On October 7, 2010, I posted my first post on a hideous looking blogspot blog. I didn’t have a clue what I was doing, I mean not.a.clue. Frankly, I don’t know much more now, and it seems that the more I learn, the more I realize I have to learn, but I’m happy to share with you the little I know. Here I’m revealing everything tech you might want to know about this site.
If I leave something out you’re interested in, just email me and let me know what it is.
This site is hosted on dreamhost. I’m happy with them in a neutral way. It works. The price seems reasonable. I know a lot of people use Blue something, but I’ve been happy so far, and frankly, I’m too lazy to move it all.
I bought the domain through Name Cheap, but I buy them through Go Daddy now because their customer service is so good. I just love owning domains.
The site is built on the Genesis framework using wordpress.org, and I use the Epik theme.
The plugins I use and love are:
- Akismet (anti spam and so worth it)
- Envira Gallery (lets me make galleries of pictures that work well for me)
- Genesis Post Navigation (adds “previous” and “next” navigation below posts)
- Genesis Simple Edits (no idea, but afraid to get rid of it in case I break the internet)
- Image Widget (no idea)
- Mail Chimp (for email signup)
- MediaElement.js (for embedding media files)
- Pinterest Pin It Button (the semi-annoying thing that hovers over pictures)
- Pretty Links (lets me create short links that are easy to use)
- Responsive Select Menu (so my menu works on teeny tiny phones)
- Reverse Order Comments (lets my comments be newest to oldest)
- Shareaholic (social media sharing)
- Social Media Widget (how you can connect with me)
- WordPress SEO by Yoast
I find most of my images on Pixabay, and I edit them in Picmonkey. Picmonkey used to have a free version, but they don’t anymore.
I learned about PowerPoint from the Rapid E-Learning Blog. {free}
If I record a screencast, I used to use screencast-o-matic {free}, but now I use Camtasia.
I order my awesome business cards through Moo, the best business card company in the known universe.
I use WaveApps for my accounting. {free}
I got inspiration, tips, and a lot of practical how-to from Building a Framework: The Ultimate Blogging Handbook – I highly recommend it!
I haven’t ever done this before, but I decided to put a couple of affiliate links here just to see what happens. Nothing would cost you extra, and it may save you.
If you’ve come here, you may like my monthly newsletter. Sign up here and get a free copy of my guide Fifteen Ways to Help Gifted Kids Thrive in School!
