I receive emails at least once to three times a week with questions about how to do something on WordPress. I work with a lot of clients that are new to WordPress and are not sure how to navigate around it. My new answer for everyone is wpLifeGuard - Learn to use WordPress from Beginner to Advanced. This site is freaking awesome and I recently added it to our Resource page. I decided to check it out first before I told everyone about it. They have several videos that are free and a good starting point for beginners. If you pay their one time fee of $29 you have access to all of their videos which are more advanced. Currently they have 39 videos but they add more regularly. I decided to pay the $29 to see all of their videos and there was a lot of new stuff I learned as well. I've … [Read more...]
How to Use Window’s Live Writer with your Blog
If you are a consistent blogger like I am, then you get frustrated by the super simple text box version that came with your blogging platform. I use WordPress for my blog and I hate the fact that adding photos and videos and spacing text is so incoherent and difficult to make look presentable. Well, I finally found a solution to my problem and that is Window’s Live Writer. Window’s Live Writer allows you to edit your blog posts on your actual theme. That means you can see what it will look like before you ever post it, without endless trips to the preview button. This makes it much easier to change fonts, colors, add photos in the right position and more. Not only that, but Window’s Live Writer lets you put frames around your photos so they stand out better, helps clarify your … [Read more...]
How to Setup a Self Hosted WordPress Blog
The benefit of having a Self Hosted WordPress Blog is that you completely OWN it. I made the move from Blogger.com to WordPress.org on January 2012 and it was the best decision I could have ever made. This tutorial will show you how to setup a NEW WordPress Blog. If you want to switch your current Blogger.com blog to WordPress then check out this DIY Book. We also do transfers for new custom designs or past customers. Step 1 - Choose a Domain You will need to purchase your own domain name. I like to purchase my domain names through GoDaddy. Reason being is that I can find many coupon codes on the internet for GoDaddy. Helps save a little money. I will be using GoDaddy for this tutorial. Step 2 - Setup a Hosting Account You will need to purchase a hosting service account. Two … [Read more...]
Getting Photos For Your Blog
Blogs are meant to be informative but they should also be fun and colorful. Photography is the key to adding flavor and life to the text in your blog. However, just because you are a good writer, doesn't make you an expert photographer or artist. Even if you are a good photographer, you may not be able to get a picture of certain things you write about easily or affordably. How can you get free photography for your blogs? Websites That Offer Free Photography Stock photos have been around for years. You see them in advertisements, newspapers and websites. A lot of websites charge for a subscription fee or a flat rate per photo. You might even recognize stock photo models or scenery from time to time. Paid sites like shutterstock.com and istockphoto.com can get you photos at an … [Read more...]
Connect your Posts to Google+
I had several people ask me if there is a way to have your posts display automatically to your Google+ page. I recently saw a post from Blogger Buzz and this is what it says. Back in October we made it possible for Blogger in Draft users to use their Google+ profile on their blog. This option is now available to all Blogger users, and as a result, we're starting to roll out the first of many Google+ features. Starting today, if you have linked your blog to your Google+ account you will be presented with a prefilled Google+ share box immediately after publishing a post. The share box will contain a +snippet of your post that you can share with your circles on Google+. Of course, you can disable this sharing prompt at any time on the "Settings - Posts and Comments" page. And you … [Read more...]
How to Create a Google Plus Page and Add the Badge to your Blog
I've heard the rumor that Google may be getting rid of Google Friend Connect (GFC). Although I am not completely sure that this is true but I've decided to create a Google Plus Page just in case. Please click on this link to follow my Google Plus Page https://plus.google.com/114649329554336976659. Our Friday Blog Hop will now be a GFC and Google Plus Page Hop. I also created two videos for you below if your not sure how to create the Google Plus Page or how to add the badge to your blog. How to Create a Google Plus Page How to Install your Google Plus Page Badge … [Read more...]
31 Days To Build A Better Blog 2012 Edition
The 2nd edition is based on the first one (31 days of teaching and activities) but has had some significant updates including: - every day in the challenge has been updated for 2012 - most days have new further reading and case studies - it now is more social with Twitter integration - 7 bonus days (readers now effectively get 38 days of content) The first edition of this eBook has sold tens of thousands of copies so they're expecting great sales for the 2nd edition too. Have big dreams for your blog? Loads of improvements sitting in the 'one day' basket? Visitor numbers a little embarrassing? You're not alone, and there is a solution... Best-selling eBook, 31 Days to Build A Better Blog, is designed specifically to help you revitalize your blog -- one step at a … [Read more...]
