Are you considering launching a blog or have you recently started one and now feel overwhelmed by the sheer volume of tasks and information? Yep, It’s a common feeling.
You’re probably feeling lost. With so many things to do, so many things to learn, you don’t know where to start. Well, today I am going to tell you where NOT to start. Steer clear from this blogging advice. These tips are the worst and they will mess up your blogging journey.
With nearly seven years of experience in the blogging world, I’ve encountered lots of advice—some helpful, some not so much, and some downright harmful.
So today I’ll share the worst advice I’ve come across. By avoiding these pitfalls, you’ll not only save time but also protect the success of your blog.
And trust me, I speak from personal experience; I’ve unwittingly followed a few of these pieces of advice and faced the consequences.
But before we get started, let me clarify a couple of things.
Although I have worked as a lawyer specializing in International and EU Law (LLB, LLM, PhD) for over 15 years and helped more than 30,000 bloggers and online entrepreneurs create their blog legal pages and policies with my plug-and-play legal templates, free legal templates, online courses, an affordable legal bundle for bloggers, and an affordable legal bundle for online business owners, this article is meant for informational and educational purposes only.
It does not constitute legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. I will not be held liable for any damages or losses caused by acting or failing to act on the grounds of the content of this article. Should your circumstances require, I encourage you to seek legal advice through other avenues. Please read my full disclaimer for further information.
This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. Please see our full disclosure for further information. If not otherwise stated, all prices are intended in US$.
If you’re in a rush at the moment, don’t sweat it! You can always download this post as a PDF and come back to these tips on avoiding bad blogging advice later.
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Without further ado, let’s dive in
Worst Blogging Advice #1: Get everyone on your email list
That really is awful advice. It can break your blog’s success in so many ways.
But let’s start from the beginning. A great blogging tip is to start building your email list from the beginning. Don’t delay—your email list is a crucial asset, so start gathering subscribers as soon as you launch your blog, or even beforehand.
BUT, you need quality subscribers who genuinely want to engage with your content and build a relationship with you.
Throughout my years of blogging, I’ve encountered plenty of misguided advice about growing your email list or email marketing in general. But perhaps the worst suggestion I’ve heard is this: “If you don’t have the time or expertise to create a freebie right now, offer something else, like an Amazon gift card, as a giveaway incentive for people to subscribe to your email list.”
So, their tip to help grow your email list was to create a giveaway for an Amazon gift card that lets people participate by subscribing to your email list.
Here’s why this is such a terrible idea:
Best-case scenario: People subscribe to win the gift card and then promptly unsubscribe once the giveaway is over. They’re not interested in your newsletter; they just want the prize. This generic prize that everyone may want.
Worst-case scenario: People subscribe solely for the chance to win the gift card but never unsubscribe afterward. As a result, your email list becomes populated with individuals who have zero interest in your blog, your content, or even your niche.
This is incredibly damaging. When you send out your hard-crafted newsletter, you’ll likely see really low open rates, leading to demoralization and self-doubt.
You will start thinking that your tips are not good, that your style is not good. But actually nothing is wrong with you… it’s them, not you. They wanted an Amazon gift card. They are not interested in what you have to say.
Plus, having an email list full of people not interested in your topic will get your opening score really low and this in the long run can break your email marketing as your future newsletter could end up in the spam folder. This is because a low open rate could signal that your newsletter looks low quality.
Even worse, disengaged subscribers may not remember subscribing to your list and could mark your emails as spam.
Additionally, you’re paying to maintain these subscribers on your list. Email marketing service providers typically charge based on subscriber numbers, so why pay for individuals who will never engage with your content?
So, what to do instead?
Instead of offering unrelated incentives, provide high-value freebies directly related to your blog’s niche. There are countless types of freebies you can create, tailored to your goals, audience, and niche.
I could talk for hours about freebies but probably it’s a topic for another post. But what is really really important for the success of your email marketing and consequently of your blog/business, is that your freebies are related to what you do.
Offering relevant freebies not only attracts genuine subscribers but also enhances the success of your email marketing efforts.
But what if you lack the time, resources, or knowledge to create a niche-specific freebie right away? Don’t wait to start your email list. While offering a freebie is ideal, it’s not the only way to attract subscribers.
You can begin by placing subscription forms at the end of your blog posts, encouraging readers to stay informed. Actively prompt your audience to subscribe if they want to delve deeper into your niche.
You can also use plugins like PostGopher that automatically convert your blog post into a pdf and send it to your subscribers. I offer freebies on my website but I also have PostGopher on all my blog posts, and you’d be surprised how many people subscribe just to have the blog post in a pdf format.
You can check out PostGopher here.
You can also collaborate with other creators in your niche for shoutouts or organize giveaways with prizes closely aligned with your blog’s focus and style.
There are so many strategies for growing your email list, even if you’re not ready yet to offer a niche-specific freebie. Just remember never to offer unrelated incentives that attract people who are not interested in your content.
Now, onto the next piece of misguided blogging advice.
Worst Blogging Advice #2: Start blogging on a free platform
OMG This is probably the worst of them all, and unfortunately, it’s all too common.
I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve heard people say, “Just try it out on a free platform first.”
Let me set the record straight: free platforms are only good if you’re 100% sure that you only want to blog as a hobby. If there’s even a whisper of you wanting to monetize your blog down the road, you absolutely need to start with self-hosted WordPress from the get-go.
Firstly, you can’t really “try out” blogging on a free platform to see if you like it. Blogging on a free platform versus self-hosted WordPress are two entirely different beasts.
The skill set required to manage a self-hosted WordPress blog is far more extensive than what’s needed for a free platform. We’re talking about SEO knowledge, tech skills, marketing expertise, and more.
Sure, free platforms allow you to write posts for an audience, but blogging encompasses so much more than just that. You can’t truly understand your enjoyment of blogging on a free platform and then smoothly transition to self-hosted because the experiences are worlds apart. You might enjoy one and hate the other.
If you simply want to test your writing abilities and consistency, you can do that offline, without immediately publishing. Establish a writing schedule, craft posts for your future blog, and if you find you enjoy it, dive into self-hosted WordPress directly, instead of wasting your time building your blog on a free platform.
And if you’re keen to test the viability of your blog’s topic, style, and marketing strategies before committing to hosting, I’m sorry to say it, but a free platform won’t cut it. The constraints of free platforms limit your ability to truly understand your blog’s potential compared to what’s possible with self-hosted WordPress.
Plus, you can’t learn very well by using a free platform as every time you hit a snag and seek advice online, you’ll find that the resources primarily cater to self-hosted WordPress users because experienced bloggers use WordPress.org and tend to favor and write about what they know best.
Lastly, starting on a free platform and then transitioning to self-hosted will affect your blog’s success. I speak from personal experience here, as this is the bad advice I unwittingly followed. In fact, when I started my first blog, I started it as a hobby. I had no goal of monetization at all.
So, I started it on Squarespace, not a free platform but with some limitations, because I liked the look of it and it seemed much easier to use. But, once I understood that it was actually more than a hobby (aka we started making money from it), it became clear that self-hosted WordPress was the way forward for serious success.
The migration process was a nightmare. We grappled with domain transfers, DNS propagation, content migration, URL redirection, website redesigns, and a laundry list of other headaches. We lost most of our comments, some shares, and saw a significant dip in domain authority, Alexa ranking, and traffic.
So, do yourself a favor: if you’re serious about your blog not just being a hobby, start with self-hosted WordPress from the get-go.
Before I move on to the next terrible piece of advice, if you want to learn more about how to start a blog and make money blogging then make sure you click the image below because I have a free guide that will dive deeper into how to create your own blog and get you started.
This guide will walk you through the blueprint I used to start my blog that turned into a multiple six-figure business, and comes with in-depth strategies, assignments, and tons of actionable tips, so you don’t want to miss out. Check it out for free here.
Back to terrible blogging advice.
Worst Blogging Advice #3: Wait for monetization
Whaaat? Didn’t you start a blog to make money? Please make money. Do not wait.
You’ll often hear people say you should build your blog and audience before diving into monetization strategies. But frankly, we hear this terrible blogging tip very often and it doesn’t hold water.
Their excuse to give you this bad suggestion? They’ll tell you that you need to establish an audience and earn their trust before introducing ads or affiliate marketing on your blog. No, no and nope.
For starters, if you incorporate monetization elements like affiliate links, sponsored posts, or ads from the beginning, your audience becomes accustomed to them. It becomes part of the fabric of your blog. Introducing these elements later on might catch your audience off guard or even disrupt their experience.
Plus, especially with affiliate marketing, you’re providing a service to your audience. Including all the necessary links in your blog post streamlines the process for your readers, saving them valuable time.
Ever felt frustrated when a blog gives you a helpful tip but doesn’t link to the specific product or resource mentioned? It’s a waste of time. Readers expect a seamless experience, from problem-solving to accessing solutions with just one click.
Honestly, I hate when a blog gives me a great organizational tip and then they don’t link to the specific box they have used. They are wasting my time, I expect them to solve my problem from a to z. Please tell me what to do, how to do it and let me get what I need with just one click.
Moreover, starting with affiliate marketing from day one can save you a ton of time. If you wait to add affiliate links to older posts, it becomes a really time-consuming process to go back, update links, and optimize for sales.
So, think about monetization as you create your content, rather than wasting those initial months without earning potential.
Why waste valuable time and voluntarily forgo the opportunity to earn money? I made $128 in my first month of blogging because I had active monetization channels. You can’t win the lottery if you don’t buy a ticket.
While building your audience’s trust is crucial for conversions, you never know who might be ready to make a purchase right away. I’ve personally bought from links on a blog I’ve visited just once, and I’m sure I’m not alone.
Sometimes, readers don’t need to fully trust the blogger to make a purchase. If the blog post effectively outlines the pros and cons of a product or service, they might decide to buy on the spot.
Those who aren’t interested in purchasing aren’t obligated to click on the link, but it’s there for those who are ready. And it’ll still be there as your audience grows and trust deepens.
However, it’s essential to strike a balance. Don’t overwhelm your blog with ads and affiliate promotion, as it can detract from the user experience and deter repeat visits. And, only promote products or services that are relevant to your blog post and genuinely benefit your readers.
Worst Blogging Advice #4: Write about what you love
Okay, this tip is a bit of a mixed bag, but there’s some truth to it. Simply writing about what you love isn’t enough. Frankly, nobody cares solely about your personal interests. People want value; they want tips, tricks, and solutions to their problems. They want content that resonates with their own interests and needs, not just yours.
However, there’s a silver lining. You can still write about what you love, but you need to frame it in a way that’s all about your audience.
Let’s say you’re passionate about your daily walks (kudos to you). If you write a post about the walk you took yesterday, chances are, not many people will be interested. But if you focus on the benefits of daily walks and how it can improve their lives, you might attract more readers.
Why? Because now your content offers value to them.
Honestly, I might not be invested in your personal walk, but if you tell me I can derive tangible benefits from walking, I’m all ears. Essentially, it’s not about what you want to write; it’s about what your audience wants to read.
You can still include your personal stories and your personal touch but your posts should aim to solve their problems, not yours.
But don’t get me wrong, writing about what you love is still crucial. Firstly, if you’re serious about blogging, you’ll be writing about similar topics for a long time, so you need genuine passion to sustain your motivation.
Secondly, your passion likely means you have extensive knowledge of the topic, which is invaluable when starting a blog.
So, if “write about what you love” means don’t start a blog in a profitable niche solely for the money if you despise the topic, then I agree. But if it suggests writing about anything solely because you love it, that’s misguided advice (unless it’s purely a hobby).
What should you do then? Find a way to help others through your passion. Going back to the walk example, provide value to your readers while writing about what you love. Offer insights, tips, or actionable advice related to your passion to make your content truly resonate with your audience.
Worst Blogging Advice #5: Write everyday/give everything to your blog
This one really gets under my skin. Why start a blog? For me, it’s all about freedom—freedom to pursue my passions on my own terms.
Sure, there are plenty of perks to having your own business: unlimited earning potential, doing what you love, helping others, building something from scratch, and more. But the ultimate benefit is the autonomy to choose when and how much I work.
Having a blog offers financial freedom, the freedom to truly enjoy life. But here’s the thing: if you’re working 20 hours a day on your blog, you’re not free—your blog becomes your boss.
I may sound a bit extreme, but I’m strongly against the hustle and grind mentality. I started my own business because I want to live life on my terms.
Sure, I could work more and potentially earn more, but I value my time far more than money. Contrary to popular belief, success doesn’t always require endless hustle. Making money doesn’t have to be a struggle—it’s one of the most common limiting beliefs out there.
Finding the right balance between income and time spent on your blog is crucial. Not only do you deserve to enjoy life, but burnout is a very real threat. If you don’t strike that balance, you’ll risk burning out altogether.
How many promising blogs have been abandoned just as they started gaining traction? The reason is often exhaustion. Bloggers pour everything into their work, only to run out of steam and ideas. And why does it happen just as they start seeing results? Because the initial rush of adrenaline fades once the initial goals are met.
So, please, ignore anyone who tells you that success requires relentless hard work. Find what works for you and the most efficient path to achieve it.
Now, as much as I’d love to keep preaching this message, I’ve got to practice what I preach and live my life. But before I go, know that there’s plenty more bad blogging advice out there you need to be wary of. You don’t want to follow the wrong advice and ruin your chance to succeed.
So, check out this post next, where I’ll continue to uncover the horrors of misguided blogging advice.
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