April 13, 2020
What are the best tools you use on your blog? (widgets, templates, etc.)
I’m no expert when it comes to the subject of blogs. I’ve been running this version of my blog for a little over a year now, and I’m still figuring out how to do things. But I’ll share what little I know.
First, the basics. I left the Blogger platform when they dropped the google component that had gained me most of my followers. I debated what to use as my base platform and decided to go with WordPress. I looked at several others, but my choice was made by the sheer amount of free support out there from other WordPress users. I’m not doing anything fancy, and every time I’ve run into a problem, I’ve found a YouTube video to help me out.
Image by William Iven from Pixabay
Next up was choosing a theme. I’m using Parabola, but that certainly isn’t the first one I played with. I don’t remember how many I tried before another author suggested this one. It gives me the flexibility level that’s just right for my basic skill set.
Let’s dig deeper into widgets and plugins. I use the built-in Gallery widget in many places. It has its limitations, but my graphic artist and I have been able to work around them.
I use MailChimp for my newsletter, so the MailChimp widget was a no-brainer. Except for setting it up. I had help with that.
I also use the basic Add to Any for sharing. That’s the widget that gives you the pretty buttons to tweet my posts or share on other websites. I hope you’ll make liberal use of them.
My best non-standard widget is Code Embed. It’s the one that allows me to turn Java Code into clickable fields. That’s what I use to take the code for our blog hop and make it user friendly. (That’s why you can click on the pictures from everyone else’s blog and get taken directly to their post.) It took me a few weeks to learn to use it correctly, but there are helpful videos on YouTube on how to make it work.
I want to find a plugin that allows for basic slideshows. (I had one bookmarked to check out, but it’s no longer being supported.) Does anyone use one and is willing to share the information? Share in the comments, please!
Before I go check out what tools the other authors are using, I’m going to say it. Be safe. I want you to be able to come back next week. Thanks for taking the time to drop by!
April 13, 2020
What are the best tools you use on your blog? (widgets, templates, etc.)
Rules:
1. Link your blog to this hop.
2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.
3. Promise to visit/leave a comment on all participants’ blogs.
4. Tweet/or share each person’s blog post. Use #OpenBook when tweeting.
5. Put a banner on your blog that you are participating.
Yes, I had to get help with the Mailchimp widget for WordPress. I’ve also found ‘Add to Any’ is useful too. I haven’t come across ‘Code Embed’, but that’s maybe because i have a free WordPress site?
Stevie, it was one I had to download and add. But it was free, so I was willing to give it a try. And it worked!
There are so many plug-ins available with free (limited) versions. I’m sorry I can’t help you, the slideshow on my WordPress site is part of my theme. To be honest, I only discovered it a while ago, after having the theme for 5 years I’m still finding out things about it.
It is great to learn about your blogging experiences, Patricia. I have never used plug-ins but I do use widgets.
I worry about using too many plugins and widgets and somehow messing up the background code!
If this is a pay for .com, which it looks like, the slideshow plugin option should be out there. As smart as these new dev websites are I’m surprised there’s not a drag and drop plugin pool.
I think it depends on the theme, Phil. And If it’s built in, I can’t find it. I’m not sure what my graphics artist used for the revolving banner at the top of the page, but I don’t think it was a slideshow.
10 Web and Smart slider 3 are both WP theme friendly. You drop it in like you do any other chunk, or media. Like the background on Amazon Fire. Let it run behind your foreground as a showcase or as your front end. And the free versions are also pretty robust.
Thanks! I made myself a note to check them out.