Introduction

Have you ever spent hours writing a blog post only to find it buried deep in Google search results - or worse, not showing up at all? Know that you’re not alone. Writing a blog is more than just putting words on a page - it’s also about making sure your content is found, read, and shared. A blog is meaningless if it’s not found, read, and shared by its audience. The truth is, even great writers inadvertently make small mistakes that hurt their SEO. What are those small mistakes? They can cost you traffic, visibility, and opportunities. In this post, we’ll cover 10 blog writing mistakes that can hold back, hide, and sabotage your content - ​​and most importantly, how to fix them.

What is blog writing?

Blog writing is the process of creating written content for the topic of a blog - a website or a section of a website that is regularly updated with articles, insights or stories on specific topics. A blog is your or your company’s digital voice, moreover, a blog is the way to show your company’s behaviour to the people and blog writing is the way you communicate with your audience. Blogs are an important tool for building trust.

Key features of blog writing:

1. Conversational tone:

People can instantly connect with a blog when it is written in a very natural and human tone,

not as formal as an academic letter or journalistic article.

2. Informative and valuable:

A good blog post is always about teaching something, answering a question or solving a problem for your reader.

3. Structured content:

- Headline

- Introduction

- Subheadings

- Bullet points or lists

- A conclusion or call to action

4. SEO-friendly:

Blog writing often includes keywords, internal links and optimized formatting so that posts show up easily in search engine results.

Why do people write blogs?

1. Businesses use blogs to attract their customers, answer frequently asked questions, and improve SEO.

2. Individuals write blogs to share their personal experiences, build brands, or express opinions.

3. Professionals write blogs to showcase their expertise and attract opportunities.

This helps potential customers find you through Google and builds trust with your audience.

What is SEO?

SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization.

It is the practice of optimizing your website or content so that when people search for something related to what you offer, it appears higher up in the results of a search engine like Google.

In simple terms:

Let’s say someone searches on Google: best coffee shop near me

Now the websites that appear on the first page of search engines don’t come up by chance – they use SEO to help Google understand that their content is relevant, trustworthy and useful.

Why is SEO important?

1. More visibility : Your blog or website is visited by more people who are looking for something you have written, your blog will appear higher in their search results.

2. Free traffic : Unlike commercial ads, you don’t have to pay for clicks, it’s like getting traffic for free.

3. Building trust : People trust highly ranked websites, and this is an opportunity to build more trust.

The main parts of SEO

1. Keywords : The words or phrases that people type into search engines, like “easy pasta recipes.” You’ll want to include these naturally in your content.

2. On-page SEO : Everything on your site, your title, headings, images, meta descriptions, and how well your content is organized.

3. Off-page SEO : What others say about you - like backlinks - links to your site from other sites, reviews, and social shares.

4. Technical SEO : The stuff behind the scenes, your site speed, mobile-friendliness, and how easily search engines can “crawl” your site.

5. Content quality : Search engines prioritize content that is helpful, well-written, up-to-date, and trustworthy.

For example, if you write a blog titled “How to care for indoor plants,” and you optimize it with keywords, helpful content, good images, and links - Google might rank it on the first page when someone searches for that topic.

10 Blog writing mistakes that hurt your SEO and how to avoid them

Here are 10 blog writing mistakes that could be hurting your SEO, and how to fix them:

1. Ignoring keyword research

Mistake: Writing anything on your own without knowing what your audience is searching for.

Why it matters: If you’re not using the right keywords, your content might never show up in search results. So all the time and energy you’ve spent on your blog is wasted.

Solution: Use a tool like Google Keyword Planner, Ubersuggest or Ahrefs to find keywords your audience is actually searching for - and incorporate them naturally into your posts. This ensures your blog reaches the right audience at the right time.

2. Overusing keywords

Mistake: Stuffing your main keyword into every sentence.

Why it matters: Google is smart. Repeating the same keyword in every sentence is considered spam by Google and may penalize your content.

Solution: Use your primary keyword judiciously - once in the title, once in the introduction, and a few times throughout the post. Include relevant synonyms and related words as well. This way you can keep the meaning the same without using the same keyword over and over again.

3. Writing a weak headline

Mistake: Using a vague or boring title like “My Thoughts on Marketing.”

Why it matters: Your title is the first thing both readers and search engines see. A weak headline kills click-throughs.

Solution: Make your title clear, specific, and keyword-rich. Think: “10 Proven Marketing Tips to Grow Your Small Business in 2025.”

4. Skipping meta descriptions

Mistake: Leaving the meta description blank.

Why it matters: Meta descriptions help your post stand out in search results. Without it, Google may pull a random snippet.

The solution: Write a compelling 150-160 character summary of your post that includes your target keyword.

5. Not using subheadings

Mistake: Publishing a wall of text.

Why it matters: Subheadings help organize your content for readers and tell search engines what your content is about.

The solution: Use H2 for main sections and H3 for subheadings. Keep them descriptive and include keywords where it feels natural.

6. Neglecting internal and external links

Mistake: Not linking to other supporting pages.

Why it’s important: Internal links help Google understand your site structure; external links add credibility.

Solution: Link to 1-3 relevant blog posts on your site and 1-2 credible external sources like studies, tools, or news sites.

7. Forgetting image optimization

Mistake: Uploading large images with names like IMG_1234.jpg.

Why it’s important: Unoptimized images slow down your site and lead to lost SEO opportunities.

Solution: Compress your images, use descriptive file names like wooden-desk-setup.jpg, and add alt text with relevant keywords.

8. Publishing without a clear structure

Mistake: Writing in a stream-of-consciousness style.

Why it’s important: Cluttered content makes readers bounce - and bounce rates hurt SEO.

Solution: Start with a clear introduction, outline your main points with subheadings, and end with a conclusion or call to action.

9. Not updating old content

Mistake: Letting old posts collect digital dust.

Why it matters: Old content can lose rankings and mislead your audience.

Solution: Revisit high-performing posts every few months. Update facts, links, and add new information where needed.

10. Ignoring mobile readability

Mistake: Formatting only for desktop.

Why it matters: More than 60% of web traffic is mobile. A clunky mobile layout frustrates users and hurts your rankings.

Solution: Use a mobile-friendly theme, break up long paragraphs, and test your posts on different devices before publishing.

Conclusion

By avoiding these 10 common blog writing mistakes, you're not just climbing the search rankings... you're building real authority, trust, and engagement.

After all, writing a blog isn't just about hitting "publish" - it's about creating content that readers will love and rank well in search engines. SEO isn't just about pleasing the algorithms - it's about creating a seamless, helpful experience for your readers. By avoiding these common mistakes, you're already one step ahead of the game. Remember, SEO doesn't have to be intimidating. Think of it as a way to make your valuable content easier to find. Keep writing, keep improving, and watch your blog grow one smart post at a time.