You’ll often read, “blogging is easy”. And, in some aspects it is.
But to be successful with blogging, it takes a little more energy than just writing and hitting the publish button.
Today’s Lesson
I tried to fight it. I really didn’t want to learn it. But I realized early on, in order for me to succeed in blogging, I would have to learn, or at least understand, the mechanics of what goes on behind the scenes of a blog.
Some sites would say “you don’t need to know HTML“(HyperText Markup Language).
But if you don’t understand how something works, and have a problem, you won’t know how to fix it.
I came to the realization that learning HTML would be a huge benefit for me. I went to W3Schools and began pouring over their lessons. I did their “tests” and slowly learned what was happening behind the scenes. As I made changes, added or deleted plugins, and/or added code for advertisements, I witnessed the end result. It actually became rather exciting.
I learned how tags had to be closed, and how to open a link in a new browser.
Admittedly I am technologically challenged (to a degree). but I did know in order to produce a site that I could maintain and change by myself, I would have to step out of my comfort zone and learn something new.
Lesson three Make time to learn what takes place behind the scenes of your blog. Although it can be intimidating, with a little practice, it will soon become second nature.
Today’s Assignment
Do you understand the mechanics of a blog?
Do you feel comfortable making changes to your blog format, adding/removing plugins and/or ads
Are you technically challenged or a whiz when it comes to coding and formatting?
Photo Credit: From the side of an old railroad car by: CarbonNYC’s photostream
Hi Debbie,
I think you’ll find the W3Schools site helpful. For me it was pretty easy to navigate and they also have additional information on other coding issues.
Printing a page of your php files also helps. You can see the opening and closing tags + code.
BTW: Remember to do backups/saves before making changes.
Hi Jennifer,
How fortunate it is that your husband is a website whiz. It doesn’t get much better than that….plus I bet your his star pupil. 🙂
I was all over your site last night. I enjoy all of the positive affirmations you’re sharing. I”l be back again soon.
Thank you for that link! I’ve been trying to study up because I am again feeling the need to change my layout and make it more personal. I’m not sure what I’m going to do yet, but I need to learn more of the basics before I can make any changes.
Debbie Yost’s last blog post..Playtime – HELP!
Hi Sterling,
I like that title: DIY hacker. 🙂
Where were you when I stated blogging? Your work is amazing.
I’m guessing a formal education would make it easier for bloggers (when they work behind the scenes), but now the information is at our fingertips, so it’s silly not to take advantage of it, and expand our knowledge base.
Yes Barabra, thank you for those links. I was told before I started my business, that I didn’t need to know and html, etc. It wasn’t long before I realized I had to know quiet a bit of it. Thankfully, my husband is a whiz at it all. I would have never made it without him. He actually wrote a book on how to design a webiste, teaching you all the code, but he never made it available and now he’s not quiet sure where it is. I have learned a lot, but still have a lot more to learn.
P.S. Thanks for visiting my site and commenting. I’m glad Shilpan sent you my way.
Jennifer’s last blog post..Ingredients for Inner Peace – How to Get Your Priorities in Order
Hi Natural,
In an earlier post we talked about utilizing a test site. Like you, I am now doing most of my experimenting on that.
CSS is a little more challenging, however, if we did learn it, we could possibly design our own theme/template. Are you up for the challenge, 4.0 point? 🙂
Barbara,
You’re a true DIY hacker! I love it. I’m the same way. I remember first learning HTML back in 94. I get that same thrill of excitement everytime I start exploring a new programming language or technology. Formal education is not as important now that there are resources to learn all kinds of things on your own.
Do you understand the mechanics of a blog? A little, I can move around it and make minor changes.
Do you feel comfortable making changes to your blog format, adding/removing plugins and/or ads. Yes I do, but I don’t play around with it too much. What I want to probably do is not that important enough to make me mess it up. I do use my test blog for playing around as well.
Are you technically challenged or a whiz when it comes to coding and formatting? I’m not a whiz, but not a novice either. I dabble in HTML, I know what to look for sometimes, but I would like to learn more programming eventually. I’m not good with CSS, but i get it.
Natural’s last blog post..No Money, No Problem
Do you understand the mechanics of a blog?
A little. I have a long way to go, which is just one of the reasons why I keep coming back here.
Do you feel comfortable making changes to your blog format, adding/removing plugins and/or ads
No. It may be easy, but I fear messing it up.
Are you technically challenged or a whiz when it comes to coding and formatting?
I can create an application with a smattering of visual basic. I can edit and refine VB, but I am nowhere near expert. In any case, the expert wil tell me that VB died years ago!
Ian Denny’s last blog post..New, Aspiring, Failed Or Successful Businesses – Share Your Business Story –
Hi Ian,
Unfortunately I can’t teach too much about blog mechanics, but I can try and find places to send my readers.
For answering all of the questions, you get an “A” 🙂 Great job!
Hi JEMi,
I’ll let you be a “technically challenged whiz”, but I think it might be an oxymoron.
We’ll have to work on a “title” for you too. 🙂
Can I be a technically challenged.. whiz?
…no?
Well I learned alot through online tutorials so I’ve got a lot of basics down
But I can afford to learn more, thats for sure
thanks for the link!
(I like DIY Hacker too lol – very cool)
JEMi | Tips for Life, Love, You’s last blog post..What the Super Successful You Knows
JEMi
You have to work with me on this one. 🙂
I’ll read your new post on “super success” tomorrow and see what I can come up with.
yes it is.. but it beats “I’m in the middle”..just sounded cooler
lol allllright, I’ll wait for a title lol
JEMi | Tips for Life, Love, You’s last blog post..What the Super Successful You Knows
I’ve never been technically inclined; so operating a website has been challenging for me. You are right to point out that so many people say that no html knowledge is required but what if you need to fix a minor error? For convenience, it is best to arm ourselves with some basic knowledge. It may take time to learn a new skill but it sure is worth the effort!
Evelyn
Evelyn Lim | Attraction Mind Maps last blog post..Practising Awareness Of The Mind
Hi Evelyn,
Yes, learning HTML is important. Without it, our blogs will often lack our personal touch.