Adding plugins to a WordPress blog adds functionality, but can cause slowdowns in website load time. Which WordPress plugins are best for bloggers on a budget? Which WordPress plugins are essential for a smoothly-functioning blog? In this post, we will explore the absolute best WordPress plugins for frugal bloggers. You will find out which plugins … Read more
It’s that time of year, everyone. What time is it? It’s time to announce the finalists for the second annual Encouraging Blogger Award! In an effort to recognize inspirational, encouraging bloggers, I’m happy to present this year’s finalists. The reach of this award continues to expand. Once again, we have five finalists who passed the … Read more
It’s that time of year, everyone. What time is it? It’s time to announce the finalists for the first-ever Encouraging Blogger Award! In an effort to recognize inspirational, encouraging bloggers, I’m happy to present this year’s finalists. I’ll also announce the winner further on down the post. At the end of the post, I give … Read more
I’ve been nominated for a few blogging awards in the past. Each time, I always felt very encouraged. The award nominations were also terrific ways to recognize other bloggers. When I paid each nomination forward, it gave my nominees a boost as well. However, I never learned the results of being nominated. Who actually won … Read more
I’ve made no secret of the fact that Pinterest drives a lot of traffic to my blog. I was very excited when the creator of the Ultimate Pinterest Guide provided me with free access to her e-course for review purposes. I was able to work through the course at my own pace, as it was … Read more
One way to keep visitors on your website longer is to include interactive elements, such as embedded video. I have experimented with many types of techniques when embedding a video in WordPress. Some turned out well (see my post about SEO secrets), others were pretty rough (you can’t see those because I deleted them). After … Read more
**Update note: With Google’s Helpful Content Update, initiated in 2024, many blogs using the strategies listed below experienced major traffic declines. This post has been revised to included only those SEO tips which may still be helpful in the current blog climate. Many are best practices to maintain a well-organized blog. These SEO Secrets are … Read more
Needing to design a logo for your business? Whether it’s a blog, website, or other entity, it’s nice to be able to create something easily without needing many technical skills. Read on for a review of a logo design option called DesignEvo. My DesignEvo Backstory I appreciate when technology companies contact me and ask me … Read more
Looking for an easy graphic design tool for non-designers? Learn about VistaCreate (formerly known as Crello), a simple graphic design tool for those of us who are graphically design challenged. Here you’ll find an overview of the program and tips for using it. It’s a snap to get started with a free account. Important Name … Read more
How do bloggers stay organized? How does anyone stay organized? How does someone blog part-time while working full-time? Important: Even though this was written with bloggers in mind, many of these organizational tips and tools can be used for a variety of purposes. Now that I’ve been blogging for a while, I’ve been doing some reflecting … Read more