Sep26

Common Mistakes to Avoid

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Our approach to anything we do can change the outcome to make it a positive or a negative experience. Blogging is no exception to this rule. Often we do things that seem right, but in reality have a negative impact. With that in mind, I offer these blogging mistakes to avoid.

Blogging Mistakes to Avoid.

  • Don’t try to be someone you’re not. A successful blogger has a style and tone that is uniquely the blogger’s.
  • Don’t play it too safely. Experiment. Take thoughtful risks, try new things. Add spice and energy.
  • Don’t try to trick your audience . A game or a hoax might be tempting and may even be fun. However, you risk not only your credibility, but the trust readers have placed in you.
  • Don’t try to be too clever. Write in clear language with a friendly voice to a reader who is as intelligent as you are. Leave the big words for eighth grade teachers, unless your readers have shown a predilection for higher-level vocabulary.
  • Don’t use marketing speak, buzz words, or jargon. Use real words that real people use to talk to each other.
  • Don’t lie. It’s the ultimate disrespect for your readers.They’ll find out.
  • Don’t steal. A thought leader has thought and doesn’t need to take those of others. People want to read your thoughts. If you quote someone else (be sure to attribute and give a link back) and make your own commentary.
  • Don’t get upset when you make a mistake. Fix your errors and move on.
  • Don’t ignore your readers. Engage readers. Be there to answer their comments.
  • Don’t ignore criticism. Answer negative comments with the mindset of the beginner/learner. Listen and learn all you can from the commenter. Place what you learn in context and keep what is valuable.
  • Don’t get defensive. When someone points out a mistake, take a step back and look at the situation objectively. If you were wrong, admit that. Readers respect bloggers who own their actions and who stay cool headed in tough situations.
  • Don’t write when you’re angry or intoxicated. Wait.

As you can see, all of these fall under the advice, “blog smart,” or to say it another way, “don’t do stupid things.”

 

  • http://www.techzonline.net TechZ

    Ah so true, you always present these posts in such a simple and clear way Liz that I bet your readers are just left thinking “That does sound right!”. I know it’s what I think after I read it.

    The recent bout of Splogging (Copying entire blogs and re-posting them) has gottena lot of attention for major bloggers. It’s so easy for these crooks to steal great content and just claim it as their own.

  • http://www.lettingmebe.blogspot.com Liz Strauss

    TechZ
    You are such a great commenter. You can find something insightful and useful to say about anything. You would make a wonderful teacher and a great boss. I’d like to work for you. :)

  • http://blogosquare.blog.mu Hans

    Could I print that above post? I think all what you’ve written will help me everytime I blog. Through every point it’s as if you’re directly saying something that happened to me.

    Hey Liz would there also be a don’t play or have fun in the above post? Sometimes I just post some comments just to have some fun like playing and the blogger really takes that wrong. Afterwards I sometimes feel down about this. I remember one where there was a contest, I was new to blogging and I filled lots of long, I mean very long comments there. But they were thoughtful ones. Nothing gibberish. Since that day that blogger as if won’t be smelling me around. I think now he has even used some of those long thoughtful comments and modeled them into blog post but still no smelling me.

    Blogging is such an activity that I’m directly involved with people and that can be annoying sometimes when you go offtrack because I think there’s no universally accepted code for : I’m sorry, would you continue to be my friend and folks blogger and talk as we did.

  • http://www.lettingmebe.blogspot.com Liz Strauss

    Sure,
    Hans you can print this post. I give you permission and I understand your reasons. Some folks, I ran into one when first started, would rather show you how smarter they are than teach you how. I’m all for letting them know that we can take care of ourselves when it comes to learning. :)

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