This week, I thought I would wrap up a few blogging tips I have learned… from tutorials, from helping friends, from playing with my own blog, and a few from bloggy boot camp, as well!
Hopefully there is something here for everyone:
Blog fun fact #1:
Typing <center> before and after the code in a widget will center it in your sidebar.
Blog fun fact #2:
You can make blog buttons (and Twitter backgrounds, and headers…) with Picnik! I learned how to by following this tutorial from Linda Sellers. Also, you can use Photobucket (for free) to link your pictures or buttons and get html codes.
Blog fun fact #3:
Use Google Analytics to track how many people visit your site and learn how they get there.
Blog fun fact #4:
Do you see that box under my button (over there on the right)?
You use it to make your button easily “grabbable.” Yes, that’s a word that I made up. But it fits in well, don’t you think?
Do you want a grab box of your own? Shabby Blogs has a great tutorial to help you make one. It’s actually pretty easy!
Blog fun fact #5:
I find a lot of helpful tips from these blogs:
Go ahead… add them to your reader… I’ll wait…
Oh, you don’t know what a reader is? Sorry…
Blog fun fact #6:
Using a blog reader (such as Google Reader or Bloglines) helps to get all of your blogs organized in one place, and makes it easier to read them. A must for anyone reading more than 5 blogs.
Blog fun fact #7:
Get a gravatar. They make it easier to recognize you when you leave a comment, and look pretty in your address bar :)
Blog fun fact #8:
If you have WordPress, you should check out these plugins:
SexyBookmarks (allows users to share your posts via email, Twitter, Facebook, etc…)
Askimet (finds spam!)
WordPress back up (enough said. Ahem.)
Broken Link Checker (uhh… checks. broken. links.)
If you have Blogger, um… sorry.
Blog fun fact #9:
Rename your photos. Google likes “Jacks_firsttooth” better than DSC00056
Blog fun fact #10:
Make your buttons and pictures link to email you!
Here’s an example:
<center><a href=”mailto:youremailaddresshere” target=”_blank”><img src=”http://yourphotobucketpicturehere” border=”0″ alt=”Photobucket”></a><center> Text that you want under your picture<center>
Let me know if any of this doesn’t make sense… I’d be glad to answer any questions that I can!
