Blogs can be an incredibly effective marketing tool—if you do it right. Unfortunately, a lot of marketers aren’t getting everything they can out of their blogs, and it often comes down to these five common mistakes:

Going in blind.

One of the greatest sins in the world of blogging is leaving massive gaps of time between posts. In fact, it might just be the best way to lose all your followers! 

The most common reason for this is a lack of strategy. Sometimes you just don’t know what else to write! While that’s understandable, it’s not acceptable. Before you publish that first blog, get a calendar and plot out a few weeks to a month’s worth of content. Make sure you don’t run out!

Isolating your blog. 

What’s the point of taking the time to write a great blog post if nobody ends up seeing it? Effective online marketing is like a well-oiled machine with many moving pieces that all work together. 

So don’t forget to promote your blog on your other channels. Post about your new blogs on the social media platforms where it makes sense, have a link on your website and spread the word via email blasts.

Being a copycat. 

Yes, sometimes it’s hard to know what to write. Everyone needs a spark of inspiration every once in a while, and often one finds it by reading other people’s work. But do NOT plagiarize their info. It’s a good way to not only get into trouble with the original author, but ruin your own reputation as a writer, as well. If you need to reference another author’s article, do so in a courteous and professional fashion.

Sloppy writing. 

We’re not just talking about typos or grammatical errors. (although you should definitely check your work. Have you tried Grammarly yet?) 

Before you even start typing, take some time to get your thoughts straight. Make an outline of what you want to say and stick to it. Put some real thought into what you’re writing and read it back to yourself afterwards to make sure it flows well.

Not providing value.

After reading a blog or article, a person should have taken away something from the experience. Whether it’s a new tip or a grudge against the reader’s opinions, your blogs should have an impact. Share knowledge, tips, tricks, and facts. Data always dominates (but make sure it’s correct). 

Perhaps the most important thing to remember when writing a blog is to not take your readership for granted. If you want people to pay attention to your writing, then give them a good reason to keep reading.