15 Tips to a Better Blog with Wordpress

Blogging is a simple art form, thus requires a simple publishing system. Wordpress is the link that makes powerful blogging possible.

Any newbie can install Wordpress in a few clicks and start blogging in seconds. It’s actually deceptively simple, because Wordpress offers a wide range of powerful features.

Time to introduce myself to ThouShallBlog – My name is Wynter Jones and I am a freelance web entrepreneur and I love to create blogs with Wordpress

If Yan can blog, so can I @ SiteFlipRemix

I have also created many wordpress themes and from my experience I want to offer you my 15 tips to a better blog with Wordpress! So enough about me…

Tip #1 – Install Wordpress Instantly

This is absolutely essential for all beginners and especially all seasoned bloggers. With most hosting accounts they offer what is called a “One-Click Install” or something similar. What this is, is a way to quickly get Wordpress installed on any of your domains.

This cuts the entire process of going to the website and downloading Wordpress and opening the FTP software and dropping it in. However, most hosting providers don’t have the most up-to-date versions. Thankfully, Wordpress is extremely easy to upgrade and fast.

Tip #2 – Setup Your Dashboard

You will spend most of the time on your blog in the admin dashboard: blogging, editing, configuring, theming, etc. So, it only makes sense to optimize it work with your work flow.

Wordpress offers many ways to customize your dashboard. The most obvious way to customize your dashboard is to drag and drop the modules such as “Right Now” and “Incoming Links” – Just click the header and drag it over to change the layout.

Tip #3 – Use QuickPress in Dashboard

In the newest version of Wordpress there is a new feature called, “QuickPress” which is a module on the dashboard that is a basic post editor. You can add new posts quickly and easily. Why would you want to use this over the actually editor?

You don’t, actually – however it does come in handy when you just post small or plain text blog posts. If it helps you blog faster, then by all means use it!

Tip #4 -Utilize The Dashboard Sidebar

The sidebar in the admin section is actually quite powerful. You have two options, you can have the sidebar expanded or made small to increase writing area. The real power is in the expanded version.

You can optimize it show only the few features you use most, like Posts and Appearance. When you start using wordpress more often the sidebar will naturally optimize itself.

Tip #5 -Optimize With Screen Options

This is a new option to Wordpress that is a great and slightly out of the way for most people to notice. At the top right of every page in your admin dashboard there is a button called “Screen Options”

Click on this often. On every page you go to in your admin section and see what you can click on and off – this will minimize the clutter and increase your ability to blog. Because blogging should be simple.

Tip #6 -The SEO Permalink Trick

This tip is always brought up and is absolutely essential for all blogs. Go to your Settings > Permalinks section and put in a custom tag for you permalinks – which means your URL.

%category%/%postname%/

It’s just that simple – post that in there and you will have Search Engine Optimized links on all your blog posts. It’s a super powerful feature of Wordpress. You can try variations too! Be creative.

Tip #7 -Start Tagging Your Content!

In the latest version wp 2.7 there is a advanced tag feature. Tagging your posts is just like adding categories, but you do it with shorter and more specific terms. Start tagging all your posts!

When you go to Posts > Tags in you admin section you will see a great Tag Cloud and a list of all your tags. It’s a great way to organize and interact with your content.

Tip #8 -Add New Plugins Instantly

The best way to truly optimize your blog is by using plugins. You can browse numerous plugins that are extremely easy to install and can be easily found. Go to Plugins > Add New and you can search for a plugin you need.

If you are looking for plugins to increase SEO or posting or commenting – it doesn’t matter, because there is a plugin for you!

Tip #9 -Upgrade Wordpress Right Away

New versions are coming out all the time. The best way to keep on-top of your blog is to stay updated on the latest versions. This will minimize your security risks and most importantly it will give you more features to blog with!

If you are still using a very wordpress version than you owe it to yourself to upgrade. Because there are many features that can be unlocked!

Tip #10 -Change Your Wordpress Theme

Exactly like in Wordpress tradition, you can easily browse and preview Themes that will change the way your blog looks and feels. This is probably the best feature to wordpress, in my opinion.

In the latest version of Wordpress there is a new way that preview works. When you click on a thumbnail a window pops-up and you can preview the theme. A very cool feature.

Tip #11 -Utilize The Theme Editor

Don’t be afraid to get into the HTML/CSS/PHP code! They aren’t as scary as you may think, in fact it’s all simple! You don’t actually even need to know how to write code, but you should change code around.

Get your hands dirty and change the layout or the colors or font styles through the CSS stylesheet. It’s great to make instant changes to your theme that may bug you.

Tip #12 -Use Full Screen Post Function

When you are writing your post in the editor, you have a few options to optimize the text editor. You can stretch the editor vertically to show you more text. You can switch between Visual and HTML – which is great.

You can also go full screen with the Visual editor so you can start really writing by dedicating your entire screen to your blog post. I think it helps a lot when you’re writing a lot.

Tip #13 -How to Remain Consistent Blogging

Wordpress can’t make you remain consistent as a blogger, but it sure can help you. Using the QuickPress or just by using Wordpress in general you have access to blog in a simple as possible format.

The secret to remaining blogging is by writing shorter posts! Stay specific on a topic and dig a mile deep not a mile wide on a topic. Keep it conversational, because wordpress has great comment feature!

Tip #14 – Reply to Your Comments

You are really missing out if you are not replying to your comments. Because commenting is a basic component to Wordpress and the people who take the time to write to you want your reply. In your dashboard you will see the Recent Comments module that displays the most recent comments.

You can reply to all your comments from the dashboard! Now you have no more excuse to not reply, because it’s so freakin’ easy!

Tip #15 -Use Wordpress All the Time!

That last and best tip of all: Use Wordpress all the time! Yup, that’s right the more you use it the more you’ll love it. You will save a tremendous amount of time when you’re creating your blog, writing in your blog, transferring your blog, and being a blogger while in your blog.

That is all ! In true ThouShallBlog fashion I have compiled a list that is longer than just a 100% – it’s 150% just for all the valued readers of the blog. Please leave your comments as I would love to hear your Wordpress tips too!

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