It can happen to anyone.
You start a blog thinking that you're going to change the world with your words. Believing that you're going to make an impact in the blogosphere.
But what ends up happening is that people don't take you seriously.
And to be completely honest, it's all your fault.
I'm not saying that you wasted your time, but there were some things that you overlooked. Things that you should have avoided — and since you didn't, they seriously made you look … amateurish.
Does that mean it's too late?
Nope. But in order for people to take you seriously, you have to look like a pro.
Because when you at least look like a pro, readers will start taking you, and what you say, more seriously. So, exactly what do you have to do to look like a pro?
Read on.
9 (Pro) Defining Tips That Helps You Create a Blog That Gets Read
To be completely honest, there's an ocean-sized gap between what pro bloggers do and what amateurs do.
But here's the thing: it does't have to be.
And luckily for you, I'm going to share some key tips to minimize that gap and give you a fighting chance online.
Ready to learn what they are?
Tip #1: Put Up A Professional Photo (1 Hour – 1 Day)
Believe it or not, image is important. Not just in blogging, but in life as well.
Let me share a quick story with you.
Back in the summer 2014, two men decided to conduct a social experiment on homelessness.
In this social experiment, they created a video to see how many people would be willing to give that homeless man money if he were dressed up in a suit. In almost all instances, people gave money to him when he was in a suit. In fact, some gave him more than he was asking for.
But, when he tried to ask for money in ragged and torn clothing … no luck.
So what does this mean?
Simple.
How you look, plays a significant role in if people pay attention to you. That's why, as a blogger, you want to look as professional as possible in whatever pictures you share.
Sue Anne Dunlevie does this extremely well with her blog. Here are some images she uses to maintain that professional look:
Images like these make a huge difference in bringing some professionalism to your blog.
What To Do Next
- Take a head shot of yourself. Preferably something with a clear background (though not mandatory) that you can use on your about page, in the sidebar, etc.
- Due to technology, you don’t have to spend a lot of money to get this done. You can easily get this accomplished with a smart phone or even a tablet and some good lighting.
Tip #2: Create An Avatar For Leaving Comments (5 – 10 minutes)
Do you know what the worst thing is that you can do for your brand?
This …
If you have any goals to build a popular blog, or become a popular blogger, this is a foolish mistake that you can't make.
[tweet_box design=”box_06″]Creating an avatar, not only helps you look more professional, but also increases your branding.[/tweet_box]
For example, my friend Don Purdum does this very well.
He uses the same avatar every time he leaves a comment somewhere.
And keep in mind that when you leave comments on different sites, having an avatar helps represent you and your brand.
How?
Because if you comment often, and it always contribute to the conversation, people will start recognizing you — and possibly even visit your site.
Hard to believe that a little image like that can be so important, right?
What To Do Next
- Create your own gravatar. Assuming you have your professional photo done, this article by WikiHow provides great step-by-step information on how to create a gravatar.
- Make sure you get noticed. There are certain things you can do with your Gravatar to make it memorable, branded and click-worthy — and Ramsay Talpin shares all of those in this post.
Tip #3: Modify Your Post Title and Description (10 – 15 minutes)
Want to know one of the things that really make you look like an amateur?
When your meta-description isn't customized.
For example, when I did a Google search, I found this for one of my posts:
Want to know how that happened? Because I foolishly left the meta-description blank. And because I did that, Google decided to automatically extract what it wanted.
The end result? What you see in the image above.
You don't want that, do you?
*shakes head*
Mistakes like this makes you look like you really don't know what you're doing. And if potential readers see that, what's the chances of them clicking to read it?
None! Doesn't even matter how enticing the headline is.
So, from that point on, I make sure to customize each post. Here's how I modify everything on SEO by Yoast:
What To Do Next
- Customize Your Information. Whatever SEO program you're using, make sure you customize the information that you want Google to display — and readers to see.
- Watch Your Length. If possible, try to make sure your title and description aren't too long.
Tip #4: Include Links To Some Of Your Related Posts Within Each Post You Write (15 – 30 minutes)
This is probably one of the best ways to cross-promote some of your previous posts.
But don't overdo it.
The last thing you want to do is be too over-bearing with the content you link to.
Instead, link to related content that could be an additional resource to readers and help them get more clarification on that related post.
For example: Ann Smarty did it beautifully in a post she wrote on Ms. Ileane's blog a while back:
What she talked about in the post was linked to a previous post that Ms. Ileane wrote a few years back:
See how it's done?
This will help get you some points with Google and possible traffic to that post you linked to.
What To Do Next
- Link responsibly. Every post you write is an opportunity to cross-promote previous posts that you wrote. Before you hit publish, read over your post and look for opportunities that you can link to related posts that your readers may enjoy.
Tip #5: Make Your Theme Look Awesome (3+ hours)
As a blogger, what's the last thing that you want?
Think about it.
If someone reads your blog, chances are, they read other blogs too, right? Other blogs that probably talks about the same topics you talk about, wouldn't you think?
If that's the case, how will you or your content, be remembered if you look like everyone else?
That's why you need to make your theme stand out.
Whether you have a free theme or pay for a premium one, you want to create a unique, memorable brand and experience for people.
What To Do Next
- Make It Consistent. Whatever theme you choose, start by changing the logo, colors, font, etc. You want the theme to look nothing like the default version and more like something that customized. Small changes can make a HUGE difference. Just look at the awesome job Henneke did with her theme.
She took it from this:
To this:
Tip #6: Add a Favicon To Your Site. (10 minutes)
Branding is very important in blogging.
Something as simple as a favicon can really help your blog stand out.
Here's a screenshot of Ms. Ileane's blog. In the top left corner, you can see her favicon logo.
Clearly you can see how much more brandable that it, compared to a filler image, don't you?
What To Do Next
- Upload Your Favicon. This could be a custom image or even a picture of yourself for the time being, as long as you have something uploaded — and Chris Hufnagel from WPBrain, has a great post to guide you through the process.
Tip #7: Make It Easy For Readers To Subscribe (20 – 45 minutes)
Subscribers are the lifeblood of your blog, correct?
That's why you need to take every opportunity to get them to subscribe. The problem many bloggers have, is that they don't make it easy for readers. They either:
- Have no call to action
- Hide it all the way in the footer
- Make you solve a CAPTCHA puzzle before you're able to register
It's difficult to build a list that way.
The easier you make it for readers to subscribe, the greater the chances are they will.
Take Quick Sprout for example. They make it very easy and very well known that they want you to subscribe, don't they?
Take every available opportunity you can to welcome easy subscriptions to your blog.
What To Do Next
- Be effective. Create effective bribes in all of the key places. Sidebar, at the end of each post, on the about page, etc.
Tip #8: Include a quality image with each blog post. (30+ minutes)
Want to know something?
Creating and using original images are just as important as creating original content.
Think about it.
You wrote an absolutely remarkable post on a topic you know your blog readers want to know. Your headline is captivating. Your entire post is filled with practical information.
But, here's where you lose some points.
Your image is not only uninspiring, but it's something 10 other bloggers used as their feature image in the last month.
No bueno.
You NEED to make sure that your images are just as, or more, unique and original as your content. And that's exactly what Adam Connell from Blogging Wizard does. He creates images that makes him and his post, completely original:
So does Dre Beltrami from The Branded Solopreneur:
Create. Original. Images.
What To Do Next
- Figure out a “theme” for your images that's not only appealing, but will help you stand out. More importantly, make sure to stick with that “theme” for all of your images — that's how you'll rapidly grow your brand.
Tip #9: Write Headlines That Tickle The Curiosity Of Readers (1+ hours)
You can never stress how important headlines really are.
They're that. Darn. Important.
Because a headline could be the the difference between whether someone stays on your blog and reads your post, or doesn't even bother to waste their time.
That's how important headlines are. For example, let's do a quick comparison, okay?
Compare these two headlines:
Which one of these two would entice you to read their post on content marketing?
Clearly the second headline is more enticing because it's playing on the notion that we've been lied to this whole time — and don't actually know it. And the only way to know the truth is to click the headline and read the post.
How about a trickier one:
Which headline would you click?
Personally, the first one entices me more because it's saying, “Hey, I ignored the advice given by experts and I still got great results.”
That's just enticing enough to get me to find out what tips were ignored to produce those results.
Don't you agree?
What To Do Next
- Scour a few popular blogs and look at the headlines they create. Study them and if they have an outstanding record of attracting readers, create your own set of headline templates to always go to.
- Analyze them. Regardless of what headlines you come up with, put it through headline analyzing tests you'll find on CoSchedule or AMInstitute to determine if they're good enough to draw attention.
Smart Bloggers Don't Make These Amateurish Mistakes
I know. I know.
As a blogger, there's so much bad advice out there to really know what to follow, right?
But you know what?
Your entire blogging existence can evaporate instantly if you make (or continue to make) these amateurish mistakes.
That's why you want to avoid these mistakes at all costs. That's why, even as a new blogger, you don't want to look like a new blogger. That's why it's important to follow these tips and make it seem as though you've been blogging for a long time.
So take another look at these tips above.
If you haven't done them yet, get on it.
Don't delay.
Because if your goal is to look like a pro, these are the building blocks you need to take to get eventually there.
Did we miss anything? If so, please share your thoughts with us in the comment section below. Are you still looking like an amateur or do you look like a pro? Also, please share this post with your friends and readers as well. I'm almost certain that they don't want to look like an amateur either.
Hey Andrew,
Great article and pretty easy to execute tips on building a pro blog for yourself. I am developing my personal blog and will make sure to execute your tips.
Keep up the great work.
Hey Chirag,
Thanks for the comment.
Yes, these tips are pretty easy to execute and everyone should be doing it … if they haven’t already. Glad you enjoyed the post.
– Andrew
Well, I came over to read your post, Andrew, and there are my pictures! Nice surprise.
Loved this article! You referenced a few of my friends and colleagues that I so respect. Plus the info was spot-on and the timeline accurate.
Thanks so much,
Sue
Hi Sue,
You have some really professional pictures on your blog and I like them. So much so they had to be used as an example on this blog post for Ms. Ileane. Thanks so much for taking time to comment. Truly appreciate it.
– Andrew
Photoshop is a beautiful thing!
Sue
I need to start using it. Or rather, learn how to use it properly. It’ll take time I guess.
Oh, I don’t know how to use Photoshop, Andrew. The photographer did it for me!
Sue
P.S. You are too young to need it 🙂
You have such a beautiful smile, Sue!
Great title 🙂
I personally love your guest posts. They add massive value especially for the beginners.
I think creating a compelling design and attracting more blog comments is the key to look like a pro even if you’re a noob. Great insights!
Hey Anil,
Thanks a lot. Truly appreciated. A compelling design and more comments would help too. With more comments, it would make it appear that there’s a lot of engagement going on. And who doesn’t want that?
– Andrew
Andrew,
What a pleasant read! I’m always looking for ways to up my blogging game. I just recently learned to customize my meta description. More often than not, I was just lazy and didn’t fill it out, but learned it’s better to make your own.
Nice that you put the amount of time it will take. I’m always pressed for time so knowing how long something will take can help me decide when I can do it.
Thanks for the tips!
Elna
Hi Elna,
Thanks for the comment.
Meta descriptions are tricky. Even though it’s said they don’t contribute anything to search engine rankings, it’s very important to do it for the readers. Because I was lazy, I too didn’t fill it out, but it;s super important to do it yourself.
Time is something we always wish we had more of, isn’t it? Do you use any programs or anything to organize your time?
Hi Andrew,
That consistency thing is so important isn’t it? And, it’s amazing how the little things add up to make a big difference.
There are a couple of things you said that really stood out to me personally:
1. Favicon – it’s small but it can be so significant.It’s a great little branding tool but it says so much more that we realize subconsciously.
2. Post titles and descriptions – while I don’t use WordPress I still ensure in my CMS that my titles and descriptions are there. It makes sharing simple and easy so no one has to edit and you’re right; it makes you look more professional.
3. Gravitar – I really appreciate you mentioning me. Our brands are important and so is the consistency in communicating them. While I want people to recognize my logo I want them to identify with me more. People don’t buy brands they buy people. Same goes with blogging or any other form of marketing we may do. They resonate with our consistency when they see us over and over again.
Great post Andrew. I’m off to go share now.
Have an awesome second half of your week!
~ Don Purdum
Hey Don,
Thanks for the comment.
You’re absolutely right. Those little things do add up And make a huge difference.
Oh, you mentioned something there that’s truly important. The title and description is very key to sharing. It truly is. Nothing is more unprofessional than sharing something and it having a description that makes no sense so what you’re sharing … and has symbols, etc. all over the place.
“While I want people to recognize my logo I want them to identify with me more. People don’t buy brands they buy people. Same goes with blogging or any other form of marketing we may do. They resonate with our consistency when they see us over and over again.”
Very true.
Have a great week as well.
– Andrew
Hey, Andrew! How are you doing? I love your suggestions here. Although they are all important, the one I like best is creating a Gravatar. It is so important for people to know what you look like. I just read a post about Twitter mistakes, and the writer said, “Don’t be an egghead.” LOL
I love the fact that my Gravatar follows me everywhere. And I love seeing the Gravatars of people that I know, like and trust. It’s like seeing a friendly face in the crowd.
These are solid ways that new bloggers can get off to a great start instead of flopping around like a fish out of water like I – and maybe you? – did at first. Thanks for sharing. I will, too.
All the best,
Leslie
Hi Leslie,
Thanks for the comment.
Nothing more irritating than an egghead on a comment. It doesn’t take long to create a gravatar either.
“And I love seeing the Gravatars of people that I know, like and trust. It’s like seeing a friendly face in the crowd.”
You’re right, Leslie. I did flop around like a fish out of water early on. So I hope that people take something away from this.
– Andrew
You nailed it Andrew! It’s a great opportunity to get a guest post here on Ileane’s blog 🙂
If I may, Id add a section about linking to other people. I think external links are also quite important and can help in many ways.
Keep rockin’ it my friend
Hey Dennis,
Thanks for the comment.
I’m so grateful for the opportunity to write on this blog. Truly an honor.
You’re right about linking to other people. External links are very important as well.
– Andrew
Hi Andrew,
a good article with many easy applicable tips.
Well done!
If you want people to take you and your blog seriously, it should look professional.
It`s the same as if you were running a physical general store, if your inventory looked shabby and weren`t displayed in the right way, your visitors would probably leave once they opened the door.
It`s the same with your blog. It should look like you mean business.
Best,
Tor
Hey Tor,
Thanks for the comment.
You said it. If you want people to take you seriously, look professional. That’s it.
– Andrew
Honored to be mentioned here, Andrew! Thanks a lot and this is an awesome article!
Thank you so much for the comment Ann.
No problem for the mention, either. It was really great stuff. Have a great week.
– Andrew
Hi Andrew!
I saw this title in my Twitter feed and had to check it out. Bonus surprise seeing you here!
It’s always the little things that make such a difference, huh? I appreciate how you put time estimates on each of these improvements. Makes it that much more appealing when I finally decide to tackle it. I’ve been brainstorming some custom post images with Canva, and it’s good to know that I’ll be saving hours on my posting time — instead of searching for relevant images that MIGHT work.
Great strategies here, Andrew. I know so many others who will eat these up, so I’ll share them out today.
Have a great week!
-Anne
Hi Anne,
Thanks for the comment.
It is always the little things that make a difference. And it doesn’t take so long to make these improvements either … we just have to do it.
I’m now all about creating my own images now. I feel safer and it makes it look more unique than using something that everyone else has used.
Thanks again for the comment.
– Andrew
This is share-freaking-tastic, Andrew! It really highlights how it all really boils down to the details. You can write and publish but that’s not going to get you anywhere. I don’t think enough people understand that blogging is an art and a craft…and requires you learn and implement a lot more than an article.
BIG ass high five for the shout out and love on my images…you ROCK, brotha!
P.S. You do too, Illeane! 😉
Hey Dre,
Thanks for the comment.
You’re right about the detail. And I love your point that you made, “blogging is an art and a craft…and requires you learn and implement a lot more than an article.” So very true.
It requires time to learn and ultimately master.
No, you rock Dre. Take care.
– Andrew
Hey Ileane,
Look who you have as a guest. So nice to see Andrew here sharing his knowledge.
Great post Andrew but I’m sure you hear that all the time.
I know when you’re brand new there is a lot to learn but little things like the Favicon and the Gravitar are SO important. I’ll recognize a face now and know who that is which is so important when you’re trying to make those important connections. As you did mention, it has a lot to do with our brands.
Although everything you did mention here is important mistakes like the meta description I still see a lot of. Once again, another lesson learned if we want to be noticed for the great content that we’re each sharing.
Loved seeing some familiar faces here that you used like Sue and Don. I also love the look of Henneke’s blog as well, it really stands out.
Thanks for helping those eager to learn how to stand out like a pro Andrew because your tips are spot on.
Have a great day you two and hope your week is amazing.
~Adrienne
Hey Adrienne,
Thanks for the comment.
Those thing DO have a lot to do with our brands … and they’re very important. And regarding the meta-description, I still have some mistakes with that. Either way, I’ll have to go through each post and make sure that it has some type of description there.
Thanks again, Adrienne. Have a great week.
– Andrew
Hi Andrew,
I like the way you laid out these tips – you make it so easy to follow and execute.
I remember for quite a while I just had the default favicon from my web host, until someone pointed out that I should change it. Well, like you say, it only takes a few minutes to get one organised and uploaded, and its so much better to have your own favicon rather than the default. Its the cumulation of these small things that will make your blog shine.
Thanks Andrew – have a great week!
– David
Hey David,
Thanks for the comment.
You’re absolutely right. And it’s those small things that do make a huge difference. Thanks again for the comment and have a great week.
– Andrew
Hi Andrew,
It’s good to read your thoughts right here on Ms Ileane’s blog.
When I started blogging, I was lucky that I did not make any of the obvious blunders above – which I must hastily point, was due to the excellent minds I networked with and learnt from. To amount to greatness in a field, all you need do is to persistently imitate the big boys/girls, right?
I did that – and I was successful to a point!
However, as you may have already known, imitating the big boys does not guarantee greatness – and that was my challenge! I was blogging about the most complex things I did not fully understand (because my mentors were doing so), was deploying monetization strategies that were clear business suicide (in retrospect) and a ton of other things – many of which I am not proud reproducing here.
It was hell – literarily. And in a curious way, hilarious when I finally realized how stupid (and amateurish) I must have looked.
Your entry is well appreciated; in conjunction with other awesome tips around the web, an amateur is likely to escape the badge some of us wore for some time!
Do enjoy the day, Andrew. Ms. Ileane, my respects.
Always,
Akaahan Terungwa
Hey Akaahan,
Thanks for the comment.
If you surround yourself with excellent minds from the beginning, most of these mistakes can be avoided. If not all of them.
Imitating anyone has its limits because they have a different situation than you … were at a different point than you … a whole bunch of things. You should only take pieces of what works for them and modify it to work best for you. I made the same errors when I started by trying to copy Pay Flynn … and I failed and was set back a few months … but I learned that I could just take a few key points that worked and strategize the best way to make it work for me and my situation.
– Andrew
Hello Andrew!
I think your blogging tips are extremely practical for a new or seasoned blogger. The fellow bloggers you mentioned are fine examples and are dedicated to helping others. I look forward to reading more of your content here on BBT and on your blog.
Thanks Ileane for having Andrew as a guest:)
To your success,
Stacie
Hi Stacie,
Thanks for the comment.
These are very practical tips that could really be implemented fairly quickly .. all a person needs to do is take time to do it. Looking forward to it, Stacie. Have a great day.
– Andrew
Thanks Ileane for having Andrew as a guest:)
Thanks for the comment, Satishw.
Anything you enjoyed most about this post?
– Andrew
Great tips, Andrew. And wonderful to see your guest posts appearing everywhere!
Thank you for the nudge to re-upload my favicon. It disappeared with a WordPress update and I’ve been too lazy to sort it out. But I agree with you – it does look a little amateurish. *shame-faced*
Thanks a bunch for your kind words and for featuring my site design!
Hi Henneke,
Lol, I’m taking your advice from a conversation I had with you a few months back. It happens from time to time with WP updates, but no worries featuring your great site.
Enjoying your summer hours?
– Andrew
Hi Andrew & Ileane!
I feel like the beauty and elegance of this post is in its simplicity… so many of the points might seem straightforward, such as adding a Favicon or linking to related posts… but I don’t think I’ve ever seen them all together in one guide.
And I think sometimes those of us who have been at blogging for a while forget that while these things might seem simple, they’re not even on the radar for many new bloggers.
(ie: People don’t know what they don’t know…!)
Great post! Shared. 🙂
Hey Brent,
Thanks for the comment.
Most of these are pretty straightforward and practical. But you said it there, my friend, “those of us who have been at blogging for a while forget that while these things might seem simple, they’re not even on the radar for many new bloggers.”
Very true and well said.
– Andrew
Hello, Ileane!
Awesome choice in guest today – and I’m happy to see Andrew sharing on this topic, he’s so knowledgeable! Thanks!
Hey, Andrew,
Great job, my friend, and congrats on being published on Basic Blog Tips – love Ileane’s site!
You covered some things are that very important, and starting out, I had no idea about them and how much of a difference they would make.
Gravatar – never knew what that was, and when I set up a free account finally, things got so much easier. My image was pulled from my profile across to a lot of different places, and I was relieved. LOL
I had a favicon pretty early on, and I think it really makes a difference, and appreciate you emphasizing this. Appreciated your mention of wanting to look professional too, and Sue’s the one to pick for that, awesome! She always looks so professional, which is not easy. I think the first impression can be good or bad and visually appealing professional pictures and graphics are so important.
Well done, my friend – loved the examples you gave for how to stand out like a pro, and will definitely be spreading the word about your article!
Happy and Blessed afternoon.
Carol Amato
Hey Carol,
Thanks for the comment.
I think many people don’t know the importance of these things starting out … but they make a huge difference collectively. And professionalism is important as people make a judgement based on the first impressions they get. You do an awesome job of this as well. In fact, all my blogging buddies do … it’s just something that newbies need to know and understand.
Have an awesome day, Carol.
Hey Andrew,
You brought up something that also makes me cringe. Not only don’t I lime trying to solve a CAPTCHA code to subscribe, I dont like to do this or create an account to comment either. If I read a good blog I just want to comment and not go through hoops to do so. This may be anal but it’s gotten to that point now as oppose to before.
I really like these tips and Im following at least 8 of them. One thing I can improve on is to make my images a bit more unique. So far I haven’t found anyone using the same images I am (knock on wood) but I can definitely add my own flavor from time to time!
Thanks for sharing Andrew and thanks Ileane for having him! Have a great rest of the week you two!
Hey Sherman,
Thanks for the comment.
OH brother. Creating an account to comment is the worst. Right after the CAPTCHA. There’s absolutely ZERO chance of me creating an account to comment … unless it’s something like Disqus which I’m already on. But even that is iffy. And would be annoying if I wasn’t on it.
Like you said, you just want to comment and not go through hoops to do so.
I’m still trying to find my angle with images … and hopefully I’ll be able to find it soon. Knock on wood for you as well.
– Andrew
Hey Andrew! i really liked the story on the homeless guy. its really a very good example. a great man said once to me “Looking good is not important, but its everything”. Also, i concur with your idea about the image and avatar. Your presentation is the first impression which is very important. that is a nice piece of work. All the tips have been beautifully covered. You ‘re actually turned out to be a pro-blogger. Good Luck. Cheers.
Hey Ovais,
Thanks for the comment.
Yea, that story was really interesting with the homeless guy. It just shows how important images are and first impressions people have of you really is.
Thanks again.
– Andrew
Excellent article, Andrew! Great tips that I’ll be sharing.
This is also another sign from above that it’s time for me to update my personal photo. 🙂 This came up the other day.
Thanks for putting these tips together! A lot of fun seeing so many people I respect and like included as examples.
Hey Matthew,
Thanks for the comment.
Two signs in a matter of a few days? That’s a big sign.
Glad you enjoyed the post. These are all people I respect and like as well.
– Andrew
Hi Andrew and Ileane!
Excellent points! I wish I had this article to read when I first started blogging! It would have been a great help. Love your examples!
Thanks for sharing and I’m sure this will help a lot of newbie bloggers.
Take care,
Lillian
Hi Lillian,
Thanks for the comment.
Glad you enjoyed the post and that you loved the examples. This is something that a lot of newbies and experienced bloggers can use.
– Andrew
Hello Andrew M. Warner ,
Love this post, I must say I agree with all your awesome tips. Specially the images part which I was neglecting from a long time. I’ll surely follow your tips.
Thanks
Hey Vicky,
Thanks for the comment.
Images are important. Many people don’t believe so, but they’re becoming more and more important each day So it’s something to really pay attention to.
Glad you enjoyed the post.
– Andrew
Andrew,
I learned a few things from your post, especially what a favicon is and how to create one. Thanks! Appreciated the reminders in your other recommendations too.
Rin
Hey Dr. Rin,
Thanks for the comment.
Favicons, gravatars and all those things … though they’re little, they do make a big difference. Glad that this post was able to shed some light.
– Andrew
Hi Andrew,
I like how you made it easy for new bloggers to look like pro bloggers.
There are always 20% of the work that gets 80% of the results. That’s what your post was focused on.
When people do what is covered in this post and start acting like pro bloggers, publish more posts and promote them the right way, they will have a better chance to reach their goal and have freedom.
Thanks again for your post. Off to promoting it 🙂
Regards,
Ahmed Safwan
Hey Ahmed,
Thanks for the comment.
Glad you enjoyed the post as well. You’re right. When people follow the advice here, and do their content promotion correctly, they’ll achieve goals that they never thought possible. They just have to start taking action.
– Andrew
Hi Andrew and Ileane, Great post on making blogs and ourselves look more professional. The one area i think I need to work on is images, I do use photoshop but finding original stuff can be hard at times. I must remember to take more photos that I could use for posts. If someone leaves me a comment without an avatar it goes to spam. Nothing worse than an egg head on your post 🙂
I would add not to have too many ads on the blog too. It cheapens the overall look I believe.
I hope you both have a nice weekend ahead!
Hi Lisa,
Thanks for the comment.
Sometimes it isn’t even a matter of finding original stuff. Even making drastic modifications to images you found is good. I have photoshop BUT don’t know how to use it effectively. But if and when I learn it, I’ll be using that to modify a lot of images.
And you’re right. Nothing worse than an egg head on the post.
– Andrew
These are all great tips. We have been trying to decide on using a photo for our site although the way we have things laid out I’m not sure it would make much sense for us to use a personal photo. Maybe a collective photo of all of our contributors. We also prefer to have wide content layout areas which we think can help.
Hey Doug,
Thanks for the comment.
Your photo doesn’t have to be a personal photo persay … and I looked at your site, and something really professional like Sue’s won’t work. But maybe a pic … a group pic .. like what Problogger.net does may work. You want your readers to see who you are … they’ll connect better with you that way.
– Andrew
Hi Andrew,
This is such a splendid guide on the topic. I have been blogging for some time and can say that there are many things here that even experienced bloggers haven’t used.
This is the perfect guide every blogger (pro or not), should adhere to.
Thanks for this wonderful post! Have a great weekend!
Nisha
Hey Nisha,
Thanks for the comment.
A lot of experienced bloggers don’t use some of these tips either … because they never thought about it. So this is something newbies and experienced bloggers can learn from.
Thanks again for the comment.
– Andrew
Hi Andrew,
awesome tips!
I wish I had read this article when I started blogging,
it would have saved me a lot of mistakes and time!
Thanks for sharing, and have a great rest of this week. 🙂
Hey Erik,
Thanks for the comment.
I think we all wish we had something like this to make our learning curve much faster.
– Andrew
Hey Erik,
Thanks for the comment.
I think we all wish we had something like this to make our learning curve much faster.
– Andrew
Hi Andrew,
Thanks For This Topic
I like how you made it easy for new bloggers to look like pro bloggers.
There are always 20% of the work that gets 80% of the results. That’s what your post was focused on.
Hey Mahmoud,
Thanks for the comment.
So glad you enjoyed the post. I tried to make it as easy as possible. Hopefully, people will earn from it.
– Andrew
Hey Mahmoud,
Thanks for the comment.
So glad you enjoyed the post. I tried to make it as easy as possible. Hopefully, people will earn from it.
– Andrew
hey, very detailed and helpful article. can you please tell me how to start getting genuine subscribers if one has a very new blog (4 months old) like mine and how to start building contacts through a proper food blogger community
Hey Sanghamitra,
Thanks for the comment.
Have you considered guest posting? Also, build relationships with other bloggers in your niche and those that comment on their post.
– Andrew
Hi Andrew,
Thanks a lot for sharing a very informative post.
It took some time to understand in depth… Its worth to read again and share with my friends.
Hey Surendar,
Thanks for the comment. Glad you enjoyed the post.
– Andrew
Andrew (and Ileane), I love this post! (Just like I love the “How to Fail at Blogging” post you wrote for Sue on SuccessfulBlogging.com and linked to in this article).
Both posts are so straight-forward and practical. You got me to read and you made me want to keep reading. So kudos, my friend!
One thing I’d love to add is that having a great About Page is gold. As a curious cat I always love to know more about the blogger I’m checking out. The more powerful their about page, the more likely I am to see them as a pro (instead of an amateur). I know Gertrude crafted some great tips here >> https://basicblogtips.com/super-star-about-page.html
Thanks again for sharing your helpful advice, Andrew. I’ll be sure to share this with some newbies I know who struggle with building their “pro” status.
Hey Jenna,
Thanks for the comment.
That’s what any blogger wants. To get the reader to continue to read and keep them engaged.
The about page thing is key. I need to make some minor changes to mine. But I’ll check out Gertrude’s post again to get some key ideas.
Have a great weekend, Jenna.
– Andrew
Happy to comment, Andrew!
The truth is that our about pages are never done. There are always ways we can tweak and refine along the way as we learn more about our audience (and ourselves). Enjoy playing around with it and you have a great weekend, too!
Awesome post, Andrew. You pretty much hit the nails in the blogging head with the tips and advice featured above. Regarding the last point about writing titles that tickle the curiosity of readers, it will be difficult for beginning bloggers to get a feel of what makes a “compelling” title at first. For this purpose, I would suggest them to use CoSchedule’s Headline Analyzer. The tool grades the entered headline using different factors so they can see what they need to improve to get a higher score for their post headline. I hope this helps!
Hey Christopher,
Thanks for the comment and glad you enjoyed the post.
It can be difficult for ANYONE, not just new bloggers, to create a “compelling headline” and CoSchedule’s Headline Analyzer is a great way to go.
– Andrew
Thanks for sharing some awesome and spot on tips Andrew!
It’s really easy to see and appreciate how effectively implementing your proven tips,
can quickly take any newbie and or seasoned blogger to professional status!
And I always learn a thing or two whenever I read your outstanding blog posts!
In fact, I’ve seen more than a few marketers sell low cost front end type ebooks/PDF’s
that have far less extremely valuable content than you routinely give away in your blog posts!
Thanks so much for always being so willing to openly share your extremely valuable and
helpful content!
Hey Mark,
Thanks for the comment. So glad you enjoyed the post.
Thanks for the compliment. I’ve seen people offer some pretty low value things as well. I just want to be the best I can be and help my fellow human beings out … whichever way I can. And if that’s by providing detailed content, so be it.
– Andrew
Great theme is the first thing a site visitor sees and I am having a hard time deciding where to buy a good theme. Almost all theme providers are now on a subscription basis and sometimes more costly than the hosting fee. I think I have to start with that in order to look like a problogger.
Hi Andrew,
Nice were up. I’ll like to add one more to the list.
Edit, edit and edit before hitting the publish button. This is another beginner’s mistakes that makes a blogger looks like an amateur.
If the content contain too many typos or grammatical errors, it doesn’t look good anymore. Luckily, there are good useful tools designed to take care of things like this.
Thank you Andrew for sharing.
Hi Andrew,
Great article.
This is great advice for anyone starting/maintaining a blog.
Especially the gravatar and the meta description.
Although i don’t chase seo rankings, it’s still important to make sure you are covered just in case you show up in the rankings one day.
And having a gravatar helps build trust. if people can see your face, logo then you are building that trust factor.
Thanks for sharing mate!
I know the difference between a hobby blogger and a pro blogger and also know the benefits of being a pro blogger. So I always love to recommend others also to become a pro blogger. According to me a Pro Blogger is a person who knows how to boost the readers engagement on his/her blog and also when to write what.
Thank you! I’m realizing I spent more time tweaking and playing with the layout of my blog than actually writing things :/ I’m going to try a couple of these tricks tonight.