The Worst Blogging Advice I Ever Received (and Why You Should Ignore It)
Blogging can feel like a maze, especially when you’re bombarded with advice from every corner. In my early days, I received all kinds of “well-meaning” advice from fellow bloggers, online forums, and even courses (which was super frustrating because I paid for that terrible blogging advice). Some of it helped me, but some advice set me back. Today, I want to share the worst blogging advice I ever received so that you can avoid these pitfalls and set your blog up for success from the start.
Disclaimer: this post may contain affiliate links, which allow me to share products and services that have helped me at no extra cost to you.
1. “Don’t Focus on SEO – Just Write Good Content”
This was probably the worst piece of advice I received, and unfortunately, it’s still floating around. The idea was that if you write good content, readers will automatically find it. While good content is essential, how will anyone find your amazing post if it’s not optimized for search engines?
Why You Should Ignore It:
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is like the bridge that connects your content with the readers searching for it. Without SEO, even the most well-written blog post might remain hidden. Learning the basics of SEO—like keyword research, meta descriptions, and on-page optimization—can make a world of difference in your traffic. It’s not about gaming the system but ensuring your hard work gets seen by the right audience.
Many people overcomplicate SEO or don’t take the time to understand it, and really once you spend a little time researching on the internet, it truly is quite simple. But the biggest thing that helped me and my SEO is using Yoast along with WordPress. It analyzes your posts and helps you optimize them for search engine traffic.
Don’t make the same mistake I did! In the beginning, I ignored Yoast SEO tips, but after actually reading them and doing what was suggested, I immediately saw a boost in my search engine traffic.
If you need help starting your own blog, I’ve got a free step by step course here. It literally walks through every single step from start to finish.
2. “Post Whenever You Feel Like It”
Another misguided gem: “You don’t need a posting schedule, just post whenever you feel inspired.” While it sounds freeing, this advice can quickly turn your blog into a ghost town. Now, don’t confuse this advice with “Don’t post just to post” because that really is good advice.
Your content needs to be meaningful and your posts should all be a minimum of 1,000 words. But, as a new blogger, you need to make one of your main focuses on creating at least 20 blog posts. That means you’ve got to get to work posting, even when you don’t feel inspired.
Why You Should Ignore It:
Blogging requires consistency. Posting on a regular schedule keeps your audience engaged and encourages them to return for fresh content. More importantly, regular posting helps search engines recognize your blog as active, improving your chances of ranking higher. Whether it’s once a week or twice a month, having a consistent schedule builds trust with both your readers and Google.
Related: How to make money selling used books.
3. “Stick to One Super Specific Niche”
Some advice told me to focus on one very specific niche and never deviate. While this works for some bloggers, it was terrible advice for me.
Why You Should Ignore It:
Being too niche can box you in. If your audience is small, it limits your growth potential, and you might run out of content ideas. While you should focus on a core theme, allowing flexibility in your topics can open doors to a wider audience. For example, I blog about making money online, saving money, and side hustles, which gives me plenty of content options while still serving my target audience. This blend keeps my blog fresh and attracts diverse readers.
One of my favorite blogs, Chasing Foxes, is a great example of not niching down and they are very successful bloggers.
The key to “getting it right” with blogging is consistency and drive, and you’ll lost those two things if you hate what your blogging about which can often happen if you become too specific with your niche. So keep it a little bit broader so you can also keep your content fresh, and bringing in a new audience that just be interested in exploring your other content.
I talk about all of this in my free blogging course that you can read here. It’s super thorough and is a long post, so be sure to bookmark it so you can keep coming back to it. But if you’d like more detailed help with blogging, put your email in the box below and I’ll send you my free blogging course to your email, breaking it up into smaller steps you can perform over the course of a week. This also connects you to me so you can email me all your blogging questions!
4. “You Don’t Need to Promote Your Blog – Let It Grow Organically”
Some people believe that once you publish a post, you can just sit back and wait for the traffic to roll in. The idea is that great content will naturally attract readers over time without any promotion.
Why You Should Ignore It:
Even if your content is stellar, you still need to promote it. Social media, Pinterest, email newsletters, and networking with other bloggers are all essential to get eyes on your blog. Organic traffic takes time, and while it’s important to grow your presence through SEO, promoting your content speeds up the process and boosts your audience in the early stages.
5. “Long Posts Are the Only Way to Rank on Google”
Some say that you need to write long-form posts, usually 2,000 words or more, to rank in search engines. The idea is that longer posts are more thorough, so they will automatically be better.
Why You Should Ignore It:
While longer posts can be great for in-depth topics, quality trumps quantity every time. A well-researched 1,000-word post that answers a specific question can outrank a 2,500-word post that rambles. The key is focusing on providing value and answering the reader’s intent rather than sticking to a word count for the sake of SEO.
6. “Monetize Immediately”
This is the blogging advice I probably hear the most. This advice encourages bloggers to slap ads, affiliate links, and sponsored posts on their blog as soon as they launch, assuming it will lead to quick profits.
Why You Should Ignore It:
While monetization is important, doing it too soon can drive away your initial audience. It’s better to focus on building trust, growing your readership, and establishing authority in your niche before you flood your blog with ads or too many promotional posts. Once you have an engaged audience, monetization becomes much more effective.
7. “You Have to Post Every Day”
Some claim that to be a successful blogger, you need to post daily to keep readers engaged and grow faster. This piece of bad blogging advice circles back to item 2 we talked about earlier.
Why You Should Ignore It:
Posting every day is not only exhausting but often leads to burnout and lower quality content. What matters more is quality over quantity. Readers (and Google) prefer valuable, well-written content over frequent but less thoughtful posts. You’re better off posting high-quality content on a consistent but manageable schedule.
Good vs Bad Blogging Advice
While these pieces of advice may work for some, they certainly didn’t for me. Blogging is about finding your rhythm, understanding your audience, and experimenting with what works best. So, if you’ve received similar advice, take it with a grain of salt. Focus on SEO, post consistently, and don’t be afraid to explore multiple related topics within your niche. Your blog—and your audience—will thank you for it.
If you need help with blogging, check my post here on how to get started.
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