I wrote a post a few months ago detailing some of the best WordPress plugins you can install on a new blog. While those are still my favorites, I wanted to point out a few others that can make your blogging life easier. Keep in mind that there's a tradeoff when you use plugins - they allow you to do certain things that might be too complicated to do yourself, but they can also bog down your site and cause it to load slowly. Always make sure that you can't accomplish what you need in another way and that you truly need a plugin before you activate it. (And if you're in doubt, ask someone!) More Must-Have WordPress Plugins Pretty Link - If you use affiliate links, you'll love Pretty Link. When readers hover over a link and see something ... Continue Reading
How to Get Free Blogging Help
I spend time every day helping people with their blogs. I work on projects for my clients, sure, but I also answer tons of emails and spend hours switching between multiple chat windows trying to help my friends. Don't get me wrong - I love to talk blogging, especially when I can help people understand something new or make their sites better. But I also want to make sure they (and you!) know how to find help in case I'm not available. Google is Your Friend I wish I had a dollar for every time I've said or typed this. It's just the truth! You can literally find the answer to ANYTHING through a Google search, but you have to know how to word your searches. Let's say you want to put social media icons in your blog's header. You know it ... Continue Reading
How to Update Your WordPress Theme Safely
With the recent update to WordPress 3.4 (now 3.4.1 as of this writing), many WordPress theme creators also released updated versions of their themes. I received quite a few emails from clients who wanted to update to the latest versions but were scared of losing all their customizations. While that fear is understandable, there are a few easy steps you can take to prevent any loss of data or settings when you update your website or blog. 1. Embrace the importance of updates. You wouldn't believe how many times I log into a client's dashboard to find that the theme, plugins, and even the WordPress core haven't been updated in ages. The fact is, those updates help your site function more efficiently and often contain patches that protect ... Continue Reading
Review: MBP Bring My Blog Visitors Back Plugin
This week, I had the opportunity to try a brand new plugin from MaxBlogPress - The Bring My Blog Visitors Back Plugin. I've lectured you guys before about the importance of offering RSS subscriptions to your readers, and the fact that you should publish full posts in your RSS feeds. Lots of people tell me they know they should, but the thought of it freaks them out. But then people won't visit my site! What if people don't bother clicking through to comment? My traffic will be horrible! I understand those concerns, but I also believe that people WILL visit your site if your content is compelling. That said, MaxBlogPress has come up with an outstanding new plugin that will put your concerns to rest. What the Plugin Does Bring My Blog ... Continue Reading
