I don't know about you but I'm a serious technophobe when it comes to the more "Techy" "HTML" aspects of blogging, it just isn't in my DNA to know that kind of stuff. I know my way around Selfridges Beauty Hall, just not coding. Despite that though, throughout my years of beauty blogging (in July it will be 6 years) I've picked up a few tips that I think have improved my personal blogging game, so I thought I would share them with you. Now, these tips probably won't satisfy really clued up girls who know their stuff, but for people who are in the same shoes (suede knee high boots) as me, hopefully this might be in some way helpful.
How To Make Your Instagram Pictures Show Up in Your Twitter Feed?
This one was a new one to me as of two weeks ago, but discovering the website Ifttt has made my (social media) life so much easier. This website basically connects your apps together. Some of these steps may sound like gobbledygook, but
they are pretty easy to follow when you're on the site.
Make sure to add all your social media
links, then create a "Recipe". The words "if this then that" should be on screen, click "This" it's
in blue and search for Instagram in the search box. It then asks you to choose a
"Trigger", there are a bunch of options, but the one you want is "Any New
Photo By You", click create Trigger. Now a Instagram icon should have appeared and "That"
should be now in blue. Click "That" and now search for Twitter. More options will
appear and the one you want is "Post A Tweet With Image" click
create action and you're done.
Now every
picture you post on Instagram will show in your Twitter timeline. You don't need to click the twitter icon (in Instagram) when you post either, that
will just show the link as well as the picture.
How To Leave A Clickable Blog Link In A Comment?
One of my favourite things to do is comment on other peoples blog posts. If you loved what you just read, let them know. I, like a lot of people like to end my comment by adding my blog link, not in a spammy "hey check out my blog" "follow for follow" kind of way, just to let the person know I'm a fellow blogger. If you fancy doing it for yourself, this is how.
Example: This is what you're aiming for:
a href="http://www.claireellis.co.uk/">http://www.claireellis.co.uk/
You just need to replace my address with your own, then add a < symbol at the beginning and a > at the end to make the link complete. I took them off, so I could show you what the link looked like typed. I like to store this link in my notes so I can just copy and past it, instead of having to type it out every time.
Always Name Your Pictures:
As
soon as I've finished editing my pictures I always make sure to name
them, even before I upload them to blogger. Say for example I took a
picture of a Mac lipstick, I will name it "Mac Lady Danger Lipstick"
instead of whatever default name the camera came up with, normally
something like 3u34384383uh3. I still name them again when I'm writing
my posts, but naming the actual file makes it easier for search engines.
I mean, no ones gonna search 3u34384383uh3 in google are they?
Add A Search Description:Someone once said (no idea who, but it makes sense) that the first couple of sentences in a blog post are the most important. They set the tone for the whole post. Do they interest the reader enough for them to keep reading? In Google the search description is the first few lines of text after the link, sort of like a teaser of what you can expect from said post.
When you're creating a blog post in blogger (it may be different for other platforms) on the right hand side is the "Search Description" box. I normally just add the first paragraph of text from my blog post and that's it, so easy and simple.
Add Skimlinks:
Now this one might be bit controversial. I added Skimlinks about three years ago, which is a way of monetizing your blog. It basically makes product links into affiliate links. Say I write about a Nars Foundation, in that post there will be a link to where you can purchase it, if someone clicks the link and then went on to buy it through my link, I would earn some commission, believe me it's not a lot, but every little bit helps. I personally think if you spend a lot of time and effort on your blog, there's no reason why you shouldn't add some affiliate links. Honestly the amount of money you make can barely buy a stamp, so it's not exactly a get rich quick scheme.
Buy Your Own Domain:
Buy Your Own Domain:
This is another new thing for me, I don't know whether you noticed that my blog address is no longer Blogspot, yes I've moved up in the world (after 6 years it's about time) this little blog is now http://www.claireellis.co.uk It's something I'd wanted to do for ages but I was so terrified, I had visions of my blog vanishing in a puff of smoke because I'd clicked the wrong thing. I really didn't need to worry it was really easy and way cheaper than I thought. I bought my domain from Godaddy, which was simple enough. The hardest part was putting it into effect, thankfully I found this amazing tutorial from TheWonderforest.com who takes you through it step by step. It was definitely one of the best decisions I've made, my blog now feels more my own, plus my views have also increased, which is fab.
I hope a few of these tips were somewhat helpful, I was bit nervous about this post as it's not really my forte, so let me know what you think. Also I'd love to know a few of your own tips, "we're all in this together" after all! Did anyone else have a Highschool Musical flashback, no just me ahem...
XOXO Claire
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This is SO helpful, really enjoyed reading this.
ReplyDeleteJess
a href="http://justthatgirlonline.blogspot.co.uk/">http://justthatgirlonline.blogspot.co.uk
Great tips, thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteAnika | anikamay.co.uk
This was such a great post, especially for beginners! These are the kinds of things you don't think about when you're starting off. x
ReplyDeletenueyork.blogspot.com
this is so useful! I'm definitely going to check out ifttt!
ReplyDeletehttp://claresloves.blogspot.com/
Ohhh I'm glad, I always think it's good to share your tips, a few of these have made my blogging life so much easier :)
ReplyDeleteNo problem, hope they were helpful in some way :)
ReplyDeleteAww thank you, I'm glad I could help in some way :)
ReplyDeleteThank you Claire, definitely check out Ifttt, it's made my Instagram game so much easier, no more clickable link yay :)
ReplyDeleteLove the photos! Thanks for the tips Xx
ReplyDeleteElle // laorcabella.com
Some great tips here!! I gotta use these :)
ReplyDeleteKathy x
www.alongcamekathy.blogspot.co.nz
i'd love to buy my own domain and i think i'll do it one day. maybe when i hit a milestone.
ReplyDelete❥
loovelle.blogspot.com
Thank you, I hope they were helpful in some way :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, this was my first tips and tricks type post so I'm glad they were somewhat helpful :)
ReplyDeleteIt's definitely made my blog feel more professional, plus it only cost £9 for two years :)
ReplyDeleteThese are really helpful tips! A few things I didn't actually know. But definitely going to take on board x
ReplyDeleteLauren | itslaurenvictoria.blogspot.co.uk
Aww I'm so glad you found some of the tips helpful, that's one of the reason I love blogging there is always something new to learn! :)
ReplyDeleteThis is such a great post, thank you so much! So many useful tips and tricks, definitely one I will keep coming back to. I need to make an IFTT account ASAP!
ReplyDeleteKiran | www.alittlekiran.co.uk
Nice tips! I didn't realize about search description box until I read this one.
ReplyDeleteSelene Addicted
This is brilliant - thanks for sharing
ReplyDeleteBeauty Candy Loves
It seems you're not the only Claire who isn't good at this HTML malarky. I learnt some new things to get better on so thankyou!
ReplyDeleteClaire | My Little Memoir
Great tips! I'm a complete technophobe so love reading posts like this! xx
ReplyDeleteBeautylymin
These are super useful! I'm going to start naming my photos! OOPS! Xx
ReplyDeleteOliviaCheryl.com
Thank you, you're very welcome I'm glad it was helpful. Connecting my Instagram and Twitter accounts with Ifttt was the best decision I made, way more people see my pictures now :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, I didn't either, there are so many amazing tips and tricks out there ;)
ReplyDeleteAww thank you, no problem :)
ReplyDeleteHaha I'm terrible, I'm glad it was helpful :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, us technophobes should stick together haha :)
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad they were helpful, it's a bit more time consuming but it's definitely worth it :)
ReplyDeleteThis is such a helpful post, thanks for sharing :) I really need to get round to buying my own domain name, I can imagine it makes such a huge difference!
ReplyDeleteKatya | The Beauty Harbour
Naming photos is so helpful - I've created a tool which will rename batches (so for a folder of MAC Diva Lipsticks, the tool will rename them MAC Diva Lipstick1, MAC Diva Lipstick2 etc). So much quicker and keeps everything organised! x
ReplyDeleteNINEGRANDSTUDENT: A Student Lifestyle Blog
I never knew how to add a link to a comment, I'd always wondered! (Hope you don't mind if I try it out on this comment haha) I also never considered naming my images, I usually call them "favorites1, favorites2" or something like that. Great tips!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.beautyfromkatie.blogspot.com>
Such great tips! I have just set up iffft! I am slowly learning HTML by doing my research so it was great to learn a new one today thanks Claire!
ReplyDeleteAng xx | http://www.alleluiatobeauty.com>
Oh wow this was so helpful thanks a lot! x
ReplyDelete- Eternalleigh.blogspot.com
I'm still relatively new in blogging and SEO so I've been reading abt them lately, can be mind boggling but they're fun to learn!
ReplyDeleteAww thank you, no problem, it definitely makes me feel more professional and my views have improved. It's so inexpensive too only £9 for two years, I thought it would be so much more :)
ReplyDeleteIt's such an easy thing to do, every little bit helps, especially considering the blogging world is so big ;)
ReplyDeleteHaha not at all, I did the same thing too, but little changes could potentially improve your blogging game :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, definitely do it's fantastic :)
ReplyDeleteNo problem, I'm glad it was helpful ;)
ReplyDeleteI'm 6 years in and still learning haha :)
ReplyDeleteGosh - good tips. So helpful, I'm completely clueless. Can feel like I'm struggling through the unknown trying to have a go at all this blogging stuff, but is great to know there's helpful peeps out there like you who are happy to share the wisdom! :D thank you!xx.
ReplyDeleteA Small Note to Self
Thank you, I'm still clueless haha, but I love sharing the things I do know :)
ReplyDeleteThese were great tips! I've always wondered how people make their Instagram photos show up on Twitter. xx
ReplyDeletehttp://shakespeareandsparkle.com/
Thanks for the Instagram tip, had no idea you could do that, so helpful! :)
ReplyDeleteJust Little Things x
Thank you, I'm glad they were helpful :)
ReplyDeleteNo problem, neither did I until I did a bit of Googling, it's amazing! ;)
ReplyDeleteI am definitely going to check out Ifttt. That seems like such an easy tool to enhance your social media presence. I am still new to this whole blogging world, and I love reading tips from people who have been there and experienced it. Wonderful tips!
ReplyDeleteAshlee Liz
www.ashleeliz.com
Thank you, it's really easy and once it's done it automatically pops your Instagram pictures onto Twitter, it's genius!
ReplyDeleteThese are great tips!! I just started a blog and these tips are very helpful!! <3
ReplyDeleteAmelia | http://amelia-g.blogspot.com.au/
Thank you, I'm glad they were helpful, good luck with your blog :)
ReplyDelete