Happy Fat Tuesday!
February 16, 2010
Count the bytes, not the calories!
tips for reducing the size of files you upload to your site.
When posting images on your blog or your website, keep the file size down. The larger the file size, the longer it will take for your site to upload. People will get frustrated and you might lose a customer. This information is brought you on a NTKB*.
On a very basic level, you need to consider TWO things: file size and image resolution. There are others, but for the purpose of this discussion, you will only need to know these.
File Sizes:
(click below for more info…only if your brain has free storage capacity OR you aren’t looking for an excuse to take a nap, otherwise, don’t bother)
- kilobyte (KB or kb): 1,000 bytes
- megabyte (MG or mg): 1,000 kilobytes (i.e. 1,205 kb= 1.2 mg – old math…carry the decimal point)
Here are some other useful terms you need to know if you are going to continue working on the web
Images:
- Vector images (lines, flat solid shapes with no dimension)
- Half tone images (photographs or anything that depicts form or suggests dimension with use of light and shadows. Those tones, shadows and gradations of color and light will be transformed into dots, also known as pixels)
Resolution
When someone asks you what the resolution is, they are referring to DPI (Dots Per Inch). You can change the resolution of a photograph in Photoshop a few different ways (see graphics below).
Image Formats:
GIF supports vector based graphics, animated icons as well as transparent backgrounds
JPG (or JPEG) typically used for photographs and supports millions of colors. It maintains the integrity of an image during compression or file size reduction.
PNG (pronounced PING) is widely used online and can often give you more clarity and depth of color than a GIF, but does not support animation.
Here are some examples of how you can change the file size of your image in Photoshop CS3:
Changing the Image size in Photoshop
Selecting this method will give you another menu box. Now remember that the resolution refers to the dots per inch. The best resolution for photograph in print ( is 300, while an online photo (depending on the detail can be 150, but generally speaking you will find graphics on the web to be 72 dpi). Always check the resolution and file size of your images before posting on your site.
If you have a photograph or image that is still several megabytes in size, you can reduce the file size by selecting the Save for the Web & Devices option:
By choosing this option you will be given a new menu box with a default setting showing you 2 optimized versions of of your image. You can also select whether you would like your new version to be saved as a jpg, gif or png file.
I hope these tips have been useful.
* NOTE: KTKB means Need to Know Basis
WordPress Primary Navigation Bar
December 8, 2009
more about navigating through your WordPress admin page
Let’s look at each menu item, starting with your account. But first, let’s pay homage to the goddess Caffeina with a cup of coffee so neither one of us falls asleep. I’m serious. If you have not done any of this before and you hate reading manuals, do what you have to to prop yourself up. I’ll try to make it as painless as possible!
Look for the following navigation bar:
You will be learning about how to navigate through your account as well as each blog you have set up through this account. There are so many reference tools and articles about how to blog, who to blog and even what kind of software to use, that it can be overwhelming.
Okay, so lets assume that you don’t give a rat’s ass about writing code and you are here with me because you just want to start pouring your heart out. Not that writing code isn’t important, but thanks to the people who developed WordPress and love to write code, you don’t have to! Ready? Make more coffee if you need to, but let’s begin with My Account.
Each of the above items relate to your primary account. (If you need a reminder, scroll over each section for more detail.)
- Global Dashboard
- Stats
- Blog Surfer
- Tag Surfer
- My Comments
- My Blogs
- Edit Profile
- Support
- WordPress.com
- Log Out
Navigating Your WordPress Dashboard
December 7, 2009
staying in control of your blog
Why is the Dashboard important?
First of all, let’s address what the heck the dashboard really is. Simply put, the dashboard of your WordPress blog is the control panel.
Think of your car. What is on the dashboard of your car? You’ll see the speedometer, gas gauge, odometer and any other doodad that helps you control your vehicle or monitor your performance. The complexity of the dashboard may vary depending on the type of vehicle or how much money you spent in an effort to impress and influence friends – or show off the size of your carbon footprint.
With your car, you have a way to monitor how fast you are going, how much gas you have and far you’ve already gone. Said in another way, using your words perhaps: “How the heck am I going to drive this sucker and where can I find out how fast I’m driving and who is following me?” Well, the same may be true for here your blog.
- How do I find my dashboard?
- What does it look like?
- What’s on the dashboard?
- Why is this important to me?
Okay, so let’s take your questions, one by one.
click image for larger view
How do I find my Dashboard?
There are a few ways to get there.
- Before you first login, include /login or /wp-admin after your blog name
- After you login to your blog, roll your cursor over My Dashboards at the top of your screen and select the appropriate blog (you can create multiple blogs under one user name)
What does it look like?
Click on the image above for a larger view. Each category expands as below.
click image for larger view
What’s on the dashboard?
Sidebar Navigation
- Blog Stats
- Blog Surfer
- Readomattic
- Tag Surfer
- My Blogs
- Subscriptions
- Upgrades
- Domains
- Posts
- Media
- Links
- Pages
- Comments
- Ratings
- Polls
- Appearance
- Users
- Tools
- Settings
- Right Now: tells you at a glance how many posts, comments, categories, tags and widgets on your blog you have and how many spam messages were stopped. Each of those items are linked so you can review, edit or delete.
- Recent Comments: puts comments in a log showing the title and a key phrase. This section enables you to Unapprove, Reply, Edit, mark as Spam or Trash.
- Incoming Links: when another site links to yours, you’ll be notified here.
- Your Stuff: your comments, posts and edits
- What’s Hot: WordPress news, top posts, top blogs, fastest growing blogs and most recent posts
- Quick Press: for writing a quick post when you don’t need the whole menu of options
- Recent Drafts: anything that is still in draft stage and not published to your blog yet.
- Stats: basically tells you how much traffic your blog is getting and which posts or pages are getting the most views.
Tell me again, why is this important to me…
This is your control panel and it has the tools to help you to steer your blog in a particular direction .
What if I don’t know how to design a new template!
December 3, 2009
Who cares about Designing a new WordPress template?
That’s okay sweetie, you don’t have to know! You may fall into one of a few categories if you are reading this article:
♦ Luddite
♦ Novice
♦ Experience Blogger
♦ Design Lurker
For the Luddite:
You might not even be sure if blogging is for you. Afterall, why would you want to put your private thoughts online? That’s okay. You don’t have to blog, but if you are curious, there are lots of things to consider, but here’s a start:
- What would you write about?
- Who is your intended audience?
- What will you name your blog
There is something for everyone. You could write a blog that is only for you and your family. Whether we like it or not, the technology is changing.
For the Novice Blogger:
How do I change my blog template?
Once you have entered your WordPress world, find your Dashboard. Once you find your Dashboard, scroll down to to the word Appearance.
Here are some links to FREE templates that you can use:
A word for Designers lurking on this page:
If you have a design you would like to submit to the WordPress Directory for the world to use, contact them and shine like the star that you are! What are you waiting for?
Linking to a survey that will open on another page:
coming soon…
Adding Polls to Suck People In
December 1, 2009
Well, that’s what it’s really all about isn’t it. We want people to read our posts. We want them to buy our products. We want them to want us – okay, maybe that’s going TOO far.
At the risk of sounding a little off color here, the magic of PollDaddy helps you to create polls to add to your blog or site for FREE.
On behalf of all those for whom writing code sends them into a coma, thanks to all those wicked smarty pants over at PollDaddy for the work you have done to make this product available.
It’s so easy and affordable! Did I mention its FREE?!
(if you need a little help in figuring out how to load it on your page after creating it, click here.)
belmontshaman
