Starting a new blog today or in the new year? Stepping into the world of digital marketing can be a daunting experience. While you might be interested in the latest marketing trends and are eager to apply them to your new blog, there are other factors to consider as well. There are several digital marketing errors that could set your new blog back.
As a newcomer, you may only get one chance to make a good first impression on your readers. No matter what you plan to market, there are several common blogging mistakes you can avoid.
And of course be sure to have the right digital tools to help you along the way. These mistakes might cost you time, money, and clients.
Table of Contents
The Big 7 Digital Marketing Mistakes
1. Failing To Plan Before You Launch Your Digital Marketing
Creating an engaging blog connected to your business can be a creative and enjoyable endeavor. However, one of the most common mistakes most new bloggers make is to rush through the process.
New bloggers do this so they can launch their content as soon as possible.
To create a blog that will attract as many readers as possible, it is important that you plan out its details first.
The planning process does not have to delay the launch of your blog. Give yourself enough time to consider the factors that might make it successful.
You can ask yourself a variety of questions, such as who your readers will be, what kind of content they will be looking for, and how you plan to reach them.
Planning both short and long-term goals for your blog can help you feel more confident about its quality.
2. Ignoring Mobile Convenience
As you map out your blog, your top priority may be quality content presented in such a way that it grabs your reader’s attention and gets them interested in your product or service.
However, failing to optimize your blog for mobile users may lose readers before they can even get to your site. Recent statistics show that the number of mobile shoppers has risen steadily in the past five years, and if your blog is not mobile-friendly, you could be shutting out potential customers.
Likewise, be sure all your social share buttons work well on mobile and not just on desktop! I’ve seen too many mobile sites where the share buttons cover the content or are hard to use.
Before you launch your blog, it is a good idea to test it for mobile capability. Loading speed and ease of use on mobile devices are usually two factors that customers want most. However, do be careful if on public wifi.
They are important when they view a website on their phone or tablet. Therefore you may want to focus on those two during the testing phase.
However, this is one of the biggest digital marketing errors one can make even as we head into 2025.
If you are not sure if your website or blog is mobile-friendly check out the Google mobile-friendly test here.
3. Misunderstanding Your Audience – A Big Digital Marketing Mistake
Quality content and clever on-site advertising might not amount to much if you fail to target the right audience. Using the wrong type of language or missing the mark in realizing who you are trying to reach can plunge your blog into anonymity.
Finding your audience and understanding the type of content they might be looking for can be one key to the success of digital marketing via your blog.
If not misunderstanding your audience could lead to fatal digital marketing errors.
Going to the source can help you understand your audience better. Ask your current readers what kind of content they want to see on your blog. Or how you might improve it.
This can show them that you are interested in their wants and needs. It will make a better and more meaningful connection with the people supporting your small business.
4. Ignoring Customer Communication
It is now easier than ever to make your own website and customize it to the needs of your small business. However, how you use that site to reach out to your customers can be one of the cornerstones of your success.
When readers leave a comment on a blog post, it is important to respond promptly. Respond even if they have a complaint about the content.
Responding thoughtfully and taking the time to thank a reader or doing your best to resolve a complaint can go a long way in building positive customer relations and your online reputation.
If you ignore comments and emails you could be missing one of the big digital marketing errors.
5. Not Doing Keyword Research From The Beginning
If you blog without doing keyword research, it will be harder for your blog to be found in the search engines and generate more traffic to it.
Therefore, starting to do the research before you hit the publish button will help you reach a more targeted and engaged audience as well.
You can learn from my mistakes as I didn’t do the keyword research from the beginning and have to redo it for each blog post I’ve published as I update them. (There are over 700 blog posts here on Inspire To Thrive.)
6. Not Starting An Email List
Not starting an email list for your new blog is like building a house without a front door. You’re missing out on a direct line to your most interested readers. An email list gives you control over your audience.
Unlike social media followers who can vanish with an algorithm change, email subscribers are a stable asset. They’re more likely to see your content and engage with it.
Plus, emails offer a personal touch that strengthens your connection with readers. They can help drive traffic, boost sales, and grow your blog’s reach.
Ignoring this tool means leaving potential loyal readers untapped and letting valuable relationships slip through your fingers. Ask yourself, can your new blog afford that?
7. Ads Everywhere
Have you ever landed on a blog to see ads popping up everywhere that you could not even read the blog? Yes, been there and moved on quickly.
Putting ads everywhere on your new blog can backfire big time. Readers come to your blog for content, not to be bombarded with ads. When they see ads all over the page, it’s a huge turn-off.
It makes your blog look cluttered and unprofessional. Plus, it can slow down your site, which is a big no-no in a world where everyone wants everything fast.
Ads can also make it hard for visitors to focus on your content, driving them away. If you scare off readers, you’ll struggle to grow your audience and boost engagement.
Instead of slapping ads everywhere, start by building trust and a loyal following. Quality content comes first, ads can wait.
In Conclusion: Digital Marketing Errors to Avoid
Creating a blog to boost your small business can be fruitful and create buzz about your products. However, careful planning and taking time to consider your audience can increase your chances of success.
It will avoid making these digital marketing mistakes.
I’d love to know in the comments below which of these digital marketing errors you made when you started to blog. Or if you can add more to this list of digital marketing errors.
Avoiding Common Pitfalls: FAQ for New Bloggers in Digital Marketing
Why is keyword stuffing bad for SEO?
Keyword stuffing makes your content look spammy and can lower its quality. It might get you penalized by search engines, which hurts your site’s ranking. Focus on using keywords naturally and prioritize valuable content for readers.
How does ignoring mobile optimization affect my blog?
A blog that’s not mobile-friendly can drive away visitors who use smartphones or tablets. Mobile users expect seamless navigation. A poor mobile experience can increase your bounce rate and hurt your search engine rankings.
What happens if I neglect my audience’s needs?
Neglecting your audience’s interests can lead to lower engagement and fewer returning visitors. Write content that addresses their problems and answers their questions. Keep your audience in mind with every post to build a loyal readership.
How can skipping email marketing strategies impact my blog?
Skipping email marketing means missing out on a direct line to your audience. Emails allow you to build relationships and keep readers engaged. Leverage this tool to promote new content and drive traffic back to your blog.
She has 30+ years of experience in marketing/advertising with 12 years of experience in content marketing, social media, blogging, and SEO.
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Great blog post Lisa! More and more people are using mobile devices to access the internet, and Google prioritizes mobile-friendly websites in its search rankings. Mobile optimization is must and is easy to correct but “Keyword Research” is the difficult part due to competition, relevance, and the time and resources required, but it is an essential part of any digital marketing strategy.
Hi John, thanks for the read and input, your comment almost went into spam because you don’t have a gravatar. (Something I highly recommend you do soon.) I’m glad you mentioned the time factor because it is a big one. Thank you and have a great day. If you need help with a gravatar please let me know.
Planning is oh so big for digital marketing and blogging Lisa. Here I am up until 4 AM on New Year’s Eve in part due to insomnia but also because a plan for my blog and blogging business arose in mind. I cannot get to sleep until I iron it out and let it seep into my mind going forward. In truth, I held my blog back for various stretches due to a lack of planning. But each time I hammered out a clear but flexible plan, things moved forward more seamlessly. All good tips here. This is a great post for all digital marketers to enjoy.
LOL, we are on the same time schedule, Ryan. My favorite time of the day. I do that all the time with my mind racing. Then sometimes I go back to bed for a nap. Oh yes, planning makes a huge difference and is more important than ever before with the competition. Appreciate your coming by and make it a great last day of 2022!
You are completely correct on every point; this has become a common error among digital marketing newcomers like me, and it is one I want to avoid moving forward.
Hi Lara, welcome to Inspire To Thrive. Which of the errors has been the one that you struggle with? Thanks for coming by and have a great day.
I’ve often made the mistake of not responding to comments. Not only on my blog, but on Youtube, Quora, Reddit, and social media posts. This is a big opportunity to build relationships, and I missed the chance to build upon them by not responding to what people have felt about my content.
Hi Randall, it happens from time to time with me. But it is a big missed opportunity for sure! I hope you will respond more in the coming year and have a great day ahead.
hey Lisa, You have done a fantastic job. I’ll definitely Digg it and more appreciating blog!
Thank you Roslia and welcome to Inspire To Thrive. Do you blog as well? Have a wonderful day.
Hii Lisa..
Such an amazing article. I am new in the field of blogging. Your points are very good. It will be very helpful for me. I really love the way you presented this post. I learned a lot just by reading your Post. There’s so much to learn in order to be successful in this field and it is so amazing that there are so many learning materials and tips out there such as this article.
Being a new blogger this post is just like gold to me. Thanks for sharing such insights. Great Work. Much appreciated.
Hi Chandana, thank you. Oh yes, I try to keep it simple here so beginners can understand. I remember when I first started and landed on a complicated post – I would shrug my shoulders and go off to something else. It’s a lot to learn all at once even more so today than 7 years ago when I first started. I still learn something new at least once a day sometimes a dozen times per day! Thanks for coming by Chandana and good luck with your new blog. I’ll have to check it out!
Hey Lisa,
Coming over from Bren’s blog (and I happen to stumble on Bren’s blog thanks to Donna’s blog) — Some networking that one 🙂
You mentioned “digital marketing” and I was hooked. What can I say? I have a weakness for that one.
The rush of marketing and advertising is such that although it’s the customers are looking to get to, we ignore them when they get anywhere close to buying from us. That’s why, I am so happy with the paradigm shift in customer behavior itself, the various touch points that customers can possibly go through before they spend a dollar, and the fact that social media can literally rip brands apart (if they dare to ignore).
Because customers are so important, I also like the simultaneous rise of Facebook Messenger and for brands having to get into “talking” mode finally.
Will be a regular here 🙂 Keem em’ coming.
Ash
Hi Ash, welcome to Inspire to Thrive! Oh yes, I understand that weakness. It is amazing how much and how quickly marketing has changed. You are right, social media can made a difference today.
Do you use Facebook messenger for business now?
Thank you so much for coming by and have a great evening Ash.
Hi Lisa,
This post has covered some major digital marketing warnings for new bloggers. Speaking to a wrong audience is just like going in an opposite direction where no one is interested in listening to what you have to say. Many bloggers struggle with this and they later found out who they were speaking to. Were they really interested? So, the marketing efforts literally begin by targeting the right audience, and connecting with them.
The mobile experience is also the real thing today. Consider Pinterest or Facebook, the usage is more via mobile. So, it is critical.
Thanks for spreading the knowledge.
– Arfa
Hi Arfa, welcome to Inspire to Thrive. You are right, it does make one go in the wrong direction. Why waste time writing if you are not targeting the right people? Mobile is very much a thing today. Most traffic online is coming from mobile today. It’s amazing how fast that it happened too. You are welcome and thanks for coming by Arfa. Have a great new week!
Hey Lisa,
Failing to plan and misunderstanding the audience are real two biggies, that can result in long term damage to one’s digital marketing efforts. Misunderstanding the audience also boils down to identifying your ideal target audience, which most marketers miss right away – or rely on guess work.
Thanks so much for brining up the dangerous mistakes!
Cheers,
Jane.
Hi Jane, Yes, those surely are the 2 big ones in digital marketing. It can be a difficult at task especially for newbies in the field. Thanks for coming by Jane on this one! Have a wonderful day ahead.
Hi Lisa,
Though there can be a long list of points to take care of, you have concentrated on the most essential ones. These are the errors one cannot afford to make. I agree that planning for the long as well as short term for the blog is the way to feel confident about its quality. Running a survey is another way one can get clear about the needs of the readers and plan content accordingly.
It is really helpful that you pointed towards the most common error with sites i.e. their design not being compatible with mobile display with things like share buttons covering content. Loading speed is another issue.
Thanks for this is very helpful article which makes us careful about the biggest errors one can make with a blog. Have a great day!
-Naveen
Hi Naveen, welcome to Inspire to Thrive. Oh yes, I am amazed how often I come across blogs on my mobile device and I can’t share from it or find their content as it is hidden by their share buttons. I try to always check my posts via my mobile right after publishing. I often find errors that way too. You are most welcome Naveen. I appreciate your coming by and have a great week ahead.
Lisa,
I have planned my launch of new blog, but I also go along as I write new blog posts and add more content to the site.
Talk soon again about adding satellites to my hub.
Hi Martin, I finally got a look at it. Don’t forget to add your social media icons and share buttons. I could not share from your post. I loved your graphics. And the content was really great too.
Hey Lisa!
The big ones for me here would be failing to plan and misunderstanding your audience.
You gotta have a proven plan to follow. A blueprint to get the desired results. This is a must, not an option.
Also. do your research to learn more about your niche audience. One thing that I do is Survey the people who subscribe to my internet marketing blog. This helps me understand the people who land on my blog a lot better. I’d highly recommend doing the same.
Thank you for sharing these helpful blogging tips!
Best regards!
Hi Freddy, oh yes we can’t reach any goals without a plan in place. Do you get many people that take the survey Freddy? I did a few and didn’t get a lot of folks taking the survey. I need to work on that one.
You are welcome. I appreciate your taking the time to comment and have a great rest of the weekend Freddy.
Hey Lisa!
I would say about 1 to 2 people out of 10 would actually fill out my survey when subscribing to my list. I don’t think people actually like doing this, especially if the survey is a bit long.
But, the few responses that I get are honest and they do help me learn more about the type of people in my list.
I think what we need to do is work more on improving the questions and the flow of the survey.
I’ll share some tips once I improve the way I do it.
Let’s keep on blogging and rocking!
Hi Lisa,
So true that there are more mobile buyers now than in the past. My blog and sales pages both are mobile ready. Within the past several months I see more purchases of my products and services via mobile phones. This is why it is so important to have our blogs and other things such as email, sales pages etc. be all mobile adaptable.
As for customer communication, it is first and foremost that we attend to that issue before anything else we do online. When we value our existing customers, we form a good bond with them. In return they will be likely to recommend us to their friends and followers.
-Donna
Hi Donna, oh yes mobile is really taking over desktop these days. It’s great that you can see that now with your analytics. I can’t believe how many websites today are still not mobile friendly! I’m not sure what they are waiting for.
Oh yes, good old references and word of mouth is still very important today Donna. It’s one method that has survived over the years. Thank you for coming by and I do hope you are feeling better.
Hi Lisa,
I love the fact that you are able to present the major digital marketing mistakes to avoid. Yes, the areas or mistakes mentioned in your article are critical to your digital marketing success.
However, other mistakes to look over out for and avoid are: Paying less attention to SEO. Some say SEO is no longer relevant. Is that true? Not at all. SEO has become even more interesting and very much essential to digital marketing success.
Another mistake many marketers are overlooking is, “taking Shortcuts.” What do I mean by shortcuts?
Paying for links – black hat techniques, buying followers, etc. and if your SEO expert recommends , stay away. At the end of the day, these shortcuts will hurt your website’s ranking and also cripple whatever digital marketing success you might have achieved.
More is the issue of creating low-quality content, Google hates that. Creating such content has the potential to hurt your rankings as well.
Thanks so much for sharing Lisa!
Hi Moss, thank you. Oh yes – SEO is still relevant but just different today than it has been in the past. Shortcuts are like the old black hat SEO tactics from years ago too. They are no longer relevant today and could cost you too.
One thing about low quality and high quality content, I wish it was more black and white. It can be a gray area. What may be high quality for some may not be for others, you know what I mean?
Thanks Moss for coming by and for your input on this one. Enjoy the rest of your weekend!
[ Smiles ] Lisa, it is absolutely insane to ignore customer communication.
Also, if a blogger doesn’t understand his or her audience, they are going to have a very hard time in the blogosphere.
Thank you for another insightful blog post!
Hi Renard, Yes, that is for sure! It’s not always easy to understand your audience at times. You really have to listen more and ask more questions. You are welcome Renard and have a great Friday and weekend ahead.