Hand up if you like one or more items from the following list to finally get checked off.
- More blog ideas than you know what to do with
- Content that simply works
- Increase in targeted traffic that signs up to your list
- More comments, social media shares and reader engagement
- Your posts appearing on popular blogs
- Clarity in blogging for business
- Better website copy
- Meanigful relationships with other bloggers
- Authentic branding, influence and visibility
- Success mindset
It’s a no brainer, right? We all want it. More readers, engaged readers, and loyal readers who spread the word about our awesome content.
With a brand new 2013 just around the corner, I thought I’d share a list of my all time favourite posts from the past year or so to help you do just that. These are the posts I revisit all the time. They give me perspective, hope and the inspiration to keep going.
(Disclaimer: Most of the posts come from Copyblogger, Boost Blog Traffic, Men with Pens, Problogger, Kissmetrics, Social Media Examiner, Pushing Social and Quick Sprout because their content is simply the best. I am not affiliated with anyone. Just thought I’d make that clear. 🙂
So here goes …
Blog Ideas (1-9)
3 Ways to Create Highly Valuable Blog Content on Social Media Examiner
59 Blog Topics You Can Start A Blog About by Hector Cuevas on Inbound Pro
Need Ideas for Your Business Blog? Here Are 50 by Carol Tice on Entrepreneur
50 Blogging Ideas to Steal and Take Credit For by Stanford Smith on Pushing Social
50 Can’t-Fail Techniques for Finding Great Blog Topics by Carol Tice on Copyblogger
One Foolproof Trick to Blast Writer’s Block by James Chartrand on Copyblogger
21 Ways to Create Compelling Content When You Don’t Have a Clue by Danny Iny on Copyblogger
10 New Ideas for Getting Inspired to Write by Jon Morrow on Copyblogger
Traffic (10-17)
The Three-Step Guide to Getting More Traffic by Writing Less by Jon Morrow on Copyblogger
My Secret Strategy to Send Surges of Traffic to Your Blog on Problogger
What’s the “Right” Kind of Blog Traffic? by Darren Rowse on Problogger
The 3-Step Formula I Used to Get 4,000 Subscribers in 12 Months (the last web traffic guide you’ll ever need) by Scott Dinsmore on Live Your Legend
If you’re looking for more traffic, STOP! by Derek Halpern on Social Triggers
How A New Blog Brought In $2,000 in Revenue—and Attracted 800 Readers—In A Single Day (case study) by Derek Halpern on Social Triggers
How I Increased My Search Traffic by 200% in 6 Months by Oni on Problogger
Reader Engagement (18-30)
Why No One Cares What You Think (and How to Stop Being so Freaking Boring) by Jon Morrow on Copyblogger
10 Brilliant Examples of How to Open Your Next Blog Post With a Bang on Bigger Life Blog
3 Little-Known Reasons Why Nobody Shares Your Content on Social Media Today
The Art of Being Interesting by Jon Morrow on Copyblogger
12 Signs Your Blog Is a Social Media Ghost Town (& Actionable Tips to Fix Them) by Heidi Cohen
9 Reasons Why Your Content Is Not Shared on Social Networks: New Research on Social Media Examiner
49 Ways to Gain the Trust and Loyalty of Your Audience by Henneke on Copyblogger
The Two Essential Elements of Irresistible Content by Brian Clark on Copyblogger
3 Things Your Readers Need to Hear Before They’ll Read Your Blog by Standord Smith on Pushing Social
Putting the Social Back into Social Media: 40 Ways to Build a Loyal Audience by Carol Tice on Copyblogger
How to Captivate New Readers in 5 Seconds or Less by Annabel Candy on Copyblogger
My 15 Minutes of Not Existing: Do Your Blog’s Readers Feel Invisible? by Judy Dunn on For Bloggers by Bloggers
Influence (31-38)
7 Ways to Fascinate Your Readers and Build a Hugely Loyal Following by Henneke on Boost Blog Traffic
Get More Clicks Using These 3 Emotional Hot Buttons on Problogger
Ten Timeless Persuasive Writing Techniques by Brian Clark on Copyblogger
Slaying Writer Dragons: Epic Skill #2, Emotional Prowess on Men with Pens
The Psychology Of Going Viral: 12 Proven Ways to Craft Content That Gets People Talking (About You) by Gregory Ciotti on Sparring Mind
58 Ways to Create Persuasive Content Your Audience Will Love by Henneke on Copyblogger
The Art of Zen Copywriting – Part 1 & 2 by Dean Rieck on Procopy Tips
Content Creation (39-47)
A Simple Plan for Writing a Powerful Blog Post in Less Than 2 Hours by Neil Patel on Quick Sprout
3 Questions Content Producers Must Answer on Copyblogger
The Problem with Epic by James Chartrand on Mens with Pens
The 6-Step Process to Turn Ideas into Published Blog Posts by Ali Luke on Men with Pens
12 Lessons Learned from 12 Years of Writing by Damien Fenworth on Copyblogger
The Ultimate Guide To Creating Viral Content on Kissmetrics
The Simple 5-Step Formula for Effective Online Content by Sonia Simone on Copyblogger
Six Easily-Preventable Mistakes That Bloggers Make with List Posts by Ali Luke on Daily Blog Tips
Web Writing (48-51)
To write a great homepage, try the “no-body-copy” test by Nick Usborne on NickUsborne.com
Improve Your Writing with a Conversation Tone on Pick the Brain
A 7-Point Checklist for Improving Your Website Copy by Ed Gandia on International Freelancers Academy
Email Marketing (52-55)
A Detailed Look at My (Non-Aggressive) Email List Strategy by Pat Flynn on Smart Passive Income
A Simple 4-Step Plan for Building an Email Autoresponder that Works on Copyblogger
Why Email Marketing is Still King on Freelance Switch
Business Blogging (56-65)
13 Dumb Mistakes Making Your Business Blog Drab, Smelly, and Sleazy by Henneke on Enchanting Marketing
65 Metrics To Track Blog Success – How To Measure Your Blog’s Effectiveness by Heidi Cohen
6 Reasons Why Your Business Needs a Blog by Darren Rowse on Problogger
21 Business Blogging Tips From the Pros on Social Media Examiner
Why Blogs Are Critical To Business 2013 by Heidi Cohen
7 Reasons to Rethink Your Blogging Strategy: New Research on Social Media Examiner
Blogging for Startups: 10 Essential Tips to Make it Work on Problogger
9 Hard-Hitting Content Strategies for Small Business Blogging by Neil Patel on Quick Sprout
How to Make Your Site the Destination for Your Market by Chris Garrett on Chrisg.com
Fatal Business Blogging Mistakes (And EasyFixes!) on Hubspot
Guest Posting (66-73)
The Ultimate Guide to Guest Blogging by Kristi Hines on Kissmetrics
7 Crucial Tactics for Writing a Wildly Successful Guest Post by Ramsay on Copyblogger
Why You Ought to Build an Online Brand Through Guest Blogging and Not Just Chase SEO Tricks by Neil Patel on Quick Sprout
How to Land a Guest Post Every Time by Mary Jaksch on Write to Done
How to Make Money by Offering Your Services as a Guest Blogger by Oni on Young Prepro
3 Myths of Guest Writing for Big Websites … and 6 Tactics for Doing it Well by Ali Luke on Copyblogger
15 Bite-Size Tips For Getting Your Guest Posts Accepted Almost Every Time by Hector Cuevas on Social Mouths
Branding and USP (74-81)
6 Ways To Define Your Unique Selling Proposition and Differentiate Yourself by Hector Cuevas on Inbound Pro
5 Unique Selling Proposition Examples We Can All Learn From by Hector Cuevas on Inbound Pro
25 Ways You are Failing at Promoting Yourself, Your Products and Your Work on Red Lemon Club
Maven, Connector, or Salesperson: What’s Your Archetype? on Productive Flourishing
5 Simple But Powerful Tips For Building Your Blog’s Brand by Stanford Smith on Pushing Social
Why Content Marketing is the New Branding on Copyblogger
The Elevator Pitch: A Guide for an Internet without Elevators on Men with Pens
Blogger Success (82-90)
19 Bad Habits Bloggers Need to STOP by Tommy Walker on Think Traffic
8 Core Beliefs of Extraordinary Entrepreneurs by Neil Patel on Quick Sprout
10 Characteristics of a Spectacular Blog by Stan Smith on Pushing Social
The 11 “Secrets” of Prolific Content Creators by Beth Hayden on Copyblogger
41 Things Bodacious Bloggers Do to Maintain Their Blogs by Annabel Candy on Successful Blogging
The 20 Most Useful Lessons I’ve Learnt as a Creative Blogger Over the Last Few Years on Red Lemon Club
When Will Your Blog Reach Escape Velocity? by Danny Iny on Think Traffic
5 Essential Qualities of Growing Your Blog Quickly in a Crowded Niche by Marcus Sheridan on Kikolani
How to Kill Your Blog in 10 Easy Steps by Danny Brown
The 7 Deadly Sins of Blogging by Sonia Simone on Copyblogger
Success Mindset (90-100)
106 Excuses That Prevent You From Ever Becoming Great by Tommy Walker on Chris Brogan
The Writer’s Guide to Overcoming Insecurity by Henri Junttila on Men with Pens
The Top 5 Qualities of Productive Creatives (And How to Identify Them!) on 99u
How to Conquer the Blank Page: 10 Tips That Really Work by Ali Luke on Daily Blog Tips
How to Balance Blogging and Your Day Job (While Still Growing Your Blog) on Write to Done
13 Tips to Find Time to Blog by Heidi Cohen
Part Time Blogger: How to Utilize the Most Out of Your Limited Time for Blog Content Creation on Productive Super Dad
How to Use Rejection to Achieve Your Business Goals by Neil Patel on Quick Sprout
How to Live Your Dream When You Are Scared to Death by Michael Hyatt
The 7 Bad Habits of Insanely Productive People by Sonia Simone on Copyblogger
How Having A Blogging Coach Changed My Life on Problogger
So there you have it. Phew!
Bookmark it. Share it. Sit on it or consume in bite sized portions – but do something. Anything.
Leave a comment?
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70 Comments
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Praise
"I found Marya’s blog completely by accident. She suggested a guest post and I checked out her stuff, and was blown away by the quality educational content. Marya writes excellent tips, and has a great community of commentators over at her Writing Happiness blog." Danny Brown - Prominent Social Media Blogger
A checklist for everything you need to do to make your blog awesome. Jon Morrow, Boost Blog Traffic
Praise
Best advice I have seen on this: 23 Top Tips to Make Your Blog Posts More Conversational. Michael Hyatt, Platform University
Nice roundup of tips here. Great write up and keep up the good work! Chris Garrett, Authority Blogging
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Rahul Kuntala Says :
Whoa! That’s REALLY a monster list Marya.
I’ve skimmed through the list, will be adding it to my instapaper now (added ;))
You must have spent quality time to craft this post Marya. Thanks for the share, it REALLY worth reading, sharing and commenting.
Have a blast next year!
Rahul Kuntala Says :
BTW I’m also gonna create a similar kinda post on my blog very soon. I’ll add this post to my list.
marya
Great. Shoot me a link and I’ll return the favour. Good luck!
marya
Hey Rahul, thanks and yes it took me almost a whole day. But I was on a mission! 😉
Hope you kick ass in 2013.
Marya
Amit Shaw Says :
Wow thats massive 🙂 Super Work Done by you Marya. I don’t use Instapaper, I usually use Poket or Ever note. . .. So hope you got what i am trying to say… Yeah its bookmarked now 😀
Thanks for this awesome list. Thanks.
Ali | Writers Blog Says :
My first thought: “Wow, Marya does a lot of reading”
While skimming through the titles I realized I’ve also read quite a few of these pieces. Good list to end the year. Tweeting 🙂
marya
Yes, most of us read Copyblogger, Men with Pens, BBT, Kissmetrics etc, but I wanted to make a list of those posts that really made a difference to me personally. So here we are. And I think newbies will find it useful too, don’t you think?
Many thanks for dropping by. What are your plans for this month. Any end of the year epic ones in the making?
Shayrin Smith
I was shocked to see the above reply; I read it as
“Yes, most of us read Copyblogger, Men with Penis”
hahaha
Glori Surban Says :
Woah! Monster list indeed!
Thanks for sharing these with us Marya! Like Ali, I’ve read some of the blog posts myself.
Again, bookmarked and shared!
marya
Then I hope you will have fun reading the ones you haven’t. Thank you! 🙂
Pinar Tarhan Says :
This is a great list. Even though I follow a lot of those blogs, it’s impossible to read everything. So sometimes great posts can get overlooked, or I might have failed to bookmark it. I also like it that the “blog ideas” posts can also be used for getting ideas for any sort of writing market.
Do you have an absolute favorite among these posts? : )
marya
Thanks Pinar. Appreciate it.
Henneke | Enchanting Marketing Says :
Wow. This is indeed a monster list.
Thanks for including my posts, Marya.
marya
It’s my pleasure Henneke. You are one talented gal! 😉
Marya
Nick Usborne Says :
Great list, Marya. Thanks for taking the time to put it together…and for including one of my posts!: )
Nick
marya
My pleasure. Your stuff is always thought provoking. LOVE your blog. 🙂
Judy Lee Dunn Says :
Eegads, Marya! How long did this take you? I am impressed. : )
Thanks for pointing me to all these cool resources. I need to start wading through them. And a special thanks for including one of mine.
marya
Well, almost a whole day, more or less. :). (And that too after I had all the links in my Evernote. But I do have thousands of them in many categories that weren’t relevant to this particular post so it took time to go through, select and actually put all that down in a form of a post. LOVED the process though, it was like going through a candy jar. Hope many new comers would find it useful.
Many thanks.
James Chartrand - Men with Pens Says :
That’s a pretty phenomenal list, Marya, and I can guarantee that if someone read each of those articles, took notes and applied the advice… well, they’d be unstoppable!
(Also, NICE choices – I’m familiar with many of those posts and commend your selection!)
marya
Thanks James. It means a lot coming from you. 🙂
Marya
Carol Tice | Make a Living Writing Says :
I’m with James — A lot of great names up there. Those Copyblogger posts of mine have been around a while…but great to be included!
And impressed you found my one from Entrepreneur…a little off the beaten trail for a lot of the blogging crowd, so should be fresh for most readers.
marya
I follow your work everywhere, Carol! 😉
Thank you.
Sonia Simone Says :
Awesome list, Marya! I know how much work goes into these. 🙂 Thanks so much for including us!
marya
It’s my absolute pleasure Sonia. I ADORE Copyblogger. I was getting worried that people will accuse me of sucking up to you guys. And there is SO MUCH I actually didn’t put in. 🙂
Cheers,
Marya
Danny Brown Says :
Thanks kindly, miss – sincerely appreciate the inclusion and great list to work through on some new posts and bloggers in areas close to my heart. 🙂
Have a great 2013!!
marya
Thanks Danny. All the best for 2013! 🙂
Hector Cuevas Says :
Wow.. awesome list. Thanks for including my 59 blog post ideas post.
huge success in 2013!
marya
Hi Hector. Thanks for dropping by. I absolutely adore your stuff. Same to you, mate.
Marya
Flora Morris Brown Says :
Hi Marya,
Wow Wee! What an amazing list. Thank you.
Even though I’ve read some of these, they bear rereading. But since I missed some of these before, thanks for capturing the ones I most want and need to read.
marya
Hey Flora, 🙂
I know most people have already read some of the stuff – alright, most of the COPYBLOGGER and JON MORROW stuff – but still, worth saying. Eespecially for the new comers. Many thanks for the appreciation.
Marya
Annabel Candy, Successful Blogging Says :
Hi Marya,
Wow! That really is a monster 🙂
marya
Good to see you here Annabel. Sorry about the small typo in your name. Has been fixed. Cheers.
Henri Junttila Says :
Wow, this is an amazing list, Marya.
Full of greatness. I’m especially addicted to the blog ideas posts. Found a few I hadn’t seen before.
Thanks for including my post as well. I am honored.
Keep rocking 🙂
marya
Thanks Henri -glad you enjoyed it. I see your posts EVERYWHERE. You are an inspiration mate. All the best in 2013.
Marya
Henri Junttila Says :
Thank you.
Same to you 🙂
Caryn/The Mid Life Guru Says :
Wow–this is some list!!! Thanks for providing me some great reading in the coming weeks. I appreciate your hard work in putting this all together!!!
marya
My pleasure Caryn. Happy reading!
Barbara McDowell Whitt Says :
Marya – this is a wonderful list. Thank you so much for taking time out of your holiday season to correlate and post it.
marya
Hope you have a blast reading. All the best in 2013 Barbara and thanks for your comment.
Willi Morris Says :
Love compilation posts! I’m going to have so much to read over the next several days…weeks, perhaps? Thanks so very much.
marya
My pleasure Willi. Have fun!
Willi M
Looks like Copyblogger is down at the moment.
Emilio Ramirez Says :
Great list, thanks for it, i’ll share it with my friends.
iFaith Says :
What a useful and fantastic list! This is more than enough to get me brainstorming and get my creative blogging ideas on the move.
A definite keeper – a blogging model to use to jumpstart 2013 on a positive momentum for my blog!
Thanks and take care!
marya
Thank you!
Timo Kiander Says :
Marya,
Thank you for including me on this list 🙂
Cheers,
Timo aka Productive Superdad
marya
My pleasure Timo. Cheers.
Amit Shaw Says :
Timo Every one wants to add your post on there site like me 😉
Final Lap for December 14: Great Inbound Marketing Reads Says :
[…] The Monster List of 100 Posts that Will Rock Your Blog in 2013 by @WritingH […]
Sandra Says :
Hi Marya,
I posted this in a couple of Linkedin groups as well. Thanks again!
marya
Very kind of you, Sandra. Many thanks.
Naemick Photography Says :
Fantastic list – thanks!
Mark Freeman Says :
Although I’ve not been in blogging long enough, I’ve understood that content is the real king. If you can produce quality and interesting content than you get rewarded. Real nice ideas you’ve got there. Thanks.
Brandie Pierce Says :
100 posts sounds surprisingly intimidating. But after reading it all, I can safely say it’s well worth the effort to read.
Paul Says :
This is a great list for any bloggers looking to build an audience and grow!
Also, check out headlineshub.com. It has more than 100+ FREE compelling headlines for bloggers looking for a bit of inspiration to get started. It is updated daily.
Melissa Russo Says :
Great list with everything a blogger wants to know, from the very beginnings up to maintaining a successful blog. Quite impressive.
Praveen Rajarao Says :
Wow marya – You really have it all summed up here…will have a busy weekend now i am sure 🙂
thanks for this awesome list.
Ravi @ Technology Blog Says :
Thank You.. These posts will surely help everyone to start a blog from scratch..
Lukas Says :
Hey Marya, really great post. I’ve been so long in the blog business as I think I’ve be running out of ideas lately. These points you’ve stated above are really great. Thanks again.
syakirurahman Says :
oohh.. your blog. especially your free ebook (9 new rules of blogging) is very very useful.. i take a lot advantages from that.. that’s really my wrong blogging mindset. i realize it when i read rules 1 in your ebook.. thanks for sharing.. i very lucky find blogger like you..
Danyelle Franciosa
That are truly a monster list and this will definitely change the blogging world this 2013. I have been checking out some of this site and they are all look interesting. Thanks for sharing this by the way!
Alen Says :
Excellent post. So many ideas.
Caleb Suko Says :
Thanks for the great list. I’m working my way through a few of the blog posts here. I’d really like to get an e-mail auto responder up and running on my blog. Do you have any good plugins to suggest?
Belinda @ Esthetician careers Says :
I am quite impressed with the Blog ideas links.
I am glad I found it. I’ve got so many things to read today.
Rohit Sharma Says :
It’s like a feast!
Masooma Kazmi Says :
Hi,
I am really impresses by this post.Thanks a lot for this great list. It will be definitely beneficial for every reader.I found your blog very useful and I must say it is one of the best blog I ever visited.
Thanks
Jean-Marc Says :
Totally Amazing Marya!
Followed this link from the Writer’s Den. I’ll be using this post all year, for sure. Thanks!
marya
Many thanks Jean-Marc. Your comment made my day! 😀
Why You Should Stop Writing Only for People who Scan Online | Writing Happiness Says :
[…] that we have established how much I love Copyblogger – it is fair to say that I read about 80% of their stuff. (I do actually open every single email […]
Ahsan Says :
Great list & huge collection to improve new blog.
thanks for share & have a rocking year