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When I first started my blog I thought I needed to have ALL the things in order for it to be a success and funny enough a lot my clients also want all the things on their blogs too. But I wanna let you in on a lil’ secret…you don’t need what you think you need in order to start monetizing.

Here are 5 things you need to remove from your blog today (and what to add instead):

1. Dates 

I know you’re probably reading this thinking, “wait, remove the dates?!” Yes, remove the dates. I recommend removing dates from blogs where the date isn’t really important. For instance, I write about how to start and monetize your blog. Most of the information I share here is timeless, meaning it will apply to anyone who wanted to start a blog today or tomorrow. Adding a date isn’t really important to my audience. This is great because as your blog grows and you have more content, you may want to repurpose blog posts and that can be difficult if your content has a timestamp. The only time dates really important is if you’re referencing something that happened on a specific date. For instance, if you go to any news website there are dates listed on their posts.

Here’s what to do instead:
Remove the dates and repurpose the content for future content. It’ll make your life 100x’s easier, trust me. It’s what the blogging pro’s do. 

2. Non-cohesive branding

This one may seem a bit obvious, but let’s get clear on what branding includes. Branding is everything from the colors you use on your website, the fonts you use and even your brand voice. Having a cohesive look on your website (colors and fonts) is crucial because it will be easier for your audience to identify your work. And establishing a brand voice will do the same. 

Here’s what to do instead:

The best thing about establishing a cohesive brand is that it can be done on a budget when you’re just starting out. You can find a ton of brand boards on pinterest to give you ideas or if you’re like me, you can simply find a website template that best suits your  brand and stick with their branding. But if you have some extra cash to spend, definitely hire a designer to create your brand aesthetic. In terms of establishing a brand voice, think about your target audience and stick with a voice. Sometimes I see blogs where the blogger will talk about themselves in third person, I would recommend not doing this. Instead, I would treat it as if you’re having a conversation with your audience and write it out as if you were speaking directly to your ideal reader. 

3. Too many graphics 

How many times have you gone to a website and you had no idea where to start and felt overwhelmed and ended up closing the browser? Graphics are awesome and can really add something extra to your website. However, having too many graphics on your website can make your audience feel overwhelmed to the point that they click off your website and go somewhere else. 

Here’s what to do instead: 

If you plan to DIY your own website, go with basic website templates that make it easier for your readers to know exactly what you do and possibly purchase something from you. If you are planning to work with a graphic designer, make sure you iterate to your designer what you want people to do when they come to your site so that they keep this in mind and create a design makes it easier for your audience to take action. 

4. Banner ads 

A lot of people monetize their blogs by displaying ads. I’m all for creating new streams of income for your blog, but keep in mind that in order to really generate income with banner ads you have to have a ton of traffic on your website. 

Here’s what to do instead: 

If you want to monetize your blog, I recommend creating your own products and marketing it on your website. You have more control over your sales and you can make way more money, even with a small following. 

5. Unclear copy

Copy is everything. Unclear headlines and text will confuse your audience and a confuse audience doesn’t buy. 

Here’s what to do instead:
Hire a copywriter! And if you can’t afford to hire a copywriter at this point in your biz, no worries. You can always purchase a copywriting template for a fraction of the price. If you’re interested, my friend Abby is a great copywriter and she’s helped me create pages that convert…which is super important. 

Let me know in the comments what you’re planning to remove from your blog.