The New WordPress has been released, and it brings with it a huge number of changes and new features. Some of these are designed for greater usability, but the vast majority of the updating has been done to the dashboard and the overall look and feel.

The most significant change from an end-user point of view is that all modules and widgets of the interface can be dragged and dropped in any number of arrangements. I’ve included the video from WordPress themselves illustrating some of this new flexibility.

For clients, this new release is wonderful. Not only are many of the features much more intuitive than they were in previous versions, but direct-from-dashboard posting, replying, and editing is a huge boon for those with limited time (all of us). Beyond that, the new auto downloader/installer will be a blessing for those who have been frustrated by manual FTP-based installs of new releases in the past.

Overall, I’m enjoying the new version immensely, and I look forward to discovering all the new ways to utilize this very powerful tool.

There are actually many more than ten ways to optimize your traffic with your blog. But we’ve narrowed it down to the best ten ways so that you don’t have to filter through tons of words and for your convenience. These ten ways also help you without you having to spend a single penny, and most of them don’t even require you to be online.
1. Network - No matter where you are (on the street, in a cafe, online, at a party, at the courthouse, or in an elevator) or who you are interacting with, you should always talk about what you do and what your blog is about. You should also not forget who you are talking to and think about how you two can help each other out.
2. Comment on Others’ Blogs - Taking the time out to read other bloggers’ posts and comment on worthy selections not only helps the other bloggers but also helps you to learn more about how other bloggers are writing and what they are writing about.
3. Go to Parties - Talk to people, make yourself a talkative, energetic personality. People at parties want to talk to someone who is interesting and who knows how to hold a conversation. Even if you aren’t the center of a party, if you have some initiative to talk to different people at parties then you can talk about really anything, including your blog.
4. Public Speaking - Once you’ve become educated on the topic(s) of your blog then you should keep an eye open for any conferences or lectures that are being held at public places or colleges and universities. Even if there isn’t any obvious need for a speaker, you can contact professors at your nearest university and talk to them about the possibility of having you being a guest lecture for any of their classes.
5. Create Power User Profiles on Social Media Sites - Not only will it connect you to other people and opportunities around the Internet, but having a power use profile will enable you to increase your readership quickly.
6. Keep a Professional Expert File - As you are networking and meeting more people around your areas of interest and meeting people that will be helpful and useful to you (locally or otherwise) keep a file of all the people you meet with their contact information and with notes about what they do and know and how they can help you (or you help them).
7. Write Guest Blogs - Contact other bloggers you are interested, show them some samples of your work and request to write some guest blogs on their site. If the acquiesce, and you write the blogs, then this will be a good way for you get to meet another blogger and for you get your name out on another site.
8. Attend Conferences - Always be looking out for conferences locally, statewide and nationally. You can never know too much about your particular field(s). Knowledge is a powerful tool, and the more you know the better your blog can be.
9. Submit to the Newspaper - Submit opinion pieces, press releases or even feature articles that are concerned with your area(s) of expertise and interest to your local or specialized newspapers. Getting your opinions, knowledge and name out in the media always helps create more interest in your blog.
10. Take Your Blog to the Airwaves - There is always at least one low powered community radio station near you. Take your blog and blog’s topic(s) to the local radio station and see if they have any slots open for you to have your own radio show based around your blog. Even if you can’t get on the local radio station, there are satellite stations that will broadcast your podcast.

To get your blog optimized for the search engines, contact us today!