Tips for a new year of blogging

December 22, 2010

Andrew Spittle

The holidays make for a crazy time of year. You’re spending time with family, traveling, maybe enjoying some winter weather. All of this can help you create wonderful blog posts. 🙂

Here are a couple tips on how to let your blog shine as you head into the new year.

Blogging made easy

Press This is a great way to simplify your blogging experience. It lets you grab content from any blog post, article, website, or photo you find on the web. If you can you see it in your browser, you can use Press This to blog about it on WordPress.com!

It will automatically insert an image, quote, video, or link on any website directly into your blog post as well as include a link back to the source. No more having to copy and paste 5 different things. With Press This you can share great content quickly.

Drag the bookmarklet (the link that says “Press This”) from the Tools page of your WordPress.com Dashboard into your browser’s bookmarks bar to get started. This adds a handy link you can use to post content.

The next time you want to share a link, photo, or video on another site just press the bookmarklet. You’ll see a window pop up where you can add photos, video, and quotes straight from the site.

The two icons next to “Add:” let you choose which photos or videos on the page you want to insert into your post.

Combine all of that with the mobile options we featured last month and you can really blog from anywhere on the web or anywhere in the world.

Let your photos shine

After many lovely days spent with family during the holidays you probably have dozens (hundreds? thousands?!) of photos from trips, meals, adventures, and lovely winter weather. WordPress.com makes it easy to showcase these right on your blog.

Using our built-in photo galleries or slideshows you can share the best moments from the holidays. Here’s a few from my trip to Yosemite National Park in the winter a few years ago.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Between Press This and showcasing your photos you have some great toys to play with as you make your blog even better in the new year. Enjoy the holidays!

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135 Comments

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  1. dhimasln Dec 22nd at 4:09 pm

    Nice tips. I can still blog while enjoying my holidays 🙂

    Like

  2. iano10 Dec 22nd at 4:31 pm

    Cool, I didn’t know that you could upload pictures and videos on Press This. I’m also going to look into making one of those slideshows.

    Like

  3. AKHMAD SUDRAJAT Dec 22nd at 4:34 pm

    Thank you for the tips, but unfortunately on this holiday I don’t go anywhere 🙂

    Like

  4. dougbrowncreative Dec 22nd at 4:42 pm

    I often feel like there must be an alternative to the copy and paste orgy I go through posting on our blog. Press This is going to be very helpful for us. Thanks for explaining it Andrew. Happy holidays.

    Like

  5. The Gaffer Dec 22nd at 4:52 pm

    Ah, nice one WordPress.

    Happy holidays to everyone too 🙂

    Like

  6. aRuL Dec 22nd at 4:57 pm

    Yes, great feature from WordPress…. so useful 🙂

    Like

  7. 2zpoint Dec 22nd at 5:10 pm

    Great Ideas…May you have the warmest of holidays filled with joy! Peace be with you.

    Like

  8. Elly Dec 22nd at 5:24 pm

    Great tutorial! Lots of excellent detail and very inspirational. I’m new and am going to put those ideas to use very shortly! Thanks a lot, and Happy Holidays 🙂

    Like

  9. agirlandhercarrot Dec 22nd at 5:35 pm

    Thanks for the Press This info. I will be making a slideshow out of my photos, I forgot about that. I only did it with cupcakes once. Fun Fun Fun!

    Like

  10. doctorwhofan98 Dec 22nd at 5:44 pm

    Nice! 🙂 WordPress is amazing!

    Like

  11. coolpup Dec 22nd at 5:52 pm

    I’ve had this in place for quite a while, but kept forgetting I did. 🙂 I guess if I used it more, I may have remembered.

    Like

  12. Deanna Dec 22nd at 6:20 pm

    The plot thickens – always new things to try on WordPress.

    Like

  13. Mikalee Byerman Dec 22nd at 6:26 pm

    I’ve always wondered what “Press This” is … thank you! 🙂

    Like

  14. marymaru Dec 22nd at 6:34 pm

    I am well acquainted with the copy-and-paste ritual. Glad to have your tutorial on Press This to simplify my life. Thank you!

    Like

  15. Sunflowerdiva Dec 22nd at 6:52 pm

    I love you, WordPress! ❤

    Like

  16. Tee Dec 22nd at 6:53 pm

    Wow, Press This is nifty tool. I hope to use the slideshow too.

    Like

  17. Tara Schiller Dec 22nd at 7:00 pm

    Cool. Already added to my bookmarks.

    Like

  18. Aditya Mehta Dec 22nd at 7:57 pm

    This is excellent. I’m going to have a blast in 2011!

    Like

  19. pltprincess Dec 22nd at 8:09 pm

    Wonderful tips. I wasn’t really aware of the photo galleries and slideshows. I need to figure that out in time for the explosion of holiday photos this weekend.

    Like

  20. Dan North Dec 22nd at 8:10 pm

    Excellent, I’ll be Pressing This as soon as I get the opportunity, and I’ve been taking full advantage of the slideshow and gallery functions this year – my only complaint is that the gallery/slideshows automatically incorporate all the images for that post – you can’t have two separate slideshows in one post, or just selected images in one gallery. Other than that, it’s very attractive.

    Now, if you can provide WordPress bloggers with a couple of extra hours in the day to use all these features, that would be the ideal Christmas gift.

    Like

  21. drex Dec 22nd at 9:15 pm

    Oh so, so GREAT!, I love it…this well help me start. Thank you.

    Like

  22. Ljubomir Gatdula Dec 22nd at 9:50 pm

    Thank you for these tips!

    Like

  23. longevity0211 Dec 22nd at 9:52 pm

    Cool this can be useful, soon I’m going to use photos to my life-inspiring-blog that I’ve taken myself. I hope that will improve the blog a bit :-D!

    Like

  24. gtoftdahl Dec 22nd at 10:01 pm

    I knew there must be an easier way to add pictures, etc. I am new to blogging and would hate to admit how long it takes to create each little post!
    I look forward to giving it a go!

    Thanks for you help!

    Like

  25. Susanne Dec 22nd at 10:38 pm

    Thanks a lot. Happy holidays!

    Like

  26. adventurewriter Dec 22nd at 10:46 pm

    Great tips!
    I’ve found great use for many of these features – and only recently discovered some of them!

    Like

  27. Charlousie Dec 22nd at 11:05 pm

    Sounds nice, Thanks!

    Like

  28. Dzulqarnain Dec 22nd at 11:42 pm

    Cool. I like it.

    Like

  29. d34nmu Dec 23rd at 12:59 am

    Nice tips. I use WordPress for Nokia to keep blogging during my vacation.

    Like

  30. ryoko861 Dec 23rd at 1:18 am

    Ha, I’ve always wondered what the purpose of “Press This” was and now I know. Thanks!

    Like

  31. Jessica Y. Dec 23rd at 1:43 am

    Thanks much! 😀 Love Press This – didn’t know I could do that!

    Like

  32. stickinsect Dec 23rd at 2:04 am

    I love the slideshow feature. Will be testing it out with my Christmas photos in a week or so.

    Like

  33. mia1984 Dec 23rd at 2:13 am

    Oh, WordPress, I just love you. But I still don’t get what “Press This” is. Is it basically a kind of “re-post” function? Or more like a crop-quoting tool?

    Anyway, thanks for being so great to us. Happy holidays. 🙂

    Like

    • Andrew Spittle Dec 23rd at 2:34 am

      It’s both. 🙂 You can use it to post links to content on other sites or you could automatically pull in a quote, image, or video you’d like to use in longer article.

      Like

  34. Shari Dec 23rd at 2:52 am

    truly loving the press this button. although mine doesn’t come up as a pop up and it took me a while to get it on my toolbar, i got it there in the end and have used it about 2 times already. Thank you WordPress!

    Like

  35. Fresh Verve Dec 23rd at 3:25 am

    I was just wondering what Press This was… neat

    Like

  36. Intelligent Challenge Dec 23rd at 6:52 am

    Great tips, thanks a lot.

    Like

  37. itrixboy Dec 23rd at 6:58 am

    ive always heard about this feature called ”press this” but i never really understood what it was meant to be used for and thanx to guys for explaining it to me now i can create a blog post more easier!

    Like

  38. mbconsulting Dec 23rd at 7:15 am

    Great tips! I will try them a.s.a.p. Thanks!

    Merry Christmas and enjoy your Holiday!

    Like

  39. dsusetyo Dec 23rd at 7:18 am

    It’s really a great tool to share informations. But of course it needs some creativity to make our post interesting to read.
    Thanks

    Like

  40. lizziebeth94 Dec 23rd at 7:30 am

    Thank you for the great tips! As a new blogger, I am always looking for ways to enhance my blog.

    Like

  41. call guy Dec 23rd at 10:50 am

    Great Tips. My new years resolution is to get more pics on my blog and generally make it a look a lot better.

    Like

  42. TheEverydayMuser Dec 23rd at 10:57 am

    I’ve been using Press This for some time, and I don’t just use it for posting content from web pages. When I’m feeling lazy and don’t want to type wordpress.com in the address bar, I just hit Press This and start typing. It’s pretty good for lazy people.

    I never knew you could showcase photos! Thanks for the tips, and I wish the WordPress team a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

    Like

  43. AnythingAndy Dec 23rd at 12:28 pm

    Thanks for the tips bud! Greatly needed for a new blogger such as me, not that WordPress is already user-friendly 😀

    Like

  44. juntecson Dec 23rd at 1:51 pm

    These are great tips! Thanks…

    Like

  45. Monika Dec 23rd at 3:23 pm

    This is awesome! It’s all about I love WordPress. cheers!

    Like

  46. ReetzOnline Dec 23rd at 3:56 pm

    I’ve been hunting all over the web for something like this 🙂

    Like

  47. Nanola Dec 23rd at 4:55 pm

    Thank you for pointing this stuff out. I always wonder about features of WordPress but am too lazy (and maybe even scared) to try! It helps when you explain a bit.

    Like

  48. Salil Lawande Dec 23rd at 7:33 pm

    Thanks a lot for summarizing the main points. Keep up the good work WP team. Cheers!

    Like

  49. Scott Thomas Photography Dec 23rd at 7:43 pm

    I made use of the slideshows in an upcoming blog of mine. Easy to use.

    Press This is a good tool, just be mindful of the creator’s copyrights. As a photographer, it is something I am very concerned with. Is there a way to know if someone uses Press This on your WP blog?

    Like

  50. J Roycroft Dec 23rd at 11:58 pm

    Great tip…I think I will be pressing this in the near future.

    Like

  51. KingShamus Dec 24th at 12:32 am

    Good stuff, WordPress peeps.

    I think I’ll be using the Press This thingy soon.

    Thanks, WP.

    Like

  52. tonyhettler Dec 24th at 1:02 am

    Simply amazing! I’m new to the blogging experience here, and what a treat to be able to utilize such a great tool from the get go!

    Thank you so much!

    Like

  53. Tammy McLeod Dec 24th at 1:25 am

    Press this seems like an amazing new time-saving feature.

    Like

  54. Jerome the Gnome Dec 24th at 1:57 am

    Spectacular! Thanks, WP, for all the wonderful tips to make our blogs more user-friendly.

    Like

  55. Meeks Dec 24th at 2:36 am

    “Press This” is going to save me SOOO much time when I do my “5 Great Finds” (when I feature posts etc that I find around the web)! LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!

    Like

  56. xiaohui Dec 24th at 4:51 am

    Thank you alot for this post, it’s the holiday season and I’ve been sitting in front of my laptop wanting to write about something, anything, but there’s not much momentum. I think these tips might just break the inertia! 🙂

    Like

  57. westforwestwing2012 Dec 24th at 5:23 am

    Thank you so much! WordPress RULES! Y’all are so user-friendly that even I, who started out knowing NOTHING, can learn as I go! I am learning new things all the time, and WordPress makes it fun!

    Like

  58. lolivopalmsprings Dec 24th at 7:59 am

    Thanks so much always being helpful. Have a very happy holiday WordPress! I will try this out.

    Like

  59. walkonby Dec 24th at 11:44 am

    Looking forward to it 🙂 Merry Christmas to you

    Like

  60. nesnesnes Dec 24th at 5:03 pm

    Does Press This work on Chrome?

    Like

  61. cupcake2eater Dec 24th at 6:13 pm

    Very cool tips. Thanks! I like the Press This button.

    Like

  62. Nina Papaioannou Dec 25th at 9:17 am

    Very helpfull! Happy Holidays!!!

    Like

  63. anirak2000 Dec 25th at 6:49 pm

    Thanks a bunch. I’m going to try to use them A.S.A.P.

    Like

  64. Paul Dec 25th at 11:56 pm

    I have been wondering what and how to use Press This, and didn’t get to experiment until this post.

    Now I am addicted to Press This, it is amazing and really simply the blogging process.

    Like

  65. Amituofo Devoted Dec 26th at 3:16 am

    This is perfect! Thank you!

    Like

  66. thebrelandkentshow Dec 26th at 5:29 am

    Thanks so much for this 🙂

    Like

  67. gregjoyservices Dec 26th at 5:17 pm

    I just LOVE the enthusiasm from you and everyone who posts. Happy Christmas everyone!!

    Like

  68. Arcalot Dec 26th at 6:37 pm

    Thank you for the tips! It´s really helpful to know the features better (sometimes we get a bit lost 🙂 ).
    Happy holidays to everybody! 😀

    Like

  69. The Invisible Cookbook Dec 26th at 7:27 pm

    Have to try that slide show… am just a two month old blogger now so am appreciating all the hints, thank you!

    Like

  70. SherryGreens Dec 26th at 8:20 pm

    I always love things that make life easier! Thanks and Merry Christmas.

    Like

  71. stevestreetsmart Dec 27th at 12:22 am

    Awesome tips!

    I’m new to WordPress but love blogging and helping others.

    Thanks

    Like

  72. kevinlee88 Dec 27th at 3:25 am

    Although I had the blog for sometime, I did not use it, so am quite new to this too. The above feature looks easy and cool to use.

    Hopefully can get some guidance from all of you who use WordPress.

    Merry Christmas and Have a great happy Holiday!

    Like

  73. MJae Dec 27th at 6:07 am

    I like those pictures from Yosemite…

    Like

  74. bennyinaustralia Dec 27th at 8:25 am

    Thanks so much!!

    Like

  75. Style Souk Dec 27th at 12:01 pm

    Being lazy and behind the times, I’ve not yet used Press This… but will now be certain to check it out! Thanks and Merry Christmas.

    Like

  76. Annoyed Conservative Christian Dec 27th at 8:50 pm

    Thanks, I will get a lot of use out of the Press This tool.

    Like

  77. Little Johnny Dec 28th at 3:42 am

    Thanks. I have been wondering how pieces of blog posts are doing. I have been cutting and pasting the chosen phrasing. Thanks.

    Like

  78. ronojoymishra Dec 28th at 7:43 am

    I really liked the concept of Press This. Blogging is becoming easy and innovative now a days! 🙂

    Like

  79. Abhishek Dec 28th at 12:21 pm

    Very helpful tips! Earlier I could not get how to add an album to my blog. Thanks a lot!

    Like

  80. AskTina Dec 28th at 3:02 pm

    Had a wonderful Christmas but now it’s back to worky work. Great feature, thanks!

    Like

  81. Riyad Almubarak Dec 28th at 4:50 pm

    Those are really great tips, thanks a lot for sharing useful info.

    Like

  82. Bre Dec 29th at 2:18 pm

    Thanks WordPress this is amazing! 😀

    Like

  83. Myrtle Dec 29th at 8:08 pm

    Thanks for this information, it really helps! 😛

    Like

  84. Pingback: Tips for a new year of blogging (via WordPress.com News) | Mixed For All
  85. ejomlexus Dec 30th at 2:29 am

    Holidays have lots of cool ideas and events… definitely a big help to increase reads and rates.

    And following this tip will be a great plus to all kinds of blogs.

    Thanks you for sharing, dude. 🙂

    Happy Holidays to all!

    Like

  86. tpe3s Dec 30th at 6:31 am

    Merci

    Like

  87. slcantwell25 Dec 30th at 6:45 am

    There will come a day when we’ll be able to respond and share as fast as we can think to do it. We’re getting there. Thanks for opening our eyes.

    Like

  88. larebear Dec 30th at 10:01 am

    Thanks for the tips!

    Like

  89. Yayan A.I Dec 30th at 10:20 am

    Another nice tool from WP. That’s why WP is much better than the other platforms….easy to use and keep coming with more and more tips.

    Like

  90. jactherat Dec 30th at 12:39 pm

    anything that makes life easier and brighter can only be good. cheers!

    Like

  91. stevenboyce Dec 30th at 12:45 pm

    great post thanks again wordpress – happy new year!

    Like

  92. Knut Skjaerven Dec 30th at 2:59 pm

    The slideshow option is very nice. Just what I needed. Thanks WP.

    Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year.

    Like

  93. gilsongardensinc Dec 30th at 3:40 pm

    Thanks for the help! Always up for making life a bit easier!

    Like

  94. Pingback: Tips for a new year of blogging (via WordPress.com News) | jimraines
  95. annem040359 Dec 30th at 7:19 pm

    Good ideas. Thank-you.

    Merry Christmas season and a good 2011!

    Like

  96. artsymoon Dec 30th at 7:24 pm

    Thanks for the tips!

    Like

  97. louisabellissima Dec 30th at 9:03 pm

    Thank you for your great tips!

    Happy new year!

    Like

  98. katia68 Dec 30th at 9:20 pm

    Good tips…will do, grazie mille. Felice anno nuovo

    Like

  99. hiwaar Dec 30th at 9:57 pm

    Thank you for the update

    Like

  100. dhikamcr Dec 30th at 10:25 pm

    Thanks…
    Be spirit forever!

    Like

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