Ever wonder how to cite a blog post correctly so you can ethically share its insights? To cite a blog post, you generally include the author’s name, the blog post title, the blog name, the date of the post, and the URL, and you can format this information in different ways depending on the citation style you are using, like MLA, APA, or Chicago.
This is crucial for academic papers or research projects to give credit to the original source of information. For less formal contexts, like sharing a helpful article with colleagues, you might simply provide the title and a direct link. Always prioritize accuracy and completeness when a formal citation is required.
Ready to dive deeper into the specifics of each citation style and ensure your references are impeccable?
Key Takeaways
- Citing blog posts boosts your authority—it shows you’re not just opinionating, you’re anchoring.
Referencing high-quality blog content signals that your ideas are informed by credible, external insights. Readers recognize the difference, and trust grows from there.
- Proper citations protect you legally and ethically—this is more than etiquette; it’s armor.
A well-done citation isn’t just a nod to the original author—it’s a clear stance against plagiarism. It communicates respect for intellectual property and protects your work from unintended misuse.
- Fluency in citation styles like APA, MLA, and Chicago is a skillset, not a formality.
Whether you’re publishing a professional blog or academic piece, using the correct citation format reinforces your polish and adaptability. Each style brings nuance—mastering them lets your content flex across contexts.
- Strong citations don’t just decorate—they defend your arguments.
Backing up claims with respected blogs provides an evidence base that’s current and relatable. You’re not just writing—you’re inviting conversation and signaling you’re open to intelligent discourse.
- Source selection matters—don’t cite blogs just because they exist.
Before citing, assess the credibility of the blog: Is the post recent? Are the claims supported by facts or linked to studies? Avoid clickbait content that could drag down your own reputation.
- Avoiding citation slip-ups keeps your content polished and your persona professional.
Consistency in formatting, accuracy in links, and full attribution elevate your work and position you as someone who understands not just what to say, but how to say it responsibly.
Why Cite Blog Content Anyway?
Citing blog content is not just a box to check off. It shows you care about where your facts come from and value good work in your field. When you include authoritative bloggers, you make it clear that your arguments are built on a good foundation.
This goes a long way in establishing reader trust, showing people that you’ve done your due diligence and not just vomited your half-formed ideas onto the web.
Build Credibility and Reader Trust
Getting blog links from recognized muscular forces in your field makes you appear profound and educated. When you use a blog post from a respected voice, like a top teacher or a company blog with a strong name, you help readers know you did your homework.
For example, if you write about tech trends, a link to the Google Developers Blog makes your work look solid. Going the extra mile to be clear about your sources every time you pull them in establishes a new standard that’s more reliable for everyone.
Avoid Plagiarism Accusations Easily
Proper citations are your first line of defense against any accusations of plagiarism or of stealing someone else’s work. When you cite a blogger’s opinion or use their information, you show your readers that you know how to properly attribute.
This allows you to maintain the integrity and trustworthiness of your work. This not only makes your work visually and aesthetically unique, but helps you avoid the copyright legal hot water.
Give Credit Where It Is Due
Attributing bloggers and their work is only respectful. It demonstrates that you appreciate the effort and care that goes into a quality post, and it fosters a generous, respectful ecosystem.
When you accurately cite the original source of an idea, you contribute to making the blogging and online world a more transparent and trustworthy place.
Support Your Arguments Effectively
When you supplement your argument with facts and perspectives from reputable blogs, you’re bolstering your argument. A detailed blog post rich with impactful figures or trends from industry thought leaders can fill that void.
It’s how you help your audience see the forest for the trees. Further, a health post that is supported by the Mayo Clinic blog provides greater authority to your text.
Contribute to Quality Online Discourse
By linking to high-quality blogs, you help make the entire web a better place. You aid readers in discovering great information, and you demonstrate that you support free, honest discourse.
This goes a long way to let others know that blogs can be an honest to goodness source of truth, and not just noise.
What Is Blog Post Citation?
Any time you borrow concepts or information from an educational blog, be sure to provide a proper blog post citation. This provides appropriate attribution to the original creator. This is a pretty straightforward way to direct people to the actual original source.
You reveal the author’s last name—often it’s a screen name, so you have to use that when necessary—and the year it was published. In most professions, whether teaching or research, this is the step where you signal that you are committed to fairness and transparency. Readers do not just hear you; they want to see the source of your information.
Do this, and they will be left guessing, questioning the validity of your work, or worse, skipping it altogether. Citations create authority and trust. If you include them, when people use them, you allow people to fact-check you or do their own research and investigation further.
So if you reference MiddleKid’s blog post from 2007, people can follow the link and get the whole story. The citation might look like this: MiddleKid. (2007). Re: The unfortunate prerequisites and consequences of partitioning your mind. https://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2007/01/the%5Funfortunate%5Fprerequisites.php.
Here, for example, you get the author, the title, the year, and the specific web link. Now, that makes it easy to find, right?
How you format a blog post citation can vary. APA style requires the author’s last name, first initial, year, title, and the DOI or URL. If you are using MLA or Chicago, feel free to re-order or add in the date accessed.
You always link to the actual post, not just the main blog homepage. By doing so, you greatly strengthen your sink, and you demonstrate your understanding of the expectations in your discipline.
Master Different Citation Styles
If you use a different citation style, such as APA or Chicago, there are specific rules you must follow. Each style—APA, MLA, and Chicago—has its own rules and nuances. You find that learning the basics of each helps you work with different kinds of sources and keeps your work sharp and clear.
By adhering to the style and using the proper guidelines for punctuation, italics, and numerical order, you are honoring the creator’s work. He says this method is primarily about keeping the writing honest. This is an important skill to have, whether you’re a student in class, a worker on the job, or just developing your pipeline of skills for the future.
1. Identify Key Citation Elements
The main parts to note for a blog post citation are the author’s name, date, post title, blog name, and the URL. Together with the author, you need the first and last names on this one. For the date of publication, use the most complete date possible, such as month and day.
The title must be precise, and the URL must be absolutely correct. By including the blog name, you increase credibility and trust in your source.
2. Format Citations in APA Style
APA dictates that you list the person’s last name, followed by their initials. Include the date in year-month-day order, title of post in italics, name of Blog, and URL.
Like: Smith, J. (2024, March 22). How to Cite Sources. Learning Blog. Https://learningblog.com/cite-sources
3. Structure Citations Using MLA
The MLA style would begin with the author’s last name, first name, “Title of Post in Quotation Marks,” Title of Blog in Italics, Date Posted, URL.
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For example: Smith, John. How to Cite Sources.” Learning Blog, 22 Mar. 2024, https://learningblog.com/cite-sources
4. Cite Blogs Correctly in Chicago
Chicago puts the author’s first name, last name, post title in quotation marks, blog name, day, month, year, and full URL. Footnotes apply the same style but will usually abbreviate or switch the order around a bit.
5. Handle Missing Author Information
If you are unable to locate the author, list the title of the post first in quotation marks. Change the rest of the code to match, but use the blog’s name and URL to get an entry in the credits.
6. Address Posts Without Dates
In other words, when no date is found, then use “n.d.” in place. Please continue to keep the formatting exactly as we provided it in the original marked-up copy.
This proves that your sources are reputable, even if the date is not available.
7. Cite Dynamic or Updated Content
If this post is ever updated, I will note the initial date of publication as well as when it was last updated. This ensures that readers can find out the specific version you utilized.
8. Reference Embedded Media Properly
Include a line of credit for purposes of attribution, especially for any images or video assets. After the blog post citation, insert media-specific information—for photos, include “Image,” for video include “Video,” and the credit to the creator.
9. Manage Edited or Removed Posts
If the piece you’re citing has been updated or removed entirely, record the last updated/seen date and what the piece originally said.
This will maintain your record clean and will provide other people a simple way to find your supply.
Verify Blog Post Credibility First
So before you cite that blog post, make sure it’s on solid footing. A trustworthy blog post provides you with information that you can rely on, rather than just assertions. For one, you need to know if the author has credibility on this issue. Similarly, you want to verify that the site’s overall reputation is strong and that specific claims are verifiable and factual.
This section outlines how to evaluate whether a blog should be used as a credible source.
Assess Author Expertise and Bias
First, begin with the author. Review their previous work—degrees, relevant jobs, or previous articles on the same topic. If you see an author who has written a lot about one field, odds are better they know it well.
Check to see who they’re doing work for. When a tech company blog promotes its own tools, you can bet there’s an agenda. Read more adventures from Elizabeth, one of our People Powered Storytellers. If they’re fact-based and their narrative matches up every time, you build a lot of credibility.
If the author is able to cite projects or studies in collaboration with reputable universities or organizations, that goes a long way.
Check Publication Date and Relevance
Excellent sources are recent. A blog from last week on AI will outrank one from five years ago. Some posts age well, like guides on classic math rules.
As you consider the publication date, consider whether the information applies to your issue. If you don’t know which to pick, go with the newer one.
Look for Supporting Evidence Links
Blogs that link out to established authority, like academic, peer-reviewed research or widely accepted news organizations, earn more trust. These links help the blog’s overall authority and trustworthiness.
If you can find hyperlinks to prestigious journals or scientific societies, even better. You can follow these links to defend your own argument with supporting evidence.
Evaluate Overall Site Reputation
We all know blogs that are famous for regular, rich content, and then there are those that basically pump out clickbait. Sites with many positive reviews or that appear at the top of popular review aggregators are more reassuring.
If new content is regularly published and the writing is simple and straightforward, that’s a plus. Make sure the site or blog post has good domain authority. You can check this by using tools like Moz or Ahrefs.
Avoid Common Citation Errors
If you’re not sure and are looking to cite a blog post, avoid the common citation errors and get the basics down. A lot of the general public gets hung up on minor errors, and that can damage the credibility of your research.
I always look for the most common mistakes: using the wrong format, skipping key info, or picking unreliable sources. You can use three clear ways to cite: add a link with a clear note, give a direct quote and link to the main post, or use a footnote at the end. There’s a right way and a wrong way, and you obviously want to do the one your instructor or your guide wants you to do.
Getting Formatting Details Wrong
Don’t let formatting pull you down. Each style, like APA or MLA, has its own rules for capitalization, italics, and how to set up each line. Individually formatted, for instance, APA still requires that the title of the blog be in italics and the title of the post in sentence case.
Use quotation marks for the blog post title, but not for the blog name. Consistent spacing and hanging indents create a professional presentation of your work. I find it helps to check a few real examples, like: Smith, J. (2023, May 10). How to cite a blog post. BlogMaster.https://blogmaster.com/citation-guide
Forgetting Essential Information Pieces
A complete blog citation should include the blog post’s author, post date, title, blog name, and a stable URL. You might be particularly keen to ensure that the web link is functional.
If a key date or author can’t be found, it weakens what may otherwise be a strong product. That’s why I have a checklist for every post, so every angle is discussed.
Using Unreliable Blog Sources
You don’t want to be on blogs that post bogus stories or not-really-news with no basis in fact. You’ll be able to see whether the blog has an eye-catching title, uses decorative nonfiction, and supports assertions.
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I fact-check information found on blog sites against academia/government/trade association sources. When a site like FolioWebsites makes changes or sets rules, you need to show the source stays up to date.
Not Checking for Content Updates
Things are different, though, with blogs. I often go back to see what edits or updates have been made because FolioWebsites often will update new story content, or in some cases, completely remove a post.
Whenever something is updated, I go back and update my citation to reflect the newest post. I mark down when I last checked a cited link, so my cited sources remain fresh.
Enhance Your Content’s Value
By supplementing your original, well-cited blog posts with this kind of work, you give your writing additional mass and texture. When you use fair and transparent citations, you demonstrate that you put in the effort to research the topic from all angles.
This practice allows your readers to understand your research process and helps them build trust in your final work product. Bonus, when you link to quality sources, it raises your authority because you look like an expert who knows the industry.
Show Thorough Research Effort
By taking the time to use blog posts from a variety of sources, you demonstrate that you did your due diligence. For instance, if your topic is improving time management, title articles by business executives and educators.
It’s this impactful blend that sets your work apart and gets you noticed. When you clearly cite your data sources, you give readers more reason to believe your assertions.
Link to a blog that aggregates examples or stories of practice. Next, create higher value with a dedicated post providing this detailed contextual data or strategic advice. In this manner, you can dig deeper and provide a more complete look at the topic.
Help Readers Explore Further
Including links to related blog posts allows readers to continue going deeper. You can include a callout listicle at the end, like “Top 5 Blogs to Read for More Help with Time Management.
Providing links or recommendations to related posts that expand on the topic or address tangential issues helps readers stay in your orbit. This strategy contributes to creating an ethos of learning with you, which further deepens reader development.
Boost Your Own Authority
When you cite credible expert blogs, you demonstrate that you’re more than just a beginner in the space. Connecting those related to more familiar names begins to build reader confidence in your content.
When you consistently use quality sources, your readers will learn they can trust you. This practice will place your work next to other heavy hitters in your field.
Conclusion: Citation as a Creative Act of Credibility
Citing a blog post might feel like a formality, but here’s something often overlooked—it’s actually a creative decision. Not creative in the sense of invention, but in how it shapes your authority, aligns your voice with credible others, and reveals what kind of thinker you are. The way you cite, the sources you choose, and the care you take in attribution all reflect your commitment to clarity, fairness, and intellectual honesty.
In a digital space flooded with unverified noise, citations don’t just add polish. They serve as quiet declarations: I’ve done my homework. I respect the process. I’m here to contribute something meaningful. And that’s what makes your content trustworthy—not perfection, but integrity.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the correct way to cite a blog post in APA format?
To cite a blog post in APA (7th edition), include the author’s last name and first initial, the year and month of publication, the title of the blog post (italicized), the name of the blog (if different from the author), and the full URL. Example:
Smith, J. (2022, October 15). Why productivity hacks fail. Work Smarter Daily. https://worksmarterdaily.com/productivity-hacks
APA emphasizes the date and author to help readers assess the credibility and recency of your source. This matters especially in academic or professional contexts where source validity is key.
How do you cite a blog post in MLA style?
In MLA (9th edition), a blog post citation typically includes the author’s full name, the title of the post in quotation marks, the name of the blog (italicized), the publisher (if different), the date of the post, and the URL. Example:
Doe, Jane. “How to Grow Herbs Indoors Year-Round.” Homegrown Green, 12 Jan. 2023, www.homegrowngreen.com/herbs-indoors.
MLA favors clarity and consistency in formatting, making this citation format ideal for literature, humanities, and education-related writing.
Can you cite a blog post in Chicago style?
Yes, the Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition) allows citing blog posts in two ways: notes and bibliography or author-date. For the notes and bibliography method, a blog post citation looks like this:
1. John Perez, “The Startup Struggle,” Founders Weekly, June 4, 2023, https://foundersweekly.com/startup-struggle.
In the bibliography, it would be listed alphabetically under the author’s name. Chicago style is often used in history, publishing, and social sciences, where source transparency and chronological accuracy are critical.
Do you need to cite blog posts in non-academic writing?
Yes, you should cite blog posts even in non-academic writing, especially when you’re quoting directly, paraphrasing insights, or referencing original data. For blogs, a simple link with the author’s name or blog title is usually enough in informal contexts. Ethical sourcing builds trust with your readers and shows respect for the creator’s intellectual property. Transparency also boosts your own credibility and authority as a writer.
What should you include when citing a blog post?
A complete blog post citation typically includes:
- The author’s full name
- The blog post title (in quotes or italics, depending on the style)
- The blog name
- The date of publication
- The full URL
You don’t need to include a retrieval date unless the content is frequently updated or at risk of being changed. Consistency and accuracy in these elements reflect well on your professionalism.
How do I cite a blog with no listed author?
If a blog post has no listed author, most citation styles allow you to begin with the title of the post. For example, in APA:
How to Fix a Stuck Zipper. (2022, September 8). Daily DIY Tips. https://dailydiytips.com/fix-zipper
This keeps the citation usable while acknowledging that the author is unknown. When in doubt, check if the site credits the author in a byline or metadata.
Why is citing blog posts important for gaining audience trust?
Citing blog posts builds trust because it shows readers that you value transparency and accuracy. When you credit your sources, you allow others to verify information and explore further. It also positions you as a responsible and ethical content creator. In our experience, readers are more likely to return and share content when they feel it’s honest, well-sourced, and respectful of others’ work.
