This post was originally published on October 12th, 2015. It was updated on April 4th, 2018.
If you’re planning to be a blogger for the long haul and you hope to turn it into a business… You need to make sure your site is giving off a good first impression.
You want people to see you as a pro blogger, even if you’re just getting started in the online space.
And luckily, there are a few simple tips you can implement on your own site to help people take you more seriously. It’ll give them the impression you’ve got it all together when it comes to blogging!
6 Tips to Make You Look Like a Pro Blogger (Even if You’re a Newbie)
There are six changes you can make on your blog to ensure you’re standing out from the crowd and looking like a professional. And the best part is, you can absolutely get started on these changes today.
1. Buy Your Own Domain Name
For many of you, you’re probably thinking I’m crazy for even mentioning this. But for a lot of new bloggers out there, they hesitate to drop the .blogspot or .wordpress from their domains.
And I’m here to tell you that it’s not making you look like a pro blogger. It’s actually making you look like a beginner.
In my opinion, it shows that you aren’t taking your website seriously enough. It says that you aren’t committed to blogging. But if you’re hoping to make this venture successful, shell out the cash for the custom domain name. You won’t regret it.
2. Pick a Nice Theme or Work With a Designer
Next, you need to make sure your website looks great and it has to be user-friendly. You aren’t going to look like a pro blogger if your website is cluttered with junk, takes forever to load, and is difficult to navigate.
The most affordable way to get a beautiful website is to purchase a theme. You can install it yourself or many theme makers offer installation services. My personal favorite is Restored 316 Designs. Lauren’s work is amazing! The themes are easy to install and to customize so they look more your own.
If you have the money to invest and want something a bit more custom, you can always hire a designer. This will ensure you get a look that’s perfectly suited to you.
3. Add a Favicon
Another simple design tweak you can make is to add a favicon to your website. Not sure what that is? It’s the little icon that appears next to your URL and in your browser’s tab.
It may seem unnecessary, but adding one just gives you more of a professional vibe. It’ll also be easily recognizable when people are scrolling through their search history.
4. Use Professional Photos of Yourself
That selfie you took? It’s probably not your best photo! The picture where you’ve cropped out your BFF? Definitely not a good look.
Having a great image of yourself that is high-quality is incredibly important when you’re trying to get noticed online. It gives off a good first impression and allows people to see YOU.
That doesn’t mean you have to hire a professional photographer if it’s not in your budget. You and that BFF of yours could easily snap a few great looking photos yourselves! Once you have that perfect photo, upload it to your blog and all your social media profiles.
5. Add a Terms of Service & Privacy Policy
One key way to look like a pro blogger is to show people you mean business! Do this by adding a Terms of Service and Privacy Policy to your website. You can use online generators to easily craft these policies for yourself. Just make sure you look over them carefully and make necessary changes.
The other option is to find an attorney who handles these kinds of agreements and hire them to do it. Either way, it’s important to get it done because both are necessary documents.
And here’s a quick tip… If you’re collecting email addresses, you need a Privacy Policy. You can read more about this in my post on the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
6. Publish High-Quality, Valuable Content
And finally, the best way to show people that you’re a kick ass blogger is to back it up with amazing content. After all, that’s what being a blogger is all about!
If you can’t deliver incredible content to your readers, they won’t stick around. And they won’t bother checking out your website in the future. Learn how to create high-quality blog posts, develop a blogging schedule that works for you, and stick with it.
Avoid These Things to Look Like a Pro Blogger
Before I let you go, there are a couple things you should avoid doing if you want to look like a pro blogger. These are things that many of you may be guilty of doing right now and they’re, unfortunately, reflecting poorly on you.
- Auto-Playing Music or Videos: I can’t believe people are still doing this, but they are. The last thing anyone wants is to open up your website, only to have your new favorite song come blasting through their speakers. Then, they scramble to find where the music is coming from to shut it off.
- Too Many Ads: You obviously want to make money from your blog, but please don’t go overboard on the ads. Limit yourself to how many are displayed on your site at any given time and where you place them. Don’t overwhelm your readers.
Do you really want to look like a pro blogger, even though you’re just starting out?
Then my course, Blogging Bombshell, is perfect for you!
It’s packed with all the lessons you need to build a successful blog of your very own. Enroll today and get immediate access!
