When we all start blogging there is so much to learn that you find yourself plodding along and learning as you go. There’s not many of us who have a background in blogging or any idea of HTML, WordPress, Blogger, SEO etc. before we start. It’s these things which once you start getting the word onto the screen tend to come later on and you pick them up through experience, teaching yourself and a guiding hand from other bloggers along the way.
When I started I took one look at WordPress, tried to write a post and gave up immediately, moving to the Blogger platform instead as it was simpler to understand for a newbie such as myself with little experience with computers. I stayed there for 5 years happily teaching myself coding to get my HTML doing the things I wanted it to do, if I couldn’t do it I Googled and taught myself and I am really proud of the skills I acquired doing this.
5 years on though and I personally felt it was time to move over to WordPress as there was so much more I could do using plugins and various apps which I was limited from before, so at the beginning of this month I took the plunge and Emmy’s Mummy – and Harry’s too! had a facelift and a move to pastures new.
Then the minefield opened up as there are SO many Plugins and Apps available it was hard to know which to look at first, however, that’s where fabulous bloggers come into play, I asked around for their tips on which you suggest and ones you wouldn’t be without.
Kerry from Oh So Amelia has a great post showing her 11 favourite Google Chrome Extensions which she feels bloggers would benefit from, I’ve added a few myself now and they have saved a little time – something all blogger need right?
Plugins – there are just so many. Claire gives her tips on knowing which to choose along with 10 plugins for your blog which she wouldn’t be without.
One of the most popular plugins is Yoast which helps with your SEO, Katy explains just how to use this plugin and what the features do and mean in simple terms.
Mum in the Madhouse – Jen takes about the advantages of an editorial calendar in this post and takes a look at CoSchedule which is something I will be looking at over the next few weeks now and The Blog Surgery looks at apps for scheduling Pinterest
And of course if you think us bloggers get it all right first time and know everything there is to know about photo setups, fashion shoots, press events and blog events then for a little light hearted fun after all the above learning you have to read JuggleMum’s hilarious post on Blogging – behind the scenes, I’ve similar photo’s myself – as do we all.
Do you use any plugins and apps which are invaluable which aren’t mentioned here? I’d love to hear which work for you.
As always, if you’ve a topic you’d like to see covered here in the Blogging Tips Round-Up or have a post you’d like including please email me clarenich@googlemail.com or Tweet Me @emmys_mummy.
About Clare Nicholas
Clare is a former NNEB trained Nanny and former Nanny/Babysitting Agency owner, she has now slowed down a little to spend as much time with her own family as possible, a WAHM with two whirlwinds Emmy & Harry. When they aren't climbing the walls and trashing the house they like to spend as much time outdoors as possible filling their time with adventure, dog walks, days out and always finding the biggest and muddiest of puddles - when exhaustion finally hits the kids Clare shares those adventures over on her blog.
Tammy G
Monday 29th of August 2016
Thanks for this. Complete newbie here and started with wordpress. Luckily for me I have a teenage daughter to help but I have a lot to learn. This will give me some reading to do.