Writing
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Exploring the world of blogging apps
I haven't had a chance to blog as much recently due to a new job, new grandkids, graduations, birthdays – all the usual things and more that April and May tend to bring to my family. In the mean time, I've been in search of tools that can enhance my productivity, making it easier for me to cash in on a free moment here and there.
This is my first chance to use BlogPress on my iPad. It seems to be working quite well so far, but so did the WordPress app until I needed to post the entry. This one seems to have the same shortcomings that other blogging apps do, lack of formatting, a very basic set of HTML calls you can use. Note to BlogPress: the center tag shouldn't be used any more. It would be better to add formatting to the img tag. Really. You can add a photo, but don't try to add any formatting. And by the way, I am finishing this up in the WordPress dashboard.
Honestly, I understand that the apps probably aren't focused on replacing the dashboard, but I would pay for a product that does! Folks, listen up! I want to be able to log in easily, type and format a blog post. Add photos or video if I choose and I want to be able to format it. AND THEN, yes this is the real kicker, AND THEN, when I upload it to the blog, I want it to SAVE that formatting that I took the time and effort to apply. I am not just looking for a quickie way to jot down ideas, save them as drafts until I have a fullsize computer in front of me. No, I want to find ways for my iPad to REPLACE my computer. Let's work on that.
Should anyone out there come across a blogging app that does suit my needs, and I assume, the needs of countless others who do this, please let me know. I will be glad to try it out.
Now that the rant is over, there are good points about BlogPress that I need to point out. I do like the ability to add blogs from different sites and flavors (I do have a blog in Blogger, too) and the ability to also work in Twitter and Facebook with this app. They are definitely headed in the write direction, but it is a direction, not an end. Keep it up, BlogPress!
The BlogPress site can be found at http://blogpressapp.com/. Try it out, it seems quite stable and it does offer the spur of the moment ability to work on your writing. I'm just looking for a little more…
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Copyblogger Book List
If you read one thing today (besides this, of course), please try to read today's Copyblogger booklist. A lot of information passes through my email, twitter and facebook each day but the one thing I stop for is Copyblogger. If I get so busy that I miss that, then I always have the weekend summary that details the weekday blogs. This blog is always worth it. Do I sound like a fan? Oh yeah!
Copyblogger's 38 Critical Books Every Blogger Should Read.
Makin’ that paycheck!
Does anyone else have a problem with keeping up with the billing? Am I the only person on the web who stresses out about this WAY too much? I doubt it, but I've got to learn to deal with it in a timely fashion and so do you!
Recently, I was in an online conversation about bookkeeping software and several applications seemed to set the trend. FreshBooks is a web app with accounts that start for free (www.freshbooks.com) and as your business grows and your needs expand, you can add to your account at reasonable prices. FreshBooks will feel familiar to anyone who has used a billing software before and offers a full range of accounting options in almost all of their packages. I've used this one for a couple of years and was satisfied with it but now I am test-driving another application call "Toggl."
Toggl is a much smaller application that focuses on timetracking. The seller for this is the desktop app that works with the online database. This desktop app has something called "Autopilot" in it that learns your projects and helps keep track of fragments of time, a serious killer of my ability to track my time.
Now the best part, Toggl just announced yesterday, that they now can integrate with Freshbooks, importing clients, projects and tasks and exporting time entries. It seems to me that between the two applications, none of us should have problems with our billing!
Andrew Sullivan’s Rules for Bloggers
I found this on Roger Ebert’s blogsite and felt it could be helpful to my fellow bloggers. Warning: He uses a four letter word in there, as an example. The original is on bigthink.com at this link: http://bigthink.com/ideas/24586.
Customizing your WordPress template
WordPress makes it very easy to choose a new template, but how do you customize it to fit your needs, add your information to it, add new calendars, etc.?
WordPress makes that easy, too! When you log into your WordPress dashboard, check out “Appearance” and “Plugins.” Under “Appearance” you can change the theme of your blog, choosing from many design templates. Add widgets with a simple click and drag. Network plugins are listed and can be activated easily. If you don’t see one you need, just contact me!
Need help with this? Again, contact me and I will help you get started!
