Blog Post Tips

Today I've put together tips for writing up blog posts of different types. Note: these tips are not about taking photos, but using the photos with specific text for different types. I've included tips for photos, fonts. Craft post, recipe posts, fashion posts all within one little blog post

Filling entire width with photos - One thing that really annoys me (yes!! fussy me) when I read a blog is the size of the photos. When you write your post and insert the photos, make sure they are original size / X Large (Blogger). This when it is hard to get the whole image in. To always make your photos the right size, go to Template > Customize > adjust widths. Subtract the sidebar width from the entire blog width. This will be the width of your blog post area. For example my entire blog width is 1235 and my sidebar is 390. My blog post area is 845 but I always just have my photos as 800px wide. If you have two sidebars, subtract both widths from entire blog length. Use photoshop or any over editing program to do this. 

Purposeful photos - Don't use photos for no reason. If you have a photo of your cat, but your post is about how to make chocolate cake, it's not really going to work (unless its your cat eating the chocolate cake) Writing on photos is also very cool, and can easily explain something without tonnes of text. You can also use photos for sub headings within blog posts, like my titles throughout this post and other tutorial  posts that I have written.

Naming & labelling - if you haven't already noticed. If you roll over a image lightly you may see the name of the image. Always label your photos to something like "intro_blogpost". Seeing "IMG6578" is not necessary and is easy to fix, in your computers file folders. It's all very helpful if you loose photos, to have a folder for all your different categories, and more folders for each posts. It's a bit like labelling clothing for school!!

My top tip for fonts is don't use too many of them. Of course you have to have a font, but keep it the same and simple throughout the blog. Three fonts I use in my blog are one for my sidebar text/category index, titles (this includes comment, page and post header) and one for the body of my blog posts. Always try and keep these fonts simple and bold looking (as in, easy to read) but writing on photos can be a bit more fun and add some style to you blog. I also use some of my handwriting in my sidebar and header. Size is important no one really wants to squint to read your blog one moment (or any moment) and then see gigantic block writing, if you want to have changes for sub headings and important notes, use bold, italic and underline. Italics is very good when you need to copyright a certain post or part of a post
People can find outfit posts very boring. You have a photo (or two) of yourself in a dress (this can be very interesting, don't get me wrong) but when the text of the post is "I like this dress because its nice" and "I wore this dress today out to lunch" it can be a bit boring. I like to try and tell me readers more. Maybe you could tell them about how/where you found the wall you are standing in front of, or what crazy thing happened while you were there. Give your readers something interesting to read about with the photo.
Don't be fooled by the last sections tips, recipe posts do not need step by step photos. In a recipe book, you don't see photos of them cracking the eggs and you really don't want to be juggling the camera while trying to separate eggs, you could end up with lots of mess to clean ip. Having a nice photo of the finished result at the beginning and end and a photo of the main ingredient is a good balance. For example, if you are using chocolate chips for your cookies, maybe you could have the chocolate Chips spilling out of the bag. Also include a little intro about the recipe. Maybe you found the recipe in your Nana's old cookbook or in an old box in the attic. Plus always state the recipes name, the cookbook/website and the chef before you type the recipe.

If you classify your blog as a DIY blog (I classify my blog as a sweet crafty lifestyle blog)  people do expect you to do some crafts. You don't want to turn up at your favourite craft blog and find the latest news on the royal baby for example (Happy Birthday, prince). It doesn't matter, if you have a spare weekend when you have time to do and take photos of many crafts. You don't have to pretend that you did the craft the day that you share it. My favourite Crafts that I read, are the ones with step my step instructions, followed by clear photos in between. Photos need to be clear, and always have the caption/ text underneath the image (don't know why, it just doesn't seem right to be above the image). "Supplies needed" photos are good too, I like handwriting on my supplies list and labelling everything. But list it below as well as images don't always load, if someone is using an older browser.

Note: All of these tips are my opinion and may not be what you believe is right. These tips have been complied by what I have found out and discovered as a blogger and blog reader

I hope these tips help you, if you have any more questions just email me and I'll be happy to try and help you out. xx Harri.