I just can’t believe it’s been 10 months I have been blogging.
I remember how long it took me to hit publish on my first post!
I’m still a novice at blogging and I’m learning every day.
Today, I thought I’ll share with you different technical aspects I have learned about blogging: things I like to do with my blog and preferences when I read other blogs.
1- About the pictures
- I use the free program Microsoft Paint to reduce the number of pixels of my pictures so they are easier to download and I crop them before posting them on the blog.
- I use the free program Watermark.ws, which has a great choice of colours and characters, to watermark my pictures.
- When I post pictures of recipes or craft, I try to always have a white background. I just feel the picture is clearer and the food/craft looks better.
- When I post pictures on the blog, I think bigger is better. This is why I use the full size option.
- I try to insert pictures in my posts as much as I can but they have to be relevant to what is discussed in the posts.
2- About the writing
- The size of the font should be big enough so it’s easy to read the post. I struggle to read small (by small I mean smaller than the one I use) and also pale fonts.
- I like when there are different font sizes and different colours used in a post. This is an aspect I’m trying to work on.
- Another aspect I’m trying to work on is to write shorter paragraphs, even if it means only one sentence in the paragraph.
3- About the linky parties
- You all know how amazing it is to link your post to a linky party. The community is just fantastic. I know we are all busy but commenting on other posts is important. This is what contributes to build the community. Sometimes, I don’t have time to go around the posts on the same day but I always get there at some stage during the week.
- After commenting on the posts in the linky, I also visit the blogs of the people who commented on mine. Sometimes, I have nothing to say on their post of this specific day but I try to find another post to comment on.
- If you are not a blogger, you still can comment. Salwa over at Salz’s Dummy Spit wrote a great post on this subject.
4- On the general look of a blog
- Install the widget “Search” on the sidebar of your blog. Sometimes I’m looking for a post. I know on which blog I saw it but I just can’t find it. This is where the “Search” widget comes handy.
- Write an “About” page. I like to know who is behind the blog I’m reading. If the person wants to stay anonymous, I still believe it’s important to have some sort of description about who the blogger is.
What do you like or dislike with the blogs you read?
What do you like or dislike on my blog and what are your suggestions to make it better?
What have you learned with your blogging journey?
Linking this post with Jess over at Essentially Jess for I Blog on Tuesdays and with Grace over at With Some Grace for FYBF.
{ 51 comments… read them below or add one }
great observations Rita! time to start planning your bloggaversary party maybe??
Have really enjoyed reading your blog the last few months. -Aroha #teamIBOT
Thank you so much Aroha! I’m so glad we connected. Love your blog! As for the bloggaversary, I’m planning to move my blog to self-hosted! Exciting time ahead!
I enjoy reading in general on all subjects. So I’m constantly reading on something, on your blog or other blogs. You have great ideas and it’s easy to read your posts.
Thanks so much for your support Claudia!
There is so much to learn isn’t there? After a year and a half, I’m still experimenting with the look of mine, and things like font size. I’m a bit hopeless with photos and I don’t tend to share a lot of my own – I think that’s something I need to work on. I like the layout of yours – it’s bright, clear and easy to read. I try hard to get around to all the posts on my favourite linkys too. I don’t always make it to all of them, but I love the way it helps me discover new blogs and connect with my faves.
There is always something to learn and things move so fast too! It’s very hard to read all the posts in the linky parties but I try to read as many as I can and comment to at least ten or more.
easy to read is a must! fussy fonts or a black background, makes me go cross eyed! I like reading what people like/dislike about blogs.. I think we can always take something away from it! I like IBOT, as it encourages me to explore new reads… like yourself!
Yes, linky parties are really a great way to discover new blogs. Thanks so much for stopping by!
I don’t think I will ever know it all – with so many changes all the time. But I love sharing like you. I wouldn’t change anything unless you want to!
There will always be something to learn Annaleis. Personally, I learn everyday new things.
I’m still learning, so it’s always great to read hints like this. Thanks Rita
Thanks for reading Lisa!
Hi Rita! I also did a “what I’ve learnt” post for this #IBOT. The difference is yours is actually useful! I’m going to check out that watermark site as I create my own graphics that I’d like to protect. I also agree about the link parties – I’d love to participate in more of them but I don’t because I wouldn’t have time to give the other posts the time & comments they deserve.
I loved reading your post Rachel! This is exactly what I think regarding the linky parties: I would love to participate in more of them and they are so many interesting ones out there but I don’t link my posts if I think I won’t be able to comment on other people’s posts.
Yes, all important tips. I thought I knew quite a lot about blogging already when I started Redland City Living in December (I had another blog before that) – NOPE! Sometimes I feel like I’ve barely scratched the surface!
Totally understand the feeling Janet!
Some great advice! As a new blogger as well any and all advice is good! Thanks for the info!
I’m happy if these tips can help!
Fantastic post Rita, lots of great info in there for newbies, fairy wishes and butterfly kisses lovely
Thank you Rhianna!
Thanks for the bloggy tips- I’ve wondered how to watermark photos. 2 more months before the big first birthday!
Yay! I like this website to Watermark photos. The downside is that you can upload only 5 pictures at a time.
I agree in all that. Never used Microsoft Paint tho, I am more of photoshop-er and firework-er
White background I say YES to that!
Microsoft paint is a great free program for simple fix for pictures. I did my header with it too.
Great tips Rita
There’s always so much to learn isn’t there? I totally agree with engaging and building a community , I haven’t been able to do that a lot over the past year due to personal commitments but trying to change that this year. Keep up the fab work xxx
Thanks Sabeen. I think the most important thing about blogging is being able to connect with others and build a community.
Absolutely x
My, you have learnt a lot on your journey!
It won’t stop me from continuing to read, but I find posts with too many photos a little difficult to get through. But I guess sometimes a picture does say 1000 words…
I understand Grace. Too many pictures and the reader can lose track of what the post is about.
I agree about the ‘about page’ – I found out a lot about your post. I’m still learning about blogging and have much to change and do also – I just don’t have the know how yet. Love your post and your honesty
Em
I think it’s impossible to know everything Emily. You just need to take the plunge and learn as you go. I’m happy to help if you have any questions.
Great tips Rita. I’ll have to checkout the paint program.
I’ve just checked and my font is smaller than yours. I hadn’t thought of that being an issue before but I might have to enlarge it I think
I think your font is actually good Jess. I looked at it after reading your comment and I think it’s about the same as mine.
Great info Rita. Thanks for the tip on watermarking. I have been meaning to get around to doing this but always run out of time.That is one thing I learnt, is you need to lend a lot of time into maintaining a blog.
Absolutely! Maintaining a blog take heaps of time but it is such a rewarding experience!
I love reading your blogs. I feel like everytime I read your blog, I agree with every word you write. I feel like there’s a little part of me in it (exept for the knitting). Continue the great work. I can’t wait to read more. xxx
Thank you so much for your lovely comment Nancy! I’m so glad you like it!
Congratulations on hitting 10 months, I am snapping at your heels on 9 months. Judging by what you have said you have learnt a lot more than I have in your short time blogging.
I agree that getting involved in linkys is a great way to find other blogs that you wouldn’t necessarily have found. I would like to participate more often but I feel that if I don’t have the time to read and comment on the other blogs in the linky then it is not right that I link up that week. So one of the things I have learnt in my time blogging is that I need to get better at time management!
I learnt about watermarking my photos with iwatermark from http://www.withsomegrace.com. I had never even heard of it before I read her post.
I hear you on the time management. I really need to be more organised to be able to fit in everything I want to do in a day. I agree with you regarding the linky parties, I feel it’s not right to link and not comment or read other’s posts.
Thank you for sharing Rita – I will be trying out a few of these things.
It helps so much to see what others are doing as there is so much to learn
Becc @ Take Charge Now
Yes, I think it’s great to be able to share with each other what we have learn and be able to give tips and tricks to each others too.
I remember learning (albeit 6 months into blogging) that for your blog, pixel size should be 16, and not to break the left hand margin of your blog posts to allow better reading for those who visit. So half my blog pays attention to those rules, and the first half, I have no idea what is going on!
I think linky parties are good – but only if all reciprocate. They can be a bit hit & miss.
(via FYBF)
The pictures really need to be the right size, other way they take heaps of time to download and it can be annoying for the reader.
Great tips Rita! It’s been 6 months now that I’ve been blogging. While I have learned quite a bit, I feel that I still have so much more to learn (mainly the techy stuff). I want to change the look of my blog and maybe even the name. There are also other things I want to do with it, but I will need to go self-hosted. I’m a bit scared of self-hosted but I think I will have to start investigating a package that will also offer design. Min xo
I understand what you mean Min. I finally bought my package for self-hosted last week but had no time to play with it. I’m terrible at all the tech stuff and it took me a while to take the plunge because I was and still am very scared. But, if you need any help or questions, don’t hesitate to ask me. I will be more than happy to help you.
Short and informative is a must on blogs. I’m an interiors blogger so it has to be pretty too. There’s always something new to learn.
Dropping in via fybf.
Carolyn
Pictures really need to be nice and well presented. Thanks for stopping by!
Woohoo on 10 months, Rita – you’ve shared some great tips there and all this blogging stuff is such a steep (but fun!) learning curve! xx
It is indeed a very interesting learning curve Shari.
Great post Rita. Thanks for sharing! I have never heard of watermark…so thank you.
Pleasure Zanni!