This part of my blog is where I share little tips and tricks I’ve learned while blogging.
I’m not a pro—just someone who enjoys figuring things out as I go. So when I stumble across an easy, free, or helpful way to do something—like WordPress’s built-in recipe card—I pop it up here to share.
From food to travel to lifestyle posts, if I’ve found a tool or idea that works well, you’ll find it here. Hopefully it helps make your blogging a bit easier too. And if you ever wonder how I’ve done something on my blog, feel free to ask—I’m always happy to share!
Click on an image below to view the post:
How to Keep Your Blog Fresh: 3 Simple Ideas
Keeping a blog feeling fresh doesn’t have to be hard. Even small updates can make your readers feel like your site is alive and current. Here are three simple ways to keep your content lively: 1. Update Old Posts with New Photos or InformationSometimes a post is still useful, but it could do…
Read more…
Streamline Your Email Newsletters with Jetpack
Lately, I wanted to get all my subscribers from Tally into one place so I could send them newsletters easily. I started with Mailchimp, but ran into a bit of a snag — Mailchimp only allows importing up to 500 contacts on the free plan. Since I had more subscribers, I needed another…
Read more…
My Blog SEO Checklist: Simple Tips I Learned from Google Search Console
Lately, I’ve been getting notifications from Google Search Console — warnings, errors, and a flood of information I didn’t fully understand (to be honest, I still only grasp about half of it). One specific issue that stood out was with my recipe shortcode block: I had set the cook time as cooktime=”10–12 mins”,…
Read more…
Keeping Email Simple and Friendly with Mailchimp
Like most things on my blog, I like to keep my email system simple — and free. That’s why I use Mailchimp. It’s an email service that helps you send newsletters or updates to your readers. I’ve only scratched the surface, but so far it’s doing everything I need. I don’t have a…
Read more…
Why I Use Tally Forms on My Blog
I like to keep things simple, and I always use free tools for my blog. Paying for plug-ins or online services isn’t an option for me. One tool I’ve found really useful is Tally. Tally is a free online form builder. It works in your browser and you don’t have to install anything.…
Read more…
Adding Videos to WordPress — What Works Best for Me
I’ve tried different ways of sharing videos on my blog, and I’ve come to prefer uploading them to YouTube first, then embedding them into my WordPress posts. It’s simple, tidy, and doesn’t take up storage space on my blog. Why I Use YouTube First Uploading videos directly to WordPress might seem easier at…
Read more…
Do I Really Need a Feature Photo for My Blog Tips?
A small blogging struggle (and what I do about it) I’ve been blogging for years now and one thing that still trips me up — especially when I’m writing helpful posts like WordPress tips — is what on earth to use for the feature image. Recipes? Easy. I just use a photo of…
Read more…
Why Do My Photo File Names Change When I Upload from My Phone?
A quick guide for WordPress bloggers using Jetpack Have you ever uploaded a photo straight from your mobile phone to your blog using the Jetpack app, and then noticed the file name looks like a jumble of numbers or letters? Instead of a nice name like mosaic-table.jpg, you end up with something like…
Read more…
How to Stop WordPress from Loading the Same Photo Twice
Have you ever noticed that WordPress seems to upload the same photo more than once? You add a picture to your Media Library, and then later on you see versions like photo-1.jpg or photo-2.jpg. It can be confusing — and it starts to clutter up your site. Here’s what’s going on, and how…
Read more…
How Do You Know the Size of an Image?
On your phone: You’ll see options like: What do these numbers mean? If you’re not sure, the 40% option is usually fine for blog posts. It’s smaller in file size but still clear. I Use Lightroom Most of our travel photos are taken by Nisha and Hubby Basker, who both shoot in RAW…
Read more…
Blog Tips: Speeding Things Up and Keeping It Simple
A slow blog can be frustrating—not just for readers but for us too! If you’re like me, you want things to load quickly and run smoothly, without getting too technical. Here are a few easy ways to keep your WordPress blog running well. Check Your Blog’s Speed Even if your site seems fine,…
Read more…
Going Further with WordPress — Upgrades, One-Page Blogs & My Tips
Once you’ve got your free WordPress site up and running, you might start wondering: What else can I do? Or maybe you’ll run into little limits that make you consider upgrading. This post is a follow-on from my how to set up a free blog guide, and it covers what I’ve learned from…
Read more…
Why I Use Landing Pages on My Blog and How Categories Help
One of the best things I’ve done for my blog is setting up landing pages—simple, focused pages that act like “hubs” for different topics. I have one for Travel in India, another for Home Baking, one for Desserts, and so on. They make your blog easier to explore, especially if you have lots…
Read more…
What Should I Post on My Blog? (Hint: It’s More Than You Think)
Okay, so you’ve set up your free WordPress blog — that’s a great start! You’ve explored themes, maybe even tried out some layout changes. But now comes the big question: What should I actually post? Is It Just a Photo Dump? Well, it can be. A lot of people start their blog just…
Read more…
How to Set Up a Free Website on WordPress (The Basics)
Have you ever thought about starting your own website or blog, but didn’t know where to begin? I’ve helped quite a few friends get started—like http://www.travelwithbasker.wordpress.com—and it’s actually easier than it sounds. Here’s my simple five-step guide to creating a free WordPress site from scratch. Step 1: Pick a Name and Sign Up…
Read more…
How I Format Recipes on My Blog — Without Plugins or Paid Tools
I love sharing recipes — whether they’re clipped from newspapers, passed down through family, or quietly torn from magazines while waiting at the dentist! If something looks good, I want to try it. And whether it turns out great or not, I’ll usually share my version — with a few notes on what…
Read more…
