blog tips

How to take your blog to the next level

October 23, 2014 / 117 Comments

How to take your blog to the next level

Have you ever been in that place where your blog seems stuck at some sort of pleateau? A few months ago, your stats were increasing daily and you were getting 10 new bloglovin’ followers per day.

Now it all seems a bit stagnant. But you can’t really understand why. Because you’re leaving blog comments, you’re joining twitter chats, you’re writing great posts and your photos are the best they’ve ever been.

You’re following all the advice out there. So why aren’t things getting better?

Level up your blogging.

level up your blog

I believe that a blog grows in stages and as you develop your voice, style, photography and your blog layout, you start to kind of level up.

I can remember key times in my blogging life where I’ve felt that level up. Almost felt it physically. I grow a few inches, my mana gains an extra 20 points, my experience goes up and I can now jump higher without gaining damage.

There does come a point where you feel like you’re just hoovering around the same level and feel lost. You just can’t seem to push through this barrier. It’s disheartening.

You feel your blog content is the best you can make it but the people just are not coming. Or if they are coming, they’re not engaging.

It’s so frustrating when you write a fantastic blog post, but hardly anyone reads it!

How to take your blog to the next level

How to take your blog to the next level.

Here’s a few ideas to get your blog growth back on track when you’ve hit a wall.

  • Comment on at least 5 new blogs per day. Leave quality comments and ask questions whenever possible to encourage engagement. I sometimes like to aim to leave the longest comment on there to really stand out and drive some traffic back to my blog. I would say 1 in 5 bloggers come back to my blog and either comment or follow.
  • Write a different type of post. Try to write something a bit different and see how your readers engage with the post. I like to  mix it up and sometimes write something a bit risky. I usually get positive responses from doing so.
  • Be really honest with yourself about the quality of your content. It’s hard in the blogging world to stand out. If you’re posting reviews of beauty products, what makes it stand out from the crowd? Just being able to take nice photos doesn’t cut it anymore as everyone has fancy cameras now (or so it seems) – is the writing interesting, do you have a style of writing, does your review bring something new?
  • Work on your headlines. Are your headlines catchy? Don’t just write the name of the product – make the title exciting so people want to click on it – try to think of it as a cliff hangover and hint at a spoiler in there!
  • Tweet blog photos. When you promote your posts through Twitter, use photos from the post to do so. People are visual and will more likely to be attracted by a photo than just a text link. I use buffer to schedule tweets/photos right from my browser.
  • Advertise on other blogs. If you know some popular blogs that have a similar audience to you, then buy an advert. A lot of bloggers offer great advertising packages that include a mention in a blog posts or social media shoutouts. You can also suggest an advert swap with a blogger who has similar stats to you.
  • Network with bloggers outside your niche. Just because you post fashion only, doesn’t mean you have to only connect with fashion bloggers. Don’t be afraid to make connections with other bloggers in different niches, in different parts of the world and in different age groups.
  • Write a post that helps others. I love writing posts that share tips on various things – these are usually my most popular posts. People are more likely to share, retweet and comment on posts that provide useful information. Aim to have a key learning that people will gain by reading your posts.
  • Play with your layout or theme. If you find myself not happy with your layout, then change it, or change some elements of it. Change your social media buttons, change your header or even something really simple – change your link colours or favicon. I recently change the font of my blog which was a subtle change that made me feel much happier.

What do you do to give your blog a boost?

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1. noun: a female blogger that writes about her own experiences, observations and opinions. 2. verb: to act like a complete idiot or to do something stupid. e.g: She did a Corinne.

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117 Comments

  • Abby

    October 23, 2014 at 10:14 am Reply

    Great post Corrine. I think most people feel at some point that they are stuck at a certain level with their blog – I actually feel a bit like that at the minute. I’ve had twitter for such a long time but never really understood it or used it to it’s potential – I’ve been getting into it over the past week and I’ve already seen a difference! xx

  • Tess

    October 23, 2014 at 10:56 am Reply

    This post is really helpful thanks! I feel I’m a bit stuck creativity wise – I have a lot of ideas for posts but it doesn’t seem to actually end up in something useful.

    However these advise are really something I will remember as I do feel a bit stuck at the moment.

    Thanks for a great post as usual.

    Tess x

  • laura

    October 23, 2014 at 1:35 pm Reply

    such a great post, and resonates because I feel like this at the moment! I have to be honest, I really struggle to write those killer headlines to pull people into the post and its quite demoralising

  • Catarina

    October 23, 2014 at 7:56 pm Reply

    Aah, this are some of the best tips and tricks out there. Thank you so much for writing this post and for giving out a few tips to newbies! 🙂

    Catarina /

  • Stephanie

    October 23, 2014 at 8:13 pm Reply

    What great insight! It really is so frustrating when your blog doesn’t grow, even if you’re working so hard on it. You seem so positive though, and give great advice 🙂

  • OLIVIA

    October 23, 2014 at 10:27 pm Reply

    This post is so perfect for me! I’ve recently taken a leave of absence and am kind of worried how my stats are going to be now that I’ve returned. They were really good when I left and now I need to work back up to that again.
    Anyway, I’ve decided to switch from WordPress.com to WordPress.org and hopefully, that will make my blog stand out. From there, I feel like I can move to a more professional level and I’m quite excited! Thank you for your tips and your blog always has the best stuff to read:)
    xo Olivia

  • Aly

    October 24, 2014 at 3:01 am Reply

    love this! thanks so much for sharing! It was truly very helpful! Im for sure taking some of your ideas! I love your Blog by the way! so cute!

    xx
    xoalyy.blogspot.com

  • Charlotte

    October 24, 2014 at 7:45 am Reply

    Thanks for writing this post, there are some great tips there. I’m still fairly new to blogging but I do worry that I’m not doing enough to take things to the next level! I did recently get a new layout though and I feel a lot better about my blog now, and my stats are improving slowly but surely. x

  • Lucy

    October 24, 2014 at 7:06 pm Reply

    All wonderful suggestions. I find that every now and then I loose my way with my blogging mainly when work is so manic that finding time to do it is difficult. I like the idea of commenting on new blogs Lucy x

  • Rebeca

    October 24, 2014 at 11:27 pm Reply

    Corinne really what you write and share is very interesting’m thinking about renewing the image of my blog before the end of the year, thanks for the tips, good weekend!

    Rebeca

  • Vanessa {Citron and Guavaberry)

    October 25, 2014 at 2:37 am Reply

    I definitely agree with making catchy post titles! I know I’m also more inclined to click a post if the first photo doesn’t give too much away with the products talked about in the post, unless there are products in there that I also love/want to hear people’s opinions on it. I’m also less inclined to follow a blog that purely posts product reviews, just because it just gets so repetitive!

  • Elizabeth Rebecca

    October 25, 2014 at 12:55 pm Reply

    I definitely think commenting is the most powerful thing you can do to get your blog noticed – visiting new blogs can give you so many ideas too.

  • Miriam

    October 26, 2014 at 1:07 am Reply

    Thank you for this really informative post. I’m relatively new to the blogging world and I’m stuck as to how to make it more successful. I will try out your tips. Great blog 🙂

    Miriam x

  • lily kate

    October 26, 2014 at 5:08 pm Reply

    I’m glad you do write posts that help other because you really help me out! I do comment on other blogs pretty regularly but probably not as many new ones as I should. Your headlines are really good – that’s another thing I really need to work on myself!
    lily x
    http://www.jolihouse.com

  • Manda | musicalpoem

    October 26, 2014 at 10:38 pm Reply

    Some very handy tips! I definitely agree with commenting on blogs as often as possible, and to mix it up with new-to-you blogs as well as favorite ones. It’s funny though, I think the nature of commenting in the blogosphere has changed. In the days before Twitter, comments were undisputed king. Now, comments are still a big deal (and I love them, don’t get me wrong) but since Twitter and other social media platforms have become more popular it sometimes seems as though comments carry less weight than they used to. Like, back in the day it was pretty much guaranteed you’d get an initial “comment back” if you were leaving a comment on a new blog, but now that doesn’t seem to be the case as often.

    • Corinne

      October 26, 2014 at 10:54 pm Reply

      I know what you mean! That makes me sad because comments are THE BEST. I think anyway.

      Twitter just seems really flippant and a little lazy. But I guess all those ‘great post, come see my new post’ comments do, too.

    • Tash

      October 26, 2014 at 11:01 pm Reply

      Sorry to butt in haha but this is a really interesting comment! I kinda dislike it when I find a new blogger that I really admire…and I comment on a bunch of their things with Q’s + things I’d genuinely like to know more about etc, but they never visit back or even bother responding to my comment 🙁 Yet they will for selective others! I think the whole point of the blogging community is about giving…giving and learning. Once blogs become egoistic and all about what you can do (but nobody else) – that’s the point where it becomes a website, not a blog…

      • Corinne

        October 26, 2014 at 11:08 pm Reply

        Thanks for stopping by, Tash!

        Yeah, I totally know what you mean – I sometimes find it hard to reply to every comment, but I always make sure I go over to their blog and comment and answer any questions I get.

        I even have a ‘system’, every day I’ll go visit the blogs of everyone that left me a comment on my previous post and leave some love back.

        It sounds a lot harder than it is, because most are regular people that I interact with and I get really into their blogs and what they’ve been up to!

        I’d much rather leave someone a decent comment on their blog than reply ‘thanks’ to every comment on my blog if I’m stuck for time!

        Some blogs get loads of pageviews and followers etc but 0 comments. I’d much prefer less followers and more comments!

  • Tash

    October 26, 2014 at 10:57 pm Reply

    This is really wonderful Corinne, thanks for sharing! It’s so great to hear somebody sharing their views + techniques so freely and genuinely. I find that the times I feel most as if I’m moving forward with my content – It’s because I’ve done something spontaneously/haven’t over thought it, which is pretty contradictory since it kinda feels like all of the ‘best’ ideas will be the ones that are thought through and planned properly…but this isn’t always the case! Sometimes, simply writing/doing/photographing whatever it is that your heart is telling you to, tends to have the biggest effects on others. Anyway, that’s a bit off topic! These tips are really great, I totally understand the feeling of stagnancy, and I think you’re write in saying that everyone seems to hit it at some point. We should just see it as an opportunity to do even more with ourselves 🙂 Saving this post to read over and over!

  • Amber

    October 27, 2014 at 6:40 pm Reply

    These are some really helpful tips! It is really frustrating when I feel like I’ve been doing my best, but people just aren’t responding to it. I’m definitely going to try the first tip, because I feel like that’s something I don’t make enough time for.

  • Claire

    October 27, 2014 at 6:54 pm Reply

    Love how you call it ‘leveling up’ – and I know exactly what you mean, there’s definitely moments where you think ‘wow, I’ve improved so much’. Such great tips! Thanks so much for commenting on my blog, so glad you did because I love your blog!

  • Adele

    November 3, 2014 at 8:59 pm Reply

    Ah love this post, I definitely agree that twitter can really help boost your readers, I’m pretty new to the whole blogging thing so I can feel sometimes like no one is reading my posts but eventually I’m sure i’ll get there! x

  • Puja

    November 15, 2014 at 12:24 pm Reply

    I feel like I’ve learnt more when redesigning my blog that I have in my 2 years of doing a GCSE ICT course a couple of years ago! Literally, it’s amazing how much you can learn from blogging and the connections you make.

    I’m not going to lie, when I find something new that will help my blog improve or make me more efficient, I literally jump up and down and am over the moon – so blogging is so much fun and seeing it grow is one of the main positives!

    Thanks for the tips – your blog is lovely and we can see how much you’ve worked on it to get it to the stage it’s at – Well done! <3
    xoxo,

    BerryBloomXO.com | Beauty & Lifestyle Blog 
    also on BLOGLOVIN 

  • Rebecca Ellis

    March 16, 2015 at 9:39 pm Reply

    Great tips! I wish I had as much time to sit around and read blogs, but since starting the new year College has been pretty much go go go 🙁

    Definitely looking forward to spending more time on my blog over the Summer holidays this year x

    http://www.sheintheknow.co.uk

  • Kotryna Bass

    April 2, 2015 at 4:03 pm Reply

    Great ideas! You send some really helpful tips here. As a blog designer myself I believe that having a simple/functional layout is very important. Most of the times I don’t even read blogs if they have unclear blog design. If anyone out there need help with their blog design- feel free to get in touch 🙂 http://www.kotrynabass.com

  • Abby

    April 3, 2015 at 1:25 am Reply

    Hi Corinne, this is a very useful post. I also run a Blogging 101 series that covers various topics or questions that other bloggers might have, especially those who are starting out. Reading about tips like this might seem like common sense but it’s nice to get a wake up call so you can change up your blogging habits and focus your efforts to become more productive. But most importantly, have fun with it. Sometimes, people get too caught up with results that they forget to enjoy the whole essence of blogging.

  • dannielle from While I'm Young and Skinny

    December 11, 2015 at 12:24 pm Reply

    Some really good tips here. I love sharing images on my tweets when I share links – it just looks so much more professional! I think the thing I’m worst at is commenting on other blogs. I’d suggest that people run a broken link check too, because sometimes it’s a simple technical oversight that’s holding you back.

  • The Gaming Mum

    December 12, 2015 at 4:49 pm Reply

    Stumbled on this today, and got to say there’s some great tips here 🙂 I’m currently getting back into the swing of blogging after a short hiatus and its good to be reminded of what I should make sure I’m doing 😉 Thanks for sharing! x

  • Fay

    December 12, 2015 at 8:05 pm Reply

    Love this post – I found your blog on twitter and will definitely be back. I just changed my theme – it is something that I have been contemplating for some time so took the leap earlier and just got it done! 🙂

  • Anita

    December 12, 2015 at 8:47 pm Reply

    Thanks Corinne for these great blogging tips. Love the idea of advertising on someone else’s blog — that never even crossed my mind as a way for promotion! Headlines is another thing I struggle with, so I will be working on that in 2016.

  • Carrie

    December 18, 2015 at 7:36 pm Reply

    First time here and I think I’ve found my new fave blog! I’m just getting started with my blog but there are tips here I can see will help me get moving. Q:What would be your best bit of advice for new bloggers? Cx

  • Hayley F

    January 2, 2016 at 9:21 pm Reply

    Brilliant post, thankyou. I got bored of my blog so i’ve overhauled the design and signed up to an online photography course. Hopefully i will beable to take better pictures x

  • Danni

    January 2, 2016 at 9:28 pm Reply

    Thank you for this great post, it’s come at the right time for me, my aim this year is to push my blog further this year and I’ll be definately trying some of these ideas.

    Thank you!

  • louisa

    January 5, 2016 at 11:50 am Reply

    wow love this blog! I randomly discovered you via twitter and appreciate your tips. I’m struggling with my blog as a teacher – wondering if this is a lifestyle blog? what hashtags to use!

    so confused. any help appreciated!

    taking your advice – commenting on blogs & networking, I may work on my layout next 🙂

  • Billie

    February 27, 2016 at 8:33 am Reply

    This post was just what I needed to read right now! I’m having such a hard time trying to up my blogging game. I’m going to finish reading through all of your blog tips now!

  • Rianne

    March 12, 2016 at 1:17 pm Reply

    I feel like im at a stagnant place with my blog atm, but ive taken a fee of these steps which will hopefully attract people to engage with my content. Fingers crossed and thanks for these useful points sometimes i see people really progressing and im like how are they doing it?!

  • Lucy Melissa Smith (Hello Beautiful Bear)

    April 15, 2016 at 10:16 pm Reply

    This is such a useful post and it’s certainly something that I’m battling with at the moment!
    Like you said, you can almost feel when you ‘level up’ – I usually buzz about it for days and feel like I’m on a complete blogging high 🙂
    I think I’ll try changing up my headlines like you suggested and also write a few different types of post to see what reacion I get from those. Thanks for all of the fab tips!
    X X

  • Lucy Everett

    May 17, 2016 at 9:24 pm Reply

    I love this, so helpful!! I’m really enjoying reading your blog at the moment – keep up the amazing work! 🙂
    x

  • Megan

    May 19, 2016 at 11:46 am Reply

    Loved this post it was so helpful! I’ve been lacking the motivation lately but really want to start getting into blogging again and revamp my blog and this gave me so much inspiration

  • Hayley

    May 19, 2016 at 2:58 pm Reply

    You have some great points, I’m always finding myself in a bit of a rut, I really need to schedule some tweets but I find it the worst part of blogging as I have no idea how to mix up the tweets, they always seem to say the same boring things. I completely know where you’re coming from with blog layouts, sometimes you need to make a couple of changes to spice things up, I’m currently just looking at a new blog layout, it’s time for a change.

    Yes, you’re totally right, everyone loves a helpful post, I would love to write them but I always feel like I have nothing to add and the things that I have learnt have already been posted a thousand times, but they are some of my favourite posts to read. ♥ HWY29

  • Sian

    May 21, 2016 at 8:50 pm Reply

    Really helpful tips! I’ve been seriously lacking motivation to keep my blog fresh at the moment so cross fingers these techniques will help me on my way! Thank you 🙂 xxx

  • Aphrodite

    August 12, 2016 at 10:45 am Reply

    I feel exactly as you described above!I feel like stucked here!Things seems like doesn’t goes ups no matter what i do and sometimes even goes down!Some days i really wish to was a way to just type a question and what we want to achieve a magically appeared bullets of what we need to do exactly ahah
    I guess there is no such a thing especially with blogging so i will just keep trying and we will see ^_^

    xx Aphrodite ~ BubblyBeauty

  • Jessica Cook

    August 20, 2016 at 1:02 am Reply

    I try and do this and my motivational level seems to vary, I’ll vlog heaps, then go meh I really need to get into a better routine, even schedule posts.

  • Nour

    October 13, 2016 at 9:26 am Reply

    I love reading your blog tips; they’re always very helpful! The only thing I’m not really sure about is using clickbait titles… I feel like my readers would disrespect me by time if I go down that road. Maybe clickbaits work for vlogs but for blogs? I think the title should be very informative. But that’s just my opinion, and maybe it’s not as bad as I think it is.
    Thanks for sharing! x

    Nour | http://www.ohmynour.com

  • Theee Brits

    November 23, 2016 at 8:50 pm Reply

    Thank you for this post, it was just what we needed to read. We are trying our hardest to improve our views on our blog and feel like we have hit a wall!
    We are also struggling to get Twitter followers, think we just need to persueve!
    Thanks for the post we will keep motivated and follow your guidance!!

  • Jasmine Buckley

    November 24, 2016 at 10:27 pm Reply

    I love your posts Corinne, they’re so helpful and insightful to me as a new blogger. I feel like I learn something new everything I read one of your posts and will definitely put these points to good use. As always, thanks for sharing!
    Jaz
    Xoxo

  • Carrie Mann

    November 27, 2016 at 8:51 pm Reply

    Great blog!! So far I’ve enjoyed every post you’ve written and learned a lot! Thank you for your insight! Building my website now, hope to have it live by tonight!

  • Chloe-Rose

    January 5, 2017 at 10:07 am Reply

    This is so helpful! I started my blog late last year and I kind of feel like its not growing as much as it should! Thank you for the advice ❤

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