What is your greatest mistake in blogging?
By scheng1
@scheng1 (24650)
Singapore
November 16, 2009 8:08am CST
Many of us start blogging without knowledge of what blogging is.
As a result, we bound to make many mistakes as we learn the rope of blogging. Today, i spent practically the whole day rectifying the blog posts.
I had learnt quite long ago about using "nofollow" for affiliate link, otherwise Google will penalize the page ranking. The problem was that I didn't pay attention, and viewed that as important. Then I read a blogger mentioned that his blog was downgraded from PR4 to PR0, and Google practically kills his SERP, so no traffic coming from search engine at all.
He has a few banners with "do follow" instead of "nofollow", including his clickbank hoplinks.
I hunt around for articles about adding the "nofollow" tag, since i dont even know what it is.
I had more than 200 published blog posts from my two blogs, and 100 more scheduled for publishing. all the articles have 2 to 5 clickbank hoplinks. Poor me spent the whole day copying and pasting the nofollow to all the hops.
Now I feel drained. How I wish I pay more attention! My blog could have better ranking, and more traffic from search engines.
What about you? What is your greatest mistake in blogging?
2 people like this
7 responses
@PeacefulWmn9 (10420)
• United States
16 Nov 09
Like you, I learned all I could about good blogging and SEO techniques when I put my blogs out there for the public.
My biggest mistake? I became so involved and obsessed with the joys of blogging and learning how to do it well that I literally just burned myself out on it. I've been blogging for many years now, and know when to slow down or take a rest to prevent that frustrating burned out feeling.
Karen@scheng1 (24650)
• Singapore
17 Nov 09
Hi Karen, that means you dont know how to schedule the posting of the blog posts. I want to prevent burnout, that's why when I have to mood to write more, I schedule the blog posts for future date.
Right now i have the posts all schedule for publishing until the end of the year, can take a month break from blogging anytime!
1 person likes this
@zed_k4 (17589)
• Singapore
25 Nov 09
Sorry to hear that. I'd say learn from our mistakes. My mistake in blogging is perhaps a bit of ignorance on what works and what's not. I tend to just jumble up everything, and not caring for which topics are sought after by people. Nowadays, it's just writing for leisure but I would want to include some research before-hand for some articles.
@scheng1 (24650)
• Singapore
4 Dec 09
Those editorial pieces in Reuters are very deep. I half understand half not understand, so can only make a few simple comments.
Some people can write almost as long as the main articles, I think the total word count including the comments must have exceeded 10,000. Lucky me got a sentence or two in between, so the backlinks will be very valuable.
1 person likes this
@scheng1 (24650)
• Singapore
27 Nov 09
Doing a bit of everything every day,no point making so many backlinks in a week, that will look very suspicious.
Plus getting backlinks from Reuters, PR8 website, is really tough. Got to read the article a few times to understand and then make a few simple comments. Dare not write so much, later everyone knows I half pail of water only. So far so good, no comment kena deleted. All go through. I hope to get PR3 for both blogs at the next update.
1 person likes this
What is the difference between nofollow and dofollow?
Is there a default when you add banners to your blog pages?
@tbmorris1 (158)
• United States
16 Nov 09
I probably have tons of mistakes on my blog and don't even know it. A lot of the research I didn't understand(the no follow links for example). I don't have a big reader base either, so I know my rating is low.
It's more of an accountability thing for me while I'm trying to lose weight and be healthy. It started out personal, then led to something more. I just try to post regularly(usually every other day) and maybe when I feel better I can research more and learn more to make a better blog for the readers I do have.
@tbmorris1 (158)
• United States
17 Nov 09
I shop Amazon quite often! I had no idea about the associate program. I will look into it and see what the details are to see if it would be a good fit for me. Thanks!
@tbmorris1 (158)
• United States
18 Nov 09
Amazon is one of my most trusted online sites! I've ordered several times from them without issue. It's nice to find places like that. I tend to stick with them too. Why mess with something right? LOL
Thanks so much for your comments on my blog! I never thought of trying something sour when I get tired... I did buy my daughter some fruit snacks that ended up tasting sour. She doesn't like them, so I might use them for myself! I can see how the sour might wake a person up a bit!
Ah, I also remember feeling better when I was on a daily multivitamin. It was One-A-Day Energy, so maybe I just need the little taste of caffeine and extra vitamins as a boost? My husband doesn't like veggies, so it is hard to work those into our meals! Makes sense, so I might have to buy some more vitamins!
@scheng1 (24650)
• Singapore
18 Nov 09
haha, this is really a big mistake!
Since you shop at Amazon so often, you can write product and service review, and let the contextual widget displays the item. The first 6 items will generate 4% commission, if you sell 7 or more items, the commission jumps to 6%.
While it's hard to get the first sale, any money is still better than nothing.
@Canellita (12029)
• United States
20 Nov 09
Hmmm. I would have to say not doing it enough! Hopefully I can correct that though. All these details about blogging and following and nofollowing make the whole thing seem very complicated.
@scheng1 (24650)
• Singapore
20 Nov 09
Hi Canellita, I think you have to concentrate on Helium at this moment. After all, Helium is your current big-earner online. Better not ignore the golden goose and spend time learning about blogging.
No matter how good you are at blogging, you can never make the kind of money in Helium within a month or two. Blogging is more like a business, be prepare for a year of hard work with no income.
Helium has the component of upfront payment and the Marketplace titles offer reasonable market rate. I think you can work on that, and take a look at Constant-Content. Price your article at the same rate as the marketplace in Helium, I think you can make enough to give up teaching.
@PeacefulWmn9 (10420)
• United States
20 Nov 09
Hi Scheng...the most recent news from the SEO experts is that the nofollow rule no longer plays a role, so you're safe there :))
@scheng1 (24650)
• Singapore
23 Nov 09
Hi Karen, that's actually a very good ethnical change.
I mean if i read a review of a restaurant, how am I suppose to trust the blogger! I dont know whether he's the owner of the restaurant, or he hires someone to write the reviews. It's great that bloggers make disclosure.
It's similar to financial planner telling you to buy this and that, and you know that he gains the commission from the mutual funds or insurance companies.
1 person likes this
@PeacefulWmn9 (10420)
• United States
23 Nov 09
Ahhh, well that's a whole different story and a whole different way than I conduct my blog. People now have to annouce, too, when they are earning money from a post or link that is commercial...new global law that covers all bloggers.
karen
@cwilson26 (2735)
• United States
16 Nov 09
My biggest mistake in blogging was not keeping up with my posts. I managed to get a PR3 and quit posting for a while because I had other things going on and now I am down to a 0. I have started blogging again but it will take me a while to get back to where I was.
@scheng1 (24650)
• Singapore
17 Nov 09
Hi Cwilson, I find that page rank is a good measure of the work you did for the last three months.
Once the blog suffers from any neglect, the page rank will drop drastically. I'm thinking of how to overcome this problem, since it's impossible to blog continuously for next ten years. I guess one wisdom tooth infection is enough to make me quit blogging for a week, plus going on tour, family emergencies and all other things in life can suck time out of blogging.
