Adding Pages to My Blog

Summary

The author is enhancing their personal blog by improving navigation, categorizing posts with the "Post Grid" plugin, optimizing SEO, and refining content for better engagement and monetization.

Abstract

The author has owned a personal blog for several years, initially used as an outlet for personal thoughts. Recognizing the need for better organization and navigation, they have taken steps to improve the site's structure. This includes purchasing a domain, installing WordPress, buying a theme, and writing intermittent posts across various subjects. Despite using categories, tags, and SEO practices, the site lacked consistent views. The author has since discovered the "Post Grid" plugin, which has allowed for effective categorization of posts. With this new organization, the author plans to optimize older posts for SEO, improve internal and external linking, and perform error checks with tools like Grammarly. The goal is to refine the content, attract more views, and potentially earn through Medium's partnership program. The author views these improvements as a path to personal freedom, especially in light of challenges posed by the pandemic, racial identity, and mental health.

Opinions

The author believes that a well-organized and aesthetically pleasing site is crucial for monetizing their interests.
They have struggled with the layout and organization of their blog, finding it difficult to navigate and locate specific posts.
The author has a positive view of the "Post Grid" plugin, which has helped them achieve the desired look and categorization for their blog posts.
They acknowledge the need to optimize older content for better SEO ranking and readability.
The author sees effective blogging as a means to gain financial independence and navigate a post-pandemic world that has been altered by their personal experiences.

If I’m going to get my interests monetized, I’ll have to learn to make my site pretty, great.

I’ve had a personal blog for a couple of years now. I started the blog while slaving away at kitchens and not having an outlet to vent my thoughts. After several years of owning my site, I’ve decided to sit down and try to make it easier to navigate.

I purchased a domain, installed WordPress, bought a theme, and started writing. My posts were intermittent, personal, and on a variety of subjects. Sadly, I have realized that my site’s layout made it impossible to find some of my work.

I had categorized, tagged, copied, and used SEO, but no consistent views. I’m still trying to wrap my head around all the features present in WordPress and the theme I purchased.

Making Pages and using Post Grid

One of the problems I had difficulty with was finding a way to separate my post by their appropriate categories. For years I had sought a way to organize my posts by category. At first, I tried customizing the themes, but I did not get the look I was trying to achieve for my page. After I did a google search, I was introduced to the “Post Grid” plugin. I installed the plugin and managed to get my post separated into their respective category pages.

Post Grid made this simple by having PHP shortcode have my posts adequately categorized.

Going Back to Optimize My Posts

Now that I can categorize my blog posts, I can focus on optimizing my SEO ranking posts, internal/external linking, and error checking. Some of these posts are a couple of years old and are rife with errors. Using a tool like Grammarly should help me clarify my posts.

By refining what I’ve already placed into my site, I can gain critique and crosspost to publications on Medium. I’ve already earned a few cents since participating in the membership partner program. Furthermore, I can use the skills I’m learning from the “Good with Words” Specialization.

Small Steps to Freedom

With covid, my racialized position, and mental health concerns, I need to take this time to recalibrate how to navigate the world. Going back to normal after what I’ve experienced this year will never be an option. I’ve decided I want out of this madness, and effective blogging is one of the tools that I will use to become free.