Blogging is much easier accomplished if you have a few tools at your disposal. Here are 5 of my favorite blogging tools:
PEEK User Testing
This a relatively new tool for me, but it is something absolutely EVERY blogger needs to try. When Jen’s Guy and I were redesigning things over here, I wanted to see how user friendly the site we were creating was. One of my blogger friends said she had just tried a completely free service and recommended it. It took me about 3 minutes to fill out an online form and within 24 hours my site had been tested for site speed, it’s ease of use and overall attractiveness to users. I received the feedback via this video.
Unsplash
A very important part of blogging is making sure you have visually dynamic and attractive pictures. This is something I work on consistently and my photography skills are improving, but sometimes there are posts that I really need a much more professional and on point picture than I have in my photo arsenal. That is when I hit Unsplash. You can find hundreds of 100 percent free, do whatever you wish with them photos. Here are a few of the images I have created with Unsplash.
You can read the original post HERE.
You can read the original post HERE.
PicMonkey
I use this for everything. To create and edit images, headers, buttons and pretty much every visual element you see over here on JENerally Informed. You can try out the free version or have access to all of the features for as much as it would cost you to take your family out to dinner. I can tell you it is well worth the cost to purchase the “Full Monkey”.
Managed WordPress From GoDaddy
Jen’s Guy is a huge fan of GoDaddy and has been for years. He has tried other hosting services and has always ended up referring and transferring most of his client’s websites back to GoDaddy. We are not affiliates, but I can promise you that if you want the BEST customer service available to your blog, this is it.
I am going to turn a little time over to him to explain Managed WordPress from GoDaddy and why we use it.
“If you do not own your own hosting, you need to look at that before it becomes a problem. We transferred Jen’s site from Blogger to real hosting early in the blog life cycle and it wasn’t easy, and we only had three months of work to transfer. Transferring a year or more would have been a nightmare. If you aren’t tech savvy, Managed Word Press is a great option. I AM tech savvy and I still use it. If you don’t know if your site is being backed up every night, it could be a great option. If you do not know how to create child themes and development sites to test changes you want to make on your blog, Managed WordPress may be for you. But, the reason I like it best, is because I am cheap, to the bone, and Managed WordPress is generally on “promotion” for about 60% what you would pay for a standard hosting package.
I love knowing that this site has a backup stored every night that I can revert to whenever I want and also the ability to create an exact clone of my site, with literally the press of a button, to try new styles and widgets on before I put them up on Jenerally informed. But mainly I like saving money. . .”
Google Analytics
Google Analytics is the industry standard and many bloggers seriously under utilize the treasure trove of knowledge that is available to you in order to up your blogging game. For me, this is how I decide what types of articles to write to reach my target audience, because my stats detail the kind of articles, posts and commentary that is best received here at JENerally Informed. I have a lot of readers who have never, ever commented, but because of Google Analytics, I know what they like to read.
If you want to up your Google Analytics game, here is a great training session from the SITS girls that I just listened to.
Skyrocket Your Blog Pageviews With Google Analytics
Stay Happy! Stay Informed!
Love,
Jen
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Comments
I just recently heard about Peek User Testing and most definitely need to try this out for myself now. Also, want to take a a better look at Unsplash now and can’t thank you enough for sharing this one, as well here ;)
Janine Huldie recently posted…15 Simple Ways to Reconnect Romantically Just in Time for Valentine’s Day
Thanks! I hope you do try them. Peek was so cool and made me feel really good about my blog and writing. Sometimes I am super harsh on myself. Isn’t that kind of the way though? Thank you for sharing!
Jen recently posted…Five Blogging Tools You Need Now
Haven’t heard of four of these things. I’m so behind, but then I’m not the professional blogger that you are. Let’s not forget how lazy I am either.
Thanks for sharing what you know is needed to be a good blogger.
Have a fabulous day. ☺
Comedy Plus recently posted…Awww Mondays
Haha! You blog every day, you definitely have me beat in that department!
Jen recently posted…Five Blogging Tools You Need Now
Some great tips here, Jenn. I’m familiar with all of them except PEEK User so now I’m going to try that one. I pinned and tweeted! Have a great week! :-)
Marva | sunSPARKLEshine recently posted…The One Unexpected Thing You Need Today
Thank you! You really do need to try it! It was so helpful and gave me some great ideas for formatting and content. Thanks for pinning!
Jen recently posted…Five Blogging Tools You Need Now
Very helpful, thank you! I use PicMonkey often. I might have to buy the “royale” version. I think that’s what they call it. I also use Canva.
I also am learning more about Google Analytics!
Amber recently posted…How To Get A Male Teenager To Converse For More Than Ten Minutes
Thank you! I bought the royal version about a year ago and wondered why I hadn’t dropped the money earlier! I haven’t done Canva yet, but I should try it.
Jen recently posted…Five Blogging Tools You Need Now
I have to test out this Peek User…. I am also a fan of PicMonkey. Thanks for all of the good sites!
Yes try the Peek User testing! It was so helpful!
Jen recently posted…Five Blogging Tools You Need Now
Sometimes I get waaaay too addicted to my Google Analytics.. one of the tools I recently discovered that I use a lot for the blog I manage at work, and want to start employing on my own blog and social media accounts is Buffer… have you tried that yet? – http://www.domesticgeekgirl.com
Gingi recently posted…Abolishing Abortion: How You Can Play a Part in Ending the Greatest Evil of Our Day
It is totally addicting! I even like looking at my smallest segment and seeing what I could do to get them over here! Oh I need to look into Buffer now!
Jen recently posted…Five Blogging Tools You Need Now
Yes, do! And let me know what you think! You will probably discover all kinds of new hacks and tricks that I didnt even know about, haha!
Gingi recently posted…Why You Should Purge Your Kitchen of Industrial Oils
Will do! :)
Jen recently posted…Ten Ways To Keep Skin, Hair & Lips Moisturized This Winter
This is awesome! I really need to change my hosting service, and I need to look into PEEK User Testing :)
Akaleistar recently posted…10 Ways to Make February Awesome
Glad you enjoyed this! I really like Godaddy and the Peek User testing was fabulous! It helped me organize quite a bit over here!
Jen recently posted…Five Blogging Tools You Need Now
Thanks for the tips/ideas. I’ve heard of Unsplash, but I haven’t used it yet. I have started using Picmonkey a lot in the past few months. I’m not the BEST, but I really love what they offer and I just use the free version right now.
ShootingStarsMag recently posted…Monthly Wrap-Up: January 2016
I used the free version for quite a while, but I was so happy once I finally upgraded. Glad you liked these suggestions!
Jen recently posted…Five Blogging Tools You Need Now
Thanks for a couple of new tools I’ve never heard of! Someday Ill switch to self hosted WordPress… someday.
I think you will like it when you do and if you have any questions, Jen’s guy is the one to ask!
Jen recently posted…Five Blogging Tools You Need Now
I used to do a Peek once a month, but I haven’t for a while. Thanks for the reminder to check it out again!
Rabia @TheLiebers recently posted…If Parenting Were a TV Show
Don’t you love it! It was such a boost to my confidence in writing and helped me also make some changes over here for ease of use.
Jen recently posted…Five Blogging Tools You Need Now
PicMonkey is amazing and has helped me many a time with both my personal writing and professional blogs. Thanks for sharing about UnSplash – that’s a new one to me!
Thank you! Oh you will love Unsplash. It is a serious treasure trove!
Jen recently posted…Ten Ways To Keep Skin, Hair & Lips Moisturized This Winter
I use several of those! I’ve never pulled a blog image from Unsplash before for some reason, but they have such seriously BEAUTIFUL photos I go there sometimes just to look.
Jenny @ Unremarkable Files recently posted…Things Better Than Driving My Kids All Over Town
Haha! Yeah with all your extra time for browsing, huh :) There are some really beautiful images over there though. I should probably spend a minute chilling over there myself every once in a while!
Jen recently posted…Ten Ways To Keep Skin, Hair & Lips Moisturized This Winter
Learning mucho here as always! Google analytics is so fun to read. I have done a poor job of utilizing that info. I think mostly only bloggers comment. However, when I really strike a cord with people they will actually comment on my Facebook posts. I need to try ALL of these ! Thank you for sharing your knowledge!!
April recently posted…You can have the gluten, but you’ll never get the chocolate!
Thank you glad you liked these. That’s true! I have so many people who like my posts on Facebook, but that have never actually commented over here. Proof that they are reading them!
Jen recently posted…Ten Ways To Keep Skin, Hair & Lips Moisturized This Winter
Totally want to try PEEK, so cool! I watched the video – very interesting. And Go Daddy huh? Jen’s Guy might need to help me out!
Kristen recently posted…Jenna Wolfe’s Top 5 Tips for Getting Thinner in 30
Holler our way when you need help and yes you should totally try PEEK!
Jen recently posted…Ten Ways To Keep Skin, Hair & Lips Moisturized This Winter
Can’t wait to give PEEK a try…and just in time, too! Thanks for sharing!
Leslie recently posted…Under Construction
Good luck on the blog updates and yes when you are done try out Peek! It was fabulous!
Jen recently posted…Ten Ways To Keep Skin, Hair & Lips Moisturized This Winter
Hi Jen, love PicMonkey and Google Analytics (I also have JetPack statistics installed and they never read the same, generally Google Analytics reads higher, so obviously I prefer them!).
I’ve not heard of peek and after watching the video I think I’d find the feedback helpful (as long as it’s not too brutal). At the moment I really try to use my own images, but Unsplash sounds a perfect site to keep in mind.
xx
Debbie recently posted…Roasted Red Pepper And Fresh Tomato Soup Recipe
That’s why I love Google Analytics! You should definitely try Peek. I learned quit a bit of super helpful information in that 5 minute video!
Jen recently posted…Long Live The Snow Queen, Doughnut Runs And Other Stories
PEEK scares me! I know it shouldn’t but it still does. I’ve never heard of Unsplash but I do love PicMonkey! And Canva.
Tamara recently posted…They’re All Going to Eat You!
I can’t imagine that a PEEK user would find anything to complain about over on your blog. It is visually amazing! Hope your sunny vacation is amazing! I have loved seeing the pictures :)
Jen recently posted…Long Live The Snow Queen, Doughnut Runs And Other Stories
HI. This post is awesome. There are so many useful tools here. I’ve already signed up for a PEEK into my sight and bookmarked Unsplash. Thank you.
I am so glad you liked this! Peek is awesome. I think you are really going to find it useful!
Jen recently posted…A Discussion On Letting Go And Choosing What To Feed
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