2012 is almost over, and your blog is looking a little dusty, right? Let me guess – you want to tweak how it works, feels and looks (whilst trying to keep up with the current web trends) in time for the new year? No matter if your blog is the place you share notes from your latest recipe, highlights from your recent travels, or simply your daily musings – I’ve put together 13 quick and helpful tips to help clear out the cobwebs and make your blog attractive, functional and ready for 2013.
- If you want to learn how to create something unique for your blog (or grab some freebies), jump onto digital resource websites like Webneel, The Finished Box or Naldz Graphics for tutorials on a variety of digital projects. They also have plenty of free digital content – including icons, graphics, fonts and backgrounds.
- Don’t forget about the myriad of free blog templates and themes available across all major blogging platforms. Changing up your blog layout/template/theme could give it the fresh look that it needs – just like re-arranging your lounge room!
- Get a cool new plugin or app for your blog – anything that measures your blog’s activity or instills some creativity/productivity would probably be a good start.
- Social Media isn’t just for Millennials – if the Queen has a Facebook page, the Dalai Lama is on Twitter and your blog isn’t – you better jump on the bandwagon quickly. An active Facebook and Twitter presence is one of the best ways to connect your blog with like-minded individuals.
- Many bloggers today not only create content, but also share other people’s content via their blog. If you give credit (with a link) when its due – there will be no angry people flooding your inbox.
- Learn to utilise tags and categories in your photos, videos and blog posts. This will make your blog’s content much easier to search through.
- If you’re interested in tracking the popularity of your links, you can use online tools such as Bitly – to not only shorten (and disguise) the link, but to also track the number of clicks and saves it receives.
- Don’t think well on your feet when it comes to your social updates? Look into social management tools like Hootsuite that can schedule updates for whenever you set them.
- If your creative light-bulb sometimes dims or flickers, jump onto Pinterest or Stumble Upon to get inspired!
- Fancy yourself as an amateur smartphone photographer? Link your blog and social media profiles with your Instagram app, and use Webstagram when you’re browsing on your computer.
- If you need a free online alternative for Photoshop, jump onto Pixlr (which I actually used to create this thumbnail) or iPiccy to do your own simplified image editing.
- Pay attention to the little things – alignment, spelling, sizing (etc) of content on your blog will either entice or deter visitors straight away.
- Don’t procrastinate (too much) when it comes to your blog. Sit down and write that post, upload that photo, share things… and make it a productive 2013!
Hope you got some good tips and ideas – leave us a comment if you have any other ideas! Cheers, Olivia.
Don’t forget about the myriad of free blog templates and themes available across all major blogging platforms. Changing up your blog layout/template/theme could give it the fresh look that it needs – just like re-arranging your lounge room!
Get a cool new plugin or app for your blog – anything that measures your blog’s activity or instills some creativity/productivity would probably be a good start.
Social Media isn’t just for Millennials – if the Queen has a Facebook page, the Dalai Lama is on Twitter and your blog isn’t – you better jump on the bandwagon quickly. An active Facebook and Twitter presence is one of the best ways to connect your blog with like-minded individuals.
Many bloggers today not only create content, but also share other people’s content via their blog. If you give credit (with a link) when its due – there will be no angry people flooding your inbox.
Learn to utilise tags and categories in your photos, videos and blog posts. This will make your blog’s content much easier to search through.
If you’re interested in tracking the popularity of your links, you can use online tools such as Bitly – to not only shorten (and disguise) the link, but to also track the number of clicks and saves it receives.
Don’t think well on your feet when it comes to your social updates? Look into social management tools like Hootsuite that can schedule updates for whenever you set them.
If your creative light-bulb sometimes dims or flickers, jump onto Pinterest or Stumble Upon to get inspired!
Fancy yourself as an amateur smartphone photographer? Link your blog and social media profiles with your Instagram app, and use Webstagram when you’re browsing on your computer.
If you need a free online alternative for Photoshop, jump onto Pixlr (which I actually used to create this thumbnail) or iPiccy to do your own simplified image editing.
Pay attention to the little things – alignment, spelling, sizing (etc) of content on your blog will either entice or deter visitors straight away.
Don’t procrastinate (too much) when it comes to your blog. Sit down and write that post, upload that photo, share things… and make it a productive 2013!
Hope you got some good tips and ideas – leave us a comment if you have any other ideas! Cheers, Olivia.
