One week ago I attended our WordPress & Blogging refresher course here at VI with our blog training extrodinaire, Beth Gasser. This post is meant to share some of the great tips and ’Ah-Ha’ moments that I took away from the class with those of you who could not be here. You missed out! At the very least by reading this I hope you will take away a new and valuable tip about blogging with WordPress so you can continue to blog like a rockstar.
I have to admit, in full disclosure – I do not consider writing to be my forte. It is sometimes painful for me to write a blog post once a week BUT after the class I left with much less pain and more belief in the simplicity and power of the blog. This is written for those of you who need a little inspiration and might be able to relate!
Michelle’s Top 5 WordPress & Blogging Tips Taken from Class
- First, write the entire blog/article then go back and add photos, and link up your content. I used to try to find that great photo to insert and link up content right away as I was typing. My old way was a time sucker. We all want to save time, right? Don’t be tempted to make the blog pretty until the end.
- Not inspired to write something new? Look through the content of the pages (usually static information) in your existing website. Turn the page sitting idle into a blog post! Bring out that underutilized hidden asset on your website to the forefront. Remind your customers/followers it’s there – and spice it up a bit perhaps in the post.
- Shorten a lengthy blog with the “read more” tag button. If you’re like me, you read the headlines and if they are too long you may not take the time to read the article in the first place! Plus you will save precious real estate on your website by shortening your latest post.
- Your blog article headline is gold for the search engines and for the PEOPLE searching! Write everything for human beings. You want them to find you and listen to what you have to say, right? Keywords, popular phrases, etc. are important to include in your blog headline. There is a little strategy and creativity involved here.
- Link up your current blog post with older post content. (If you clicked on this blue link you’ll see what I mean!) Now with the latest version of WordPress, it will automatically give you the option to link a previous article/post within the new one you are writing. Your readers might stay longer on your site and find more good things they didn’t know you had to offer!
Did you learn something new? Are you inspired to write your next blog post? Is there anything you are struggling with in WordPress we can help you with?
I’d love to hear from you and ease your pain! Comment below or connect with me more personally michelle@vimm.com or (320) 296-3053.
Hi Michelle – good post. Can you tell me where I find that “read more” thing? I haven’t done that.
Thanks!
~Terry
HI Terry,
It’s the “More” tag in WordPress. Just make sure your cursor is where you want the “Read More” to show up in your article before you click on it. It looks like two boxes, and is left of the spell checker icon.
Excellent article Michelle.
Thank Michelle! The information you shared was helpful. I’m one step closer to starting my blog! Hopefully, one day I can blog like a rockstar too!