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3 Crucial Lessons I learned While Setting Up WordPress Blog

Editing Code in Wordpress

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Last week I shifted TipsoTricks.com to WordPress. Since I’m new to WordPress, I faced so many issues while setting it up in the beginning. I had no experience of WordPress and learned about it all by myself by reading dozens of tutorials on web and I found many good reasons that make WordPress better than blogger or any other blogging platform. Even after learning many days I made some terrible mistakes which led to complete shutdown of whole site. It took me hours to investigate what and where it went wrong and how it could be resolved. After complete recovery and losing many days I learned some lessons that I think are must-share for beginners of WordPress.

So here they are:

1. Never Install Incompatible Plugin or Theme

Check WordPress Plugin's Compatibility

This is the most important of all! Never ever do this if you’re not sure about the plugin that you’re installing.
Only install those plugins that are :
1. 100% compatible with the WordPress version that you’ve installed (See the plugin’s developer’s page to see supported versions)
2. Really necessary because you can’t get the desired operation by tweaking some code manually.

If you know what you exactly need and why you’re installing a plugin, then I’d recommend to first look for any alternative solution possible. With “alternative”, I mean addition/editing of some code in your blog. Plugins not only have incompatibility issue with them but they also make a site heavier if you install too many of them.

So the best solution is to look for any code that can result in same functionality. This way you not only avoid the risk of incompatibility issue but also keep your site lighter. After installing, If you’re unable to understand the functionality of the plugin, deactivate (or delete) it before saving any changes so you can reduce the risk of any major damage to your site.

Same goes for the themes. ALWAYS make sure that the theme you chose for your blog is fully compatible with the WordPress version that you have. Ask the developer or the support team of the site from where you’re downloading the theme before installing it.

2. Always Take Backup before Making a Major Change

Wordpress backup and restoreIf for any reason you are unsure of the result after installing any plugin, new theme, or after making any kind of amendment in the code, it is best to take a complete backup of your whole site before making any big change. You never know what would be the end result if you are installing a theme or plugin for the first time. There are several plugins available to take backup of a WordPress blog. You can get a complete tutorial available at WordPress.org about Backing up and Restoring back your Database or may also check out plugin to backup your database.

3. Do not Play with Code Unless You are 100% Sure

Editing Code in WordPressThis is another big reason that can bring a whole working site down in an instant. If you are not an expert, it is strongly advisable to take the help of plugins instead of opening the code of the site. A wrongly placed code may render the pages of your site incorrectly or sometimes it can generate fatal errors whenever you open your site. Did you know that entering a single unnecessary empty line break in any code file can create serious errors in your site? You never know what would happen after saving changes in code, because WP’s built in file/code editor never generates errors in case of wrongly placed tags. So it doesn’t necessarily mean that if you see a “Settings successfully saved” message made the required changes correctly.

There are so many (almost 11000) plugins available at WordPress plugin’s page. Whether you want to install any third-party widget, make changes in your theme, put something in sidebar or footer, install any JavaScript in your site or anything you want to do with your blog, there is a plugin already there for you. Just think of a plugin, enter an appropriate name in the search box and see a long list generated.

So these 3 are common but still very important lessons to learn in the beginning. If you are a WP beginner too, I’d highly recommend these 3 and other safety precautions to look into before making big changes in your site.

Looking forward for your comments on this. Share your experience. What mistakes did you make in the beginning? What errors did you face?

I’d love to hear from your side in the comments below.

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What To Do To Engage Blog Readers To Keep Them Coming Back

Engage blog readers

A loyal audience is always important for most ventures in the highly connected world to succeed and your efforts count when you engage blog readers. Otherwise, you would be just a one-hit wonder. As a blogger, it is necessary to keep your readers hanging on the edge for your upcoming post. If you are looking to engage blog readers and don’t have enough readership on your post, bellow are the tips to make your blog a must-see.

Understand Your Audience Better To Engage Blog Readers

It is important to understand, who your target audience is and how your blog can help them. The audience is the foundation of a blog, it is the main reason it exists. So it is important to understand exactly who they are and how your blog can help them.

Follow The Plain Language principles

Always keep in mind that you are writing most probably for an international audience and an average reader. Your audience would be readers from an educational background and most of them may have English as their second language.

It is important to use small sentences. You should try to focus on one thing in one sentence and make sure to avoid using riddles and clues. Use simple and easily readable words. Focus on using simple writing style and avoid a distracting look with too many different font sizes, font colors, or widgets. Busy and confusing posts can kill the reader’s interest.

Optimizing Your Blog and Content

If you are really interested in making sure (before sharing your posts) that everything is of top quality, then you are moving in the right direction. Your posts are not doing any good to anyone if they haven’t found the help they need. Have you ever thought to make your blog be easier to find? Much of this happens due to the people you mention and the people who mention you to their posts.

Basically, the blogging world is one big conversation, which you can become a greater part by engaging in discussions with other fellow bloggers. Don’t simply discuss how much you love the work of a certain writer but provide their site links in your content.

Choosing The Right Title

A title is a gateway to the post. It has to be captivating enough to make the audience click and open the post. It is also important to address your readers’ main points in the title. Alternatively, you can also make a title that will make it attractive enough for the readers to read.

Use Listing Methods

It is incredible how our attention intervals are getting shorter and shorter. If your blog focusses on professionals and talks about guides or tips kind of posts that are useful for readers, you need to provide the information out before everyone else.

Long-winded essays or text can put off your readers. Use lists where you want to share more than a couple of things. Lists help readers to scan the content easily and quickly spot what they are looking for.

Do Not Use Pop-ups or Advertisements.

Pop-ups and advertising banners are the most important part of online marketing strategies, but their overuse will surely get you in trouble. Not only the readers will hate such pop-ups and ads but also search engines also dislike that.

Write The Right Headlines

Headlines play an important role in making or breaking of your content’s success. It’s not a surprise that the internet is full of tips that can help you out here. Before considering any online advice, it is important to remember that headlines are the promise that your content must deliver.

Respond To Comments

Responding to comments is necessary If you are really serious to engage blog readers. It can help you to know your readers better and can build a more meaningful connection with them. You will surely get some helpful feedback too. It is possible that you may not be able to respond to them at all but at least you should try to respond to as many as possible.

Include Images

It is really important to provide just like Infographic, relevant images, which will be additional information for your readers and will help them to understand what you are trying to explain. Adding an image will engage your audience and help you to communicate the wonders in a visual language, which will help you engage blog readers more often.

engage blog readers

Make Sure Your Article is Free from Plagiarism and Grammatical Mistakes

The last but not the least tip to engage blog readers to keep coming back to your post is to re-check your article is plagiarism free and do not have any grammatical mistakes. Readers do not tolerate copied content, which is surely a waste of time to them. And if your content is full of grammatical mistakes this will cause the quality of your work, which will end up losing the readers.

Plagiarism can be checked with the help of tools such as Duplichecker, plagiarism checker and etc.

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5 Signs That Show You Could Become a Writer

Signs That Show You Could Become a Writer

If you are the kind of person who spends a great deal of time staring a wall in your room, thinking deep down what challenges life is throwing your way or anything that might not, in any way, matters to the world. If you have these germs in you, along with some others which will be later discussed in this article, you might end up as a writer in some part of your life. Shocked, what I just said? I personally had no self-confidence I could write, even a word, but now working professionally as a writer.

Signs That Show You Could Become a Writer

J.K. Rowling, the famous Harry Potter writer was turned down by 12 publishers just to end up at Bloomsburry. Ever wondered why she was picked there? The story was handed over to the chairperson’s eight years old daughter to go through it and she demanded more and more.

Just once in life have you thought that maybe you belong to the same group? For your ease and realization, let me tell you 5 signs that show you could become a writer.

You are a thinker

As I have said before if you have any symptoms of being a writer, the first one begins with thinking and thinking a lot. A writer just loves to spend a lot of time with own self. They ponder on topics from the first man who touched the moon to how can some people be so insensitive!

fountain-pen-header

You are an adventurer

Whether it is a movie about a young boy or a romantic comedy of two, who fell in love at first sight; from saving money to help a poor to spending thousands on travel and shopping, you are the true adventurer.

freelance vs professional writer

You love to note down everything

Trust me, every writer cannot rely on an electronic device solely. They always note down important and even less important things in journals, diaries, sticky notes or anything that is secure. They mostly forget things quite easily and that’s the time when these posts help a lot.

tired-writer

You have a wide imagination

I, personally, talk a lot and when I don’t, I silently read the person or when bored, make my own stories about that person. Not only me, I can bet every writer does the same when idle. A writer is incomplete without imagination if he can’t make stories of his own. If you are a pro in this aspect, you are going to enter the writing world soon, my friend!eb7e2d266101384f1c8d15946c5b3edb

You mine for words

Sorry, what was that word that you just said? If you hear a person say that loud in a party, get-together, functions, or possibly anywhere, he is a writer by heart. A writer has this very special instinct to hear a unique, new word from any corner of the room. Even if they don’t hear it from someone, they always look for synonyms or spend hours in looking for the most suitable word in a thesaurus.

writer-e1427936254621-700x357

There is a possibility that you did realize you have that talent but never had the courage to show it. Why not now? If you think you can change the world with your pen, don’t fear anymore and write your first draft.

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5 Apps That Every Writer Must Use To Increase Productivity

writing apps must use

As a writer myself, I know there are times when you go completely blank, having no clue at all what to write. These times are certainly the hardest for any writer. However, there are always some ways to come out of the dark. Sometimes, a very tiny ray of light out of the tunnel is enough to get back on track. When I am in a good mood, I write flawless and in misery, I take help from these must use writing apps, websites and tools that every writer must use.

Must Use Writing Apps To Try

must use writing apps

Grammarlygrammarly plugin

Grammarly is a service which, as the name depicts, lets you get hands on your mistakes while typing. The service can be used directly on their website or you can download a plugin/extension in your browser which I prefer personally. This way, wherever you write using a browser, Grammarly will catch your errors and will underline them with red or green. An add-on is also available for Microsoft Word.

Thesaurusthesaurus

Whenever I get stuck at a word and my mind keeps shouting, ‘Go Girl! You can do better with that word’, I always open this website. I tell you, this site has magic in it. You write a very common word and the results will be shown comprising of numerous elite words with same meaning. Nothing can beat Thesaurus in the area of synonyms. You can also find some great articles and other information on the website when you get bored.

Writer Appwriter

A writer is never free. Maybe your boss is cruel enough to bother you at a party or a wedding, you can’t deny him! This app will save all the embarrassment that you might be handling if you start writing in a notepad or carry a laptop with you everywhere you go. Just launch the app and start writing. The app lets you choose different editing options, check for the statistics and keep writing in the simplest way possible.

Merrium Webster Dictionary

merrium webster

Merrium Webster is undoubtedly a life saver for me. Does it happen to you that you start writing and a word just clicks your mind which you had heard somewhere? Since I have become a writer, I always listen more carefully to people to know more new words. But the bad thing happens when the word sounds good and you don’t know the meaning to keep it in the personal vocabulary treasure. I use Merrium Webster’s app right away. Once you know the meaning, you can remember it better than ever. You can also get access to its website which contains millions of words.

JotterPadjotterpad

JotterPad is claimed to be the next generation text editor which has some marvelous features you may not find anywhere else. For creative writers, this is heaven on earth. Whether you are writing a novel with loads of characters or simply a poem which tells your story; this app makes you focus more on writing than any other shenanigans. The best part of this app is its voice to text conversion ability. You don’t need to hurt your fingers anymore and pen down the most innovative ideas. Also, JotterPad features the luxury of typography, night mode, in-built dictionary, saving to cloud, sharing of document and much more. All in all, one app contains everything that a writer needs and looks for in one place.

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