After writing for about four years, I’ve compiled a small list of my favorite blogging resources!
Through my travels in the world of WordPress, both professionally and personally, I have learned a lot! Similar to my sentiments last week, blogging (or really, any kind of writing) is a practice! To be good at it, you have to do it regularly. It has to be a commitment, something you choose.
However, while no one can force you at gunpoint to write (although, if you have this person, you’re quite lucky), there are tools and resources at your disposal that can help facilitate the process. I’ve taken the liberty to compile a brief list of five of my favorite blogging resources. Think of it this way: you have to make a sandwich, but here’s a really good style of bread and a garlic aioli recipe. Now you’re halfway there!
MY FAVORITE BLOGGING RESOURCES
- PEXELS. I once read an article about a girl who started blogging, but ended up owing an artist/photographer thousands of dollars because she didn’t understand copyright/ownership laws. To clarify, going to Google Images and sharing a photo, even with credit, can get you into trouble! Having a good cache of royalty-free stock images at your disposal can go a long way. A coworker at my first post-grad job introduced me to Pexels! They’re a great source for free images that can be used even without giving credit (though, giving credit is always a nice thing to do!
- YOAST. This one’s specifically for WordPress users! If you want to establish your blog as a second income, getting your articles clicked is key. Clicks come from high Google results! How do you get your posts on the first page of Google? Strong SEO, or Search Engine Optimization. YOAST is a WordPress plugin that can be used to guide the writing process specifically towards a high SEO. With intuitive organization and comprehensible feedback (green means good, red means bad), YOAST is an incredible way to keep your blog posts SEO friendly AND reader friendly! To boot, the “readability” feature helps polish your writing chops. Say farewell to passive voice!
- PHOTOSHOP. I promise, this is the only expensive resource I swear as an essential. It’s an industry standard for a reason! One doesn’t need a graphic design degree to be good at Photoshop. I use it mostly for cropping images or to make items transparent. In addition, you can put it on your resume that you “know Photoshop”! Depending on your career, it’s a plus, a flex… and not something to be proven in a technical interview!
- COOLORS. Say a generic template isn’t doing it for you. You have some understanding of CSS styling, but you don’t know the science of colors. This free application will generate a five-shade color palette! You can pick and choose based on up to four shades, and let the app pick the fifth (or more!). If you especially want to make your blog stand out stylistically, this generator can help refine your look not just for your blog, but for your brand! Entrepreneurship. Hustle. Et Cetera.
- PINTEREST. In the previous year, I was slating out post ideas months in advance, not weeks! However, there were plenty of occasions where I felt uninspired. My go-to when I’m not sure where to start: Pinterest. Just search “blog post ideas” and there are lists of 25, 30, 50, even 150 topics! Pick post topics that match your interests (pick, interests… see where the name comes in?), and let your mind do the rest!
Above all, blogging (really any hobby) takes time, energy, and frequent practice to truly be good at it. Even four years in, I don’t know how good I am at it! However, it’s something I couldn’t imagine not doing. Set aside time for it regularly, and give it effort. In time, you’ll have your own life hacks that can help someone else! A passionate pastime AND guidance for other enthusiasts? Double jeopardy! You’re great!