How The Heck Did You Do That?!? Tips and Tricks #12

July 27th, 2013 Kimberly Blogger Tips and Tricks 69 Comments

27th Jul

How the Heck Did You Do That?!?

Great Websites to Utilize

 

1. Grab My Button Code Generator -all you need is your image URL and blog URL address and the generator does the rest! Whether it’s for a blog follow button or an event button..have fun!

2. Vector Stock Media– they have free vector images as well as ones that you can purchase for less than $1.00. Easy to use! (this is where I bought my button images and feature buttons)

3.  InLinkz– having a read-a-thon, hosting a meme you can use this tool. It allows peeps to link up and you can customize it. It has a free version and one you can buy. Since I host a weekly meme and do frequent events I chose to pay 19.99 a year for the full service.

4. HTML Color Codes and Numbers – lists all the HTML color codes and the site Computer Hope also has tips and tricks.

5. Helper Blogger – is a website that offers a wealth of information for bloggers from CSS code to cool widgets for blogger.

6. After the Deadline– check spelling, style, and writing. This is a great little site, to copy and paste a letter, blog post etc to check for errors.

7. Commonly used HTML codes – a great chart with HTML codes to help you accomplish many looks

8. Box the Web– find and make dynamic widgets for your website or mobile site.

9. w3schools.com -CSS codes

10. McAfee SiteAdvisor -claim your site so others know your site is safe

11. Norton Safe Web– claim your site so others know it is safe

12. Google Analytics – measures your site’s traffic from unique visits, traffic source, and bounce rate etc.

These are only a small handful of sites.
Do you utilize a site not listing?
Tells us about it in your comments.

Do you have a suggested topic for How the Heck Did You Do That?

contact me:)

 

Caffeinated Book Reviewer Moved from Blogger to Self-Hosted WordPress:)  

In case you didn’t notice the new digs, this week we moved from Blogger to WordPress. I have wanted to move since last year and peeps like Vicky @Books Biscuits and Tea will tell you I was #chicken #scared. Now approaching two years of blogging and dabbling in codes and sharing them with you, I felt confident about moving. I had planned to wait until after I had completed a course about coding at our local college, but recent changes in the TOS for Blogger made me decide now was a perfect time. While there are plenty of tutorials on how to move, I wanted to be sure things were coded correctly and that the transition moved smoothly so I hired Carmel @ Rabid Reads to move me. The transfer went smoothly and all of my feeds crossed over. Carmel offers basic transfers and tweaks for your website.  She moved me over and set up the skeleton of my blog so I could move in and set up shop. I am working out the bugs as I ran into some coding issues and read issues but I have a trusted friend smoothing things over for me and making sure things run correctly.  So please be patient and if you notice something weird by all means email me!

Working in WordPress is slightly different and hello I do not know what half of these buttons do!! However,  it has such a nicer setup, from indexing to comments. I love how things work. I also snagged Ashley’s Ultimate Book Blogger Plugin and think it’s a must-have tool for WordPress users.  I am still tweaking the blog but I hope you find it easy to navigate.

 

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About Kimberly
Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

69 Responses to “How The Heck Did You Do That?!? Tips and Tricks #12”

  1. Maja (The Nocturnal Library)

    I totally want to move too, but I’m a creature of habit and such an awful coward. Sometimes, Lisa laughs at me because I don’t update my iTunes or Calibre since I dislike changes too much.
    I did, however, contact Carmel to see how much of my blog design would have to be lost, and how much I’d be able to keep. I really fear these tiny glitches most of all, to be honest, and I have a hard time losing my 1300 GFC followers.
    But it needs to be done. I am annoyed. 🙂
    Thanks for the post!

    • kimbacaffeinate

      I totally understand, you can actually take GFC with with you, there is a code to do it, but those numbers are meaningless, since they cannot actually follow via GFC anymore.

  2. pabkins

    Ooo I love it when people link all their sites they use for helpful little tips and tricks! I’ll have to scope em out!

  3. April

    I’ve been considering taking a course in CSS at Lynda.com. I really want to learn more about CSS in general, I’m fairly good with HTML but CSS is where it’s at for design with WordPress themes and I’d like to know I can go into my themes and tweak them myself without feeling afraid I’m going to screw things up.

    I’ve checked out a few of those pages (in the past) for CSS tips, and they are helpful! I just feel like I need a class to really *grasp* it well! Excellent resources for sure, I’m going to be checking out that vector site, it sounds awesome!

    I’m glad you like WordPress – I think the dashboard is much more friendlier than Blogger’s is right now! I was scared to move too, but my friends convinced me it was worth it and how much I love it – and I can definitely say it’s true! I don’t generally like the direction Blogger is moving in..

    • kimbacaffeinate

      thanks April, I am glad I moved and need to let go of some of the glitches and move on..I hate that I am am anal and that the little things make me lose sleep.

  4. Lauren

    Thanks for all the links to CSS & HTML sites, I frequently find myself looking that stuff up, but it will be nice to bookmark these. And I’m so happy you made the switch to WordPress! We did it last year and haven’t looked back once. Also, I know I said this before, but I absolutely love the new look of the site! 🙂

    • kimbacaffeinate

      thanks Lauren, some stuff is frustrating me, but I need to let go and stop obsessing.

  5. Dolly

    Thanks so much. My son just built a website for me and I’m still learning. I’m glad I found your post and site. Thanks to Triberr!
    @rabidreads is great, isn’t she?

  6. Vicky Hooper

    This is a super useful list, thanks! 🙂 I think I’ll probably make the move to self-hosted one day… but definitely want to get better at basic stuff first.

  7. Lisa

    What a great post! I shared this on my News You Can Use meme, because it’s such a great wealth of info.

    • kimbacaffeinate

      thank you Lisa! I feel like my head is swimming with all the changes, but I am happy in my new home.

  8. Bieke

    Great list! =)

    Ashley’s plugin is a must-have indeed! I also transferred from Blogger two weeks ago. You should take a look at her themes to! They are awesome and have a lot more customization options. =)

    • kimbacaffeinate

      Her themes are great, but my move came with a free theme so I decided to go this route instead. I will check out your new digs

  9. aurian

    I suck at anything with codes. I use photobucket for my bookcovers, as they make the code for me. I have made a backup blog on WordPress, but as long as I don’t get into trouble, I am staying at Blogger as I finally know what I am doing there most of the time.

    • kimbacaffeinate

      Yeah it is a little scary out here, but fun too!

  10. Trish

    I used the one generating a button code recently and it rocked, it’s so easy! However lots of those are new sites for me so I’ll have a poke around 🙂 Thanks!

    • kimbacaffeinate

      I agree the generator rocks, hope you find some useful tips on the other sites.

  11. Sharon - Obsession with Books

    I’m pleased to see your move has gone relatively smoothly 🙂 I have been thinking of doing the same thing but I get heart palpitations just thinking about it.

    The links are wonderful! thank-you for sharing.

  12. Dani C

    Awesome look to your blog, looks good! 🙂 And what an great post! I have got to check out all the links, they look so helpful! Thank you!!

  13. Andrea

    I’m so glad your transfer has gone fairly smoothly, Kim. I love the great tips. Thanks for sharing!

  14. Ria

    What an awesome list I love the color generator 😉 use it all the time and its super easy!!

  15. Michelle

    Welcome to wordpress Kimba! I only have the free version but it really does have a lot of options to work with. I hope you enjoy it all and I’m glad it was a smooth transfer.

    Also this is an awesome list! I really wish I had this list when I was working on some of this stuff, lol.

  16. Sam

    Congrats on the seamless move to wordpress! The site looks fantastic, even though its just a few small tweaks. And that is a very helpful list of links! I’m always getting tangled in the HTML web (and then nearly destroy my blog in the process) so I’m sure I’ll check some of those out. 🙂

  17. diamond Dee

    Thank you so much Kim for sharing these tips and tricks! I used the button code generator and was actually finally inspired to create my button! Yay! So I have you to thank fr giving me the kick in the butt I really needed..lol.

    <3dee

    • kimbacaffeinate

      that is awesome Diamond and that code maker is bomb:)

  18. Jennifer Bielman

    Wow, I didn’t know about half these website. Thanks so much. Happy you made the move. I plan to as well, but I would rather finish my wed design schooling. We shall see.

  19. Tanja

    Where were you when I started blogging. I was lost in universe. I mean I usually got with computers and stuff but that means after I do that once I can repeat it easily, but until I figure out how’s done it takes time. Anyhow great tips!
    PS. Making button is so easy with this, damn it took me a lot of c/p to create mine.

  20. Kay

    Great list! Very helpful.

    I like your new set up and congrats on the switch! I hope to one day do that when I have time and I get over my fears.

  21. Candace

    Grab My Button Code Generator?! I need that thing! There are quite a few links here I HAVE to check out. I’ve been blogging nearly 5 years and I still am crap with coding. I know means break, but that’s about it. I should study up on that, it would be helpful.
    I’m SO freaked about switching to wordpress. The switch is only a small part, because I’m so clueless on anything with codes and formatting and basically anything computer related that’s new to me. It’s just all very overwhelming. I did set up a wordpress blog to practice on but it was confusing and I gave up. I need to go over and try again. I really should switch over.

    • kimbacaffeinate

      Right I made my button the hard way, but I love the generator and use it all the time now:)

  22. Laurel-Rain Snow

    I do love Word Press, although my sites are not self-hosted. I still have two sites on Blogger…and I’m AFRAID to move them….and I’m keeping them because of the Javascript that is allowed there.

    Yes, I know that self-hosted would take care of that issue, but I’m not ready to go there. Thanks for sharing.

    • kimbacaffeinate

      thanks Laurel, I know you have a lot of sites.

  23. Lark

    Great list of sites, Kimba! I can’t wait to give some of them a try. As you know, I’m thinking of moving to WordPress, too, but probably can’t until fall at the earliest.

    I love the new look for your blog — very sleek and clean and modern.

    • kimbacaffeinate

      thank you Lark, appreciate the feedback and I think you will be delighted when you make the move:)

  24. Kristin

    I just noticed the new look. Glad to hear your move wasn’t that awful. Thanks for the list. I noticed a few I hadn’t heard of before.

  25. Jenea

    I am going to have to check out some of these, and I really need to get the plugin. I’m glad the move went so smoothly. I love my wordpress. 🙂

  26. Jennifer

    Great tips! I did notice something weird with extraneous code in the mobile version; I’ll send you a screenshot so you can see.

    • kimbacaffeinate

      thank you, there is a problem with my theme that is beyond my scope and I have someone looking at it for me:)

  27. Kristin

    I was busy all week so I missed the big move but FABULOUS!!!!!! You’re looking good on an iPad 🙂

    You’re doing so great with WP considering the amount of time you’ve played in it!!!! Have fun.

    And stellar reference post to be bookmarked for years to come 🙂

  28. Fahima

    You got a new look 😮 I LOVE IT! It looks so sleek and tidy! 😀

    The list looks great, btw! I’m redesigning my blog, so the Grab My Button Code Generator will come handy! Thanks! xD

    And After The Deadline sounds like a life saver, since I’m horrible with typos!

    • kimbacaffeinate

      thank you Fahima and I am glad these sites sound useful to you:)

  29. kindlemom1

    I agree, great list up there. A few of them I think I need to check out as well.

    I haven’t noticed anything wonky with your site but I have noticed how awesome it looks!
    I hope you get it all figured out soon. 🙂

  30. Pooja

    Great list of sites! HTML Colour Codes and Grab My Button generator have been lifesavers and After The Deadline sounds like a great site 😀

    • kimbacaffeinate

      thanks Pooja, and yes some of these sites can be lifesavers!

  31. kimbacaffeinate

    So true..I didn’t discover it until after I had made my own button..LOL and yes it was a pain!

  32. Diana Leigh

    Great list of websites! I wish I had known about the “Grab My Button” code generator three years ago. What a headache it was figuring that one out on my own, lol.