When it comes to email service providers, you have lots of choices. Of all the ones that I have tried, I like the features in Mailerlite the best, especially for new bloggers. You probably have heard that you NEED to start building an email list for your blog right from day 1. And to build …

At the risk of being controversial, I feel that self hosted WordPress is NOT the right platform for everyone. If you are wondering if it is right for you – here are important things you need to know before you start a blog. Self hosted WordPress is known for it’s flexibility and power. It started …

One great way to get exposure for your new blog is to add a custom email signature with photo at the end of every email that you write. This is how to do it and what you should include. Every single email that you send is an opportunity to give people information about you and …

As a blogger, you need to get comfortable on camera. Video is here to stay. This is how to get rid of your fear of doing video once and for all. Maybe you started blogging because you like to write. I know, you are laughing. Blogging has not been about just writing for a really long …

One of the best things you can do to grow your blog is to build strategic partnerships with other bloggers. But how do you find other bloggers to partner up with? Here are some ideas. What is a Strategic Partner? When it comes to blogging, a strategic partner can be someone who is your niche. …

Looking for organic SEO tips? Search engine optimization is an important concept that bloggers need to understand. If you can learn how to write for organic search engines then your blog traffic will increase. The Goal of SEO Put simply, the goal of SEO is to make it to position 1 on page 1 of …

You can now create a pin, crop, add a logo, and add a text overlay to pins right inside of Pinterest! This is how. Today when I opened Pinterest, I was greeted by a pleasant surprise. Pinterest has added some tools that you can use to build a pin from right within your Pinterest dashboard. …

When you start a blog, one of the first things you NEED to do is sign up with an email marketing service provider. I know it might seem weird – because your blog is new and you don’t really have anything to email people about yet. But collecting email addresses and developing a good email …

Tailwind is a Pinterest and Instagram scheduling app that can save bloggers time on social media. It is extremely useful, but is it worth it? Read on to find out. In full transparency, let me start by saying that I am an on again / off again Tailwind App customer and a member of the …

Looking for a FREE Mac color picker app to help you with your blog design? Look no further than Digital Color Meter. It comes already installed on your Apple computer! This is how you use it. Finding hex codes from images is an important part of creating: a beautiful blog, eye popping social images, and …

This is how to install a WordPress plugin on your blog. The process is very simple and generally, you can do it right from your WordPress dashboard. Note that these instructions apply to self-hosted WordPress (not WordPress.com). No matter where your site is hosted (I use BigScoots – this is why) or what theme you have …

The Monochrome Pro Theme for WordPress from StudioPress is a feature rich theme that was built to work seamlessly with the Gutenberg editor. I have used it on this site and really like it. Here are some of my favorite features. Because Monochrome Pro was built with Gutenberg, in mind some things work a little …

Your blog colors are an important part of your branding. So, you really should know what they are and how to find them quickly. Here are some tricks to keep track of your colors and a free download too. Why You Need to Know Your Brand Colors Even if you don’t do your own web …

As a blogger, you need to be familiar with image copyright. Get an understanding of what images you can use on your blog and what is not allowed. In my early days of blogging, I was really intimidated by all the beautiful photos that I saw on other people’s blogs. My life, my home, and …

Don’t resist it – you need an editorial calendar for your blog. Here are 10 tools to help you create one. What is an editorial calendar? It’s a content plan or schedule for your future blog posts. Why You Need An Editorial Calendar Just like with any business, planning ahead is key. If you own …

Your blog name is important, but it’s not worth stressing over. Use these tips to understand how to name your blog – and then get on with creating that great content. The name you choose will be your new online home, so you want to make sure that you will be comfortable there for quite …

In my opinion, using your own name as your blog name is not a good idea. But lots of successful bloggers do it – so it is a matter of personal opinion. Let me tell you a little story. Last week I received an email from a private equity company. They have a client that …

Learn how to install the Genesis Framework for WordPress. The process is a bit different than a more traditional WordPress theme. The Genesis Framework is also referred to as a “parent” theme. You will need both the framework and what is known as a “child” theme that runs on Genesis. IMPORTANT! Read This Before You …

With so many free WordPress themes out there – why should you choose the Genesis Framework for WordPress? Personally I have been using this framework for almost as long as I have been blogging for the many reasons. I know that when you first start a blog, your budget is tight. You are already paying …

Learn how to change permalinks in WordPress on a brand new blog. As a blogger, it is important that you make it easy for people and search engines to find your stuff. That is why your permalink structure in WordPress needs to be correct. A Word of Warning: DO NOT change your permalink structure in …