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Home » The 7 Habits of Highly Successful Bloggers: It’s Not All About Content

The 7 Habits of Highly Successful Bloggers: It’s Not All About Content

November 4, 2020

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good studentSometimes in the business of blogging, we are so focused on the craft, so hard at work on our content, that we forget certain things.

Important things.

Things—behaviors, really—that if practiced consistently, will move us from an average blogger to an outstanding one.

I’ve been watching bloggers for three years now. I’ve visited a few of my own readers’ blogs this past week in preparing to select my first guest blogger. I’ve watched bloggers on Twitter and Facebook. Revisited the comments they’ve left on my own blog,

It is what they do around and outside the actual act of blogging that takes them to that completely different level.

The 7 Habits of Highly Successful Bloggers

1. They are open to new learning.

They are sponges, always absorbing new ideas. They experiment (So what if this one post bombed? Look what I learned!). They ask questions and weigh answers—from other bloggers and from their readers.

And they don’t get offended when someone takes the time to make a suggestion for improvement. Because it just may make their blog better.

2. They read widely.

Some of the smartest bloggers I know have voracious appetites for books. They understand that reading across multiple genres opens up their minds, makes them think in different ways and helps them understand all kinds of people.

What could be better for priming the blogging well?

3. They recognize and promote other bloggers.

Many of the successful bloggers out there find ways to shine a spotlight on others. They share links to some of their posts on Twitter and Facebook. Give them increased visibility with a guest post. Comment on and support their blogs. Write posts like “5 Bloggers I Admire.”

4. They are inspired by the ordinary stuff of life.

They can take an ordinary observation, like seeing a woman driving a car with her dog in her lap, not seat-belted in—something that we’ve all seen— and apply that to a marketing lesson. Or find blogging lessons in an episode of Sex and the City.

They observe life—I mean, really watch— and find gems of wisdom and insight. Then they blog about it.

5. They admit their mistakes.

This can be a tough one to swallow. Sometimes a reader will catch you not following your own advice. (It occasionally happens to me!)

How you react determines what you are made of. You can get all defensive in an oh-that-wasn’t-what-I-really-meant kind of way. Or you can say, “Yeah, boy. You’re right on that one. Thanks for calling me on that.”  In the process, you either lose a reader or gain a fan.

Because honesty is in short supply these days.

6. They network with and find ways to recognize their readers.

Successful bloggers have a way of giving their readers a voice, too. Engaging them in the comments. Asking them to share resources and tips and giving them a link back to their blogs. Publicly recognizing a thoughtful comment they made on another blog that you both read. Even giving them an opportunity to write a post.

7. They don’t take themselves too seriously.

At BlogWorld last year, I was struck by a scene in the hallway outside the main conference room. There was a small knot in the center where a mini-crowd of 20-something women were gathered. They were focused on the person inside the circle.

As the circle opened up, I recognized the guy in the center as one of those social media “thought leaders.” (Man, do I hate that term.) He wore a t-shirt that said, “I’m kind of a big deal on Twitter.”

His groupies fan club appeared star struck.  He seemed to be enjoying it. I’d say he was taking himself a little too seriously.

And then there are the other ones. The ones who don’t get freaked out when your eyes glance down at their name tag because, though they may be “famous,” you don’t recognize them by face. One such person saw me look at his name tag and held out his hand. It wasn’t until then that I knew who he was. And he didn’t seem to mind in the slightest that I needed an introduction.

The successful bloggers don’t focus on themselves, but, rather, on others. And they are even able to laugh at themselves from time to time.

What about you?

Aside from producing stellar content, what behaviors do you think successful bloggers have in common?

Did I leave something out?

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. nathango says

    June 21, 2011 at 10:13 am

    Interesting article. I like this humble approach to blogging. LOL on the stuffy “social media guru” and his groupie.

    Reply
  2. JudyDunn says

    June 21, 2011 at 10:42 am

    @nathango Yeah, on the social media guru thing, I just have to laugh. Because outside the”bubble” we all work in, the average Joe on the street has no idea who these people are.

    Hadn’t thought about it being a humble approach to blogging, but I guess you’re right. Thanks for weighing in here and please do visit again soon! : )

    Reply
  3. TheJackB says

    June 21, 2011 at 12:59 pm

    You have a good list. and I agree with it. I am really big on interaction and engagement. If you don’t work on building your community you make a huge mistake.

    Curiosity is big too. There are a million different things to write about. I wish I had more time to devote to writing because I never get enough.

    Reply
  4. JudyDunn says

    June 21, 2011 at 1:31 pm

    Ah, yes. Curiosity is huge. I didn’t put it on the list because it seems that you either have it or you don’t. It’s that “I wonder what would happen if…?” thing. So helpful for a blogger, being curious about things. Thanks for that.

    Reply
  5. TheJackB says

    June 21, 2011 at 1:34 pm

    @JudyDunn I like writing about how things are made or X led to Y so it is natural for me, but I am not sure if that is the case with everyone.

    Reply
  6. DannyBrown says

    June 21, 2011 at 6:13 pm

    Love, love, LOVE this list, Judy – every one spot on.

    I think one I’d add (though, really, you cover it) is humility. I hate bloggers that feel they are so superior to their readers, and either only reply to those that laud their post, or come back with some smart yet cutting remark to those who disagree.

    What makes me a better blogger than you (speaking generally of course!!)? So I have 7 more retweets and two more comments – I’m better because of that? Or you have ten times the subscribers I do, so that makes you better?

    Not necessarily – it more than likely means you write about pop culture easy stuff, just to get social shares.

    Never think you’re better than your audience and never let your audience down forgetting what you were like before you got your first reader, comment and subscriber.

    And that guy in the tee shirt? Yeah, right… 😉

    Reply
  7. DannyBrown says

    June 21, 2011 at 6:16 pm

    @TheJackB Agree with @JudyDunn – curiosity is key. Innocence, too – think like a child. I think that’s probably the same as curiosity, mind you. 😉

    Reply
  8. DannyBrown says

    June 21, 2011 at 6:17 pm

    @JudyDunn @nathango Judy, our friend gini dietrich was speaking at a Vocus conference, and asked a room of 75 people if they knew some of the social media “superstars”. Three people raised their hand – and two of them were speakers at the event!

    So, um, yeah – Internet fame and all that glory… 😉

    Reply
  9. JudyDunn says

    June 21, 2011 at 6:26 pm

    If you are thinking this way, then you are a natural for blogging and, no. it doesn’t come that easily t everyone. : )

    Reply
  10. JudyDunn says

    June 21, 2011 at 6:26 pm

    If you are thinking this way, then you are a natural for blogging and, no. it doesn’t come that easily to everyone. : )

    Reply
  11. bobWP says

    June 21, 2011 at 6:27 pm

    @DannyBrown @JudyDunn @nathango gini dietrich Hey Danny, I have done over 60+ WordPress workshops in the Seattle area. And so many times I have referred to some of the SM gurus, mentioning their names. I see the looks in their eyes, like headlights! I’ve gotten in the habit of asking “do you know so and so”? Again puzzled faces, 1-2 people out of 30 raise their hands. It cracks me up every time. I end up saying, “well, they are kind of big on social media”. From the blank stare they don’t give a crap.

    Reply
  12. DannyBrown says

    June 21, 2011 at 6:30 pm

    @bobWP @JudyDunn @nathango gini dietrich Haha, exactly, Bob. People get so wrapped up because they have hundreds of thousands of Twitter followers or blog subscribers, etc. Really, who cares – what does it actually do for you?

    Meh. 😉

    Reply
  13. JudyDunn says

    June 21, 2011 at 6:34 pm

    Humility is a big one, Danny. “Never think you’re better than your audience…” I just love that.

    Ha! The guy in the tee shirt. Bet you know his name. I was totally turned off.

    Reply
  14. davevandewalle says

    June 21, 2011 at 6:49 pm

    Yes, 1000 times over. Great stuff. And Danny’s point about humility is great, too. Cheers!

    Reply
  15. JudyDunn says

    June 21, 2011 at 7:21 pm

    @davevandewalle Thanks for reading. Appreciate your input!

    Reply
  16. PatriciaYagerDelagrange says

    June 21, 2011 at 7:47 pm

    Thanks so much for tips about blogging that I’d never thought about.

    Patti

    Reply
  17. TheJackB says

    June 21, 2011 at 8:00 pm

    @DannyBrown @JudyDunn Having young kids helps too. I ask lots of questions naturally, but to Danny’s point my kids really take it to another level. I don’t like spoon feeding them simple answers so I find myself reading about all sorts of things.

    Reply
  18. girlygrizzly says

    June 21, 2011 at 10:23 pm

    Judy,

    This is an absolutely great list! I didn’t even notice these things. (As a list.) But yes, this is exactly what draws us to them (and you). Smart, open, compassionate, generous, kind folks. No matter what read over the course of your day, you know the ones that you really “follow” because you have some level of connection. I am working on my inspiration board (idea from kaarinadillaboug ) and this is something I’ve thought a lot about.

    My life, as I share it with the world, these days, is so far away from the world I am sharing it with. I have always (over 18 years) been very content doing what I do with the ones I do it with (!), with the guests we do it with. (holy cow, I’m not sure I could even read that!) I live in a remote, fly-in only area in the Wrangell Mountains of Alaska. Chisana, Alaska, population 7.

    (What is she talking about?) These highly successful bloggers, that we follow, because, umm we ( as a great big whole lotta us) made them so successful bloggers BY following them, are EXACTLY your list of 7. Such neat people I am meeting! This is an honor as much fun it is and as much of a job as it is as well. Simply an honor. Not a popularity contest, super star honor, more of a “wow, how cool I met YOU!”, more friends in different aspects of your life. ( You know, like your outdoorsy friends, your home-party friends, your out-on -the-town friends, sometimes a couple groups get together, but they have different preferences.)

    Shoot! Sorry I’m jabbering! It is a great post, Judy. ~Amber-Lee

    Reply
  19. JudyDunn says

    June 22, 2011 at 6:40 am

    @PatriciaYagerDelagrange Thanks, Patricia. Glad it made you think. And thanks for being a part of this community.

    Reply
  20. JudyDunn says

    June 22, 2011 at 6:47 am

    @girlygrizzly kaarinadillaboug Amber-Lee, Wow. Thanks for the validation. I never thought about it before, either, but you have described it so well here:

    “Smart, open, compassionate, generous, kind folks.”

    You know what? The beauty of social media is that it can connect me on an island in Puget Sound and you in a tiny town and Alaska and Danny in eastern Canada and others even farther away and we can all have a chat.

    Good points you share here.

    Reply
  21. JudyDunn says

    June 22, 2011 at 6:53 am

    @TheJackB If you have young ones, you might enjoy a post I wrote, “5 Reasons First Graders Would Rule the Blogging World.” It’s all about how thinking like a child can make you a better blogger.:

    http://bestbloggingtipsonline.com/5-reasons-first-graders-would-rule-the-blogging-world/

    Reply
  22. alice says

    June 22, 2011 at 8:58 am

    Hi Judy:

    Your post is terrific and spot on! Point number 7 really resonates with me. I’ve read too many blog posts lately that are too wordy, verbose and inflated. Not taking yourself seriously includes editing your work!! Not your problem, I must say. All of your posts are beautifully edited. Each word counts. Thanks for a very thoughtful piece.

    Reply
  23. JudyDunn says

    June 22, 2011 at 9:41 am

    @[email protected] Alice, I know! It’s so perceptive of you to tie #7 to not writing long, rambling posts. It all boils down to respecting your readers—and their time—and trying to get them in and out as quickly as possible. Because, really, they do have other things to do.

    Thanks for the compliment. It means a lot. : )

    Reply
  24. ahechoes says

    June 22, 2011 at 9:50 am

    produce high quality articles such as this one! Good job.

    AH

    http://ahechoes.wordpress.com/

    Reply
  25. flowerpotsun says

    June 23, 2011 at 7:23 am

    Judy,

    I really like this post for its emphasis on conversation and community. I just started my blog about a month ago, but what I love the most in the blogging world is the connections, the sense of give and take. Thanks for this.

    Reply
  26. beb53.groups says

    June 23, 2011 at 7:34 am

    @flowerpotsun

    I hear you. The dialogue excites me. Unlike a print writer, I’m not writing to an anonymous audience. With blogging, I can get instant feedback. The connection is important to me.

    BEB

    http://www.beberger.wordpress.com

    Reply
  27. JudyDunn says

    June 23, 2011 at 7:44 am

    @flowerpotsun I know exactly what you mean. The smart bloggers know it’s about more than just posting content. It’s about community. If not, why not just write articles for the online directories? Glad you took something of value from this. And you’ve only been blogging for one month? I’m impressed that you are out there commenting and connecting so soon. : )

    Reply
  28. flowerpotsun says

    June 23, 2011 at 9:36 am

    @JudyDunn Thanks Judy. I read (lurked!) for a long time first, before I started diving in to make the connections and before I mustered the courage to start my own blog. Twitter helped me get my feet wet. I got used to the camaraderie there, the flow, and transferred that to my approach to blogs. Double the fun!

    Reply
  29. ginidietrich says

    June 23, 2011 at 9:42 am

    @DannyBrown @bobWP @JudyDunn @nathango “They don’t give a crap” is priceless! I never ask those questions when I speak to c-suite executives because those guys don’t even know Seth Godin or David Meerman Scott. But, in this case, I was speaking to corporate communication professionals. You’d think they’d know these big names. Nope.

    Reply
  30. ginidietrich says

    June 23, 2011 at 9:45 am

    This is the best list of blogging success I’ve seen in a long time! You should add five more points and post it on 12most . The problem with what you’ve listed here? It is really. Hard. Work. And people get discouraged. But you’re right in that if bloggers follow these simple steps consistently, they’ll see huge success. I always say we all like to have our egos stroked. When you do that through these steps, people ALWAYS return the favor. It’s human nature.

    Reply
  31. YasinAkgun says

    June 23, 2011 at 10:00 am

    @ginidietrich @DannyBrown @bobWP @JudyDunn @nathango I remember somebody warning me not to have words with a blogger at a conference who maligned a colleague of mine in a nasty article, they said to me “be careful, he’s big in the blogging world”.

    I replied saying really? that’s like saying be careful of Fred Flinstone, he’s big in the cartoons set in the stone age world..

    I can not stand bloggers who think they’re god’s gift, I thought it only existed in political blogging, apparently not..

    Reply
  32. TheJackB says

    June 23, 2011 at 10:02 am

    @ginidietrich It is hard work and it takes time. When people ask me for advice one of the things that I always tell them is that they have to be able to sustain their effort. You have to be consistent and just keep going.

    That is not the sole arbiter of success but it is a big part of it, especially in the blogosphere.

    Reply
  33. bobWP says

    June 23, 2011 at 10:03 am

    @ginidietrich @DannyBrown @JudyDunn @nathango Hey Gini, maybe I should get a tshirt for my next conference I go to that says “I am on Twitter, and who gives a crap” : )

    Reply
  34. JudyDunn says

    June 23, 2011 at 10:46 am

    @ginidietrich @DannyBrown @bobWP @nathango Gini, So true! Bob and I were teaching one of our Savvy Blogging: Getting Started workshops and talking about intriguing/appealing blog titles. I shared a post on the big screen titled “Chris Brogan Told Me to Write This.” When I first started blogging, I had taken one of the 100 topics he suggested to his readers as ideas for a blog post.

    I could see them frowning. They were truly puzzled. It dawned on me that they didn’t know who Chris Brogan was! From that day on, even in social media workshops, Bob and I take nothing for granted. And since the names are meaningless anyway, why throw them out? : )

    Reply
  35. DannyBrown says

    June 23, 2011 at 10:48 am

    @YasinAkgun @ginidietrich @bobWP @JudyDunn @nathango Yasin, LOVE The Flintstones example! 🙂

    Reply
  36. JudyDunn says

    June 23, 2011 at 10:56 am

    @YasinAkgun @ginidietrich @DannyBrown @bobWP @nathango Yasin, Ha! Fred Flintstone! I’d say his sphere of influence is much larger than that “A-list” blogger. He was in everyone’s living room. : )

    I think we are seeing a shift. A definite movement to true communities. @joebertino from @livefyre shared a very interesting article on my recent post (“Are Blogs Really Getting Fewer Comments These Days?”) The article was about more of a focus on small, connected groups on the Web. If anyone is intersted, that link is here:

    http://bit.ly/jLzB85

    Reply
  37. JudyDunn says

    June 23, 2011 at 11:01 am

    @ginidietrich 12most Gini, Wow. Thank you! Hadn’t heard of @12most. Will have to check that out.

    It IS hard work. And, yes, saying positive things about people and recognizing their accomplishments go a long, long way. (Spoken like a former teacher, right!) : )

    Reply
  38. JudyDunn says

    June 23, 2011 at 11:04 am

    @B. E. Berger @flowerpotsun B.E., Yes. The dialogue and feedback—good AND bad—is so rewarding. Thanks for sharing here.

    Reply
  39. PatriciaYagerDelagrange says

    June 23, 2011 at 11:42 am

    @JudyDunn @YasinAkgun @ginidietrich @DannyBrown @bobWP @nathango @joebertino @livefyre Thanks for the link. Great article!

    Patti

    Reply
  40. camrynrhys says

    June 23, 2011 at 12:42 pm

    Fantastic post!

    Reply
  41. JudyDunn says

    June 23, 2011 at 1:59 pm

    @PatriciaYagerDelagrange joebertino Glad to share. And thanks again to Joe for leaving the link

    Reply
  42. TonyH says

    June 25, 2011 at 4:34 am

    @JudyDunn @ginidietrich 12most @TheJackB Agreed about hard work, I hadn’t realised how much hard work until I really immersed myself in the blogging world.

    Patience, persistence, determination all required and yes, like everyone I can get discouraged but the point I want to add is that for all that it’s good fun, fantastic to connect with so many good people from around the globe and so satisfying that it’s all worth it!!

    Thanks for the reminder Judy of all the simple but vital habits that we need to adopt to keep moving forward in our blogging lives.

    Tony

    Reply
  43. bdorman264 says

    June 25, 2011 at 4:57 am

    Nah, stellar content is about all I do…………….yeah, right………

    The one thing I need to work on is promoting others. If someone comes to my site I will always reciprocate, but probably need to take it a step further and make sure I promote as well. I just forget at times, it certainly isn’t intentional.

    Certainly be humble and gracious because as soon as you start to think you are getting a little too big for your britches I will either call you out or I will be gone; or both.

    Very good list and certainly good words of advice.

    Hope all is well and you are having a great weekend.

    Reply
  44. JudyDunn says

    June 25, 2011 at 7:44 am

    @TonyH @ginidietrich 12most @TheJackB You know, Tony, it seems like it feels the hardest when all one is doing is pumping out the content. But you are right. The connecting and the interacting make it totally worthwhile and add some fun to it. And when I hear from a reader that they were able to apply the content or that I hit them at just the right time with a tip or advice, well, that just makes my day.

    Reply
  45. JudyDunn says

    June 25, 2011 at 7:53 am

    @bdorman264 Bill, yes. Your readers are the first to know when you are getting too “big” and “important” to drop in and chat on the porch. Very good point.

    Hope your weekend is shaping up to be a good one, too. It is absolutely gorgeous this morning on this tiny island in Puget Sound. Feel so lucky to live here. : )

    Reply
  46. TheJackB says

    June 25, 2011 at 10:15 am

    @JudyDunn @TonyH @ginidietrich 12most I am with you Judy. Those comments are like gold.

    Reply
  47. jonathanfigaro says

    June 30, 2011 at 2:21 pm

    I can only agree. Leaders are Readers. And Great Success was NEVER achieved by a person who didn’t read like it was going out of style..haha. Reading builds a strong mind, a stronger spirit and a deeper understanding of what can be done. Words leave a predominant mark in ones soul and the the vessel is a GOOD BOOK!.

    Reply
  48. JudyDunn says

    June 30, 2011 at 2:41 pm

    @jonathanfigaro Jonathan, That is funny. ‘Leaders Are Readers’ was our schoolwide slogan at an elementary school I taught at once. So true. I really attribute not running out of blog post ideas to the reading I do.

    It just completely opens up the mind and helps you to see ordinary things in new ways. We don’t even have cable TV anymore. I read at least 2 hours every evening.

    Thanks for sharing here.

    Reply
  49. popcornoflife says

    July 27, 2011 at 2:12 am

    Learned a lot from this post, which can be applied to one’s personal life in a way. Do visit my blog

    http://popcornoflife.blogspot.com/

    Reply
    • JudyDunn says

      June 24, 2012 at 8:14 am

       @popcornoflife You are right. Somehow the same habits that make for blogging success will make one’s personal life successful 

      Reply
  50. TinaBarbour says

    June 24, 2012 at 7:55 am

    Judy, This is a wonderful list. It focuses on building community and engagement, not building numbers, and I like that. I read and comment on a lot of blogs, and I respond to all comments on my blog, and it takes a lot of time. But the community I feel with other bloggers makes it worthwhile. What I don’t do enough of is link others’ blogs to FB and Twitter . I retweet, but not every blogger is on Twitter, so I see I need to step up my game there. Thanks!

    Reply
    • JudyDunn says

      June 24, 2012 at 8:16 am

       @TinaBarbour Unfortunately, we only have so much time, all of us, for social sharing. I don’t do as much as I’d like to, either. There’s that little thing called making a living that keeps popping up.  : )

      Reply
  51. JustLindaSTL says

    August 12, 2012 at 7:20 pm

    Great post!  Saw the link on #blogchat tonight (newbie to the chat). 

    Reply
    • JudyDunn says

      August 13, 2012 at 7:30 am

       @JustLindaSTL A visitor from blogchat? That’s great. Some intersting discussions last night. Thanks for popping in.   : )

      Reply

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