Your Brilliant Blog Piece May Be Undermined By These Common Blunders

I’m emerging from a fresh round of blog edits here at Expio HQ. Fresh on the mind are the common blogging mistakes we all make. Even the best marketers and bloggers make them. Whether keeping header capitalization styles consistent or not using consistent comma rules, you’ve probably slipped into at least a few of these mistakes when you’ve blogged.

As a marketing agency, our blogging team submits their blogs to an in-house Editor (me) for rigorous inspection. And let me tell you, I don’t mind being brutal.

Even if the blog has excellent content and research, it will be undermined by amateurish mistakes like these.

So, without further adieu, here’s my list of common mistakes many bloggers make; and it’s got to stop.

Poorly Placed Text On Images

If you’re using text on images in your blog – an ultra-common practice among bloggers – don’t make this common mistake. When readers land on your blog, everything may end up perfect when it comes to how they view your images. But, if the blog is shared in email or on social media, things can go awry. If the text is on the edges of the image, too big, or too small, it will be difficult to read in these contexts. Using mid-sized font sizes that are centered on the image is always a safe way to go.

Dull And Missing Header Writing

Headers are key players in any great blog piece in our day in age. We think of headers as a way to allow our readers to do some window shopping. A great blog spaces out its content, especially if it’s a long-form blog, in such a way that allows readers to be drawn into each section of the blog. We recommend breaking up blogs every 2 or 3 paragraphs with new, creative headers.

Headers should be catchy, creative, descriptive and attractive. Many blogs fall short of writing great headers. Consider them mini-ads throughout your piece. The difference between a blog with excellent headers and one without is huge. You’ll see viewership increase, and avg. time on page increase if you improve your header game.

 

Keep your headers capitalized Consistently

See What We Did There?

EDITOR’S NOTE: The correct header for this section should be, “Keep Your Headers Capitalized Consistently”.

Ok, proceed.

Every blog should follow a consistent header capitalization rule. We find that many blogs jump from “ALL CAPITALIZATION”, to “Sentence-style lowercase”, to “General Capitalization” and back again with no consistency other than the mood of the day.

AP or Chicago Comma Style? Choose Or Die!

In AP style, omit the comma before the last item in a simple series, such as “Joe, John and Steve.” In Chicago, use a comma in the last of three or more things, as in this example: “My goals for 2018 are to learn how to use commas like a champion, to run a half-marathon, and to get good at poaching eggs.”

Whichever you choose, stick with it. Or run the risk or receiving comments and emails from comma-crazed editors like me.

Hyphen And Semicolon Mistakes Aren’t Good For Anyone

Use hyphens and semicolons correctly. Need we say more?

When Two Sentences Are Written Connected By A Comma, Divide Them With A Period, Period

Not good:

There are 6 molars in the lower jaw and 4 in the upper jaw in the average adult dog and their approximate age can be determined by checking the wear on the incisors.

Better:

There are 6 molars in the lower jaw and 4 in the upper jaw in the average adult dog. Their approximate age can be determined by checking the wear on the incisors.

Don’t Forget To Stay Consistent When Using Bullet Points

Yep, Rules Must Be Followed Here Too!

Here’s an example of what not to do.

3 ways to be a better blogger

1. Capitalize Consistently
2. Review your own draft before sending to your editor for mistakes.
3. Don’t mispell words

NOTICE: Each line was capitalized differently, one line used a period at the end and one line had a misspelling.

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Have another common blogging mistake we missed that should be featured on this blog? Comment below!