If you’re looking to start a blog, you might be feeling a bit overwhelmed.
Where do I even start? What should I prioritize? Which tools should I use? What should I write about?
Trust me; I’ve been there.
I’m a full-time mommy blogger and along the way, I’ve made almost every mistake in the book.
But guess what? You don’t have to!
Today, I’m sharing the 10 secrets pro bloggers know to help you avoid these amateur mistakes and grow a successful blog in no time.
The Difference Between a Pro Blogger and an Amateur Blogger
When you start your blogging journey, it’s easy to feel lost amidst the noise.
The key difference between pro and amateur bloggers is their ability to cut through the clutter, focus on what truly matters, and learn from their mistakes.
Mistakes aren’t failures; they’re stepping stones to success.
The only real mistake is thinking you know everything and not taking action.
Pro bloggers take deliberate steps, refine their strategies, and continually improve their craft.
Let’s dive into some of my biggest blogging flops so you can learn from them and take action!
Blogging Mistakes that Hurt My Mom Blog
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, meaning if you decide to make a purchase via my links, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
1. Waiting Too Long to Start
I spent almost a year deciding if I should even start a blog. I was worried about choosing the perfect blog name and niche, but that was time I could’ve spent building my blog.
My advice? Don’t get bogged down in overthinking!
Give yourself a day or two to come up with a name and niche, and just start.
If you need help, you can read my detailed posts on choosing a profitable blog niche and how to come up with an amazing blog name.
2. Choosing the Wrong Platform
Okay so this is the BIGGEST blogging mistake I made and I really wish back then that I’d had someone who could have guided me.
I kept reading about how WordPress is the way to go if you want to have a successful blog.
So off I went and happily created a wordpress.com site.
It took me AGES to figure out that the “WordPress” everyone keeps talking about is wordpress.org NOT wordpress.com.
Whats the difference? Glad you asked.
Okay so wordpress.com will let you make a blog for free. But here’s the problem.
With a free blog, you are not self hosted. This means it’s almost impossible to make any money from your blog.
On a free WordPress.com blog, you cannot:
- Install or use plugins.
- Monetize your site with ads.
- Run an online store directly on your blog.
- Fully customize themes or upload custom themes you’ve purchased.
- Create a membership site to offer exclusive content.
And there are additional limitations, too!
If you want to make money with your blog, you NEED to be self-hosted (aka you need WordPress.org)
Here is what I wish someone had told me when I was starting a blog as a newbie who had NO idea about all the technical terms.
There are 3 main things you need to start a successful blog:
- You need hosting (the place where your blog lives)
- You need a domain name (the name of your blog)
- You need a content management system (this is where you will spend your time creating and doing your blog work)
What is the cheapest, most efficient and effective way to get all 3?
My top recommendation would be Bluehost. This is the platform that I have used for years and I don’t plan to ever move to another hosting company.
Here’s why Bluehost is your best choice:
- It’s crazy affordable at 1.99/month – it can’t get cheaper than that!
- You get a free domain name (the name of your blog which you would otherwise have to pay for)
- You get WordPress.org for free with 1-click installation
- Free SSL certificate (keeps your site information secure)
- 24/7 support
So with Bluehost, you basically get your hosting, domain name, content management system and SSL for under $2/month!!
Action Step: Ready to start a money making blog? Here’s my step by step guide to start a blog with Bluehost even if you’re a total beginner with no technical background!
3. Picking a Narrow Blog Name
When I first started, I thought I’d only want to blog about toddler parenting.
So I chose the name “sweetnsourtoddlers” which reflected that specific topic. I loved the name!
Later, when I wanted to branch out to talk about side hustles, blogging and work-from-home tips, I realized I’d boxed myself in.
Please learn from my mistake and don’t pigeonhole yourself!
Choose a blog name broad enough to grow with you.
You can read my detailed post on how you should go about choosing an ideal name for your blog.
4. Focusing Too Much on Aesthetics
I spent weeks trying to make my blog look beautiful, but I lost sight of the real moneymaker—content.
Yes, aesthetics matter, but focus on the basics first: a home page, about me, and category pages.
Then get to creating content.
A clean, simple blog design with valuable posts is much more impactful than a fancy design with little content.
5. Ignoring Pinterest as a Traffic Source
Pinterest can drive massive traffic to your blog, especially when you’re new and trying to build an audience.
I wish I’d taken advantage of Pinterest sooner.
Pro Tip: Research keywords on Pinterest that relate to your niche, create blog posts around those, and design eye-catching pins to drive visitors back to your blog. You’ll see your blog traffic soar.
6. Not Using Tailwind to Automate Pinterest
Once I started using Pinterest, I quickly learned that consistent pinning is crucial.
Tailwind automates this process and helps you stay active on Pinterest without manually pinning every day.
I wish I’d started using it sooner—it’s a game-changer for consistent traffic.
The other thing that is a real game changer is Tailwind Communities.
This is basically where you join groups on tailwind based on your blog topics. On these groups, you share your pins with other bloggers.
Essentially you share their pins and they share your pins. This is a crazy effective way to get your pins seen and shared with others.
It’s a super effective way that I have used to help my pins go viral!
Viral pins equal TONS of free traffic which is exactly what we’re after.
I literally have 1 pin that I created years ago and because it went viral on Pinterest, that 1 pin brings in approximately 5000-6000 visitors a month!!
7. Giving Up Too Soon
At first, I didn’t see results in the first few months, and I let that discourage me.
I even stopped blogging for a couple of months.
When I returned and started writing again, I realized that with persistence, blogging can really pay off.
You WILL make money with your blog. Just don’t give up too quickly.
Blogging success takes time.
You gotta be patient.
8. Skipping Out on Blogging Courses
Investing in a blogging course can save you so much time and frustration.
I tried to figure everything out on my own by using Google and Youtube.
But honestly, if I had just invested in a course it could have saved me sooo much time, effort, frustration, energy(and tears!)
There are some kickass courses out there that can save you years of figuring out on your own.
As a beginner, you should take courses on the following topics:
- Affiliate marketing: Top recommended course: Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing
- Generating traffic: Top recommended course is Ready, Set Traffic
9. Inconsistent Content and Marketing
Consistency is key in the blogging world.
I would write posts but wouldn’t promote them, and sometimes I’d go months without publishing anything.
To build a steady audience, set up a posting and promotion schedule.
Aim for regular content creation, and use platforms like Pinterest, Instagram, or Facebook to drive traffic back to your blog.
10. Not Building an Email List
I didn’t start collecting emails right away, and that was a big mistake.
An email list is a direct way to reach your audience, promote new content, and even launch products later.
Use an email marketing tool like Mailerlite to easily create an opt-in form and start capturing emails from the get-go.
Final Thoughts
Just remember, making mistakes is part of the process of creating a blog that becomes an asset.
It’s also important to learn from your own blogging mistakes as well as the mistakes of others.
If you can learn from my blogging mistakes, you’ll save yourself months or even years of effort and time.
The only thing you DON’T want to do is not take action. Inaction will lead you nowhere.
It’s only by taking action you can make mistakes, learn from them, improve your strategy, grow and eventually be successful.
I hope you found this post helpful and I wish you nothing but the best in your blogging days ahead.
If you need help getting your blog set up, I have a super helpful post that I created especially for beginners.
It will teach you how to set up your blog correctly and turn it into an asset that brings you monthly passive income.
If you’re ready to dive in then take out a few minutes and get your blog set up!
MORE IDEAS TO MAKE MONEY:
The Ultimate Guide to Start a Profitable Blog As a Beginner
20 Blog Niches to Make Money: How to Pick the Right One and Why It Matters
15 Insanely Profitable & Flexible Side Hustle Ideas For Moms
Mastering Fiverr: How to Earn Like a Pro
Become a Successful Freelancer in 2024: A Beginner’s Guide for Stay At Home Moms
Leave a Reply