7 Writing Mistakes That Repel Readers (And How to Fix Them)
The No-BS Guide to Writing Content Your Audience Will Want to Read
Most creators don’t struggle to engage their audience because they lack talent. They struggle because they write for themselves—not for their readers.
They assume their stories, opinions or style alone deserve attention. But here’s the hard truth: readers don’t care about you unless you care about them.
Your content only matters when it helps them solve a problem or teaches them something. Without that connection, your message gets lost in the noise.
It’s time to flip the script.
In this guide, we’ll break down the biggest mistakes that push readers away.
You’ll learn:
Why writing for your audience beats writing for yourself
How to stop making yourself the hero and become the guide instead
Why every piece needs a clear purpose to cut through the noise
How over-promising kills trust faster than anything else
Why proving your credibility beats just claiming it
How tuning into feedback unlocks your best content ideas
Why consistency matters more than occasional bursts of activity
You don’t need fancy tricks, just a shift in approach and a little practice.
1. Writing for Yourself, Not Your Audience
Writing is a two-way street. Ignore your reader’s needs, you’ll lose their attention.
Don’t assume your audience cares about your favorite topics or personal rants. If you only post what you like, don’t be surprised when no one else care.
This mistake shows up when you write what you find interesting, in the style you prefer—without asking if it actually matters to your audience.
It’s not that your ideas aren’t good. It’s that no one owes you their attention. If you don’t give them a reason to care, they’ll keep scrolling.
For founders, this often looks like posting company updates like “We just hit 10K users”. It’s all about the milestone, with zero effort to connect it back to what the audience cares about or how it helps them.
People aren’t on LinkedIn to cheer you on. They’re looking for insight, takeaways and solutions they can use right away.
They're asking:
Does this solve a problem I have?
Does this reflect what I’m dealing with?
Does this teach me something I can apply?
If the answer’s no, they move on.
The fix?
👉 Start with their problem, not your point.
Before writing, ask: What’s my reader trying to figure out right now?
Then write the answer to that.Before publishing, ask: Will this help someone in my niche get unstuck?
When your writing speak to their challenges, their daily problems, goals, or roadblocks—people feel understood. That’s what makes content useful and shareable.
Your ideas only matter when they meet your reader’s needs. Write to their struggles and they’ll start listening
2. Making Yourself the Hero
If your writing reads like a TED Talk about your life, you’ve already lost your reader.
Most people aren’t looking to celebrate your journey—they’re looking for something that helps them. The moment your post becomes a highlight reel, it stops being relevant.
This mistake shows up when every story centers around what you did, what you built, or what you believe—without turning any of it into something useful for the reader.
Founders do this a lot: “When I was building my second company, I realized...”
Cool story, but what’s in it for the reader?
People care about themselves. If your writing doesn’t show them how they benefit, they’ll scroll.
The fix?
👉 Make the reader the hero. You’re just the guide.Use more “you” than “I.” Reframe your experience as a shortcut they can use.
Instead of:
“I learned this while scaling my startup.”Try:
“Here’s what you can steal from my startup so you don’t waste 6 months figuring it out.”
That shift does two things:
It builds trust, because your content becomes a mirror readers see themselves in.
It allows you to talk about yourself without sounding like you’re bragging.
Be the guide, not the star.
Make your story about their progress—not your success. That’s how you earn attention and skip the cringe flex.
3. Writing Without Purpose
Publishing without a clear goal? You’re just adding noise.
Readers want clarity. If they can’t grasp what your post is about in seconds, they won’t bother figuring it out.
This happens when you write without knowing what you want your reader to learn, feel, or do after reading.
Every piece should have one clear purpose: inform, expand, or prompt action. Without that focus, your content feels aimless and gets ignored.
Founders and creators often fall into this trap by posting just to stay active or check a box. But filler content fades into the background.
To make an impact:
👉 Start with the takeaway and write backwards:
Before you begin, finish this sentence:
“I want the reader to walk away feeling, doing, or understanding ___.”Then, make sure every sentence, example, and detail drives toward that goal.
Review your content ruthlessly—if it doesn’t support your takeaway, cut it out.
Purposeful writing has structure, power, and direction. It connects, sticks, and gets shared.
Write with clear intent, and your readers will know why they should care—and what to do next.
4. Over-Promising, Under-Delivering
Clickbait kills trust.
A flashy headline promising big results sets high expectations. But when the content falls short, readers feel tricked—and trust fades fast.
This happens when you overhype your title but underdeliver in the content.
Promising “advanced tips” but delivering basics. Claiming “the ultimate guide” then skimming the surface. Teasing “secrets to success” but sharing obvious advice everyone already knows.
These letdowns erode trust and push readers away.
People scan headlines searching for quick wins or fresh insights. If your content doesn’t deliver, next time they’ll scroll right past you—and remember that disappointment.
The fix?
👉 Make sure your content lives up to the headline.
Before you publish, ask: “Does this deliver on the promise I made?”
If not, either tone down the title or improve the content.
Whatever you do, always deliver on your headline’s promise.
Be bold and confident—but back it up with clear, valuable insights. Say “advanced tips”? Then show advanced tips. Promise a solution? Deliver it step-by-step.
Over-promising and under-delivering wastes your audience’s time and breaks their trust. Deliver exactly what your headline promises. This builds your credibility, keeps readers coming back, and turns casual scrollers into loyal followers.
That’s the difference between click-worthy and clickbait.
5. Claiming Credibility Without Showing It
If your audience doesn’t see evidence, your message won’t land—no matter how good it is.
You might know your stuff. But online, no one knows that unless you prove it.
This mistake shows up when people share advice without context. No story. No proof. No signal that they’ve actually lived what they’re talking about. It reads like theory, not experience—and readers tune out fast.
For founders and creators, this often looks like making big claims without backing them up. Saying “this strategy works” without showing how. Or teaching audience growth without having actually built yours.
The fix?
👉 Build trust with proof: personal story, a quick stat, or a concrete result.
Writing about fine-tuning? Walk us through a real experiment.
Sharing tips on evals? Show metrics from your last RAG tests.
Teaching prompting? Share a prompt that actually improved output.
Don’t just say “I’m credible.” Prove it in the details.
Trust comes from transparency, not self-promotion. When people see you’ve walked the path, they’re far more likely to follow your advice.
6. Ignoring Feedback
If you’re not listening to your audience closely, you’re leaving massive growth and opportunities on the table.
Your audience is constantly giving you signals: through comments, DMs, reactions, shares, and even radio silence.
Ignoring these signals means you’re flying blind—guessing what they want instead of delivering exactly that.
This disconnect doesn’t just make your content miss the mark; it wastes your time, makes you second-guess your strategy, and drains your energy chasing the wrong ideas.
The fix?
👉 Use feedback as your roadmap.
Make it a habit to track all reactions, comments, and engagement metrics. Look at what get saved, shared, or spark conversations. My recommendation is to do this at least once a week.
Notice the questions that keep coming up, repeated themes, and common frustrations. Those patterns reveal what your audience truly cares about and where they need help.
That’s your content roadmap.
Your next great post is already sitting in your replies and comments, waiting for you to uncover it. Ignoring it isn’t just a missed opportunity—it’s choosing to stay stuck while others build momentum.
7. Being Inconsistent
Short bursts of posting followed by long silences won’t build your audience or reputation. What creates lasting impact is steady, consistent effort over time.
Too many creators burst onto the scene with a flurry of posts—five or more in a week—then vanish for weeks. That kind of on-off presence doesn’t build trust, nor momentum.
Your audience starts doubting if you’re serious about your content or just testing waters. Plus, LinkedIn’s algorithm favor consistency—the more regularly you post, the more your reach and growth accelerate.
The fix?
Find a sustainable pace you can stick with for the long haul.
Posting once a week consistently beats a short sprint of daily posts followed by silence. It’s better to show up regularly than to burn out quickly.
Just as important: pick a clear niche and build a consistent narrative around it. Going deep on one topic builds authority faster than jumping around—and it helps people instantly know why they should follow you.
Consistency compounds over time.
Keep posting regularly, even when engagement feels low. Regular activity builds your credibility, expands your reach, and gradually grows a loyal, relevant audience.
Momentum grows when you show up, especially in the quiet moments.
Final Thought
Great writing isn’t about you—it’s about what you do for the reader.
Focus on solving real problems.
Share insights they can actually use.
Show up consistently—even when it feels like no one’s watching.
That’s how you build trust.
And trust is what turns silent readers into loyal followers, and followers into real opportunity.
Now go write something that makes them care.
That’s it for now—more soon!
Catch you next time,
Creator of LinkedIn Audience Building for AI/ML Engineers
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