Some of the most common mistakes are:

Jumping in (rather than wading in)

Having unrealistic expectations

Losing focus

Ignoring the reader

Jumping in - When beginning something new, we are sometimes so anxious to get started that we jump in rather than wading in slowly -- we are often shocked and dismayed at our initial results (or lack thereof). Here are a few tips to consider before Jumping In:

Find a focus. JUST ONE - I see a lot of new members asking if it’s ok to have more than one niche or more than one website. The correct answer is yes but the right answer is focus on one niche or website first. Once you have gained authority in a niche or seen results on your website, then it’s ok to start another one. If you try to do more than one at a time several things can happen: you might suffer from overwhelm; you may not be able to dedicate enough time to each site to see results; you may lose interest all together.

Take the time to view different niche websites. Go through members profiles and see if they have their website/s listed on their profile page: note the colors, graphics and layouts. Also note that some sites are verbose and very wordy while others are brief and to the point. What personal style will you choose?

Unrealistic Expectations - If you come to WA expecting instant results: gaining a large audience and receiving many comments on your site, you may be disappointed. There are many other websites vying for the same audience. Patience and tenacity are essential in the online world. If you find a unique niche to fill, create content, have appealing titles for your posts and tirelessly promote your site, the audience and comments will follow.

Losing Focus - When you started your website you had a particular reason for doing so; it might have been to express your views on a particular topic or it might have been to promote a product or service. Your audience will come to your site for the first time and either be interested in your content or not, will either like your style or not, and if they like your content and style they may comment and visit again. Once you've established a topic and tone for your site you can change it, but if you do, you're basically starting over.

Ignoring The Reader - Some of the visitors to your site will leave comments. People leave comments on sites to exchange ideas and express their points of view. Always respond to your visitors comments. Thank them for viewing your site and taking the time to comment (even people who have nothing nice to say). Each comment deserves a response. If you ignore your comments your visitors may not come back again.

We are all here to succeed.

Best of luck on your journey to success!