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Learn how to get the most out of a blogger conference and make more money, with 20 great actionable tips. Snap Conference is right around the corner and I am busy with last minute prep. For the first time in years, I am planning to participate as an attendee just as much as the organizer. As I make my plans,… Read More
No matter how well crafted your pitch is, it will get nowhere if you send it to the wrong person. Learn how to connect with brands on Twitter. One of the big “debates” among bloggers in the creative lifestyle niche is wether or not maintaining a Twitter presence is necessary. Despite the changes to Twitter’s relevance in the blogosphere, I maintain… Read More
Learn how to use emojis on a Mac keyboard. When I have something to say and only a phone to say it, my fingers can really fly. And when I say fly, I mean I can text about half as fast as I can type. #fatfingers I spend a fair amount of my work day scrolling Instagram, checking Twitter, popping in… Read More
Blogger burnout. It’s a thing (it’s even been covered by the New York Times). And, while the phrase is bandied about by people both in and out of the industry, no one really talks about overcoming blogger burnout. Left unchecked burnout is a very serious problem, which can result in even the most dedicated, successful bloggers shuttering a perfectly fine business. Bloggers work hard…. Read More
Today I am going to share a quick tutorial on how to embed an Instagram post on a blog or web post. I love having the ability to tie all of my publishing platforms together. It makes for a more cohesive conversation. While it’s easy to simply text link from account to account, the story is so much more clear when you… Read More
“So, tell me a little bit about yourself.” It’s an oft-used phrase that strikes fear into the heart of the bravest of souls. However, the 30 seconds following the invitation to share are powerful and can open multiple doors. I learned a lot in my 15+ years working in PR, but quite possibly the best take away was mastering the… Read More
There’s a misperception that the best brand works comes to those who wait. Well, it doesn’t. The best brand work comes to those who hustle. If you don’t create great opportunities for yourself, it’s pretty unlikely that magic is going to come knocking on your door. I know that it’s a little scary. Maybe you’re afraid you’re not quite good… Read More
Selecting a web host is confusing. There are literally hundreds of hosts – from small mom-and-pop shops like Orange Geek to national operations like GoDaddy, HostGator and BlueHost. (For the record? Bigger IS NOT always better.) These hosts offer an array of hosting plans that can range in price from $3-300 a month. With so many options how does a creative… Read More
I signed up for my personal Instagram account nearly six years ago, immediately following the first annual Snap Conference. About a year later, I started the Snap account. While a tool called Fotogramme and a variety of scheduling tools have helped me to manage the two accounts I own, along with several client accounts, it’s been rough. I was thrilled to learn that Instagram… Read More
Each January the Craft and Hobby Association (CHA) hosts a tradeshow for industry buyers. The show features the latest and greatest in craft products, typically before they show up in stores. If you’re following me on Facebook or Instagram, you might have seen a preview of some of the fun items I came across last week at the 2016 show. Today… Read More
Each year trend setters in the design industry eagerly await Pantone’s Color of the Year announcement. In the recent past bright, bold hues have taken center stage… Pantone Color of the Year This year, Pantone has taken a far different direction with far lighter, more muted colors. It’s also the first time the company is focusing on not one, but two… Read More
Whether your interest in color is based in simple inspiration or a desire to track trends, we’ve rounded up eight online color resources to help you out. Eight Online Color Resources Pantone. Pantone is nearly synonymous with color. For more than 50 years, Pantone has provided color matching services and color intelligence reports. Each year, the company causes a stir in the creative… Read More
It’s no secret that music can change your mood, recharge your spirit and motivate you to go and do. Here are 10 great girl power songs to get you on your way in 2016! Girl Power Playlist Listen to the full playlist on YouTube | Spotify Alicia Keys – Girl on Fire Rachel Platten – Fight Song Sara Bareilles –… Read More
This time of year the sound of the delivery truck has me heading for the door faster than a kid running out after the ice cream truck on a hot day… Hi. My name is Tauni. I am addicted to online shopping. I mean, hello. Shopping AT HOME, in my PJS, HOT CHOCOLATE in hand? Amazing. As you can imagine,… Read More
There are few conversations among bloggers and small business owners more heated than those about Facebook engagement, like generation and reach. Frequent changes to “like” generation, giveaway rules, engagement and the algorithm have chased some entrepreneurs away entirely and few are still focused on an increase Facebook Page likes. Despite all that I have remained and continue to invest in my… Read More
Why Blog for Good? I am crazy loyal to companies who do good. All things being equal I will always do business with a company that stands for something beyond profits. How about you? Recently I learned that Hefty trash bags support Box Tops for Education. Hefty is the only trash bag that supports Box Tops for Education and when… Read More
This post contains affiliate links. Just the other day I was ruminating about blogging’s place in the world and mentioned that a new blog is created every second of every day…The truth of the matter is that some blogs end as quickly as they begin, BUT for those that stay connected? There is influence. Real influence. Every day bloggers are… Read More
A new blog is created every second of every day. Now I am no mathematician, but even with my rudimentary skills I can tell you that’s a heck of a lot of sites. At the same time, prominent bloggers like Young House Love and mom blog royalty, Dooce, are are leaving the industry. It’s no surprise one of the most common questions… Read More
Every once in a while an account shutdown occurs that sends ripples throughout the online community. You’ve probably heard horror stories – a Blogger site is deleted, a Facebook Page disappears, an AdSense account is closed with no warning. The truly scary thing is, these corporations are so large there is often a “zero tolerance” policy in place and gleaning… Read More
Hi Friends! Today I am going to show you how to customize block quotes in Blogger. First let’s talk about a couple things… What is a block quote? Technically a block quote is used for quoting something or someone. You indent the paragraph when you are quoting a passage or citing. Do block quotes have another purpose? If you ask me, yes!… Read More
Each time I run out of business cards, I hem and haw over the purchase of new ones until I’ve missed the deadline to order anything truly brilliant and am just doing my best to get something, anything, in hand. It’s a vicious cycle really, because I don’t want to order “too many” cards in hopes that the next ones… Read More
When I was a kid people used to say, “I tried and tried to call you, but I just couldn’t get through.” Times have changed a great deal, now we have call waiting and EVERYONE has voicemail. Today’s “I tried and tried,” is electronic. I sent you an email, I commented on your site or on Facebook, but you can’t… Read More
Hi WordPress users! Today I am going to show you how to offer a free printable on WordPress with your blog readers. As a blogger a great way to gain traffic and give back to your readers is with a free printable! It could be a free printable party decor, holiday tag, invitations, wall art, game, kids coloring page, etc……. Read More
Hi there! Earlier in January I wrote a post How to Embed a Pinterest Board on Your Blog. At the time the post was specifically for WordPress Users (and Genesis Theme users). But today I am happy to share that the Pinterest Widget Builder page has changed and now ALL Blogger and WordPress Users can easily (we are talking copy and… Read More
Want your blog to end with .com instead of .blogspot? All you need is 5 min., a credit card and you can officially own your own .com! It is really easy. Let me walk you through it… First, login to your blog and click “Settings.” Halfway down the basic settings page you will see an area that says “Publishing.” Click… Read More
Hello SNAP! readers! Are you ready for another fun WordPress tutorial? Today I’m going to show you how to create a navigation bar using WordPress menus and how to set up dropdowns for that navigation bar. On the left side of your dashboard hover over “Appearance” and choose the “Menus” option. Your screen will now look something like this: Enter… Read More
I am already fondly referred to as “the paparazzi” at my house, but I ALWAYS feel like I can use more photos of the every day. So this summer, I decided to create some fun photo prompts that would give me a reason to shoot and the kids a reason to smile… The photo prompts I created document everything from the… Read More
Today we are going to learn how to do something really fun! WordPress users have the options to install plugins and create featured images slides show on their blog. This is not a standard widget that is available as a Blogger user, BUT today I am going to show you how to make an image slider in Blogger. * The original code… Read More
Time for a Blogger tutorial! Who is ready?! Today I am going to walk you through adding horizontal thumbnails of your most recent blog posts. Here is an example :: See the 5 square images? Those link to the 5 most recent posts! And they update automatically! COOL huh?! To add this to your own blog you need to — 1. Go… Read More
Remember when Tauni told us our blog is like a house? Some of us rent and some own, some have a big elegant house, others a cozy cottage. The common denominator between us all??? We all would like a nice home that reflects our style and is welcoming. Right? And don’t we want our blog to feel the same way… Read More
[Instagram logo and paper clipped photos from the Instagram website] Instagram has gone wildly lately! Particularly after it was released for Android phones earlier this week. I love following friends on Instagram and if I had more than an old flip phone without internet I would be all about it! This tutorial is for you lucky ducks who get to… Read More
Looking to start a new blog? Let’s talk about how to pick the perfect blog name. Selecting a domain name and URL is often an overwhelming, frustrating and exhausting experience. Your name is the one thing that will shape branding, first impressions and the tone of your site for years to come and you want it to be perfect. Do… Read More
If you stop by often you probably know that in addition to blogging and running SNAP! Conference, I work full-time in public relations and social media. As a result, I have to be extra efficient in terms of how I spend my time online. I rely heavily on applications that help me to schedule posts on various social networks. I… Read More
I have a hand in managing more than 10 Instagram accounts. Yeah…It can get a bit hectic. One of the most difficult things about managing so many accounts is the time it takes to sign in and out so that I can leave comments and/or respond with the right handle. Fortunately, there’s an app for that. Let me tell you… Read More
UPDATE: An error occurred in the code below when this post was published, it should be correct now. Please leave any problems or questions in the comments. Thanks! So, have you ever been a little frustrated that there isn’t an easy way to change the text size or font when writing a WordPress post? Well, today I’m going to show… Read More
Ahhh. January 1. It’s that time of year again. New Year’s Resolutions, big goals, coupled with big expectations… I feel so inspired and determined when setting goals, but feel frustrated and defeated when they are challenged and/or not met. Anyone with me? A couple of years ago, my friend Lara invited me to create a one word goal for the year. Selecting a central… Read More