “The Real Bloggers of (insert city here), because some of these women take their blogging business to crazy town.
• Remember, how I said some will help you and some won’t, while others will pretend to help you? Unfortunately, some will think your success is their failure and will try to bring you down. I didn’t expect that and was too naive and too friendly with many starting out. Now, I’ve separated myself with that nonsense.

Maintaining a blog requires a lot of work and there will be roadblocks or troubles that may surprise you. Knowing how to overcome these roadblocks is very important so it won’t affect your progress.

Blogger Beware

You can never avoid making mistakes when writing, blogging, and doing everything else that comes with it.

Learn how to handle mistakes in a way that it will not affect your willingness to write and share your writing. It is also a good move to research the common mistakes other bloggers make so you could learn from them.

[bctt tweet=”It’s a good move to research common mistakes #bloggers make to learn from them.” username=”@MediaMaven_CN”]

My friend Sarah Smith created this helpful infographic containing a list of the eight beginning blogger mistakes to avoid.

The good news? These common mistakes will surely help you become a successful blogger. (I was very guilty of #1, #4, and #8.)