Blog Growth

12 WordPress Blog Examples: Best Practices for Aspiring Bloggers

November 21, 2023

WordPress is the go-to platform for countless bloggers worldwide.

Why?

Because it’s versatile, user-friendly, and customizable.

But here’s the kicker: for aspiring bloggers, it’s not just about having the right tool — it’s about seeing it in action.

Real-world WordPress blog examples can be great sources of inspiration and insights.

So, if you’re ready to dive into the blogosphere, you’re in the right place. Let’s explore 12 WordPress blog examples and uncover the secrets to successful blogging.

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Why WordPress?

Powering 43% of all websites, WordPress stands as the most popular content management system worldwide.

With WordPress, your options are limitless. Whether you’re building a simple blog or a complex website, it adapts to your needs, giving you the creative control you seek.

You don’t need to be a tech wizard to start crafting your online presence. With its intuitive features, WordPress is a welcoming platform for beginners looking to make their mark online.

Best practices for WordPress blogging

If you want to run a successful WordPress blog, here are some practices to keep in mind.

The importance of an appealing design

Ensuring the visual appeal of your blog is essential for capturing and retaining readers. Here are the key elements to focus on:

  • Choose a clean and user-oriented theme
  • Use high-quality images
  • Create a clear navigation menu
  • Keep the layout organized
  • Use readable fonts and colors

The role of consistent and quality content

Consistent and top-notch content keeps your audience coming back for more. To achieve this, consider the following:

  • Stick to a posting schedule
  • Offer valuable information or entertainment
  • Proofread your posts
  • Engage with your readers in the comments
  • Maintain a consistent writing style

The relevance of mobile optimization 

To enhance your blog’s reach and accessibility, consider these mobile optimization tips:

  • Prioritize loading speed
  • Choose a responsive theme that adapts to different screen sizes
  • Format your content for mobile readability
  • Test your blog on mobile devices to guarantee it looks and functions well
  • Compress and optimize images for mobile devices to reduce page load times

The power of SEO

SEO is the key to unlocking your blog’s discoverability on search engines. Here are some essential practices on how to achieve that:

  • Use relevant keywords in your content
  • Optimize images with descriptive alt tags
  • Create both internal and external links
  • Write engaging meta descriptions
  • Submit your sitemap to search engines

12 WordPress blog examples

The following examples highlight WordPress’s flexibility in catering to various interests and creative endeavors.

1. TechCrunch

screenshot of TechCrunch

(Image Source: TechCrunch)

  • Niche: Tech
  • Best practices applied: Audience-centric content, clean design, streamlined navigation, optimized for mobile

Key features

TechCrunch is a good WordPress blog example focused on technology and startup news. Its audience includes tech enthusiasts, business-minded individuals, startup founders, and global investors.

TechCrunch’s site design is crisp and easy to read. A clean white backdrop and black text ensure excellent text visibility. It also has a user-friendly sidebar on the left, simplifying navigation through the blog and encouraging readers to check out other articles on the blog.

This WordPress blog is a noteworthy example for bloggers aiming to create an accessible platform.

What can you learn from this blog?

  • Implement streamlined navigation
  • Update your content regularly to stay relevant and maintain reader interest

2. Ahrefs

screenshot of Ahrefs blog

(Image Source: Ahrefs)

  • Niche: SEO
  • Best practices applied: Ongoing content updates, optimization for mobile, and SEO

Key features

The Ahrefs blog delves into topics related to content marketing. Categories include keyword research, link building, SEO basics, and SEO tools.

The blog uses star symbols following specific post titles to improve the user experience and emphasize its unique content. These stars mark articles recommended for readers looking for high-quality information. This practice makes the blog’s content easy to access.

What can you learn from this blog?

  • Prioritize the user experience to guide readers to top-quality content
  • Optimize your blog for mobile users to boost accessibility

3. 9to5Mac

screenshot of 9to5Mac blog

(Image Source: 9to5Mac)

  • Niche: Apple products
  • Best practices applied: Up-to-date content, engaging user experience, user-focused navigation

Key features

Being a part of the Apple fan club, 9to5Mac is an excellent blog about the latest news and reviews of Apple products. When you visit their homepage, you’re greeted with a vibrant collage of pictures and attention-grabbing headlines just below the menu bar.

When you hover your cursor over those images, they zoom in a bit, inviting you to dive into the stories. This interactivity enhances user engagement and sets an example for creating captivating content.

By incorporating attention-grabbing headlines, 9to5Mac sparks curiosity, encouraging visitors to explore more content and spend more time reading the blog.

What can you learn from this blog?

  • Focus on a specific niche
  • Cater to a dedicated audience by tailoring your content effectively

4. The Zoe Report

screenshot of  of The Zoe Report blog

(Image Source: The Zoe Report)

  • Niche: Women’s fashion
  • Best practices applied: Comprehensive and varied content, user-centric design

Key features

American fashion designer and stylist Rachel Zoe curates The Zoe Report. It features articles on fashion trends and insights into celebrity fashion and lifestyle.

The Zoe Report takes navigation to a whole new level. Click on the Menu button, and watch the magic unfold. The navigation menu dances down from the top, taking over the entire page. It’s a playful design choice that sets this blog apart. This distinctive approach demonstrates the importance of innovative design in capturing readers’ attention.

What can you learn from this blog?

  • Implement a user-centric design
  • Consider innovative navigation menus

5. MyFitnessPal Blog

screenshot of My Fitness Pal blog

(Image Source: MyFitnessPal)

  • Niche: Fitness, nutrition
  • Best practices applied: Prominent homepage features, email list-building, and engaging headlines

Key features

The blog encompasses healthy food recipes, weight-loss tips, and workout guides. When you visit the site, you’ll see an invitation to subscribe to the MyFitnessPal newsletter. This is a good way to get more email readers.

The blog’s main page also has a slider featuring headlines and pictures from its most popular articles.

What can you learn from this blog?

  • Highlight your most prominent features on the homepage
  • Encourage email list signup for greater reader engagement

6. TED-Ed Blog

screenshot of TED-Ed blog

(Image Source: TED-Ed)

  • Niche: Education
  • Best practices applied: Diverse educational content, engaging design, visual storytelling

Key features

The TED-Ed blog provides educational articles covering a wide range of topics.

Most articles on this website use illustrations instead of photos — an example of visual creativity in content presentation. It demonstrates that innovative design elements can engage and educate the audience effectively.

What can you learn from this blog?

  • Think of unique designs to showcase your content
  • Visual creativity can make educational content more appealing

7. Colossal

screenshot of Colossal blog

(Image Source: Colossal)

  • Niche: Art, design
  • Best practices applied: Optimized for mobile, eye-catching visuals, regularly updated content

Key features

The Colossal blog is famous for celebrating visual culture and connecting art with a global audience.

One notable feature of Colossal is its emphasis on high-quality visuals. The website incorporates large, high-definition images within its articles, exemplifying the need for compelling visual content to captivate the audience.

What can you learn from this blog?

  • Eye-catching content captures viewers’ attention in an instant
  • High-quality visuals increase reader engagement

8. Minimalist Baker

screenshot of Minimalist Baker blog

(Image Source: Minimalist Baker)

  • Niche: Cooking
  • Best practices applied: Intuitive design, enhanced user experience, optimized for mobile

Key features

The Minimalist Baker blog encourages simple cooking with just a few kitchen tools.

The blog’s intuitive design ensures visitors can quickly locate their desired content. This not only keeps readers engaged but also encourages them to explore more of what the blog has to offer.  

What can you learn from this blog?

  • Intuitive design keeps readers engaged
  • Visuals that appeal to people’s senses encourage further exploration of the blog

9. Flickr Blog

screenshot of flickr blog

(Image Source: Flickr)

  • Niche: Photography
  • Best practices applied: Visual impact, community engagement

Key features

Flickr, a top photography website, boasts a global contributor base. It hosts a custom WordPress-themed blog covering diverse photography topics.

Despite its minimalist design, the blog has a vibrant look due to its contributors’ brilliant photos. The Flickr blog demonstrates how stunning images can enhance a site’s appeal and engagement.

What can you learn from this blog?

  • Create a custom WordPress theme tailored to your niche
  • High-quality photographs are the key to captivating your audience

10. TextExpander

screenshot of Text Expander blog

(Image Source: TextExpander)

  • Niche: Sales, HR, customer support, programming
  • Best practices applied: Clear navigation, readily accessible menu

Key features

The ‘TextExpander Blog’ is a valuable resource for learning how to work smarter, not harder. It provides insights and tips for streamlining sales, recruitment, customer support, and software development. The website’s search feature improves accessibility to specific articles or resources.

What can you learn from this blog?

  • A responsive design goes a long way toward building a loyal audience
  • Branch out into multiple content niches if your capabilities allow it

11. MarTech

screenshot of Martech blog

(Image Source: MarTech)

  • Niche: Digital marketing
  • Best practices applied: Clear navigation, content variety, optimized for mobile

Key features

MarTech is on a mission to help marketers tackle their challenges. It’s an online hub for everything marketing and technology.

The blog covers six marketing topics: transformation, data, operations, experience, performance, and management.

The About page sets a great example with its info about the site, its mission, topics, and content. The homepage highlights webinars, white papers, events, and reports. It’s a one-stop shop for everything MarTech provides.

What can you learn from this blog?

  • Ongoing content updates keep the audience engaged
  • Focus on sharing content that’s highly relevant to your audience

12. Anywhere We Roam

screenshot of Anywhere We Roam blog

(Image Source: Anywhere We Roam)

  • Niche: Travel
  • Best practices applied: Minimalist design, consistency in layout, storytelling through visuals

Key features

Anywhere We Roam is a travel blog by travel companions Mark Barnes and Paul Healy. They write about their adventures, including hiking, traveling in extreme conditions, and wildlife experiences.

When you visit Anywhere We Roam, you’ll see stunning images on every page. The clean and aesthetic layouts make the content more captivating. This design choice enhances the user experience and keeps readers engaged.

What can you learn from this blog?

  • Storytelling is a great technique to keep readers engaged
  • Focus on user experience through captivating design choices

Common themes among successful WordPress blogs

Successful WordPress blogs often have common characteristics. Here are a few examples.

Personalized user experience

Personalization has become crucial for successful WordPress blogs. Nowadays, people want content that’s just right for them.

The best blogs make visitors feel like the blogger truly gets them. In addition to the content itself, they do this by suggesting content or sending customized emails.

Strong community engagement

The secret sauce of successful WordPress blogs? Building a thriving online community.

Being part of an online community encourages readers to chat, comment, and share their content. It creates a sense of belonging and a feedback loop that enriches the user experience.

Integration with other platforms

Successful blogs don’t limit themselves to WordPress. They branch out. Social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram are part of the social-sharing game.

Email marketing keeps subscribers in the loop with newsletters.

Continuous learning and adaptation

Have you ever noticed how top WordPress blogs keep getting better? It’s because their owners are flexible, eager learners.

The best bloggers are open to new plugins, enjoy exploring fresh topics, and adjust as WordPress evolves. That’s one of the secrets to staying on top.

Tools to enhance your WordPress blog

Consider these essential tools if you’d like to take your WordPress blog to the next level.

SEO plugins

The official WordPress directory offers close to 60,000 free plugins.

Among these, SEO plugins like Yoast SEO and All in One SEO Pack stand out. Through keyword optimization, they provide insights about enhancing the visibility of your blog on search engines. The result? Higher rankings and increased organic traffic.

Social sharing plugins

Want more readers and more interaction on your WordPress blog?

Social sharing plugins like Social Warfare and Monarch can help. They add sharing buttons to your content, making it a snap for readers to share your posts on social media.

Design and customization

Making your WordPress blog more attractive to readers should also be part of your enhancement measures.

Tools like Elementor and WP Bakery can help you change your blog’s design, layout, and style. There’s no need for technical skills — these tools have simple drag-and-drop features.

Analytics and monitoring

You also need to keep an eye on your blog’s performance.

MonsterInsights and Jetpack are like your personal blog detectives, revealing how your site is doing. You can track popular content and site performance. This data helps you make informed decisions to grow your online presence.

Start your own blogging journey

Real-world examples can be invaluable guides that’ll help you kick things off.

Apply the tips and ideas from the WordPress blog examples showcased in this article to craft your own unique online presence. Generate content with care, engage your audience, and prioritize visual appeal. Make sure to stay consistent, and don’t forget about mobile optimization.

With these best practices in your toolkit, you can create a blog that connects with your readers.

Explore other Wordable articles for more insights into creating, publishing, and promoting your content online. Your blogging journey starts here!

Ioana Sima
Ioana Sima is the Marketing Manager of TextMagic. She has a master’s degree in architecture and 9+ years of experience in digital marketing. She is in charge of all TextMagic marketing initiatives and oversees the go-to-market strategy for Touchpoint - the company’s new customer service platform.
Ioana Sima
Ioana Sima is the Marketing Manager of TextMagic. She has a master’s degree in architecture and 9+ years of experience in digital marketing. She is in charge of all TextMagic marketing initiatives and oversees the go-to-market strategy for Touchpoint - the company’s new customer service platform.