Blogging

BLOGGING TIPS WRAP UP

Retirement Reflections

Thank you to everyone who has contributed to this series. I’ve greatly appreciated the generosity and thoughtfulness of the tips shared. I’ve tried to include as many of the suggestions as possible (without overwhelming your inboxes). Again, some of the ideas have been paraphrased. For more blogging strategies and details, please check out the comment sections for this series. If you usually skip past comments, give them a try. Regardless of the post, I always learn so much from the remarks shared.

I also appreciated readers taking the time to fill in the survey. The results surprised me. I was sure the favourite blogging tip would have focussed on timesaving. I was delighted that this free WordPress poll was easy to administer. My apologies to those who needed to switch browsers to take the survey. Why can’t browsers all get along?

This series has given me tons of opportunities to experiment further with different graphic tools, as well as with Gutenberg. (I know, I know…but it does get easier — honest!) For this post, I tried my hand at layering backgrounds by lowering their transparency. I also played around with animated graphics for my retirementreflections page, which you can view here.

Have you experimented with something new lately — on your blog or in your daily life? If so, please share. And if you’ve posted about it, feel free to add a link so that we can read more.

Feature Photo: Ian Schneider – Unsplash
Images Resized With: PixirX

Published by Retirement Reflections

Prior to retirement, I lived and worked in Beijing China for fourteen years (Middle School Principal/Deputy Director at The Western Academy of Beijing). Leaving international life behind, my husband and I retired to Vancouver Island in June 2015. To document both this transition and our new adventures, ‘Retirement Reflections’ was born. I hope that you enjoy reading these reflections, and will be willing to share your own.

88 thoughts on “BLOGGING TIPS WRAP UP”

  1. Donna, Your blogging tips posts have shared wonderful gems. You obviously have hit a chord with how many bloggers appreciate these tips. You are right, I learn a great deal from the comments, as always. Everything about this post and past posts, excellent! Thank you!xx

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    1. Thanks, Erica. It’s been a fun series. It all started because I offered to take notes for you on our group discussion that you needed to miss. I’ve loved how so many people have joined in and shared their best tips. I’ve also learned some cool graphic tools along the way!

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  2. Thank you, Donna, for this series! Clearly (for me) there is still much to learn and improve upon, even after 11 years of blogging. Now that I am retired, I have no more excuse not to up my game 😁.

    Deb

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  4. All great tips again, Donna! This was a wonderful series and I’d love to see it pop up again from time-to-time. I like to keep the visuals on my blog page pretty clean but you really have inspired me to try add a bit more zing to my posts! As far as new things… I finally figured out how to add a simple (at least it was in the classic editor) bulleted list to my post. I was struggling for days, then I clicked on “group” and it worked. Not very intuitive, but at least my headache has been cured.

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  5. Thank you for including my suggestion. There are some really good ideas here and I’ll be checking out some of those other bloggers. I tried to pin your “blogging tips” graphic to no avail. So one more suggestion, make graphics and images pinable. 😁 I’m getting more familiar with Gutenberg and actually starting to like it. Change can be hard, but many times it’s for the best. Guess ya can teach an old dog new tricks 😏

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    1. Hi, Ingrid – Thank you for adding this tip about making our graphics pinable. I’m not a regular Pinterest user so completely missed this step. I’m delighted to read that you are starting to enjoy Gutenberg. It’s received some bad press lately. Hopefully, others will begin to enjoy it as well!

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  7. Great wrap-up, Donna. You are a pro now! I wish I had the patience to experiment with all of the recent WordPress changes. I get frustrated too easily. Thanks for including my Book Brush suggestion. I did use Canva for years, but I found Book Brush to be much easier for a non-techie like myself.

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    1. Hi, Jill – You are very kind. I’m definitely not a pro, but I’ve been having fun. I’m not sure that it’s patience on my part — simply more free time. If I had two full-time jobs like you, there is no way that I’d have the extra time to experiment with blog graphics. 😀

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      2. I’m definitely going to try it. We are moving in less than two weeks, so I’m doing all that last minute stuff. Then I’m excited to try it. How are you doing, Jill? I was so excited to see your name in Donna’s comments. 🙂

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  8. Thanks Donna, it’s been a great series! I’ve really appreciated the tips and I, like others, learn also from the comments. I think it was the last one that I printed out. I need to get more experimental. Gutenberg is getting easier and I’m pretty sure I can explore this more and benefit from it.

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    1. HI, Susan – I completely agree about the value of comment sections. For my posts, this section is always my favourite part. I am deeply impressed by the generosity (and wit) of others. I’m glad that Gutenberg is getting easier for you. For years, I dreaded when I would eventually need to use it (Gutenberg was first released in 2018). Then when I tried it, it really wasn’t that bad — and got easier and easier with each use.

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  9. Thanks for including my tip. I tried to do that time line one that your first graphic is (with the tips) but couldn’t seem to master it. Will try again. Will also tried BookBrush. It’s been a great series and I really appreciate your time and effort on it. I intend to go back into comments with a pen and paper to make a list of things to work on.

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  10. A great wrap up. So many good tips that make sense. The only new thing I’ve tried with my blog is the Block Editor– and you know how I feel about it. Not my friend.

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      1. A few commenters have given me hints about how to work around the system and get to the real classic editor, so until those hints don’t work I won’t try the plug-in. But when I do, I’ll let you know.

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  12. I have been ignoring Gutenberg. Hope I can continue to ignore it!! Did try it – accidentally – for one post and couldn’t undo it fast enough. Ha!! So hats off to you for sticking with it and learning your way around using it.

    This series was such a success and so interesting. I need help figuring out how to read all the blogs I want to read, blog myself, and respond to the comments I receive. Can’t seem to balance all of that very well with real life activities.

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    1. Hi, Leslie – I agree that trying to read all of the blogs that we would like to, maintain our own, and respond meaningfully to all comments is the largest blogging challenge of all.
      You may have already discovered this, but there is a work-around so that you can continue using the Classic Editor. Laurie Graves (Notes from the Hinterland), and many others, have recently published this on their websites.

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  19. I’ve been experimenting with a new theme – I really wanted to keep the one I was already using but it wasn’t compatible with Gutenberg. Most of the themes now available are aimed at businesses

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    1. I also needed to switch my theme when I switched to Gutenberg — which was a bit ironic since I was using an official WordPress theme (albeit not the current one). I first switched to WP Twenty-Twenty but really missed my sidebar. The free theme that I am using now is Dara. So far, so good!

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  20. Hi, Donna,
    Great job and great comments. Agree that Gutenberg gets easier, but still have a long way to go. It took me a week to figure out how to make an image “clickable”, but WordPress.org finally explained it to me. At least I’m still “trainable.” Have a great week. Joe

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  21. Thank you, Donna, for the Blogging Tips Wrap-up and included mine in your previous post. I like how you’ve played with Canva to create very nice graphics for your posts. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!

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  22. Hi Donna! I don’t think it matters how long a person has been blogging, there are ALWAYS things people can learn if they really want to. Like Book Brush. Never heard of it before. I do use PicMonkey and Canva now and then but you reminded me to mix things up there too. And let’s face it, if we aren’t keeping our blog (and ourselves) fresh and learning, then what’s the point. So happy to see that so many fellow bloggers agree that these kinds of posts, and your great input, is a wonderful gift to us all. ~Kathy

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    1. Hi, Kathy – Thank you for this kind and thoughtful comment. It is such a breath of fresh air to mix things up a bit and experiment with new skills. You know the old saying, “if you always do, what you’ve always done, you’ll always get, what you’ve always got”. 😀

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  23. Dear Donna,

    Another HOMERUN! I love the wrap-up and know I can go back any time to review the tips everyone has so generously shared and you have so capably summarized in an easy to follow format.

    I always feel I go out on a limb with my writing, but not necessarily with the tech side of it. I know I could spruce my blog up with another “theme” and all of that, but I just need to keep things simple right now. It’s about all I can handle. 😉

    But it doesn’t mean I haven’t stretched myself creatively! I’m studying with an ukulele teacher on Patreon and recently I led songs all by myself in a zoom class. It was a huge leap outside my comfort zone. So that is where I put my energy and as one might say, “that’s enough.”

    XXOO

    Susan Grace

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    1. Hi, Susan – How cool that you’ve pushed past your comfort zone and led songs on Zoom. I think that there is actually a written law forbidding me from doing this. (Yes, my singing is that bad!) 😀 I’m also glad to read that you are continuing with your ukulele. I believe that you had just begun lessons when I first met you. Finally, I just saw your comment on Janis’s site. Thank you for your incredible kindness!

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      1. My voice is developing…no one wanted to hear me sing either, but something is shifting and no one is more surprised than me! When I first met you, I thought you were a Canadian who came to Sun City every year for their second home, like our other Canadian friends. I was so disappointed to hear that you were just vacationing. You really touched a lot of people here during your short stay. Remember when you went to the Trim ‘N Tone luncheon and stood up and gave a little speech?

        I can’t say it enough: you changed my blogging life!

        I wish you well always,

        Susan

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  24. Thanks Donna for sharing your tips and those of your readers. I love the write from your heart and be you tips, it’s like that saying, be yourself everyone else is taken! Blogging is a bit like that and we can all learn from each other. You’re very generous in sharing and so are your readers, so many thanks for that!

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  27. Thanks for another roundup of blogging tips, Donna. Unfortunately, I have zero time to experiment with blogging, so have nothing to share. But I sure am trying all kinds of new things and learning heaps “experimenting” with self-publication! 🙂

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  28. I do like your idea of a wrap-up when there has been loads of information in the comments and you presented it so well in the infographic. Ihave commented on a few comments! You can learn so much from bloggers like yourself. I have not heard of Bookbrush before so that is a fun thing to play around with. It is funny that we both have posted about blogging tips in recent months. Which reminds me that I have to link up with this post and my previous one in my post. There is another tip for getting new visitors to see more of your blog. Linking in another post, albeit discreetly, and where relevant. Leggy Peggy does it so well on her blog.

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  29. The biggest thing I’ve learned from this series is that I’m clearly stuck in a blogging rut. I love all the graphics you’ve been playing with – and the animation!! If I ever get my blogging groove back again, I will need to up my game 🙂

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  30. Hi, Joanne – Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting. The digital graphics have allowed me to experiment with visual arts — without having to hold a paintbrush, pastel or charcoal in my hand. It’s truly been a blast.
    My fingers and toes are all crossed that you get your blogging groove back. I miss your posts!

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  31. Hi Donna – it’s been fascinating … and I’ll be looking back over the various ideas. Thanks for pulling all the ideas and thoughts together – so they are there for us to peruse as and when we wish. Stay safe – Hilary

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  33. I think a very good point that you have included is that hobby bloggers and those blogging professionally will approach things differently. There really isn’t a once size fits all magic answer. Such a great idea to collect tips from such a variety of bloggers.

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    1. Hi, Sue. I agree that lumping together different kinds of bloggers has often caused much confusion, and misinformation, when it comes to blogging tips and advice. I agree that a one-size-fits-all approach does not work for this diverse group. Thanks so much for this comment!

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  35. Donna, I love your process demonstrated here. To summarize:
    – solicit tips from others on blogging
    – share the those tips widely via your blog and ask for more ideas
    – moderate the discussion that ensues
    – summarize and share the larger set of tips via your blog
    – credit those who shared the tips
    – model use of several of the tips in your own blog format
    Truly, you are a very effective educator!

    Jude

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  37. I am just dipping my toe back into the blogging waters after nearly a one-year break (!) This series was exactly what I needed to read first.
    I have missed the writing – and the sharing – and the connections. I need to learn to back away from the self-imposed pressures of doing it “right” and simply do what I love.
    I look forward to following you in 2021 (and beyond)

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