It makes me really happy to know that there are a lot of people going into blogging. I have been blogging for over 5 years now, and it has been a learning curve for me. I soaked in all I needed to like a sponge and I am still learning something new everyday. I know the impact a successful blogger can make in the world. And it is amazing to see how the industry keeps growing and growing.

Although a majority of bloggers start off with little or no knowledge about blogging, it’s not something to worry about. You can learn along the way and the best way to learn is on the job.

As a guide I put together a list of qualities I believe every good blogger should have. This will help you know where you’re at right now and what you need to work on. Remember, it’s a journey. Just take it one step at a time.

Quality #1: Passionate

This, for me, is the most important quality of a good blogger. To succeed, you have to believe in something with such a passion that it becomes a reality. ‬If you’re passionate about something, it gives you the zeal to stay consistent. Not only will you consistently share your expertise in the area you’re blogging about, your passion will fuel you to going.

Quality #2: Authenticity

I see a lot of bloggers copying from other bloggers. It is so noticeable that you can literally feel that something is not right about blog if the blogger goes from blog to blog, copying content.

As a blogger, you’re not just blogging to inform people. You’re showing off your personality, you’re sharing your perspective, you’re adding your own style to things. To do this effectively, you need to be 100 percent unapologetically you.

Quality #3: Knowledgeable in niche

One of the reasons why people read blogs is to be informed. In order to be of value to your readers you need to be knowledgeable enough in your niche to share information that your audience are looking for. Or at the very least, be extremely interested in your niche that you can’t help learning more about your niche. This ensures that you always have content to share on your blog and you don’t run out of ideas.

Quality #4: Dedication

Blogging is not easy. You have to come up with blog post ideas, write your posts, edit them, and then promote your blog posts. All that takes time and a lot of effort.

That’s why you need dedication so you can keep providing great content and to keep going no matter the work load involved in running your blog.

Quality #5: Genuine interest to provide value

People blog for different reasons, but the ones who are genuinely interested in providing value are the ones who succeed. You need to realize that you are serving people through your blog, when you are concerned about them you find yourself giving the best. And that is what attracts more readers to your blog.

When you’re genuinely concerned about your readers, your primary focus is to give them value.

Quality #6: Great marketing skills

This may put you a little on the edge but you need to market your blog. Marketing your blog includes learning about Search Engine Optimization (SEO), social media marketing, content marketing and influencer marketing. Of course, you don’t have to learn all those things at once. But you can learn some strategies, apply them and follow-up with the ones that resonate with you the most.

Quality #7: Organization

You don’t grow a blog by posting blog posts spontaneously. You need to be organized and systematic about it.

Great bloggers have an editorial calendar. They have specific days they publish their blog posts and the keep track of all their content so that they can link back to them when the need arises.

Successful bloggers have a strict writing schedule they follow so that they always have content ready for their blog. They have a detailed marketing strategy so that their blog goes in front as many people as possible.

Quality #8: Great at networking

If you thought blogging only involves you typing away on your computer, then you’re wrong. Successful bloggers make friends with other bloggers. They build quality relationships with people in their niche.

It’s good way to put yourself out there. Good networking skills help. Huge opportunities beyond blogging, could land on your laps if you network right   You may be invited for speaking engagements, collaborate on big projects and pursue your passion at a deeper level.

Quality #9: Ability to express yourself clearly

The success of your blog depends on how articulate you are in your writing. Majority of the successful bloggers I know are good writers. They are respected for the clarity of their message and how they put their words together.

That’s why it is extremely important for you to proofread every blog post you write. Make sure that you observe correct spelling and punctuation rules. Your readers are meant to enjoy reading your articles so there must be a flow. And the blog posts should be easy to read.

Quality #10: Consistency

Consistency is a quality every blogger must have to run a successful blog. When you post consistently, you give your readers something to look forward to. They will get to know when to expect your content. Inconsistency can make you lose your readership because they will never know when to expect a new post.

What do you think of these qualities of a successful blogger? Did I miss any major quality?