When you hear the word “blogger”, what image springs to mind? A glamorous traveller documenting their journey to exotic destinations? A passionate foodie sharing their mouthwatering discoveries? Or a fitness enthusiast guiding you through their workout regimen?
These varied blog examples just go to show that these days, a blogger can be just about… anyone! Blogging has become a popular way for people to share their passions, ideas, and life experiences with a global audience. From cooking and beauty to business and politics, there’s a blog for every topic you can imagine.
If you’re feeling compelled to pick up your figurative pen and start blogging, I’ve put together a list of some of the most successful blog examples to help you get inspired. So get comfortable, and let’s dive into the exciting world of blogging together!
First: what is a blog?
A blog is a regularly updated website (or part of a website) that is often written in an informal or conversational style. It allows individuals and organizations to share their opinions, experiences, and information with a wide audience.
The content of a blog is typically displayed in reverse chronological order, with the most recent post appearing first. Many blogs are focused on a particular subject or theme and provide a platform for discussion and exchange of ideas (for example, through a comments section or forum). But in our list, you’ll find some blogs that talk about almost everything!
Why should I start a blog? What are the pros?
Here are some good reasons to start a blog:
- Personal expression: Blogging provides a platform to express your thoughts.
- Building an audience: A blog can help you build an audience and connect with others who are interested in the same topics. It creates a sense of community and support.
- Improving writing skills: Blogging is useful to strengthen your writing skills.
- Establishing expertise: By writing about a particular subject or theme, you can establish yourself as an expert in your field.
- Career opportunities: A well-written and successful blog can help to open up new career opportunities, such as speaking engagements, consulting work, or even writing opportunities.
- Generating income: Some bloggers choose to monetize their blog (e.g. through affiliate marketing). If you’re successful, a blog can become a steady source of income.
Want to go ahead and start a blog yourself? Then you can check out our review of the Best 5 Website Builders to Start a Blog.
Great blog examples to find your inspiration in 2023
1. Dezeen – Architecture and design blog
Dezeen is one of the most influential architecture, interiors and design magazines. Founded in 2006, it has since become one of the largest design publications in the world, with over 2 million unique visitors to its blog per month.
Dezeen covers a wide range of topics including:
- Architecture: featuring the latest architectural projects, from large-scale buildings to small-scale renovations and extensions.
- Interiors: showcasing the latest interior design trends, including innovative and creative spaces.
- Product design: covering the latest in furniture, lighting, and homeware design, including interviews with designers and in-depth features on new products.
- Design events: covering international design fairs and exhibitions, as well as events and talks by leading designers and architects.
Dezeen also features regular columns, including Dezeen Daily, a daily newsletter that provides a roundup of the latest architecture and design news, and Dezeen Jobs, a job board for architecture and design professionals. With its cutting-edge content and global perspective, Dezeen has a loyal following of readers who are interested in the world of architecture and design.
Here are some other popular architecture, interior design, and design blogs that can serve as inspiration, if you’re looking to create a blog on this topic:
URL: dezeen.com/
Estimated monthly organic traffic: 1M/month
Blogging platform: WordPress
2. Zion Adventure Photog – Photography & Nature
The Zion National Park is a breathtaking natural area known for its towering red rock cliffs, scenic canyons, and diverse range of plant and animal life.. On this blog (which also happens to promote the founder’s photography services), you’ll find detailed guides on activities such as canyoneering and hiking in the Zion National Park and Southern Utah (United States).
Visitors to the blog are sure to be inspired by the photography, which captures the stunning natural scenery of the national park, and will also find its tips on outdoor activities useful. Plus, if they’re looking for a photographer who can capture their visit, they’ll know who to contact!
URL: zionadventurephotog.com/blog
Estimated monthly organic traffic: 7K/month
Blogging platform: Wix
3. Everyone Active – Gym Training
Everyone Active is the UK’s leading operator of gym and swimming facilities, with hundreds of locations around the country. In its blog, readers find out how to make the most of their fitness routine thanks to its vast library of tips and activities.
Everyone Active does not necessarily creates long posts, but they are easy to read: short paragraphs, lots of headings, and original, full HD photos. What is most impressive, though, is the vast range of topics they cover: Gym, Online Tools, Home Workouts, Senior Fitness, and more. Organizing the categories this way makes it much easier for users to find relevant content.
At some point, you’ll probably also have lots of posts in your blog, so make sure you think about some categories beforehand.
It’s also important to show behind-the-scenes of your company because it creates a sense of trust and professionalism. In this post for example, Everyone Active shows you the daily routine of a tennis coach. This post is not long, as the video is the central focus here. We also think it’s smart how they’ve added two appealing call to action buttons before and after the video.
Another noteworthy feature is Everyone Active’s Podcast. Podcasts have become popular over the last few years and are a great way to complement your blog. Find out here the best platforms to create your podcast.
URL: https://www.everyoneactive.com/content-hub/
Estimated monthly organic traffic: 216K/month
Blogging platform: WordPress
4. LiveStrong – Nutrition
This popular blog shares tips to help readers improve their diet, nutrition and fitness routine.
LiveStrong articles are straight to the point: short paragraphs, bulleted lists. The copy is simple and the message very easy to grasp. We like the fact that they cite their sources, like in this health article for example. This gives credibility to the company and helps to reassure the reader. So if you are going to write about health or scientific topics, remember to cite your sources at the end of the article.
Challenges are popular on social networks, and LiveStrong has jumped onto this trend and integrated them into its blog. It’s a concrete and clever way to get your readers to take action.
What is remarkable about the LiveStrong blog is that it covers a lot of topics, as you can see with the Health category below:
To improve your SEO, it is important to cover your main topic exhaustively. This builds authority for your domain.
URL: livestrong.com/
Estimated monthly organic traffic: 3.9M/month
5. The Writing Cooperative – Writers community
The Writing Cooperative is a community for writers from Dallas: you’ll find tips and support to become a better writer. The publication features articles, tutorials, and tips on writing, editing, and publishing, written by experienced writers and authors.
The community aspect of The Writing Cooperative allows writers to connect with each other, share their work, and receive feedback and support. The goal of The Writing Cooperative is to create a supportive and educational environment for writers to grow and improve their writing skills, which to me feels like a very noble mission indeed!
URL: https://writingcooperative.com/
Estimated monthly organic traffic: 112K/month
Blogging platform: Medium
6. My Modern Met – Art Magazine
My Modern Met publishes thought-provoking articles on different topics: art, design, photography, architecture, technology, and environmental issues. The magazine aims to inspire and inform its audience by showcasing the work of talented individuals and exploring the latest trends and developments in the creative world.
Whether it’s showcasing unique pieces of artwork, highlighting the work of up-and-coming artists, or exploring the intersection of technology and creativity, My Modern Met provides its readers with a diverse and engaging look at the world of art and design.
Estimated monthly organic traffic: 1.5M/month
Blogging platform: WordPress
7. Rough Trade – Vinyl records
Rough Trade is a well-known independent music retailer and record label, originally founded in London, England in 1976. It has since expanded to multiple locations, including New York City and Paris.
The brand is known for its eclectic selection of music, which spans many different genres and styles. The store has a strong focus on independent and alternative music, and is considered one of the premier destinations for music lovers looking for unique and hard-to-find albums.
Rough Trade is also known for its record label, which has released albums by many influential and groundbreaking artists, such as The Smiths, The Strokes, and Arcade Fire. The label is dedicated to supporting independent artists and helping them reach a wider audience, and is considered one of the most important and influential independent labels in the music industry.
We especially love the “Shoplifting with” series of articles, which takes a look at the musical tastes of bands and artists. Here’s an example with Young Fathers (#Shoplifting). It does a great job of promoting the store to readers while sharing a little more about the musical inspirations of the artists.
Like Everyone Active, Rough Trade is a brand that relies on its podcast. Nevertheless, the last episode was a year ago and the subjects are not always evergreen (an evergreen topic is one that never becomes obsolete and allows you to generate traffic year after year).
URL: https://blog.roughtrade.com/gb/
Estimated monthly organic traffic: 7K/month
Blogging platform: Ghost
8. Preventive Vet – Pet health
Preventive Vet is an online pet health & safety resource. Their mission is to help pet owners keep their cats and dogs happy, healthy, and safe. The website does this by providing information on topics such as nutrition, behavior, and preventive care.
The blog covers a wide range of topics, from practical tips on caring for your pet to more in-depth articles on pet health and wellness.
To help the user navigate the blog, Preventive Vet has developed a rather unique filter system. It’s important to organize your content logically and efficiently as soon as you create your blog, as it’s much more difficult once you have hundreds of articles. However, it’s not necessary to create too many categories: the main thing is to choose categories that are specific enough while remaining relatively generic. It’s an art.
The impressive thing about Preventive Pets is the length and comprehensiveness of the articles. They really cover their subject perfectly.
URL: https://www.preventivevet.com/
Estimated monthly organic traffic: 354K/month
Blogging platform: Hubspot
9. Mind Tools – Management training
Mind Tools is a collection of resources about management, leadership and personal effectiveness skills, helping professionals to be more successful at work. The website offers a wide range of tools, articles, and resources designed to help individuals build skills and improve their careers. It covers a diverse range of topics, including leadership, project management, communication, time management, and problem solving, among many others.
Mind Tools is designed to be accessible and useful to people at all stages of their careers, from entry-level employees to experienced managers and executives. It provides practical and actionable advice, along with interactive tools and assessments, to help individuals identify their strengths and weaknesses and develop a plan for growth and development.
The website also features a large community of like-minded individuals who are looking to improve their skills and advance their careers. Members can connect with one another, share ideas and advice, and participate in forums and discussion groups.
URL: mindtools.com/blog/
Estimated monthly organic traffic: 15.5K/month
Blogging platform: WordPress
10. Thought Catalog – Youth Culture Magazine
Thought Catalog is a digital youth culture magazine from New York. Thought Catalog’s articles are written in a variety of styles, from first-person essays and personal narratives to more analytical pieces that explore broader cultural and social issues.
The website covers a range of topics, including relationships, mental health, personal growth, and self-improvement, and its articles are designed to be thought-provoking and inspiring.
Thought Catalog also has a strong online community of readers and writers who engage with each other and share their own stories and experiences. The website provides a space for individuals to connect, share their thoughts and feelings, and support each other on their journeys of self-discovery and growth.
Three things are inspiring about this blog. First, the share bar at the end of articles, which makes it easy to relay the post on social networks. Second, the fact that the blog is associated with an online store (you can find all the information you need to create an online store here). And finally the infinite scroll (similar to the experience on Instagram): you can go from one article to another just by scrolling the page. This encourages reading and greatly improves the time spent on the site. Hats off to Thought Catalog!
URL: thoughtcatalog.com/
Estimated monthly organic traffic: 2.9M/month
Blogging platform: WordPress
11. Hootsuite – Social Media Agencies
Hootsuite is one of the most popular social media management tools in the marketing world. Its blog provides articles, tutorials, and resources on a variety of topics related to social media, including best practices for using social media for business, the latest trends and developments in the social media landscape, and tips for using Hootsuite’s platform.
The blog covers the basics of social media marketing but also advanced strategies for using social media to achieve specific business goals. It also provides helpful resources and tools, such as templates and checklists, to help businesses and organizations get the most out of their social media efforts.
The posts are aimed at a wide audience, including businesses, organizations, and individuals who are looking to use social media effectively to reach their target audiences and achieve their goals.
Hootsuite provides free tools but users have to provide their details to download them, which helps Hootsuite generate marketing leads. You can also think of using your blog as an inbound marketing channel.
URL: blog.hootsuite.com/
Estimated monthly organic traffic: 6.7M/month
Blogging platform: WordPress
12. Gaiam – Yoga
Gaiam is a lifestyle brand that offers products and content designed to help individuals live healthy, mindful, and sustainable lives. The company was founded in 1988 and has since grown into a leading provider of wellness products, including yoga mats, fitness equipment, and organic clothing, as well as educational content, including books, videos, and online classes.
The articles of this blog have nothing special in terms of design, but it skillfully integrates the products of the brand, as in this article on 5 ways to stay well while travelling.
Some might think this approach is too commercial, but it is justified in this case and useful for the reader.
They added an “Also in blog” section at the end of each article. This is a simple but effective technique to encourage the reader to consult other articles:
Estimated monthly organic traffic: 180K/month
13. MovieWeb – Cinemas & movies news
MovieWeb is a movie and entertainment news website that provides up-to-date information on the latest film releases, movie trailers, celebrity interviews, and entertainment news. The website is designed for movie fans and industry insiders.
The blog covers a wide range of topics, including movie reviews, box office reports, and movie news.
One of the key features of MovieWeb is its movie database, which provides comprehensive information on thousands of movies, including cast and crew information, synopses, and reviews.
There is also a platform for movie fans to share their own movie reviews and ratings, and to connect with others who share their passion for movies.
URL: movieweb.com/
Estimated monthly organic traffic: 7.1M/month
Blogging platform: WordPress
14. BigInterview – Employment Agencies & HR Consulting
BigInterview is an online platform that provides job seekers with tools and resources to help them prepare for job interviews. The service offers a range of features, including video-based interview training, practice questions and answers, and personalized feedback on interview performance.
BigInterview’s blog offers a range of resources for job seekers, including tips and advice on resume writing, networking, and salary negotiation. The platform also provides access to a community of career experts, who can answer questions and provide advice and support to job seekers.
A share bar is always available on the right side of the screen, which encourages the reader to share the article at any time:
URL: resources.biginterview.com/
Estimated monthly organic traffic: 170K/month
Blogging platform: WordPress
15. Cup of Jo – Lifestyle
“Cup of Jo” is a popular lifestyle and parenting blog founded by Joanna Goddard in 2007. The blog features a wide range of topics, including personal stories, fashion, beauty, home decor, travel, and motherhood.
Cup of Jo is known for its relatable and down-to-earth approach, as well as its focus on celebrating the everyday joys of life. The blog has become a popular destination for women looking for inspiration, advice, and a sense of community, and has been featured in numerous media outlets, including The New York Times, Forbes, and Real Simple.
URL: cupofjo.com/
Estimated monthly organic traffic: 114K/month
Blogging platform: WordPress
16. Hepper – Pet Health & Pet Products
Hepper is a producer of modern pet furniture and accessories, and a lifestyle brand that offers everyday resources for pets and pet owners. With a “for pets, by pet lovers” mission statement, Hepper strives to create durable products with aesthetic appeal. Originally focused on cats, the brand now has a range of products for dogs and other pets.
Hepper’s pet research blog features articles written by pet owners and veterinary professionals, covering topics such as pet nutrition, behavior, and gear. Readers can find the latest information on pet food recalls, and get answers to pressing questions in the Ask a Vet section.
Hepper’s unique integration of high-end pet products and authoritative pet care resources has resonated with their audience, which continues to grow with the company.
URL: hepper.com/
Estimated monthly organic traffic: 1.1M/month
Blogging platform: WordPress
What makes a blog successful?
There is no specific formula for success when it comes to blogging, as the definition of “success” can vary greatly depending on an individual’s goals and expectations. However, we can give you some best practices to make the most of your blog:
- Unique and valuable content: Blogs that consistently provide fresh, relevant, and high-quality content tend to attract and retain readers.
- Consistency: Regularly posting new content is important to maintain reader engagement and establish a dedicated following.
- SEO optimization: Using search engine optimization (SEO) techniques, such as keyword research, meta tags, and high-quality backlinks, can help your blog rank higher in search engine results and attract more traffic.
- Engagement: Encouraging reader interaction through comments, social media, and email newsletters can help build a sense of community around your blog and keep readers coming back for more.
- Branding: A well-defined brand, including a memorable domain name, attractive logo, and consistent aesthetic, can help your blog stand out and establish a strong online presence.
- Networking: Building relationships with other bloggers and influencers in your niche can help you gain exposure and expand your reach.
- Monetization: While not essential, having a clear plan for generating revenue (e.g. through advertising or affiliate marketing) can help ensure the long-term sustainability of your blog.
The most important advice of all: be authentic and true to yourself, and focus on providing value to your readers. By doing so, you will be able to build a loyal audience and achieve your blogging goals.
Conclusion: How do I start a blog?
Starting a blog is relatively simple and can be done in several steps:
- Choose a blog platform: There are many paid and free blogging platforms to choose from, such as WordPress, Blogger, and Wix. Consider your technical expertise, budget, and the level of customization you want for your blog when making your choice.
- Choose a domain name and hosting: Your domain name is the web address that people will use to access your blog. You can register a domain name through a domain registrar such as GoDaddy or Namecheap. If you’re using WordPress, you will also need to choose a hosting provider to store your blog and make it accessible to the world.
- Design and customize your blog: Most blogging platforms offer a variety of themes and templates that you can use to customize the look and feel of your blog. You can also add plugins and widgets to enhance its functionality.
- Create and publish your first post: Write a post that introduces yourself and your blog to your audience. Make sure to include relevant keywords to help people find your blog through search engines.
- Promote your blog: Share your blog and its posts on social media, and consider reaching out to other bloggers in your niche to network and gain exposure.
- Monetize your blog: If you want to generate revenue from your blog, you can do so through advertising, affiliate marketing, sponsored posts, or offering products and services.
Starting a blog requires time, effort, and patience. But if you are passionate about your topic and committed to providing valuable content, you can build a successful blog over time.
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22 May 2023 - Added Hepper
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