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This guest post was provided by Elizabeth Cutten. She runs FindBizCards, a small business credit cards /credit blog helping small business owners with tips, advice, and more.
 I’ve been doing websites and blogs for about 5 years now and what I’ve learned over the years is that I absolutely love WordPress. Not only is this platform very easy to manage, you’re going to find that the plugins are going to make your day a lot easier, trust me on this one.
Whether you’re new to the WordPress world or maybe you want to start up a blog of your own, I wanted to recommend 10 plugins that you should consider when you’re thinking about installing a blog. Listed below are the top 10 that I like, as well as a little description on what they are about.
#1 Akismet – This plugin is going to fight spam in your comments. Instead of filtering them out each and every day, they get rid of 99% of the spam before you even see it. Trust me, there’s a lot of spam floating around online.
#2 All in One SEO – Search engine rankings is important when it comes to your website and your visibility. If you want to draw traffic to your site and want it to appear high on the search engines, make sure you have it optimized properly.
#3 WPtouch iPhone Theme – The Internet is changing and while it will be around for quite some time, you’re going to want to make sure that you’re reaching the mobile users. This plugin will convert your site to a mobile friendly website.
#4 Google XML Sitemaps – The XML sitemaps are another important asset of your blog when you’re looking to get into the search engines. A sitemap is going to spider all of your pages that are on your blog, giving you more exposure.
#5 Fast Secure Contact Form – People are going to want to contact you and instead of just putting your e-mail up, put up a form. This will make it easier for people to contact you via your site.
#6 ShareThis – I love this plugin. It’s going to be added to the end of every post and what people can do is share your information with other 2.0 sites such as Twitter and Facebook.
#7 WP Super Cache – If you want your websites to load faster, this plug in is going to help your site “cache” your pages, so that if you get a lot of traffic, you don’t have to worry about your server being bogged down.
#8 Facebook Like Button – This is an alternative to the ShareThis, but I suppose you can have both. With Facebook being so large, I would add this to every one of your pages, so that people can share your pages with others on Facebook.
#9 Yet Another Related Posts Plugin – This plugin is great because at the end of every post, this will automatically showcase other blogs on your site that are related to the one that you just wrote about.
#10 WP-DB-Backup – This plugin is going to back up your database whenever you tell it to. It can either email you the file, or you can choose other options. This is great to have just in case the worst case scenario happens and you lose your data.
This list could go on and on. I use a lot of these plugins mentioned above and you’re going to find that many of them are going to benefit you. You can find all of these plugins over at the WordPress directory at http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/.
What are YOUR favorite plugins?
When you are a mind always thinking person like me-ideas happen on a whim. And instead of just sitting, you need to take it and put a project idea into action. If you have thought it, it is already a possible thing.
My newest project, I am basing to a more local audience of those living and working in Iowa. Have you wanted to look for a local business to support versus large companies? Maybe you need suggestions of where to donate those children’s clothes that do not fit anymore. With the beginning of this new venture I hope to bring parents and businesses together. From kid-friendly restaurants to the talented photographer down the street-it’s time to connect.
Currently, the website is under construction but for the current time, I invite you to join Central Iowa Moms Forum. You don’t have to be a Mom to come and interact. Come check us out and help us create a resource for everyone
When parents enter an online community, it’s shocking how quickly your lists can become miles-long and it’s necessary to find balance within your work. Whether you are a stay at home parent, work at home parent, work outside the home, blog, have kids in school….I think you are starting to get my point. It’s hard to stay organized!
Blogging takes on many forms and before you know it, it’s very easy to get in over your head with obligations. While thousands of blogs take on reviews and giveaways, an obvious goal would be to receive a large amount of traffic so you and the company you are working with both benefit.
How Do I Bring Traffic to That Giveaway that is bombing?
Here are just some techniques to help get your writing seen.
- Be an active participant on Twitter. This does not mean sending out your links and only your links. Take the time to interact with other individuals on Twitter. You’d be surprised after connecting with others the likelihood of your then sent out tweet being RT’ed.
- Are you staying active throughout Facebook? With fan pages growing, it is easy to invite your readers to stay in touch through this popular social networking. Ask individuals to hit “Share” on links.
- Comment. Comment. COMMENT. The more you take the time to visit other blogs and sites, you are leaving your “calling card” to have them come and say hello.
- Submit your contest to various online giveaway lists. Hundreds of blogs dedicate a day or ongoing list for others to submit blog contests. The more you promote, the more you will reap.
- Sometimes, it’s not possible to get all this done in a day. With the help a virtual assistant, you have an extra set of hands able to help make your online life just a tad bit easier.
A virtual assistant can take on a variety of tasks that can help you. Just a few of the services a virtual assistant can help with include-
- Blog and giveaway submissions. Taking the time to promote your site, contest, and increase links to get clicks back to your site.
- Ghost writing. Dealing with that tedious writer’s block? Allow a virtual assistant to step in for a post or two and write an informative post relating to your audience.
- Twitter/Facebook Page Management. Just don’t know what to tweet about to get those followers coming in? Let a virtual assistant take over and get those interactions going to help build your followings.
- Blog Commenting. A virtual assistant can blog comment just as a ghost writer. Links in blog comments are gold. If you don’t have the time to comment on blog posts like you would, let someone else help you by commenting on the blogs you would like visited and allow them to share more about your site.
These are just a minimal amount of how a virtual assistant can help you.
As you can see, it’s been a few since I’ve been back here. For The Love of Baby! has expanded and now, it’s time for me to come back and create the goal I had in mind for this site. Stay tuned as we begin to create more information for you worth checking out!
As JennaGoodwin.com begins to expand, we also would love the chance to help you and expand our portfolio of services at this time.
From now until April 1st, we will be accepting quote inquiries for the following services.
- Virtual Assistant
- Ghost Writing
- Twitter Setup
- Twitter Development
- Facebook Fan Page Development
- Social Media Buzz
- Blog Link Promotion
- Ad Placement Assistance
- WordPress Plugin Assistance
We will accept all inquiries for assistance so long as the price named is within reason. Please help spread the word so we can make this site perfect for each and every one of you in finding the resources you need to succeed online.
For more information, contact us at jenna@loveofbabyonline.com with the Subject Line:Name Price Sale.
 As we continue to discuss ways to help increase your audience and visitors to your blog, there is one thing to keep in mind. Others are looking for new visitors as well. With this comes taking the time to visit other blogs and comment on blog posts. Share your insight. Enter a giveaway that is currently going on. Even just taking the time to say Hi, how you discovered an individual’s blog in the long run will be beneficial.
Not only are you creating the chance to build a potential relationship with a fellow blogger, other blog readers are given a chance to see you as well. Leave your URL in comments. While at first it might seem like traffic is slow, the more you comment, the more they will come. A common statement to think about is “For every 10 “No” answers, you will get 1 “Yes”. You must network for others to learn more about you.
So as you sit at your computer screen, looking at the latest Twitter posts-Click through. Read what is said. And if you do not have something to say for that specific post, read more.
Share Your Blog Posts
To help in spreading the comment love, feel free to leave a link to a post you would like more individuals to see, or even a giveaway you are excited about.
Oftentimes, I see people asking how to get more blog traffic. First of all, there are a million of blogs online today. The difference is what you do to make your blog stand out. What can you do to make your blog unique. As we begin to touch base on what makes a site stand out, a custom blog design is a great way to show your personality to readers. Having a design that stands out but is not too intense is often a plus.
- Is your site easy to navigate?
- Can posts easily be found?
- Are colors easy to read?
Here are some current blog designers to help you with making your blog you!
Stitchblade Designs
Shan’s Shreds
Blog Designs by Susan
Southern Bella’s Ways to Save
Krizzy Designs
La De Daa Designs
Restored 316 Designs
When shopping around to find the designer who is right for you, do not be afraid to look at portfolios, ask questions, and look at other sites. Is the design still up, etc? Ultimately, there are a ton of blog designers out there full of their own unique specialties. It is vital to find the one that is just right for you.
Are you a blog designer not listed above? Feel free to sign the below linky so we can check your work out as well!
As a Mother, I try and stay active in programs to help keep the girls busy as well as giving myself an opportunity to learn more. A great program here in Ames is through Lutheran Services of Iowa and is called People Place.
People Place is a family resource center located in Ames in the United Church of Christ, 219 6th Street, People Place provides support and education through parenting classes and support groups in a social-recreational, drop-in settting. Staff also assist parents by providing information at the center or referring them to other community organizations. A family-focused library contains books, articles, videos, audiotapes and children’s literature.
Programs include-
Drop-In Days
(9:30-11:30 am, Mon & Wed)
Parents can socialize with other parents or find quiet time alone, while their child is cared for in the playroom. Parents must remain in the building.
Fee: Donation requested. Coordinator: Kim McDermott
ABC Support Group
(9:30-11:30 am, Wed)
Parents of young children (infancy-preschool) discuss topics chosen by the group. Frequent guest presentations on topics related to parenting, family, and personal growth.
Fee: Donation requested. Coordinator: Kim McDermott
Meld Parent Groups:
(Call for times and group meeting dates; usually there is a morning and an evening group going.)
Meld is a nationally recognized program dedicated to help strengthen families by providing parenting information, tips and techniques in an informal, supportive group setting. Open to moms and dads of young children, age birth to 5 years. Parents choose from wide-ranging topics (eg. child development, behavior, play, health, baby sign language, nutrition, etc). Occasional guest presenters. Light breakfast and childcare provided.
Fee: Sliding Fee Scale. Coordinator: Kim McDermott
Story County Parents As Teachers (PAT)*
The PAT program features personalized home visits for families with children, prenatal to age 5. A parent educator uses discussion, toys, books, and everyday materials to help parents increase their understanding of children’s developmental needs. Fee: Sliding Fee Scale. Parent Educator: Shannon Wilson
As a family that participates in the Parents as Teachers program, Kelsie and Aubrey love the chance to interact with our educator and are always excited to see what toys are with her when it comes time to play. This program offers a great sounding board to ask questions about your child’s development and find additional resources.
Today someone asked me why I wanted another site. I am full of ideas.
I wanted to create a site that helps focus more, in a sense. The online world is a huge portal of information and connections. When I see how much I have learned online, I wanted to create another outlet to help individuals connect. JennaGoodwin.com is here to help.
Through this site, I hope to connect readers with information about businesses and organizations local to their area as well as those communities online that will help them best.
As we start on this exciting new journey, I hope to bring you various overviews of small businesses. I want you to see the individual behind the company and the service. Through profiles of those in the community, I hope you can find what is right for you.
Are you a business owner looking to be featured? Do you know a company that should be buzzed about for more to learn about? Mom-Owned, Locally-Owned, A New Start-up-We want to learn more about you.
As this blog begins to form itself, I am very excited at the possibilities to come. For The Love of Baby! has been an incredible journey and learning experience for myself. When I first created a blog, it was more for myself. I wanted to post pictures of my girls, Kelsie and Aubrey. I wanted to share my pregnancy. And now, it has turned into something I’m proud of.
While I take on this new site, don’t worry-I’m not going anywhere! For The Love of Baby! will always be my “baby” and I enjoy getting to know those who come as well as the chance to voice everything I have to say-which I know at times can be alot.
I hope that as you check out JennaGoodwin.com, you are able to find the resources you are looking for, whether it is something you need help finding online or assistance in real life. Do not be afraid to ask questions. The only way to learn is to ask.
Feel free to contact me with any questions or comments at jenna (at) loveofbabyonline (dot) com. We will be including a variety of resources for all.
Have something you think can help others? Shoot me an e-mail and I would love to talk to you!
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I’ve been doing websites and blogs for about 5 years now and what I’ve learned over the years is that I absolutely love WordPress. Not only is this platform very easy to manage, you’re going to find that the plugins are going to make your day a lot easier, trust me on this one.
Growing Your Blog-Blog Commenting
Not only are you creating the chance to build a potential relationship with a fellow blogger, other blog readers are given a chance to see you as well. Leave your URL in comments. While at first it might seem like traffic is slow, the more you comment, the more they will come. A common statement to think about is “For every 10 “No” answers, you will get 1 “Yes”. You must network for others to learn more about you.
So as you sit at your computer screen, looking at the latest Twitter posts-Click through. Read what is said. And if you do not have something to say for that specific post, read more.
Share Your Blog Posts
To help in spreading the comment love, feel free to leave a link to a post you would like more individuals to see, or even a giveaway you are excited about.