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8.16.2012

{blogging tips, tricks & resources}

I’ve been wanting to do a post like this for a little while now. There are a lot of posts about different aspects of blogging, but this one is just about little things that I’ve found that might help you out.

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Here you go, a whole bunch of randomness…

If you connect both your Instagram and Twitter, make sure you use the same handles. That way when you tag someone on Instagram and tweet it, they will be tagged in Twitter as well.

If you have a PC and use Blogger, use Windows Live Writer! I promise it’s a thousand times better than using Blogger. It’s like using Microsoft Word, and just clicking Publish at the end. So easy! And so much more efficient.

A trick that I’ve learned recently about Windows Live Writer: you can save hyperlinks for certain words, so that when you type them, they are automatically hyperlinked to the correct location. For example, I’ve done this for Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest, among other things. To do this, just go to your Options > Automatic Linking and click add. This can save a ton of time.

I use Google Chrome for my internet browser, and I’m a big fan of the plugins available. My favorites are the Pinterest Pin It button by Shareholic, Bit.ly, and Tweetings for Twitter. I love that I can tweet and pin and save bookmarks directly in my browser without having to exit to another page. If you want to download any of these, just go to the Chrome Web Store and search.

Speaking of Bit.ly, If you haven’t used it yet, I highly encourage you to do so! You can save a bookmarks from your browser (if you use the plugin), and keep track of how many times people click through. I’m sure there are other things you can do with it, but that’s all I really do.

Margaret from Floral & Frayed mentioned on Twitter that you should resize your images before you put them into Blogger. If you use Windows Live Writer, you can do it when creating your posts, but if you post in Blogger, you can’t specify pixel size without going and modifying the HTML.

Brittany from Life, Set Sail mentioned on Twitter that posts always look nicer when you justify the paragraphs, and I agree.

{av} from Long Distance Loving wrote a really great post recently about how to find your passion in blogging again. Definitely go read it if you need some inspiration!

It’s been said before, but it needs to be said again, remember to link your email address to your Blogger profile, and don’t go around asking people to follow you back in your comments! It’s rude.

What do you think? Did I miss anything? What tips and tricks and resources do you have to share with other bloggers?

14 comments:

Simply Splendid LOVE said...

Great! I totally agree about asking people to follow them back. That drives me crazy!! I need to read av's post about finding your passion in blogging. I think that would really give me some good inspiration. Thanks girly!

Rachel said...

I really love this! I needed to read this...agree all of your tips--really enjoyed the links and their suggestions, too!

Anonymous said...

I LOVE that tip about windows live writer! I activated it and I keep meaning to try it but then I forget.

Brittany Messner said...

Loved reading this Joelle! Thanks for the mention by the way...you are such a sweetheart ;)

I'm also interested in Windows Live Writer. My husband is building a PC this weekend and I'll probably start doing some blogging on that. So thanks for the tip - I'll definitely try it out!

xx -b.

Jay said...

I can't stand the "maybe we can follow each other" comment!

I wish Apple would get on a 'Live Writer' program - I don't think there's anything for Mac yet.

steph anne said...

Great tips! :) I'm a sucker for polka dots so of course I love the tape!

Millie said...

Waoh, I really loved this post. All your ideas are so simple yet so helpful. Thank you so much!

Yvette said...

Thanks! I didn't know about the hyperlink in Windows Live Writer! So helpful!

Ley said...

I love, love, love you for introducing me to Windows Live Writer! Also bonus love for mentioning the auto-hyperlinks.

Also--super agree about the "follow me back!" thing. It drives me nuts. I always check out the blogs of my commentors, but it makes me think twice when they beg for it.

Unknown said...

Great tips!! Pinning now =)

ali v. said...

many thanks for the shout-out, friend! enjoy your weekend! xoxo {av}

Brittany said...

I was going to ask if there was an equivalent for Apple. That sounds like a fantastic program! (Especially when my internet goes out and blogger has a heart attack.)

Britney {Jesses Girl} said...

Great post!

Unknown said...

Such awesome tips! Better then the normal "don't do this, don't do that" tips. With the windows live writer, can you only set up to link to your own URL's... I guess I'm a little confused by this.