Top 10 Mistakes New Bloggers Make in India (And How to Avoid Them)

01 Sept, 2025By Team MakeMoney

Starting a blog in India is an exhilarating journey. You're filled with passion, ideas, and the dream of building a successful online business. However, the path to blogging success is littered with common pitfalls that cause many new bloggers to give up just a few months in. They invest time and energy, only to see little to no traffic and zero income.

The good news is that these mistakes are not unique. They are well-documented, and by learning from the errors of others, you can save yourself months of frustration and fast-track your blog's growth. It's not about being the perfect blogger from day one, but about being aware of the potential traps and knowing how to navigate around them.

If you're serious about turning your blog into more than just a hobby, this guide is for you. We've identified the top 10 mistakes that new Indian bloggers make and provided simple, actionable advice on how to avoid them.

1. Choosing the Wrong Niche (Or No Niche at All)

This is the cardinal sin of new bloggers. They either choose a topic they are not passionate about (and burn out) or they write about everything under the sun—from travel one day to tech reviews the next.

The Mistake: Being a generalist. A blog about "life" or "my thoughts" is a diary, not a business. Without a clear focus, you can't attract a loyal audience or establish authority.
How to Avoid It: Choose a specific niche at the intersection of your passion, expertise, and audience demand. Instead of a "travel blog," start a "budget backpacking in the Himalayas" blog. A niche makes it easier to rank on Google and become the go-to expert. For more, read our guide on how to start a blog in India.

2. Ignoring SEO from the Start

Many new bloggers think, "I'll just write great content, and readers will come." That's a myth. You can have the best article in the world, but if it's not optimized for search engines, no one will find it.

The Mistake: Not doing keyword research and ignoring on-page SEO basics. They write about what they want to write about, not what people are actually searching for.
How to Avoid It: Learn the fundamentals of SEO from day one. Use free tools to find keywords, and make sure you include them in your post title, URL, and throughout your content. Our SEO for Beginners guide is the perfect starting point.

3. Inconsistent Publishing Schedule

When you first start, you're motivated and might publish five posts in one week. Then life gets in the way, and you don't post again for a month. This inconsistency kills your momentum.

The Mistake: Publishing sporadically. This confuses your readers and signals to Google that your blog is not being actively maintained.
How to Avoid It: Create a realistic content calendar and stick to it. It's better to publish one high-quality post every week, consistently, than to publish five posts one week and none for the next three.

4. Focusing on Monetization Too Early

You've published three posts, and you immediately plaster your site with dozens of ads and affiliate links. This is a huge turn-off for the few visitors you have.

The Mistake: Prioritizing making money over providing value. Without traffic and trust, you have nothing to monetize.
How to Avoid It: Focus on one thing for the first 3-6 months: creating excellent content and building an audience. Wait until you have a steady stream of traffic (at least a few thousand visitors a month) before you seriously think about monetization.

5. Using a Free Blogging Platform

Starting on a free platform like Blogger or WordPress.com seems like a good way to save money, but it's a major mistake if you're serious about your blog.

The Mistake: Building your business on "rented land." You don't own your site, you have a non-professional URL (like myblog.blogspot.com), and you have severe limitations on customization and monetization.
How to Avoid It: Invest in a self-hosted WordPress.org blog from the beginning. The small annual cost of a domain and hosting (around ₹3,000-₹5,000) is a crucial business expense that gives you full control and ownership.

6. Neglecting to Build an Email List

Your email list is your most valuable asset. Social media platforms can change their algorithms, and your Google rankings can fluctuate, but your email list is a direct line of communication with your most loyal fans.

The Mistake: Not having an email signup form on their blog from day one. Every visitor who leaves without subscribing is a lost opportunity.
How to Avoid It: Sign up for a free email marketing service like Mailchimp or ConvertKit and place signup forms in prominent places on your blog. Offer a simple incentive (a "lead magnet") like a free checklist or ebook to encourage signups.

7. Comparing Your Beginning to Someone Else's Middle

You see a successful blogger in your niche with hundreds of thousands of visitors and a huge income, and you get discouraged. "I'll never get there," you think.

The Mistake: "Comparisonitis." You're comparing your Day 1 with their Year 5.
How to Avoid It: Understand that every successful blogger started with zero traffic and zero income. Use their success as inspiration and a roadmap, not as a stick to beat yourself with. Focus on your own journey and celebrate your small wins.

8. Writing Short, Superficial Content

In 2025, the internet is flooded with content. Short, 500-word posts that barely scratch the surface of a topic will not rank on Google and will not impress your readers.

The Mistake: Valuing quantity over quality. Churning out lots of short posts instead of creating in-depth, valuable resources.
How to Avoid It: Aim to create the best, most comprehensive resource on the internet for your chosen topic. Write long-form content (1,500-2,500 words) that fully answers your reader's questions.

9. Not Promoting Your Content

Many bloggers follow the "publish and pray" method. They spend hours writing a post, hit publish, and then hope that people will magically find it.

The Mistake: Spending 90% of their time creating content and only 10% promoting it.
How to Avoid It: Follow the 50/50 rule. Spend half your time creating content and the other half promoting it. Share it on social media, answer related questions on Quora with a link back to your post, and email it to your list.

10. Giving Up Too Soon

This is the most common mistake of all. Blogging is a marathon, not a sprint. Most new bloggers quit within the first six months because they don't see instant results.

The Mistake: Having unrealistic expectations about traffic and income.
How to Avoid It: Understand that it takes time. It can take 6-12 months of consistent effort to start seeing meaningful traffic and income. Stay patient, keep learning, and don't give up before the magic happens.

FAQ: For New Bloggers

How do I know if my niche is a good one?

A good niche is one you're passionate about, knowledgeable in, and that has an audience willing to spend money. Check if there are other successful blogs, YouTube channels, and products in that niche.

Is it too late to start a blog in 2025?

Not at all! The number of internet users in India is still growing rapidly. There is always room for high-quality, valuable content. The key is to be specific with your niche and create better content than the competition.

What is the most important thing to focus on in the first 3 months?

Consistency. Pick a schedule you can stick to (e.g., one post per week) and hit that deadline every single week. This builds the habit of content creation, which is the foundation of your blog.

By being aware of these common mistakes, you are already ahead of 90% of new bloggers. Focus on providing genuine value, be patient and persistent, and you will build a blog that you can be proud of—and that can become a significant source of income.

Ready to learn how to find the right topics to write about? Check out our guide on how to do keyword research without paid tools. And for more essential blogging advice, subscribe to our newsletter!