Here are 15 of the most common mistakes businesses make in their content marketing, and what to do instead.

1. If your headlines stink your content won’t
get opened.
INSTEAD: Learn how to write irresistible
headlines that beg to be clicked.
ARE YOU
MAKING
THESE
COMMON
© 2017 Sharon Brodin • www.sharonbrodin.com
Content Marketing
Mistakes?
INCONSISTENCY
You post or email content whenever the mood strikes or
whenever you have time—which would be never!
INSTEAD: Have a content calendar in place and stick to it.
NOT THINKING ABOUT SEO
I’m not talking about keyword-stuffing, but simple SEO
tactics anyone can use easily to improve organic search.
INSTEAD: Learn SEO basic strategies and use them.
POOR
HEADLINES
NO PROMOTION
Sorry, but readers won’t come to your
blog looking for your content.
INSTEAD: Develop an email newsletter
and a mailing list, and promote on
social media.
QUANTITY OVER QUALITY
You post and email all the time but don’t say anything useful.
INSTEAD: Focus on quality and value for your readers, even if it
means posting just once a week.
NOT RELEVANT TO YOUR AUDIENCE
Don’t try to be everything to everyone.
INSTEAD: Speak directly to your audience.
STICKING TO ONE TYPE
OF CONTENT
Different readers like their
content in different ways.
INSTEAD: Vary your formats,
such as written articles,
videos, slide decks and
infographics.
NOT GOING MOBILE
Mobile users will ditch your
content right away if they
can’t read it.
INSTEAD: Be sure your
content is mobile-friendly.
www.sharonbrodin.com
1
2
BEING JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE
If so, you’ll blend in instead of stand out.
INSTEAD: Be yourself, give your perspective. Only you are
you. Be surprising sometimes.
NOT GOING EVERGREEN
Evergreen content is relevant over a long period of time.
INSTEAD: Have some core content that goes the
distance. Update it when necessary.
10
11
3
No strategy = Little effectiveness.
INSTEAD: Develop a written strategy for
your content marketing.
NO STRATEGY
OR GOALS
4
5
SELLING, NOT HELPING
Selling in your content instead of
adding value to your reader is a turn-off.
INSTEAD: Help, be useful, solve your
readers’ problems, entertain.
12
6
7
NOT PROOFREADING
Everyone makes mistakes. But
continual spelling, punctuation
and grammar errors are
unprofessional.
INSTEAD: Proof carefully…always!
NOT ENGAGING
Don’t ignore your readers’
comments!
INSTEAD: Regularly answer
comments and questions on
your social platforms and on
your blog. It makes your
business more personal, real
and trustworthy.
15
8
If you don’t spur your readers on to do
something, they won’t.
INSTEAD: Tell them what you want them
to do. Be specific.
NOT USING
CALLS-TO-ACTION13
14
9
None of us are immune from making mistakes,
unfortunately! But knowing what to look for is
more than half the battle in avoiding them.
Here are 15 of the most common mistakes in
content marketing, and what to do instead.
SOURCES:
www.SearchEngineJournal.com
www.ContentMarketingInstitute.com
www.CrazyEngage.com
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