Amplify your blogging success immediately with this comprehensive list. I have outlined 50 ways that you can get your blog off to an incredible start, make it much more successful, and increase your chances of gaining tons of engagement and traffic.
(Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated if you make qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. All opinions are my own and I only recommend products and services that I personally trust and would use myself. Enjoy.)
#1. Make Use of Social Media
Most bloggers are already utilizing social media in one form or another. Using social media to your advantage can increase your overall engagement and attract new visitors to your website. In return this will build your traffic and undoubtedly amplify your blogging success right away.
One of the best if not THE best social media sites you need to pay attention to is Pinterest. Now if you are unfamiliar with Pinterest, let me explain to you how it works. Pinterest acts as a search engine. You type in what you are looking for and Pinterest will show you tons of relevant pins that match your description. This means your content may appear as a relevant search result for someone else. This can gain you a ton of views on a pin if it happens to get popular or even go viral.
How to make Pins that are appealing
- Use graphics and colors that are aesthetically pleasing. (Vertical-Not Horizontal)
- Write a good description that is eye-catching with a clear call to action.
- Make sure you pin to relevant boards.
(You can design pins easily with Canva. Canva is a totally free and easy to use graphic/logo design tool.)
Share pins that you like!
If you enjoy a pin be sure to repin it, follow the creator, and like it. Doing this can gain you many new followers and help you to build your blog traffic like no other. In order to find superior content to share try using Tailwind.
This is an app that can help you find content that is already highly popular and share it on your own Pinterest account. Not only that, but you can share your pins to groups called Tribes. With your Tribe you can pin your own content and have it shared by other members. There is honestly no better Pinterest app out there. I even wrote a post detailing how I gained tons of Pinterest followers by using Tailwind.
Tailwind is free to try, but the long-term benefits of Tailwind’s Plus Plan is incredible. If you look at the stat chart above you will see how having the Tailwind Plus Plan can drastically increase your Pinterest engagement. I love that I can schedule multiple pins at once and literally set and forget my Pinterest as Tailwind works for me. If you are not using Tailwind yet then you are really missing out!
Update: Currently, Pinterest’s latest algorithm is known to prefer manual pinning over third-party schedulers. That’s something to keep in mind. Also, you can use Pinterest’s scheduler if you still want to schedule ahead.
#2. Network With Other Bloggers In Your Niche
A great way to network with other bloggers is to comment on their blog posts. Show genuine interest in what they have to say and introduce yourself. Networking with other bloggers on social media can be so beneficial to you and your blog.
You would be surprised how a little bit of engagement with other bloggers can open tons of opportunities. Once you get to know other bloggers you can offer to write guest posts for them. Guest posting is an amazing way to get your website/blog out into the world.
When you post on someone else’s website you stand a chance to gain the attention of some of their readers. Depending on how popular the website you guest post on, this could yield incredible results. Not to mention that helping out other bloggers can help you too.
Ways to Engage With Other Bloggers
- Guest posting.
- Join Groups (Facebook Groups, Instagram Groups, Pinterest Groups, and Tailwind Tribes)
- Attend blogging conferences.
- Send business emails asking to collaborate.
- Follow others in your niche on social media.
- Help by answering other blogger’s questions when you can.
- Leave comments on their blogs.
#3. Create a Lead Magnet
Offering lead magnets is an incredibly effective marketing strategy that many brands and companies use. Lead magnets are incentives that you offer to readers in exchange for information such as their email addresses.
You can offer anything you want, but make sure it brings value to your readers. It can be something like a free downloadable worksheet, a free e-book, or even a free e-course. The reader will receive this freebie in exchange for their email address which you can then add to your mailing list. Building your email list is a very important step to having a successful blog. People who are open to giving you their email are more likely to make a purchase or complete a desired action in the future.
Types of Effective Lead Magnets You Can Create
- E-books
- Worksheets
- Case Studies
- E-courses
- Checklists
#4. Improve Your Tagline
Your tagline represents your blog and what it stands for. A lackluster tagline can cause you to miss out on potential site visitors. If a user takes a glance at a vague or non-existent tagline, they may not understand what your blog is about or care to visit it. You want your tagline to embody the mission your blog is going for. Creating a tagline that is irrelevant or unappealing may hinder your efforts to drive the right traffic to your website.
Ways to Improve Your Tagline
- Define your website’s mission and purpose.
- Think about how your blog helps others.
- Use a clear and concise phrase.
- Don’t be too vague.
- Appeal to your niche.
- Make it crystal clear what your blog is about.
#5. Work On Your On-Page SEO
One thing that can undoubtedly amplify your blogging success is improving your on-page SEO. For this, I highly recommend installing Google Analytics. With it, you can track your SEO efforts and see how you can improve your website by learning what works and what doesn’t. Installing Yoast SEO on your WordPress website is also beneficial. Yoast SEO helps you cover all of the basic steps to getting each and every post up to par as far as SEO is concerned. Once you receive the green light from Yoast you will know that your post is ready to go live. You can find Yoast as a free plugin, but it also offers premium features with a paid version.
Simple Ways To Improve On-Page SEO
- Make use of keywords and long-tailed keywords.
- Utilize key phrases in your images. (Edit the photo file name and alt description to contain the keyword/keywords)
- Optimize your posts before you decide to publish.
- Use correct spelling and grammar.
- Write long-form content or create pillar posts.
- Create internal links. (Links that link back to other pages on your blog)
- Write high-quality content that provides tremendous value to your readers.
#6. Make Your Blog Clutter-Free
One way to certainly amplify your blogging success is by maintaining a beautiful and clutter-free website. Having a blog that is riddled with ads popping up everywhere is not going to appeal very well to visitors.
Also, I do not recommend using a lot of widgets that make your webpages load sluggishly. Do your best to optimize your load times, responsiveness, and overall appeal of your website theme.
Reduce the number of unnecessary plugins and optimize how images load on your blog. Enabling lazy loading on your images can increase the speed of your website when it loads.
How You Can Reduce Clutter On Your Blog
- Take down unnecessary ads.
- Delete irrelevant pictures.
- Remove widgets that aren’t essential.
- Deactivate and uninstall plugins that are not being used.
- Vanquish all spam comments.
- Get a more responsive theme.
- Find an image optimizer.
- Install a reputable cache plugin.
#7. Create An Appealing Meta Description
Your meta description for your website and your posts should always be enticing and interesting. Make sure that you edit your own meta descriptions, or search engines will choose their own from snippets of your text. Be sure to include keywords or key phrases in your meta description, as this can help with your SEO efforts.
What an Appealing Meta Description Features
- 160 words maximum or else you run the risk of the description getting cut off in search results.
- Be sure to include your keywords.
- Use words that are enticing and are more likely to make a person click on your link.
#8. Use Internal Linking
I know we talked about this when I brought up on-page SEO, but this one is very important. Not only for SEO purposes, but because you need to direct your readers throughout your website.
It is a bit far-fetched to assume that your readers will find your older posts and read them. It is unlikely that they will spend much time digging for the lost relics that are your blog archives. Be sure to place links from your older posts in your new ones.
Give your reader somewhere to navigate to once they are finished reading.
How to Internally Link Successfully
- Make the links relevant to the reader.
- Utilize anchor text rather than image links.
- Create internal links to aid site navigation.
- Use a reasonable amount of internal links.
#9. Choose A Theme That Suits Your Blog
There are thousands of themes you can choose from. Many of them are free. You are going to want a theme that is responsive and contains everything that your particular blog needs. Decide the features that you think would benefit you and your business.
Keep your color theme and logo in mind. Try not to use a theme with a difficult-to-read font. I highly recommend getting a theme that is optimized for mobile users. Over 52% of online users are using a mobile device.
How to Choose an Appropriate Theme
- Select a theme that encompasses all of the features you desire for your blog.
- Find one that is optimized for mobile devices.
- Choose themes that have easy-to-read font options.
- Ensure that your color scheme jives with your logo and branding.
- Do not choose a theme too rich in unnecessary widgets.
#10. Create An Enticing Headline
Creating an enticing headline is one of the best ways to amplify your blogging success and increase engagement. First, to create an enticing headline you will need to address a struggle or problem that your reader has. Then, write your headline in an enticing manner that provokes emotion from your reader. For example, if you create a headline that is titled “Explode Your Blog Traffic In Under 3 Days,” you are going to evoke high emotion from readers who are eager to increase their blog traffic.
#11. Find Your Audience
Knowing who your audience is can be one of the most important parts of being successful as a blogger or business owner. The reason is that you are able to focus your efforts much more effectively when you know exactly who you are appealing to. When you know your audience it can aid you in your ability to create content and choose marketing strategies that work.
How To Figure Out Who Your Ideal Customer Is
- Study your site analytics.
- Create a customer profile.
- Conduct market research.
- Take a poll.
- Ask them!
#12. Create A Contact Page
This is a simple concept and you’d be surprised how many people simply forget to do this. Create an easy-to-locate contact page for your website or business. Always make sure that your customers and readers are never more than a click away from contacting you about a promotion or purchase.
If your customers cannot reach you, they may give up and move on. Contact forms are simple to create and easy to use. Having a contact page in place could drastically improve your business and ensure that you never miss a sale.
#13. Create An Effective About Me Section
When you created your website you probably made an about me section. You can make your about me section a simple bio or you can really make it into an opportunity to express yourself and let your customers and readers understand you. When people read your about me they are likely to decide at that point if they want to associate with your website any further. This is why having a well-thought-out about me section is a great idea.
How To Create An Effective About Me Section
- Write in your own voice.
- Be completely honest and open.
- Let people know what you stand for.
- Use a picture of yourself so people can identify with you better.
#14. Write Eye-Catching and Appealing Introductions
Be sure to draw your reader into your posts by writing great introductions. Your introduction is what is going to determine whether or not your reader continues to actually read! If you start out of the gate boring and monotonous, your reader is going to go to the next post that is more appealing.
How to Write An Appealing Post Introduction
- Use a personal touch.
- Tell a story.
- Ask great questions.
- Explain a fact or statistic.
- Write about something you have in common with your readers.
#15. Create Your Email List
This is something that most bloggers find that they wish they’d started sooner. Creating and building your email list is one of the best ways to stay connected to your most dedicated audience. Make sure that you have an email sign-up somewhere on your blog that is easy to find. There are several popular free email services that you can use. I personally prefer Mailchimp. Build a landing page that asks for an email. You can also offer a freebie such as a lead magnet.
#16. Create A Hire Me Page
There is no shame in letting people know that you want them to hire you. You want your blog or website to become your business, so feel free to market yourself. By creating a hire me page, you allow brands and readers to know that you are available for hire and that you have a price. Assuming that people know you are looking for work is not going to get you paying clients.
Items To Feature On Your Hire Me Page
- Provide a list of your services, but be sure to elaborate on them on a separate page. Create a link to it.
- Allow clients and customers to select a budget.
- Create a great headline for your “hire me” page that doesn’t just say “hire me”. For example, try “Let Me Help You Get Results Fast”.
- Create plenty of contact options for potential clients. You want them to get ahold of you easily.
#17. Find A Mentor
Again, there is no shame in seeking help from someone with experience. Finding a coach or a mentor to help you stay motivated or on track is a great way to gain momentum with your blog or website. Sometimes simply chatting with someone about something that has been bothering you or something that you do not quite understand can bring you great clarity. You can consult with me for free anytime via email @ sinceremommy.com.gmail.com or hire me weekly for as little as $10 USD per day. There are many mentor programs out there you can choose from so don’t feel bad for trying to seek help for yourself!
#18. Start An Idea Journal
Devote some time each day to write down ideas in a journal. Any time that inspiration hits you, be sure to jot them down quickly. Often, we come up with ideas and forget them later. By keeping a journal, you eliminate the possibility of forgetting something important. Try spending 10 minutes each day brainstorming and writing down content ideas. This way, when you plan your content calendar out, you will have plenty of ideas to work with.
#19. Take An E-course
Learning from others is a great way to become successful in your own endeavors. If you are short on inspiration or direction, try signing up for a free e-course. If you enjoy someone’s advice and find that it truly helps you consider supporting them by purchasing a paid course. While there are some courses out there that are a waste of time, many others are super helpful and can guide you in the right direction.
#20. Take Notes From Successful Blogs
Comparing ourselves to others is not necessarily always a bad thing. Of course we all want to remain individuals and bring our own strengths to the table, but we also can learn a lot from each other. Is there a blogger that you look up to? One that you find to be successful and has tons of engagement. Take a look at their blog and see what they do differently. Do not necessarily steal their ideas, but see what different features they may have on their blog. Perhaps there is something that you could include in yours that you hadn’t thought of.
#21. Join Affiliate Programs
If you want to monetize your blog but are unsure where to begin, you could try signing up to various affiliate programs. Becoming an affiliate of a brand means that you will promote their product or service in return for a small commission if you make a sale. If you start making a ton of sales, then you could earn a lot of money. If you are not yet a part of any affiliate network, then I recommend joining some.
Affiliate Networks You Can Apply To
- Rakuten
- CJ Affiliate
- ShareASale
- Amazon Associates
- ClickBank
#22. Guest Post/Receive Guest Posts
We have learned that networking with other bloggers is important. Guest posting can open so many doors for bloggers. If you guest post on someone else’s blog you stand to gain a portion of their following. This goes also if you accept guest posts on your own blog. Not only will this help you gain new readers, but it can build your website’s reputation.
The more reputable websites that your website link appears on, the higher your site authority will become. This plays a great role in getting your website to rank high in search results. On top of getting higher ranks you can also open doors of opportunity. When other bloggers see that you are easy to work with they may be much more willing to work with you too.
#23. Write A Pillar Post
What the heck is a pillar post? A pillar post is a blog post that contains almost any information you can think of about one particular subject. Pillar posts are much more lengthy and can take much more time to create. However, the time you put into a pillar post can be well rewarded.
Pillar posts most often rank much higher and help you develop authority in your niche. These types of posts can often rank for more than one keyword and are super helpful to people who read them. Try creating a pillar post for your blog!
#24. Create Clear Calls To Action
Clear calls to action are crucial when it comes to converting or making sales. If your readers have no idea what to do next, they will simply exit the post without purchasing anything. If you want to create posts that convert, your call to action needs to be prominent. Whether it’s a “Click To Purchase” button or a “Sign Up Here” banner, you need to make it obvious.
How To Create A Great Call To Action
- Determine what action you want the reader to take.
- Be clear and to the point.
- Make sure there are no distractions from the call to action.
- Include imperative verbs such as “Visit Now” or “Claim Your Freebie Immediately”
- Tell your readers how to complete the action. For example “Simply click here for a personalized case study”
#25. Make A Case Study
Creating a case study can help your readers and potential customers envision how you will help them. By making a case study you can show customers that you are capable of getting them results that are targeted specifically to their needs. Be sure to tell your customers a story and deliver your specific strategy.
Ways To Create Case Studies.
- Make a YouTube video demonstrating how you plan to help your customer.
- Create an Infographic with statistics and analytics.
- Do a Podcast.
#26. Use Testimonials
Testimonials are one of the best marketing strategies out there. People are so much more likely to purchase from you or trust you if they know that other people have had great success with you. Showcasing your previous successful endeavors by utilizing testimonials can increase conversion rates significantly. Reviews give readers an idea of what to expect and they often appreciate this when making the decision to purchase.
#27. Make Videos
The idea of making a video is a little scary when you are new to the idea. You might have the fear of messing up or saying something silly. The truth is that customers and readers alike appreciate videos that aren’t heavily glossed and edited. Customers like to see content creators as real and genuine. Creating videos can help you to promote your own products, extend the reach of your brand, and increase overall engagement.
#28. Proofread
While it is true that you don’t have to be an expert or have a Master’s Degree in writing to be a successful blogger, you should still be sure to proofread. Removing grammatical and spelling errors will help your audience read your posts more fluidly and understand them much better. Not only that, but you will appear much more professional in the writing community.
#29. Avoid Being Spammy
Avoid cluttering your blog with spammy ads. No one appreciates being bombarded with ad after ad, which often results in your reader exiting the page and never looking back. Also, try not to post the same exact thing repeatedly on social media. People appreciate someone who posts periodically and keeps their promotional efforts fresh.
#30. Create/Join A Group
Creating or joining a group can be very rewarding. With a group, you are able to connect with like-minded individuals with similar goals and motivations. Within your group, you may find that your productivity increases and that you are easily able to exchange ideas. This can help you to create better content as well as make higher-quality decisions. Bouncing ideas off of others allows you to see from other points of view besides your own. Feel free to request to join The Sincere Mommy Blogging Group to engage with other bloggers including myself.
#31. Avoid Burnout
Getting burnt out on writing or blogging is one of the worst things that can happen to a blogger. Feeling a lack of motivation, a decreased desire to write, and feeling disconnected from your audience are all signs of burnout.
Ways To Prevent Burnout
- Take a break. Come back when you feel refreshed.
- Take a vacation.
- Write ideas down.
- Rethink your niche.
- Decide if you truly care what you are writing about.
- Only write about things you are passionate and knowledgeable about.
- Talk to other bloggers.
- Focus on something new.
- Reevaluate your business mission.
#32. Live Stream
Live streaming is one of the newest marketing strategies you can use to promote your brand. Engage with your audience or group by holding a live stream session to discuss with them how your product or service can help them. You will be surprised by the amount of engagement you will receive if you take the time to chat personally with people in a live video setting. Being open to Q&A from your potential customers is one way to build trust with your audience.
#33. Host A Webinar
Simply choose a date and time, invite people, create a compelling script, and begin. It is recommended to schedule your webinars around three weeks out so that you have time to invite people to attend. Choose a topic to cover and write content that people will easily understand and relate to. Webinars are great ways to make sales and convince people to convert. Most people who show up to webinars are already in the buying mindset.
#34. Create An Ad
Promoting your blog is one of the most important things you will need to do. Making sure your blog is seen by as many people as possible is helpful to increasing engagement and pageviews. What better way to do it than to create an ad? Decide on a budget. You can spend as little as a dollar per day. Depending on what your goals are you may decide to spend more. Some will say it takes money to make money and it is up to you how you want to go about it. Ads are a great way to quickly get your blog seen by tons of people.
#35. Use Graphics
Graphics are essential. A great way to get your blog posts noticed is by creating beautiful graphics that draw readers in. A blog post with no graphics or pictures to break up text is likely to be disregarded. You can easily create professional graphics and photos with a free website like Canva.
#36. Focus On Problem-Solving
People often search for articles that are going to help them solve a problem. Perhaps they are looking for the best way to clean up red wine or how to create DIY cleaning solutions. Try to answer your reader’s biggest questions. People are more likely to purchase something when they are emotionally driven by a problem they have. Being helpful to your audience can help you to convert.
#37. Develop A Personal Writing Voice
Yes, it is true that everything has probably been done before. It is up to you to provide a unique spin in your own language to make things interesting. If people enjoy your personality and what you stand for they are going to read what you have to say regardless of if it has been done before. They will do this because you have a certain unique quality that you bring to the table. Your delivery is always going to be different from anyone else’s because we are all individuals. Your loyal readers will appreciate your take on popular subjects.
#38. Do Consultations
Your audience and potential customers will appreciate being able to consult with you personally. Use this to your advantage. Making personal connections with your audience is important whether it is via email or over the phone. Explain to them what services you offer and how you believe you can help them achieve their goals.
#39. Create Your Own Product
Why not share in the online spoils? You are perfectly capable of creating your own product. If you’ve managed to create a blog then you’d be perfectly capable of writing your own e-book or developing an e-course. Try your hand at product creation. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain!
Products You Could Create
- E-book
- E-course
- Checklist
- Craft/Trade
- Art
- Worksheets
- Planners
- Bath Bombs
- Soap
- Anything!
#40. Create A Pop-Up
Pop-ups don’t have to be spammy and annoying. You can create a pop-up ad that is on a timer so it doesn’t pop up immediately as your reader enters the page. You can time your pop up for 15-20 seconds into your readers visit or as they try to exit the page.
This can become your last ditch effort to sell a product or collect an email. Without a pop up this could be a missed opportunity. I’ve found that pop ups that apologize for interrupting work much better than one that pops up and says “BUY THIS THING NOW” or “GIVE ME YOUR EMAIL”. Of course no one should have pop-ups like that. Simply make it tasteful and experiment with timing.
#41. Be Consistent
Giving up and posting once every 3 weeks isn’t going to get you very far. I am guilty of it and so are many others. Neglecting your blog will help you get absolutely nowhere. What will help you is being highly consistent and persistent. Maintain your presence in the blogging world and post regularly. Even if it is only once a week, be sure to maintain a consistent level of activity.
How To Be Consistent
- Schedule your posts out.
- Post regularly.
- Promote your blog posts on social media.
- Create content at a consistent rate.
- Always be thinking of your next move.
- Don’t give up.
#42. Give Credit Where Credit Is Due
Your fans and peers are the ones that support you in your blogging journey. Never be afraid to give shoutouts, likes, comments, and credit to those who have supported you along the way. Treat other bloggers the way you wish you’d been treated when you first started blogging. Be sure to thank your fans and friends for being supportive. Your inner circle are the ones that keep you going and should be your reason for continuing to grow.
#43. Fight Through The Overwhelm
Blogging can be overwhelming at times. You are going to struggle and fight through difficult points in your journey, but I can promise that it gets easier. The more hard work you put in, the more you will find that you can relax a bit. All of your hard work will be rewarded, but giving up is not an option until then.
Keep putting in the time and effort. The feeling that you are getting nowhere fast is a strong one I know. I have been there and I totally get it, but it gets better. The more tasks you complete, the shorter your to-do list becomes.
#44. If You Don’t Enjoy Writing You Are In The Wrong Niche
Do you absolutely hate writing blog posts? If you answered yes then you are totally blogging about the wrong thing. It takes some time in the beginning to decide what you are interested in. Unless you are an expert in something already then you probably started out a little unsure of what to really write about.
Decide on a subject that you could write for days about and never get bored. No matter what the subject is, there will be an audience for it. In fact, the more specific your niche the easier it is to find dedicated readers. Write because you live what you are writing about. Blogging for the right reasons is very important.
#45. Backup Your Blog
Imagine all of your blog posts and hard work one day poofed away and were gone forever. Imagine the devastation and awful feeling you’d have when you realized all of your hours spent were completely wiped and vanished. This can be a reality if you do not back up your blog. Backing up your website is highly important and should not be put off for a long period of time. While things may seem fine and dandy it wouldn’t be out of the realm of possibility for your website to get wiped. Always have a backup plan. Literally.
#46. Make The Move And Become Self Hosted
There are so many benefits to becoming self hosted. Besides owning your own blog server there are so many more features you have access to when you become self hosted.
Personally I prefer Bluehost as my host provider. I get all of the benefits of self hosting plus the additional benefits of having 24/7 live chat support to fix technical issues. Believe me I have had to do that a few times and they have helped me out of situations I didn’t believe could be fixed. Bluehost is literally amazing. Not to mention self hosted websites are preferred by search engines. While becoming self hosted costs a little bit of money up front, it is essentially a business investment that I think is 100% worth it.
#47. Aim To Increase Engagement On Each Post
Maybe you are pleased with your current engagement, but the goal is to always aim high. Try to get more people to engage with your posts each and every time you share them. Try to get more comments, shares, and likes on your posts. If people see that other people like your posts then they are more likely to give it a read and do the same. Comment sharing is a great way to increase engagement on individual posts. Give it a try!
#48. Avoid Being Boring
Remember that your blog is not an essay. It is an extension of you as a person. Write how you actually talk. Droning on and on about facts and statistics while making no attempt at being a human being is going to drive people away. No one really wants to come to a blog for a lecture. Unless that is what your blog is about. Be yourself! Your blog should be read more like an informative diary than an academic report.
#49. Don’t Be Scared
Easier said than done, but try to allow yourself to get comfortable. A lot of people are scared to be seen by people they know or having their posts read by someone that may criticize them. Critics are everywhere. You will run into your fair share, but your supportive audience will undoubtedly outweigh and naysayers. The more comfortable and confident you become in your writing and content production the more you will notice that people respond positively. Fight your fears and start taking risks!
#50. Try A Giveaway!
Giveaways are super fun ways to engage with your readers. What better incentive to subscribe or join if there is something free on the line? People love things that are free. Try enticing your readers with a free gift card or gift basket giveaway. Ask for their email address in return. It becomes a win win for everyone!
Things You Can Giveaway
- Gift Cards
- Gift Baskets
- Free Worksheets
- Vouchers
- Free Service That You Provide
- Anything!
I hope this blog post helps you when it comes to amplifying your blogging success! Thanks for reading.