New year, new blog resolution? Yay! Keep your excitement high with resources and tools that’ll keep you publishing through 2017.
Over the past few weeks, we’ve been talking to WordPress bloggers about their blog resolutions for 2017; as the new year begins, lots of us are either starting new blogs or re-committing to existing ones. If that’s you, check out the courses, tutorials, and resources we’ve got to help you realize your website dreams.
Blogging U.
Blogging U. courses — on blogging, writing, photography, and more — collect the best advice and expertise of WordPress.com staffers, breaking it down into bite-size assignments delivered straight to your email inbox.
- Brand-new blogger? Start with our 10-day Blogging Fundamentals.
- Want to connect with other bloggers? Commenting Basics to the rescue!
- Trying to build your WordPress know-how or your readership? Give Intermediate Customization or Branding and Growth a go.
- Starting a business? Take Build a Business Website.
There are also a variety of courses to stoke your creative fires and help you hone your writing and photography skills:
- Grab your camera and learn about composition, light, photo editing, and more in Developing Your Eye I and II.
- Use Finding Everyday Inspiration to build a writing habit with 20 days of daily writing themes inspired by the places closest to you.
- Revise your existing writing and learn to approach it with an editor’s eye in Shaping Your Story.
- Get in touch with your inner Emily Dickinson or Langston Hughes with Intro to Poetry.
Each course also has a specific tag that you’ll use on your posts to help you find other participants, so you can make friends while you support one another. Don’t worry — your course will tell you what the tag is and how to use it!
Click on a course name that interests you to see all its details. You’ll see a “Start” button at the top of the page; click that, and you’ll get a welcome email immediately and your first assignment ten minutes later.
Banish the Blank Screen
Some of us don’t want to commit to a course, but could still use a boost. A new website means a world of possibility, but an empty page can be daunting.
- Not sure what to write about? We’ve got daily prompts, along with lots and lots of post ideas — even if you don’t use our ideas, they’re sure to spark some thoughts that will lead you to a new post.
- Playing with the design and layout of a new site can be as much fun as publishing. Designer Kjell Reigstad’s posts cover fonts, colors, page layout, and more, so you can tweak and re-tweak ’til you find your perfect look.
- If you’re building a website (e.g., a site for an organization, small business, your wedding, your band, etc.), a little planning will ensure it includes all the info you need to communicate. Read “Measure Twice Cut Once,” to help with brainstorming and organizing, then follow the instructions in “Where Is My Website?” to set your site up.
For more, take a few minutes to explore the Inspiration and Layout & Design categories here. If you can do it with WordPress.com, we’ve probably written about it! And for an all-in-one tutorial, take a peek at learn.wordpress.com.
Help At Hand
Instructions for every piece of WordPress.com are available 24/7 in our support documents, along with help for any specific questions — browse resources and contact us via wordpress.com/help, or get help with technical questions from the staff and helpful volunteers in our support forums. To get and give feedback on your posts, join your fellow bloggers in our weekly Community Pool thread.
We’re here for you, whatever style of help you prefer. Here’s to a great 2017 of blogging!
Currently blogless? You’re a click away from sharing your story.
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Thank you so much for the post, just signed up for “blogging fundamentals” I hope this will help me with some tactics i can use to grow my blog with. I have very recently started a political blog, I would really appreciate it if anyone reading this post checks out my blog! Thanks 🙂
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Hi..i just checked your blog 🙂 and followed it 🙂 Keep up the good work.
I am also new to blogging world. Kindly check out my blog. Thanks!
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Hey welcome to the world of blogging!!! ✌️
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Thanks. Do check my blog.
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Not much of a political fan but, keep up the good work! ✌
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Looking forward to make 2017 a greater year than the one that just bid farewell. Leaving all the pain and hurt behind and dive into a new ocean of poignant darkness, spreading more love towards pain, through my blog which consists of writings about my daily wtf moment, exaggerated into a magical world of darkness. xoxo!
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I believe your blog is the best one I have read so far! Love it! Keep the readers amazed✌️😜
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Thanks vaas!
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Anytime ! (:
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My new years resolution was to right a blog. Thanks for the tips! I was inspired to write about how I feel as well by lots of blogs as well as this one so thanks!
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Blogging really helps with maintaining the balance of life, id advice you to keep writing if you are going through a stressed period.. the love and support really helps a lot!
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This is great, thank you! I just started my blog and am really hoping to grow it this year.
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Welcome to the world of blogging! xoxo ✌
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One of my resolutions was to put more effort into my blog and until now I am definitely doing that! This post was very interesting to read as I am a new blogger. Anyone has tips or feedback!
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Looks great so far! Keep updating your blog and building a follower base!
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This is really helpful for new bloggers and returning bloggers alike. I will check them out especially the photography courses and the post ideas websites, thank you so much. Much appreciated. I just started my new blog and for those interested, go check it out. It will mean a lot to me.
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Welcome to the world of blogging! Hope 2017 brings much happiness and joy!
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I just started my blog.Thank you so much…., this post
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Great blog monika! Keep writing!
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Thank you so much 😊
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Pleasures all mine gurl!
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Thank you so much!
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Comprehensive and informative !
Thank you so much…
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Thank you for sharing these resources. I switched my site to a self-hosted space a few years ago, but I feel good knowing I can always come back here for blogging inspiration, resources, and community.
Thanks again and keep up the great work.
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New to blogging here so this will be very helpful. Would love for everyone to read about my little life and beautiful family.
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Welcome!
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Its nice of u to share bits and pieces of your life with us! Keep blogging! xoxo ✌❤
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I am new to the blogging world and really enjoy posts like this. It is very helpfull! Definitely gonna check the photography ones and daily inspiration! Thanks a lot))
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Welcome to the world of blogging!
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Thank you))
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Your welcome!
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super helpful thank you!!!!
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Thanks, this is useful! Will definitely make use of these tips. It is not easy for a new blogger to get attention, there are so many good ones out there… Fingers crossed you will like mine!
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This is awesome inspiration! Definitely helped me get words onto the page today. Thank you!
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This is just what I need! I have a dual resolution- to date every other week and blog about it. My blog is anonymous so any additional tips and recommendations would be much appreciated!
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Hope ya dates go well!
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This is exactly what I need today!
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This is great info! It really helped me out.
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Great collection of info. Thanks!
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This is so great! Thank you!
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This is brilliant!! Thank you so much! X
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Awesome tool!! Thank you!
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So glad y’all are finding these resources useful. Good luck with your blogs; I’m excited to see what you do with them!
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Love these suggestions!
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It’s been three years this month and I just posted my 100th blog today! The blog is about that feat, why I started a blog and what inspires me to keep going. https://nerpribyl.wordpress.com/2017/01/04/spoiler-alert-the-behind-the-scenes-of-my-blog
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As a new blogger, I had no idea how daunting this could be. There is so much to learn. I’m quite glad these resources exists. Thank you.
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This is great, thank you!
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I love the help and support given here – in the post and the comments’ section. Thank you. Of course, you are more than welcome to read and follow my blog. I wish you all a happy new year!
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Hey Michelle.. I have been blogging on wordpress since the last three years and absolutely loving it ! It feels liberating to be able to write and say what you actually feel.. I was wondering if i could be part of the wordpress team in any way in helping them out in anything.. Would love to give back to this community.. I really hope to get a reply from you.. Waiting !!! P.S I would love it if you could spare some minutes to see my blog !!!! Thank you .. Love
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I’m happy that you’re so happy with WordPress 🙂
One of the best things you could do is support other bloggers here, to help them have the great experience you’re having. The Community Pool thread is full of people looking for feedback and support, and the First Friday threads are full of new bloggers who would love to get their first like or comment from someone!
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Definitely.. Shall do.. I hope you could spare sometime to read my blog.. Thanks Michelle :*
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Just wt what I needed to start the new year
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