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WordPress tips
Should I create a Facebook page?
0835 days
by Peter F.
in WordPress tips
Yes yes yes yes yes yes yes! Here’s my philosophy: Anywhere there is to place your blog feed automatically, do it! If you could post your blog articles once and have them automatically post in multiple places on the web, why would you NOT do it?
Here’s a list of sites that allow you to create a profile and post your blog feed automatically. create a facebook fan page
If you know any resources not listed here, be sure to let us know!
LinkedIn create a facebook page
Twitter
Facebook 1
Tumblr
WordPress.com 2
Networked Blogs 3
Blogger.com 4
1 – to create a Facebook fan page, First create a Facebook profile. Next, go to this page and follow the instructions. create a fan page
2 – WordPress.com allows you to simply add an RSS feed to any site of your choosing. Add it to your sidebar, and add about 5 of your best articles as posts and/or pages for content.
3 – Takes a little work to set up, but is a fairly wide network. Requires a Facebook profile.
4 – This one’s not very effective. It only displays 5 of your earliest titles. Wouldn’t waste your time here. create a facebook fan page
How to update WordPress
0902 days
by Peter F.
in WordPress tips
WordPress is a free blogging tool that is used for thousands of websites every day. You can create a blog for anyone to see worldwide, or you can start a private blog that only your friends can view. Periodically, upgrades are required to improve speed and security features.
Instructions
1 Check your computer’s system requirements before starting the WordPress upgrade. Install the latest versions of PHP scripting language and an open source database, such as MySQL. Log in to WordPress to access your blog.
2 Back up your database. This includes all of your pages, links, posts and comments that appear on your blog. Go to “phpMyAdmin” from the MySQL web host, then follow the instructions for selecting the database that you want to save.
3 Save all of your WordPress files that are located in your directory and “.htaccess” file. Use or install an FTP client so that you can download the files from the web host to your computer’s hard drive for backup.
4 Confirm that the backups are usable. Make sure they are visible and accessible from your local computer. The files may be stored in sub folders.
5 Go to the administration panel, then select “Plug-ins.” Then, deactivate all of your plug-ins on your WordPress page.
6 Download the upgraded WordPress package after you’ve completed the steps above. This can be accessed by going to “Download” at the WordPress site. A new “wordpress” folder should appear on your computer.
7 Delete old files in case uploading did not overwrite some existing files. Access the FTP client to complete this process. Then, upload the new files to your server after upgrading to the new version of WordPress. Check WordPress to find out which file names to delete and which ones to update so that you don’t experience computer problems later.
Read more: How to Upgrade WordPress | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_2125978_upgrade-wordpress.html#ixzz16X15HTQy
How to Get Blogging Inspiration
01039 days
by Peter F.
in WordPress tips
One of the toughest things about maintaining a blog is — you guessed it — coming up with content. Content generation can be a constant struggle. However, you can get blogging inspiration from many sources. If you are wondering “What should I blog about?” my first suggestion is to write about what you know.
Sit down and have a brainstorming session. Grab a pen and paper. No idea is a bad idea. First, write down any topics you can think of. Second (this one may not be so obvious), write down a list of resources that could provide blogging inspiration. I personally have a list of favorite blogs for my industry. When I feel low on article ideas, I open up my reader and see what they’re writing about. It keeps me up to date, and gives me ideas of my own.
Write about your career in general. You might be an expert in your field, but the people you’re writing for probably are not. Even if you think your career is boring, others may find it interesting. blogging for money
You could also write about the things that happen in your office every day. Writing about the latest office gossip might be a bad idea, unless you write anonymously. But, there could be some funny stories or interesting tidbits in your workplace. Depending on your blog’s readership, general goings-on like births, marriages and success stories might be appropriate.
News stories often serve as blogging inspiration. You can express your opinions about current events and how they relate to your industry, or to your readers personally. Write about favorite celebrities or report on television interviews (people like to be informed, but it’s tough to pay attention to everything).
The environment is a hot topic. There are dozens of green blogs with tips ranging from fuel conservation to choosing a low-flush toilet. Sustainable gardening, landscaping and general living are other topics. How might environmental concerns be impacting you, your readers, or your industry? blogging for money
You may be asking, “What should I blog about if I find none of these subjects appealing?” My first question is: “What do your readers find interesting?” You don’t have to be interested in a topic to write about it.
My second question is: “What do you like?” You might like to play video games. You may be good at knitting. Your passion could be books or art. Whatever you enjoy, write about it. Readers connect with the human element, so throw some of that into your articles.
Internet users like review-type blogs. You can write about products that you have purchased recently. Whether they were good or bad, just write an honest, unbiased review. You will be helping people and you might even make some money.
So, now you’re asking, “What should I blog about if I want to make money?” Many bloggers make money by attracting advertisers or signing up for affiliate programs. Others create and promote their own products.
I and other affiliate marketers get their blogging inspiration directly from product manufacturers. Their blogs provide details about the products they are promoting. Many manufacturers provide this info on purpose — they WANT you to promote and sell their products. If someone buys the product as a result, you could make a small commission. blogging for money
Are you still asking what should I blog about? Gambling, investing, saving money, raising a child, religion, the economy, DIY projects, getting a loan, building good credit, etc…the list goes on and on. Ask your readers what they want to hear or learn about.
Your blogging inspiration could be anything in the world. Just start writing.
How to choose a WordPress theme
61106 days
by Peter F.
in WordPress tips
Choosing a theme may sound like a simple process. Many are free, others are reasonably priced… and there are 1,000′s of options out there. So while it’s great to have so many options, it can make theme hunting a daunting process.
We’re going to divide theme assessment into different aspects you should consider while deciding on a theme. Don’t rush the process, but don’t get hung up in the process either. One thing to remember is that themes are plug & play. If you try a theme and don’t like it, or it doesn’t work right, you can quickly and easily switch to another theme. So don’t fret too much about picking ‘a bad one’. designed by elegant themes
Budget and Uniqueness
The first step is to settle on your budget — How much are you willing to spend on your new website? Any theme (free or purchased) can be tailored to add features — such as a personalized header — giving your site a unique look and feel. how to choose a wordpress theme
Quality themes usually range from $20 – $70. This saves you from paying $500+ to get a customized, quality website, while increasing the odds that your site will not look like another.
Over all aesthetics. designed by elegant themes
How professional should your site to look? If you are looking to make money, or represent your business online, you should shoot for a more professional look. Use your target market as a guide, and choose something that they can relate to easily. Though not 100% true, themes for purchase are generally more professional looking, or require less customization. Consider, if you have a logo, does it match the layout? Colors: Any colors can be changed. Some are more difficult than others. If you have a tight budget, it is best to choose a theme that already has colors closest to what you’re looking for as a finished product. how to build your own website
Layout.
I’m always a fan of a clean, easy to navigate layout. Themes give you many options as far as number and placement of sidebars, info boxes, ad boxes, etc. If you don’t know EXACTLY how you are going to use these features, opt for the simpler layouts. I suggest a 2-column layout for beginners. Here are more thoughts on sidebars and layout: wordpress elegant themes
- 2-column layouts – these are better for beginners, and overall preferable. 2-column layouts are generally cleaner, and easier to navigate. It’s always nice for your visitors to not have to do any guess work. 2-column layouts are also good to use if you have a lot of blog content visitors will be scrolling through, because you can display many items to the side for them to see as they read your content.
- 3-column layouts – these should be used if you AND your visitors are more advanced bloggers. 3-column layouts can make a site look cluttered and confusing if not used properly, so you should only use this kind of layout if you have a very specific plan for using it.
how to build your own website
Search Engine Optimization
If SEO is extremely important to you, there are themes with SEO assistance built in. Do a simple Google search for ‘seo wordpress themes‘ (or click on the link). You may have to sacrifice aesthetics for an SEO theme, so we suggest getting the theme of your choice, then use a plugin to help you with your SEO. wordpress elegant themes
Features elegantthemes.com
Changing width, various sidebars, multiple layout options, Twitter feed, social networking, sliders, lightboxes, photo galleries… There’s a long list of features that are often built into themes. What a theme doesn’t have built in can usually be remedied with a plugin. Note that a feature-rich layout may come with a learning curve. Bear this in mind, and schedule time to sit down and learn how to use your theme optimally. how to build your own website
Support. elegant wordpress themes
Purchased themes usually have some kind of support included. Free themes – you’re usually on your own. Be sure to look at the source of your theme, and see what kind of support is available. If you’re less technically inclined, this may be important.
Spam Links. elegant wordpress themes
Be wary of hacking. Some free sites have code embedded in them that places spammed links on your site. Sometimes these links don’t show up for a month or so. Don’t let this stop you, as the links can usually be removed (contact our professionals if you think your site has been spammed), but be aware that this can happen.
Searching for themes. elegantthemes.com
To search for free themes, do a simple search for ‘free wordpress themes‘, or ‘best free wp themes’. Try throwing in some descriptor words that match your industry, such as ‘wordpress construction themes’, or ‘wordpress author themes’. how to choose a wordpress theme
For the best quality themes, we suggest you start here:
- WordPress.org approved sites – this resource is of FREE themes that have been screened for malicious code, and approved by WordPress.org
- ElegantThemes – beautiful themes! Full access to all their themes for a very low price.
- Voosh Themes – these themes are low-priced, clean layouts, and spam free
- WooThemes – These are top-quality, feature-rich themes, with full support, and well worth the purchase
To spam or not to spam?
0seo placement
My thoughts on the subject?
1) Yes, these are spam messages. keyword seo
2) If you approve them, it won’t help with your SEO*, but it can make it look like your site is getting traffic, which encourages others to participate (the point of a blog). But it won’t fool seasoned bloggers, so it’s a judgment call. keyword seo
3) Be aware that you can edit your comments before you approve them, so take advantage of this fact. There’s no shame in editing these anonymous comments to look a little more legitimate. But only do this until you’re getting a steady flow of real visitors and real comments. Caveat: If you approve these types of comments, REMOVE ALL LINKS IN THE HYPERLINK AND MESSAGE FIELDS.
Another question was: stop spam comments
Well…
Some spammers are really good mimickers. But you can usually recognize them by the generic nature of their town, and the linkbacks are often to products, not a “real-person” type website. spam blog comments
So, why don’t ALL the spammers take this more subtle approach? Spam is like throwing a pot of spaghetti against a wall and seeing what sticks. Spammers have no respect or regard for others, so they don’t care if they throw their spaghetti on you! Some bloggers don’t have any regulation on their comments, so the less subtle spammers are hoping to get posted on some of those blogs. If you are monitoring your comments (as you should), then you’re less likely to fall victim to these guys.
Finally, be sure you’re using Akismet. Using Akismet helps you filter the spam, and save you loads of time. Do keep an eye on Akismet, as a few legitimate comments may slip through now and then and be mistakenly filtered.
Happy Blogging!
* – SEO has become a grossly misunderstood concept. I’ve encountered countless people chasing after the ‘Golden SEO Egg’ thinking it guarantees them loads of traffic and free money. To help dispel this myth, we’re constructing a series of SEO articles. Stay tuned!