Bloggers are always starting blogs. There are a lot of people who jump in without knowing what to do to create a popular blog or to make money with their blogs. If you have started a blog, but are starting to think seriously about what you can do with it, avoid making the following blogging mistakes.

1. Avoid updating your blog infrequently. When you don’t update your blog, people lose interest. Think about it, you’re in competition with hundreds of other blogs out there. Why would anyone read yours if you never update it? If you wait too long between posts, you have to work harder to re-attract those who read your last blog. Instead, blog at least three times a week. Even better, set up a schedule so that people know when to expect your blog posts.

2. Don’t miss the chance to use SEO and other marketing techniques. Many bloggers who are just starting out think that all they need to do is blog and that people will find their blogs eventually. That may happen, but it is a great idea to give yourself a push by using search engine optimization (SEO) and other marketing tactics. If you don’t, your competition will do it.

3. Avoid forgetting about social media. Social media is something that can get you in touch with new readers almost immediately. You have to jump right in, get involved with conversations that have already started, and reply to people who are asking questions. Post the headline of your blog posts with a shortened link and you are all set for discussion. Don’t wait for people to reach out to you though, you can do your own reaching out.

4. Never post other people’s work without proper attribution. You are allowed to use many of the articles on article directories on your own blog. However, you must make sure that you give the author credit for their work. Think about it, would you want others to use your work without giving you credit? Probably not. Therefore, it is important to always do the right thing and give writers credit if you use their work on your blog.

5. Avoid writing about yourself. This is a mistake a lot of amateurs make. They think that a story about their shopping trip or their argument with their significant other is worth writing about. However, what separates a strong blog with a personal diary is that the blog offers readers something that is relevant to them. A personal story every now and then is alright, but readers want something that entertains them or helps them solve a problem. That should be your focus.

If you really want to have the kind of blog that gains traction and becomes popular, you really need to avoid making mistakes that so many others have made. The tips in this article will help you avoid pitfalls, but only if you keep them in mind as you work on your blog from now on.