12 blogger essentials for your success

Certain areas are rather blogger essentials that you can’t ignore.  Having a strategy is crucial.  In this article, I’ll focus on the must-have types of tools that bloggers should use to achieve success.

I’ve been a solopreneur for 12 years, and a blogger for 8 years (updated). Since the start, I’ve used online tools in different ways. Having had an online shop and sites, I’ve experienced various options.

Blogging essentials for the better

A professional serious blog requires taking a strategic approach.  As a passionate content creator, you care for your profession or side hustle.  Along with having a strategy, you need to choose the right tools to progress.

I’ll list 12 types, and also link to some that I use and trust.  You may find related info articles, as well as specific product reviews.  If you’re a blogger looking for ideas on what works, this post is for you.

Here are 12 blogging essentials:

1. Platform and web hosting
2. Plugins
3. Email Marketing Services 
4. SEO Services 
5. Social media integration
6. Analytics 
7. Productivity apps
8. Spellcheck
9. Skill building 
10. Security 
11. Compliance
12. Finance and Accounting  

Platforms 

Where to publish articles?  Find 10 platform options.  Consider the pros and cons before choosing your best fit.

Plugins

I’ve had experience with self-hosting, as well as easier CMS options.  Plugins are a key part of using self-hosted WordPress.org.  

You can choose which ones you want, based on the features you desire.  However, some are must-haves, especially security and compliance plugins.

Email list

Define your audience avatar.  Know your target audience and ideal buyer personas.  You may be selling your own products, or services, or just into affiliate marketing.  Build an email list to nurture your leads, as they opt into your newsletters.  You can contact them when relevant.

SEO

Search engine optimization concerns organic search.  It’s also relevant to social media channels through keywords.  Site visibility often depends on moody, unreliable algorithms.  Diversify your sources of traffic to spread the risk.  

Social Media

Social media integration supports your site.  Use it to bring readers to your site.  It’s great to post about trending topics, and repurposing existing content.

I’m on 4 platforms.  However, those that tend to drive traffic to my site are mostly X, Facebook, and Pinterest.  Instagram doesn’t bring me much site traffic. 

Analytics 

Use analytics tools to access insights.  Your site, email marketing service, and social media platforms benefit.  Through stats, you can make better decisions to reach your goals.

Productivity

Time management is a must for any successful activity.  Without it, you waste your time, energy, and resources.  Have a framework, use proven methods, and handy apps, like I do.

Spellcheck

Spell-checking and grammar correction are inevitable.  Anyone can make mistakes.  Bloggers often work solo, and gain support from using relevant software and apps.  

Skill building 

Blogging is an ever-evolving activity.  New SEO trends, changes in AI, and much more.  I value that this makes it exciting, and not stagnant.

Some skills are evergreen, while others are more short-term.  For example, social media platform features tend to evolve all the time.  Ongoing learning and practicing are best for skill building.  Taking online courses, reading ebooks, and attending webinars support me.

Security, compliance, and accounting 

Last but not least, the not-so-glamorous part of blogging.  Your site needs security protection.  Have proper legal pages on your site.  Keep up with your finance, accounting, and taxation obligations.

Strategy with blogging essentials

Strategy is crucial, and tactics support it.  A strategic approach and the blogging essentials go hand in hand.  While you set up goals, the tools are part of the implementation part.  They help achieve your content creation success.

Choose your tools carefully.  Consider what you want to achieve, and the options available on the market.  I have a related post on great online tools for new solopreneurs.

Ensure that you have the right blogger requirements that suit you best.  Consider your strategy, goals, and budget.  It’s natural to start small and build on that to achieve long-term growth.

Conclusion 

Blogger essentials equip you for the better.  They support your site for better success.  Choose the right ones for yourself, supporting your goals.

Are you looking for recommendations for blogging platforms, web hosting, email marketing, SEO services, and productivity?

Find my complete list of tried and tested platforms, software, and apps.

Head over to my resources page for more!

Editor’s Note: This blog article was last updated on 04 November 2025 for better accuracy and comprehensiveness.