Starting a Blog: 5 Things I Wish I’d Known First
Starting a blog? READ THIS FIRST!! We’re breaking down 5 shockingly common beginner blogging mistakes & how to set YOUR new blog up for success right away!
Some of my favorite articles and blog posts to read on my own time are those about the “business” of blogging.
I love when people are candid with tips and techniques that worked for them! No matter what stage you’re at, it’s incredibly helpful to learn from those who are successful – including their blogging mistakes!
There are TONS of articles from other bloggers sharing their success stories: from income reports to how they were able to quit their traditional job. But how often do we see our peers and our role models talking about the beginner blogging mistakes or setbacks they had in the early days of their blogs?
Not very often. But THIS is the information new bloggers NEED to see!
This post focuses on the things I wish I had known NOT to do when I first created my blog — common beginner blogging mistakes. I’ve included affiliate links for products/services that I use and love and that might be helpful for you too; read my disclosure policy here.
- EDIT: Today, [current_date], you can start a blog for as low as $2.95 per month for 12 months. affiliate link (That’s only $35.40 for the entire year!) Hurry, this deal ends SOON. PS – you also get a free domain name ($15 value) when you sign up for a year’s hosting with Bluehost!
What I Wish I’d Known BEFORE Starting a Blog
When I started my blog, I just kind of winged it!
- PRO TIP #1: Don’t wing it!!
I didn’t know anyone personally who made a living blogging, so I didn’t have help to make sure I didn’t skip steps or do things the “wrong” way.
So I muddled along and I figured things out. Over the past 6 years, I built my blog into a fulfilling career and source of income (over $10K a month!) – but my blogging journey was not without the occasional speed bump.
If I had known about these blogging mistakes from the beginning, I could have saved myself a LOT of time, trouble, and money!
I’m a pretty determined person, so I didn’t give up no matter how discouraged I got. But I see many bloggers that do give up when things don’t go the way they expected.
That’s why I feel it is SO important to get real with you guys and share the blogging mistakes that most new bloggers make (without even knowing it), as well as how to avoid them.
That way you can learn from my blogging mistakes, without having to go through them yourself!
5 Common Blogging Mistakes to Avoid
(But YOU won’t if you keep reading!!)
I usually try to keep posts positive, focusing on the “DOs” instead of “DO NOT’s” — however, in this instance I think it is especially helpful to get candid and share my own blogging mistakes so other new bloggers can avoid them!
#1 — Don’t Start a Blog on A Free Blogging Site
If you have any intentions of making money blogging (even if you think it’s just a dream!), skip the free blogging sites and get self-hosted (your own domain name) right from the get-go!
Make sure you’re aware of the difference between WordPress.com (free, but not self-hosted) and WordPress.org (self-hosted). Most free sites won’t let you have ads, affiliate links, or do sponsored posts – so if your goal is monetizing, you need to be self-hosted.
Plus, your own domain name looks more professional and is easier to remember, than a long-winded address you’ll get with a free site. (Example: www.mysite.com vs. www.freebloggingsite.mysite.com)
Initially, I didn’t know the difference and I created my blog on WordPress.com. I ended up having to switch everything over just a few months later. Switching from free to self-hosted requires some decent web knowledge or paying someone to do it for you to avoid site outages or losing any of your hard work.
FAQ: What if I already started my blog on a free platform?
That’s ok! We can work with that!
If it makes you feel better, I actually started on a free blogging service too! As a new blogger, I just didn’t know any better. A few months later I had to pay someone to switch my site over to my own self-hosted domain (URL).
If you’re on a free blogging platform, I’d recommend switching as soon as possible to your own host. It’s easier and cheaper when your blog is new and there is less stuff to move. Your new host should be able to help with this for a relatively small fee.
FAQ: What is a Good Blog Hosting Company for New Bloggers?
I highly recommend Bluehost for new bloggers because they offer the most affordable packages, 24/7 service, and they’re trusted by millions of other website owners.
And I’m not just saying that…I recommend Bluehost because I used them for my blog!
The Basic plans on Bluehost are only a few dollars per month — a tiny start-up cost if you think about it and well worth it.
Seriously, what other legit business can you start with such a small budget? For the cost of a premium cup of coffee, you can run your new business for a whole month!
You’ll end up paying someone $100+ to switch you over later if you start on a free site, so might as well get started on your own domain. (But remember, if you already started on a free platform, it’s still well worth it to get switched over ASAP!)
I’ve worked with Bluehost for years, so they set up an exclusive pricing plan just for my readers. If you sign up through my link you’ll pay LESS than their regularly-listed plans PLUS get a free domain name. (See why I love them so much?!)
A starter plan will serve you just fine until you’re really hitting big numbers. I stayed with the Bluehost Basic plan until I was in the 150K page views/month range (which is serious web traffic)! After that point, Bluehost offers a “Blogger” plan which is still very competitively priced.
Bluehost is a good blog host for beginners because:
- Offers 24/7 support
- Is the best value in hosting, starting at just $2.95 a month!
- Free domain name with 1-year hosting purchase
- Trusted by millions of other websites
CLICK HERE to create your own self-hosted BlueHost website or HERE to read more about why I chose them for my hosting.
A quick recap of why you should get self-hosted from the start:
- No Limits on Monetization — Free blogging sites like Blogspot often place strict limitations on monetization. So if your plan is to make your blog a business, you’ll need your own self-hosted website.
- Ability to Pick Your Own URL/Website Address — Your own domain name looks more professional and is easier for visitors to find and remember.
- To Protect Your Content — When you’re self-hosted, you have complete control over your site and content. A free blogging platform can shutdown without warning or remove websites at their whim, meaning you’d lose everything.
** NEW FOR 2023 **
You guys…this was too good not to include!! Bluehost recently discounted their Prime Plan to just $5.45/month (I’ve never seen it priced that low before!)
The Prime Plan offers SO many features that are usually extra, like daily site backups and domain privacy protection. I definitely recommend snagging this steal of a deal before it’s gone! Click here to learn more about the Prime Plan and the blog hosting features you can’t afford to skip.
#2 — Don’t Ignore Social Media
I worked in social media marketing before I started blogging. Because of this, I was a bit jaded about the “pay to play” Facebook model, as they say. So I didn’t bother making a Facebook Fan Page for my blog right away.
Big mistake!! When I realized that a Facebook presence was crucial for working with brands and building a connection with your audience, I was behind the curve.
If I had set up a fan page as soon as I started my blog, I could have been building followers and growing my network all along — slow progress and growth is better than none at all.
- PRO TIP: When starting a blog, immediately lock in your profile/blog name on the “big four” social media platforms: Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, and Instagram. You can play around with other social media networks later on as you become more comfortable.
One of the keys to growing your social following is finding a way to make yourself stand out from the crowd.
For example, Pinterest is often the biggest traffic sources for bloggers, but you’re pins will be competing against billions of other pins!
I wanted to “crack the code” so to speak with Pinterest, so I did a lot of research and A/B testing with creating different types on pins. Over time I figured out a strategy to create viral pins, time and time again!
This system works no matter what niche you’re in (recipes, parenting, crafts, you name it!)
Click here to read how I create viral pins and you can too!
- The bottom line: social media is a part of your job and may end up taking more of your time than actual writing! Don’t ignore it!
#3 — Don’t Throw Away Receipts
Even if you haven’t made a single dime from your blog, you can still claim most blogging-related expenses on your taxes, so save ALL receipts!
Did you purchase craft supplies to create a neat DIY post? Save that receipt! This blog is your business, so you don’t want to miss any tax breaks that you’re owed!
- PRO TIP: In the beginning I did most of my own tax work myself, however I began meeting with an accountant periodically once my blog really took off, just to make sure I was doing things correctly. When setting up your blogging business, I recommend meeting with a trusted accountant who has experience with online businesses to help structure things the correct way.
#4 — Don’t Spend Too Much Money Before You Make a Profit
This is one I was very careful about, because my family was living solely on my husband’s income at the time I started my blog.
I see so many new bloggers spend a LOT of money on classes, fancy equipment, multiple scheduling tools, etc. before they’ve started earning any income to offset their cost of operation.
Keep your overhead as low as possible for as long as possible!
There are only a two expenses that you absolutely NEED as a new blogger:
- Web Hosting — Like I mentioned above, I stayed on a starter BlueHost plan well into the six-figure traffic range before I upgraded to a specialized hosting plan. (A hosting plan is one of the few unavoidable expenses, but fortunately it’s only a few dollars a month!)
- Email Marketing Service — Perhaps almost as important as your hosting plan, you’ve got to start building an email list right from the get-go! Constant Contact offers an unparalleled 60-day free trial (no credit card required) and their support calls you right away to show you how it works, so you can take full advantage of your trial. Click here to learn more about why you need an email list for your blog.
Once you get going and earning a profit, here are a few more investments that I’ve found to be worth every penny:
- A DSLR Camera & Lighting — I didn’t buy any fancy photography equipment for almost a year. When I decided to step up my game, I put my indoor lighting kit (which I LOVE) on my Christmas wish list and I borrowed my brother’s old DSLR camera.
- Blog Conference Ticket — I selected one blog conference to attend in my first year (an awesome experience!) that was in driving distance of my home. Conferences are an amazing way to network with fellow bloggers AND brands that may want to work with you.
- Pinterest Scheduler — I did a lot of research on social media scheduling tools and decided that Tailwind for Pinterest was worth the expense (I went from gaining about 20 followers a day before signing up to about 200 a day after a few weeks of using Tailwind!) I stuck to Facebook’s native scheduler and Twitter’s free tool, TweetDeck for the rest of my social media.
READ MORE: See the blogging tools I use, and learn which ones you can skip!
#5 — Don’t Give Up!
I can’t stress this enough! You never know where you’ll get your first “big break,” and all it takes is one post going viral to gain momentum, new social media followers, and new readers.
Some of my best traffic days have come from shares in unexpected places. All it takes is the right person stumbling across one of your posts that really “speaks to them,” and sharing it with their audience.
My husband’s Sweet Potato Crust Pizza Recipe for the blog was recently featured in a round-up of 100 must-try pizzas on the front page of MSN.com — and we had NO idea until we started seeing traffic pouring in!
There’s GOOD News…
Even if you created a blog and committed some of the “DON’TS” listed above, you can always re-evaluate and improve upon what you’re doing. I’m constantly going back and re-vamping old posts to make them more effective and I’m always looking for ways to better my blogging!
Ready to start YOUR blog?
If reading all this is getting you excited, but you’re not sure exactly how to get started, be sure to read my FREE quick-start guide: How to Set up a WordPress Blog. (It’s available online…no strings attached!)
For all my fellow mamas, be sure to check out my most comprehensive post: How to Start a Mom Blog. We’ll go over what’s changed THIS year, how to make your mom blog stand out from the crowd, and more!
More Blogging Tips for Beginners:
If you found reading about blogging mistakes for beginners to be helpful, check out these other posts for beginning bloggers!
After starting a blog, take it to the next level:
- Get my Free Guide to Start a WordPress Blog! It’s all available FREE online! Click here for my updated guide that will tell you everything you need to know about how to create a blog!
- Click here to see all the blogging tip blog posts from The Soccer Mom Blog
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This is an awesome guide. Starting a blog on WordPress platform is just a few clicks task. I loved setting up my blogs on WordPress. Thank you for sharing this awesome guide.
Hello,
Love these tips! I want to start a blog and have been reading into before I start! I see at the top of your page under edit that you can start a blog on bluehost for 2.95 a month for 12 months but I am not seeing that deal when I click through your link. It shows up as 2.95 but it is for 36 months or more. I really want to make sure I like blogging so I do not want to commit to 36 months up front, but 12 months would be awesome. When I select the 12 month option it is 5.95 a month. Is there something i’m doing wrong? TIA
– Kelley
Hi Kelley – I believe the $2.95 price is for 36 months. The 12 months is the minimum you need to sign up for to get a free domain name. $5.95 is still an amazing value for hosting, if you’re worried about committing. However, Bluehost offers a guarantee so if you want to cancel for any reason, you’ll get a refund of the unused portion of your plan. It’s one of the main reasons I love and recommend Bluehost – it truly is risk free!
I would really love to start a blog for all the projects that I do. I really don’t want a “how to” type blog because there are millions of those out there. I want a place to share what I do with a few pictures to inspire others. I’m not sure how well a blog like that will go over, therefore I don’t want to start out with breaking the bank. What are your suggestions?
I really love your post so I followed through. I spent $150 to launch a blog and literally have had the WORST customer service I have ever had with Bluehost. I feel like I wasted my money. I try very hard to be patient and understanding but they keep making telling me to come back and it will all be fixed, 5 times now and nothing has been fixed nor have I received a receipt. I do not think its anything bad on you for suggesting them but I thought I’d share my experience.
This is a great article! I just started my own blog and I am totally taking a lot of your advice to heart! Thank you!!
This was SUPER helpful! I never even thought about keeping reciepts for tax purposes! ??♀️ Should you have your own Tax ID or just start off using your social? Not sure if I’m in the “need a business license” stage yet.
Thanks so much!
Hi Brittany – I would definitely get a tax ID for your business, even if it is the early stage! It’s free to get from the IRS and a lot safer than using your social security number. You shouldn’t need a business license or anything like that to get your EIN.
Hi! I’m just starting out and I have a free theme from WordPress thru SiteGround. Some people have told me to need to purchase a theme to make my site safe from hacks. Did you purchase a theme or use free? I’ve found a lot of themes on Etsy for less than $20, but wasn’t sure if I needed to do that starting out. Any advice would be great! Thanks!!
Hi Melissa – I did purchase a theme for each of my sites because it’s a relatively low expense and you’re able to customize your site better. I’d recommend a Genesis theme because it is compatible with a lot of plugins and developers know how to work with it (when you get to the point of ever needing to hire help). Some smaller themes are more limited in what they can do and may not be compatible with plugins, causing issues down the line. I started with a “cute” theme and had to change it later. Hope this helps!
Wow, thank you so much! I also started out on a free web hosting, but after a week of using it and researching a lot, I switched to WordPress (and I love it). I’m a newly blogger and I have to say, figuring out all of the marketing for blogging can be very challenging! So far, my only social media account, is Pinterest (which is where I found your lovely post). I have recently been trying to set up tailwind because I have heard such great things about it, but I get up very quickly. I’m thinking of trying it again. Also what platform would you suggest using for starting a mailing list? If I’m a new blogger with little traffic, then should I just use a free service? Thanks again!
I pretty much like number 1, 4, and 5.
Start out small especially if you are on low budget and as you grow l, you can throw in few dollars to scale but do not start out with free blogging platforms, they will just waste all your precious time and effort.
Thanks for this wonderful piece.
Hi, I have a question or a million. If I find a post on pinterest can I use it in my blog. Can I use your name in my blog as a starter place that I can share with my readers?
Hi TJ – I don’t know exactly what you mean, so I would advise you to ask permission for anything you share on your blog. Only use photos and content that you personally created or that you have written permission to use, such as a purchased stock photo. Hope this helps!