44 Blog Tips the Pro Bloggers Use

There is a lot of information out there on the web discussing how to have a successful blog. I know you want to be a pro blogger, so I wanted to do you a solid. I sorted through some of the most popular articles to find you 44 tidbits that will help you on your blogging journey. You are going to love these blogging tips, friend. They are gold. I’ve also linked to the full article should you want to dig in on the topic deeper.

I’ve split the tips into the following categories:

• Building an audience
• creating epic content
• branding your blog
• site optimization
• visual marketing
• social media tips
• relationships and blogging
• logistics of blogging
• blog plan
• making money online
• motivation for bloggers

The Successful Blog Plan
Don’t leave your blog’s success up to chance. Use this workbook guide to create goals and strategies for your blog – you’ll be destined for greatness. 

Subscribe to my newsletter to receive regular updates and tips about growing your blog & get instant access to The Successful Blog Plan.

You're going to love this! Check your inbox for an email from me (Kristie Hill). See you there.

There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.

Email Address

I'd like to receive the free email course. SEND IT!

Check them out and start using these tips today, because I know you want to be a pro blogger. If you don’t have time to read them all right now (I get it, 44 super awesome blog tips is a lot) pin it to your blogging tips board for later >  Pin it for later

Building an Audience

Every blog has a unique audience, and you have the power to determine who that audience is… Define your ideal audience and think about what they would like to read about, then create blog post categories that appeal to them. My Biggest Advice for Bloggers, Jamie Starcevich

Figure out who you will be in business with. Who are you providing value for? Then find out, what are these people trying to accomplish? And the last question is, what are they struggling with? Once you have identified those 3 things, then you can begin to come in and fill those gaps for them. Create content that meets the specific needs that they have, that helps them accomplish their goals, and that provides help for their struggles. 6 Steps to Monetize Pinterest Traffic, Kate Alh and Leslie Samuel

Part of the magic that is reaching the right readers and experiencing rapid brand growth stems from how specific you’ve defined your perfect reader. The secret is creating a ‘perfect customer profile’ that looks, sounds and feels like ONE real person. 10 Brand Building Mistakes You Cna Learn From My Fails, Dre Beltrami

If you want to reach people with your message, you have to know exactly who you’re talking to. If you don’t know exactly who you’re talking to, your message will come off as generic and detached. And what’s the result of creating generic and detached content? People stop listening. And then you’re sunk. How to Write Content That Isn’t Ignored, Dustin Stout

Creating Epic Content

But a terrific blog — a blog that stands out from the crowd and earns an ever-growing + loyal audience — has another unique quality all its own: It provides specific, in-depth, remarkable content that people can use to immediately accomplish goals or fix problems in their life. The Extra-Heroic Guide to Writing Remarkable Blog Posts, Erika Madden

Everyone always talks about quality content being important, because it really is the key to growth. Quality content is anything that provides value to your readers. If you publish great content on a regularly basis and promote it well you tend to rank higher more often, meaning even more people find you and can link to you. This causes a rise in your authority and online reputation, which then has a positive effect in your Domain Authority How to Increase Your Domain Authority Score + Get More Traffic, Elaine

Perhaps the most important thing to do if you want to grow your blog is to provide value. You can follow every other piece of blogging advice out there, but if you aren’t providing value, you won’t get anywhere. People will stick around and share your blog with others if they get something out of it. That’s why providing value is so important for increasing blog traffic. My 3 Step Approach to Increase Blog Traffic, Allyssa Barnes

Make your content ACTIONABLE. A lot of the content online is just NOT.HELPFUL. Raise your hand if you’ve ever read a blog post that contained fluffy information you could’ve figured out with common sense? The key difference in writing actionable, rather than fluffy information, is in telling someone HOW to do something, rather than just WHAT to do. Create a Blog that Converts: How to Write Killer Posts that Grow Your Email List + Make Sales, Melyssa Griffin

Don’t write your posts based on keywords. You want to be original and you. Instead, write your post first and then go do keyword research. Compare the recommended keywords to the keywords you are already using. Then, go back through your post and adjust where necessary How to Use Google Keyword Tool to Write Your Blog Posts, Kristie Hill

The first — and most important — thing you want to focus on when you’re starting out is finding your voice and creating amazing content. Think of your voice and content as the foundation of your blog. Just like a house, a skyscraper, or anything else, without a solid foundation, your blog will crumble. Keeping Your Focus as a Brand New Blogger, Ruth Soukup

Creating blog posts and just expecting traffic to show up is a pipe dream.  Traffic has to be DRIVEN to your posts. Especially if you want organic traffic, you need to understand that creating posts/topics that are searched for is the only real way to get people to your blog. 29 Best Tips BEFORE You Start Your Blog, Alex & Lauren

Questions make fabulous blog posts because they genuinely help people and are usually easy to write. Think about the things you search for in Google, how many of those searches are questions? Most of them, right? People are always asking Google questions, might as well provide them with the answers in your blog posts! One Guaranteed Way to Come Up with Blog Post Ideas that Generate Search Traffic, Kristie Hillfrom-bloggers/

Don’t sacrifice your content when your schedule gets crazy… The more good content you have out there the more reasons someone has to visit your site, stick around, and share it with their peers. Content doesn’t necessarily have go come in the form of traditional blog posts either. It can be videos, checklists, guides, etc. 8 Way to Improve and Grow Your Blog Traffic Today, Kaitlyn

But ultimately, you have to put your own needs first so that you are able to produce quality content — which will serve your audience better in the end. They are much less likely to notice your posting frequency if you are consistently producing quality content. How Many Time Per Week Do You Actually Need To Blog, Lisa Butler

SEO doesn’t have to be scary and super technical thing. In fact, if it is getting too technical than you are probably dabbling into spammy techniques. Google sets up its algorithms to help its users find accurate, quality content in relation to what they are searching for. By practicing good blogging techniques, you are working on your SEO. Good SEO is just Good Blogging, Kristie Hill

Want to know one of the biggest mistakes bloggers make? Writing the post before the headline. Without a headline, they have no roadmap to follow. And so their post goes in multiple directions, leaving readers feeling dizzy, confused and disoriented. And then they try to create a headline that embraces all that madness. Bloggers, have mercy! If you want to write a blog post full of clarity, conciseness and conviction, spend some time crafting a quality headline that sets a clear destination, lures readers in and leaves them eager for your advice. How to Write a Blog Post – the Ultimate Guide, Liz Longacre

Branding your Blog

People like to know the person behind the posts. With that said, too much of a personal blog mixed with your creativity and expertise doesn’t work well either. It’s fun to read a little glimpse into an authors life, but when the blog ramblings start to make up more of the content than the actual information people came to see, some may not want to come back. There is a fine line between no personality and too much rambling- but find the sweet spot and your readers will love you for it! What I wish I Knew When I Started Blogging, Stephanie

Whether or not you know it, your blog has a brand. Your brand started right around the time you clicked “publish” on your first post. Your post graphics, tone of voice, photographs, and even the consistency with which you post are all factors contributing to your overall brand. My Number One Tip to Branding Your Blog For Success, Laura James

Creating a recognizable brand has the power to give you more influence, more reach and more impact. It not only amplifies the work that you do, but it also empowers people to be advocates for your brand, going out there to tell your story and message for you, because you’re on their brain more than the rest. 4 Ways to Build Brand Recognition and Stand Out

Site Optimization

The site’s layout decides where visitors’ eyes are drawn as they navigate the site. When you look at your layout, consider how future visitors will view the site as they browse it. The 5 Ingredients for a Perfect Website Strategy, Krista Rae

Remember that your website is your home. Be welcoming, be entertaining, and be informative for when your guests (readers) first drive on your page! The Anatomy of the Perfect Homepage, Rekita Nicole

Having a fast loading site will improve your SEO, make your visitors happier (and less likely to leave), and will result in more sales/conversions. 12 Non-techy Ways to Speed Up Your WordPress Website, Kristie Hill

Blogs are also under constant threats just like your house or any other property. Your blog could mean everything when it comes to your online presence. If any malicious entities become successful in getting through your site’s security, this could mean disaster as your blog and its content could be damaged. If this is important to you, it’s highly recommended that you start to find ways on how to better secure your blog. 10 Commandments to Secure your WordPress Website, Mel Karlik

Visual Marketing

Your blog images are the biggest key to a successful blog. Whether on social media or your blog, readers respond initially to your visuals. You can have a beautiful theme, but it will fall flat if your visual representation is subpar. Ultimate Guide to Creating Awesome Visual for Your Blog, Lindsay Humes

Pictures or graphics are one of the most essential ingredients of a blog. You probably spend a lot of time taking fabulous pictures for your posts or searching the internet for the perfect image. What you might not know though is that those pictures could be hurting your blog. When I say hurting your blog, I mean slowing it down. Pictures are usually the number one reason blogs load slow. Are Your Picture Hurting your Blog? Tips for Image and Speed Optimization, Kristie Hill

A solid visual brand ties all of your content together across social media platforms and helps people recognize your posts. One of the highest compliments I get on social media is when people say “I saw a beautiful graphic and immediately knew that it was yours so I had to read it.” People recognize my style of graphics, my signature pink circle logo in the corner, and know when they click through they can trust my content to be worthy of their time. That’s WHY you spend the time to create a visual style. How to Use Visual Marketing to Leave Your Competition in the Dust, Peg Fitzpatrick

Great photos evoke emotion and prompt your audience to take action. Its a lot easier, quicker and powerful to convey the message of your brand through photos than to put it across through words.  How to Use Photography to Grow Your Brand and Business, Chaitra

Social Media

Social media isn’t just about promotion. It’s about relationships. It’s establishing rapport and creating reciprocity. It’s also hard work, just like building a blog. It requires that you do more than simply hop on and shout out your latest article. Take the time to build a tribe, one that edifies and supports your blog. Secrets to a Powerful Blog Post, Rebekah Radice

We all know that using social media is an important part of our internet marketing… Unless you’re intentional with your social media marketing it can quickly become a time suck. Every time I ask bloggers what their struggles are, they tell me they don’t have enough time to do all the blog things. I’m just going to throw this out there: maybe we do have the time, we’re just not using it properly. Less Browsing, More Strategy. Be Intentional with Social Media Marketing, Kristie Hill

Relationships and Blogging

One of the strategies that has worked the best for me is building relationships with other bloggers. This, more than anything else, is a quick way to skyrocket your blog traffic when you are just starting out. Do You Struggle With Growing Your Blog? 5 Steps That Will Help, Sue Anne Dunlevie

Get to know other bloggers. No matter what niche you’re in or how long you’ve been blogging, I still contend that blogging is best done in community. Why Blogging is Best Done In Community, Abby Laweson

Email Lists

Email marketing feels scary to bloggers but it doesn’t have to be. Take the time to figure out what is holding you back from sending emails to your list. Is it fear of looking bad or not knowing what to write? Do you worry about annoying people or having them unsubscribe? You are an excellent writer and have a lot to offer your audience. They are on your email list because they love your content and want to hear more from you. Give them what they want, send emails, and build a loyal following! 6 Reasons Why Bloggers are Scared to Send Emails and How to Get Past the Fear, Jen Snyder

The “I don’t have a big list and therefore I have no value” excuse is old and tired. Stop trying to use it as a reason not to reach out to people! You have a lot more than your email list to offer a potential relationship. How to Build an Empire without Ads (and What to Spend Your Time & Money on Instead), Mariah Coz

Per FTC’s guidelines, your emails must include a physical mailing address. Basically, if I can’t send you snail mail to the address listed on your newsletter, it doesn’t count. It has to be address where you can receive mail. Period. Or you can say hello to up to $16,000 penalty per email sent (it hurts my soul just thinking about it).  What Bloggers + Creatives Need to know About the Spam-Can Act, Fran

Blog Plan

A thorough blog business plan will help you avoid major obstacles and will guide your decisions, unlike any other document. When considering a new idea, upcoming blog post, customer request or suggestion, expansion, marketing opportunity, or any other operational item, you will have this plan to consult.  How to Write a Blog Business Plan, Regina Anaejionu

You need a plan to get your blog off the ground. You can’t just launch your blog and hope that it will gain some momentum. You need a strategy! 10 Things to Do Before You Launch Your Blog, McKinzie Bean

Making Money Online

Don’t listen to people who say that you need to be blogging for a certain amount of time before you can start making money. It’s a lie. Just because it took someone else†x-amount of time to become profitable, it doesn’t mean you have to wait that that long, too. Instead, develop a monetization plan for your blog that doesn’t rely solely on high traffic or blog age.  3 Big Lies Bloggers Believe about Making Money, Chrysite

Maybe you’re like me and only have an hour or two a day to work on your blog, but you still want to make a buck. I do that through affiliate marketing. Affiliate marketing gives you the opportunity to sell products you love without having to create them yourself. The Ultimate Guide to Affiliate Marketing for Bloggers, Kristie Hill

Motivation for Bloggers

My message today is to let you know first of all, you don’t have to be perfect in your area of expertise or as a blogger in order to offer services or posts that help people, and that you should share your strengths and also struggles in your content. Building an Authentic Personal Brand as a Life Coach, Elizabeth Kelsey Bradley

A great way to make sure that you’re really taking action on your goals and ideas is to create some kind of monthly game plan that will help you stay on track. Having this kind of list will also help you stay organized and focused as you’re working on your blog and business over the coming months. What to Doe When You Have too Many Ideas, Kory Woodard

Many times when we are brainstorming and outlining our projects, we have a tendency to skip to the end: the launching stage. Rather than worry exactly what the launch will look like, begin creating the content you feel most confident in. Your launch details will fall together along the way. Don’t let it paralyze you from getting started. One step at a time, my friends. 5 Signs it’s Time to Stop Planning and Start Creating, Kayla Hollatz

Many of the things that will determine your blog’s success aren’t measured in word counts or publishing frequency. Confidence, determination, planning, and execution, all around a clear understanding of who your readers are and what they’re coming to you for, are much more crucial to success than the “numbers game.” 5 Things Getting in the Way of Your Blog’s Success, Shay Bocks

We all need practice and a space to grow our blogging skills, so don’t be hard on yourself. Try something out and see what happens. If you don’t get the feedback you expected, try something else. It may be just a shift in perspective or it may be a complete rewrite. Either way, it’s all part of the learning process of blogging and perfectly ok. It will make you a better blogger. How to Choose a Profitable Blog Topic and Target Audience, Marianne

Don’t compare your blog to other blogs. Your blog is not my blog and vice versa. Remember that we are all at different stages. And I’m not just talking about time. My blog might not be in the same boat as other4 year old blogs because we all work differently. I found myself caught in the comparison trap when I first started out. I compared my baby blog to hugely successful blogs. Oftentimes, I felt sidetracked and discouraged. Why compare apples to oranges? You’re ultimately comparing your beginning to someone’s middle or end. Concentrate on your own path. That is all. 10 More Tips for Growing Your Food Blog, Sally

Be Yourself. In a crowded online world, you are the biggest thing that sets you apart from every other blogger out there. 10 Super Quick Tips to Help You Publish Quality Articles, Kristie Hill

Your Turn

There you have it, 44 tips to help you on your blogging journey. Which stood out to you the most? I’m sure you have a rad blogging tip of your own, feel free to share it in the comments below. I’d love to hear it.

Save