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13 Things to Avoid as a Blogger for Better User Experience and Better SEO

 

Things to Avoid as a Blogger for Better User Experience and Better SEO

Things to Avoid as a Blogger for Better User Experience and Better SEO

It can be often difficult for first time bloggers to grasp the right things to do when it comes to blogging.

Most new bloggers usually learn the basics the hard way, which can be very frustrating. This is because of loss of a good reputation which is vital when building a blog and wastage of time.

Here, we are going to look at some of the major things that you should avoid doing on your blog. Some of them not only affect how you relate with your readers, but also affect how search engines index the blog.

Loosing your reputation and at the same time being at bad terms with search engines is more like a double tragedy to any blogger. That’s why I advice you to pay close attention to the following suggestions about what not to do on your blog.

 

1. Plagiarism and Infringement of Copyrights

Instead of coming up with original content, many first time bloggers copy content from more established blogs and publish it on their blogs as if it was their own. This seriously dents their reputation if a blog visitor comes across their yet unknown blog and notices the content is not original.

These acts can also make the search engines view the blog as spam which can lead to low rankings or removal from the index altogether, which would mean a loss of traffic.

 

2. Keyword Stuffing

This is another mistake that is very common. Many bloggers, in an attempt to rank high in search engines, overuse keywords related to their theme or topic in their content.

This makes the search engines see the blog as spam and also puts off readers because it interferes with the natural flow of content.

 

3. Writing Very Long Posts

Tips for Better Blogging - Avoid Long Boring Blog Posts

Tips for Better Blogging – Avoid Long Boring Blog Posts

Many blog readers prefer posts which are short enough and to the point, with between 500 and 1000 words.

A 5000 word post may put off readers because first of all, it takes a lot of time to read a post that long. And second, it’s been proven that a lot of people – especially while surfing the internet – do not have the attention span and concentration to read a long post.

Most just scan the posts they are reading – they look at the headings and sub headings of a post before moving on.

So if your topic demands a long post, at least have meaningful headings and sub-headings that make skimming through the post easier for your readers.

 

4. Improper use of language

It is advisable to use language that is generally acceptable. Cursing out and using foul language may not be acceptable to many people.

Some foul language might be tolerated on personal blogs, but if your blog is anything other than a personal blog, steer clear of foul language.

 

5. Creating Blog Enemies

Some bloggers end up creating adversaries through blogging who they have never met in real life. This can happen especially when you have received an inappropriate comment or feedback.

Bloggers and readers alike are advised to air their opinions without offending each other. Differing opinions do not necessarily mean creating adversaries.

 

6. Irregular Schedule of Blog Posting

As a blogger, you should have a regular schedule of posting blog posts. It can be daily, or every two days, or whatever schedule that fits you the best.

The point here is to not keep your readers guessing as to when you are going to post next. Nobody likes to be kept in the dark, and keeping readers guessing can take a toll on their patience.

This in turn can make them abandon your blog completely without ever revisiting it – now that is something you want to avoid at all costs!

 

7. Monetizing Too Early

Do not monetize your blog before it matures or builds enough loyal traffic and a good reputation.

The idea of monetizing the blog in its early stages can be very tempting for many bloggers. But what most bloggers don’t realize is that monetization means having things like ads, affiliate links, etc all over the blog.

These things can be very distracting to blog visitors, and sometimes overwhelming if the ads take too much space. This can destroy your blog’s reputation – leading to low traffic.

 

8. Ignoring Blog Visitors’ Opinions

Do not ignore your blog’s visitors, their opinions or their feedback. You should maintain contact with your readers at all times.

You can do this by replying to blog comments and emails, and making use of social networks like Facebook and Twitter to reach out.

This helps build a strong bond between you and your readers.

 

9. Bad Blog Design

Bad Blog Design Can be Obtrusive - Puts Off Blog Readers

Bad Blog Design Can be Obtrusive – Puts Off Blog Readers

Don’t have a blog design that is repulsive in the sense that it puts off readers. Rather, your blog’s design and appearance should be attractive to the eye.

This can be done by using blog colors that match well. Normally, bloggers are advised to use not more than three colors, and to keep the design simple but unique.

The font too should be clearly visible allowing the blog visitor to read content with no strain.

Once of the best ways to achieve this is by using reputed and SEO friendly blog themes like Genesis. Good themes like the Genesis framework do all the hard work behind the scene for you – the layout, the fonts, the colors, etc – so that you can focus on the content of your blog.

 

10. Auto Playing Videos

Having embedded videos on auto play can really out your readers off. This can be very disturbing to a reader because of the inconvenience it may cause – especially if they are watching it in an environment where noise is not tolerated. Examples – a library or their workplace.

Most readers are caught unaware, and once the video starts playing, they are forced to hurriedly look to the screen searching for the stop button to stop the video or mute button to get rid of the noise.

 

11. Using Difficult Language

Don’t use complex words or vocabulary that is not easy to understand.

The language used on your blog should be simple – your reader shouldn’t have to use a dictionary to understand what you are saying.

 

12. Not Removing Spam Comments

Remove Spam Comments Regularly for Good SEO and Good User Experience

Remove Spam Comments Regularly for Good SEO and Good User Experience

You should not allow spam comments from spammers on your blog.

It may seem advantageous to have a few comments – especially when your blog is new, but the search engines interpret this differently, and in the long run it may ruin your reputation.

 

13. Guest Blogging Too Early

Last but not the least, a newbie blogger should not guest post at another established blog leaving live links to his or her own blog.

This is because the traffic from the other blog will be disappointed to find that your blog has nothing much to offer for them other than an empty shell. This in turn ruins your reputation.

 

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