Welcome to the third step in our free self-paced course designed to help you set up your own personal or professional educator blog!

The aim of this step is to:

  1. Help you understand how posts are used on personal blogs.
  2. Provide tips for writing effective posts.
  3. Teach you how to publish your first posts.

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Introduction to posts

Your posts are where you’ll publish your main content such as your reflections, what you’ve learned, and information you want to share with others. They are commonly displayed in reverse-chronological order with the most recent post at the top of the page.

By default, your home page is your blog post page and this is where you’ll see your new posts published.

If you look closely at a post you will see it is normally made up of:

  1. Post Title — tells the reader what the post is about. A great post title grabs the readers attention and is more likely to encourage them to read your post.
  2. Date published — all posts display the date a post was published. You’ll normally see this displayed at the top of the post.
  3. Written by — most themes display the name of the post author. Your username is automatically displayed unless you’ve changed your display name.
  4. Your post content — this is the main information that you want to share or reflect on. It could be a mixture of text, links, images, videos etc.
  5. Comments — all themes have a link to comments. This is where your readers can click to write a comment in response to your post. Comments allow readers to engage in discussions, share their thoughts, and connect with your blog.
  6. Categories — are used to help readers locate posts on your blog. Categories are often used like chapters of a book; they provide a general overview of the topics you blog about.
  7. Tags — are used to help readers locate posts on your blog. Tags are more like the index at the back of the book and explode the topic into a million bits.

Anatomy of a post

Watch this video to learn more about pages vs posts.

Here’s a quick summary of the difference between posts and pages.

Posts vs Pages

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Who publishes the posts?

If you look closely at educator blogs you’ll see some are group blogs where several individuals publish posts on the blog, while on other blogs the posts are published by just one educator.

Individual educator blogs are more common because most people are more motivated to post on their own blog due to personal ownership.

The Connected Principals, Two Writing Teachers, and The Edublogger are examples of group blogs. You can check out other group blogs here!

Here are examples of personal educator blogs:

Find more examples of educator blogs here.

Watch this video by Steve Wheeler on 3 Things you need to know about blogging!


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Examples of posts on personal educator blogs

So what do you publish as posts on your blog?  Your reflections, what you’ve learned, how-tos, resources, and cool information  — there’s so much you can share!

Often, posts on professional educator blogs are either about sharing thoughts, sharing professional practice, sharing resources, or sharing news.

Examples of sharing thoughts on professional educator blogs:

Examples of sharing professional practice on educator blogs:

Examples of sharing resources on educator blogs:

Examples of sharing news on educator blogs:

Starting out your posts don’t have to be perfect — blogging is a work in progress!

The key is to take the first steps! Here’s my very first post ever — if I never wrote my first posts I wouldn’t be here helping you today!

Check out this A No-Excuses Guide to Blogging by Sacha Chua.

2014-02-13 A No-Excuses Guide to Blogging – Summary of 10 blogging excuses and how to work around them by Sacha Chua licensed under Creative Commons

Blog Post Ideas

Look for specific ideas of what you can write about? Check out The Edublogger’s 50 blog topics and prompts for teachers.

50 Topics and Prompts to Inspire Educators to Blog Edublogs


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How to publish a new post

(Scroll down to find a PDF summary)

You publish a post as follows:

1.  Go to Posts > Add New.

Add New

2.  Give your post a title and add your content.

Add your content

3.  Add your tags and categories (learn about categories and tags here).

Add your categories

4.  When finished writing click Publish.

Click Publish

5.  Presto! Your post will now display on your blog so others can read!

Previewing your Draft

Before you publish your post it is a good idea to use the preview option to see what it looks like to your readers.

You preview a post by clicking on Save Draft and then click Preview. This opens up a draft version of your post in a new tab.

Preview

Then just go back to your draft and make any changes you want!

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Intro to Visual Editor

The area where you write your post is by default in Visual Editing mode which uses WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) option for formatting.

It works similar to any word processing software.

Simply write your post, highlight any text you want to format and then click the appropriate button in the toolbar to add formatting such as bold, italics, or numbered list.

The Toolbar toggle icon is used to view the advanced formatting options including heading styles, underlining, font color, custom characters, undo, redo.

You switch between Visual Editing mode and HTML editing mode by clicking on the Visual or Text tab.

Visual Editor

Below is a quick video tutorial on the visual editor.


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PDF Cheat Sheet: Writing Posts

This PDF guide summarizes how to write a post. Save it to your computer or print it off. You’ll find the ‘download’ button under the document.

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Tips for writing better blog posts

Reading online is different from reading in text on paper.

The easier to read and more engaging your posts are, the more likely they’ll be read and the better your message will be conveyed.

Here are some tips to help you write better posts on personal blogs:


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1. Use attention grabbing titles

Titles on blog posts are like titles on books. The better the title, the more it’ll grab the attention of readers and the greater the chance people will read what you’ve written.

Captivating and intriguing titles draw readers every time. Back that with a well written post and you can’t lose.

For further tips on writing post titles, refer to Seven Easy Ways to Write Better Titles for Your Blog Posts by Ali Luke.


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2.  Use short paragraphs

Posts with really long paragraphs are harder to read online.

Here are some quick tips:

  • Break your posts up with paragraphs.
  • The more paragraphs the better.
  • Short paragraphs are better than long.
  • If you need to make some paragraphs one or two sentences long so they are visually easier to read online then do it!
  • Start each paragraph strong and encourage the reader to read on.

Varying your sentence length is also a powerful strategy, as demonstrated here by Gary Provost.Gary Provost demonstrates how varying sentence length is effective


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3.  Use Headings

Use headings, and, where appropriate, bullet points or numbered lists, to break up the post into manageable bite-sized chunks.

To create a heading you simply:

  1. Highlight the text you want to change into a heading
  2. Select the Heading Style you want to apply from the advanced formatting toolbar (you access the advanced formatting toolbar by clicking on the Toolbar toggle icon). Heading 1 is your post title. Start at Heading 2, then Heading 3 for sub-headings under that and so on.
  3. Preview your post to make sure that headings you’ve used have broken your post into manageable chunks

Heading style


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4.  Remember to Link

Failing to link is one of the biggest mistakes made by new bloggers.

Linking to articles, websites, or other blogger’s post when you write about them is an important part of blogging.

Your readers want to be able to easily check out the information without needing to use Google.

Links are the building blocks of the web.

When you link, you are:

  1. Crediting those who inspired your post.
  2. Making it easy for readers to check out resources and information for themselves.
  3. Building community, continuation of the conversation, and reciprocity.

It’s good blogging etiquette to link to:

  1. A person’s blog if you mention a blogger
  2. The post if you are talking about a particular post on a blog
  3. Website or article if mentioned in your post

Here is how to add a link:

1.  Copy the URL of the website you want to link to.

Copy link

2.  In the post you’re writing, highlight the text you want to link.

Highlight text

3.  Paste the URL you copied directly over the highlighted text using a keyboard shortcut like CTRL V (PC) or CMD V (Mac).

4.  The link is automatically created. The highlighted text now appears underlined and is blue to confirm it is linked.

Paste link

When you view your post you should now see the text is now linked in the post. Remember to check the URL you added is linking properly!

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5.  Enhance posts with images and media

When you look at personal blogs, you’ll notice bloggers enhance their posts with images and other types of media including videos and by embedding online tools.

We’ll show you how this is done later in this professional learning series on blogging.

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Read more tips for making your blog posts easier to read.

10 Ways to Make Your Blog Posts Easier to Read Infographic Edublogs

Commonly asked post questions

Here are answers to commonly asked questions we receive into Edublogs Support:

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1.  What does the ‘Not found’ message on my homepage mean?

By default, the front page of your blog is set to display your latest posts.

If you delete the default “Hello World’ post before you publish a new post, then your front page will display ‘Nothing Found’, ’404 – Not Found Error’ or something similar depending on the theme you are using.

This message is displayed because there is nothing to display on your front page.

Not found message

All you need to do is go to Posts > Add New and publish a new post.

Once the new post is published, you’ll see it displayed on your homepage.

You’ll find more detailed step-by-step instructions on how to fix a Not Found message here.


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2.  How do you delete the Hello World Post?

Every newly created blog has the same default layout with posts displayed on its home page with a ‘Hello World’ post and a ‘Sample’ page.

You can delete this post at any time by going to Posts > All Posts.  

Hovering your mouse over the title of the Hello World post brings up four action links.

Now just click on Trash. This sends it to your Trash folder where it is permanently deleted within 30 days of when you trashed it.

Trash post

Remember, if you delete all posts, and your homepage is your blog post page, you will see a ‘Not Found’ message.

To remove that message, you just need to publish a new post by going to Posts > Add New.

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3.  How do I change font type and size?

We’re often asked how to change the font type and size in posts. This is really easy to do.

Just go to plugins and activate the Supreme Google Webfonts plugin.

Now when writing your post, you just highlight the text you want to change and then select the font family or font size from the drop-down menu that has been added to your advanced formatting toolbar in your visual editor.

Google Web fonts


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4.  Is it possible to publish posts to different pages on my blog?

We’re often asked if it is possible to add posts to other pages, rather than just the front page of the blog. This is commonly asked by educators who want to use one blog for multiple classes or subjects. Some teachers use this approach on their personal blog if they are setting up an ePortfolio to document their skills.

And yes you can! But it does involve slightly advanced blogging skills.

You do it by sending posts to different pages on your blog by assigning different categories to posts, based on the class or subject, and using a custom menu to create links to the categories from your top navigation. When students and parents click on their category they’re taken to all the posts for that class or subject. Check out Mr. Cartlidge’s Science Blog to see how it works.

You’ll find step by step instructions on using categories to organize multiple classes or subjects on your blog here.

We’ve set up a demo blog to show you it in action. When you click on the Geography link in the top navigation of our demo blog you are taken to all posts assigned the category Geography.

If you look at the AITSL Standards sub-menu on Paul Huebl’s blog you’ll see he has used this approach on his personal blog.

Remember, it does involve slightly advanced blogging skills — so leave a comment or email us at Edublogs Support if you need our assistance.


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Your Task

We’d like you to add your voice and ideas to our ongoing conversation about blogging by undertaking one or more of these tasks:

  1. Video reflection: Watch this video by Steve Wheeler on 3 Things you need to know about blogging. Leave a comment to share what you learned from watching Steve’s video.
  2. What’s has been your excuse? Look through A No-Excuses Guide to Blogging Slideshare by Sacha Chua. What resonates most with you? What has your biggest obstacle been in the past? Tell us in a comment.
  3. Write a post: Check out the post examples listed above and then publish your first post. Leave a link to your first post in a comment so we can have a look at how you went.
  4. Blog post style: Do you think your blog will include more posts that are thoughts, professional practice, resources, or news? Or maybe you will include a mixture? Tell us in a comment.
  5. Better blog posts: Read 10 Tips For Making Your Blog Posts Easier To Read. Publish a new post incorporating some of these tips and then leave a comment with a link to the post so we can have a look at how you went. What tips did you adopt?

Also feel free to leave any questions you are having (or tips/advice) as well.


How to leave a comment: Scroll down to find the comment box. Write your comment, then enter your name and email address (email addresses are not published). Enter the anti-spam word. Press submit and we will moderate your comment ASAP.

211 thoughts on “Step 3: Publishing Your First Posts

  1. Blog post style: I think my blog posts will contain more thoughts for right now because I am completing my internship and my blog is based on what I’m doing in my internship. Eventually, I would like to branch out and share resources and practices that I’m doing.

  2. I am still overwhelmed by the instructions but I think I am getting it. My blog is up if anyone can please give me feekback it would be a lot. thanks again everyone!

  3. Now that I am understanding more about what a blog is and the why and how my thoughts have me thinking of many things to write. Do I want to blog or do I want to write a page. My thoughts seem to need a place to present, so I think this blog is a great place to voice my thoughts.

  4. Returning to school as a senior citizen is exciting, new adventure, a challenge. Technology has changed, online courses, health issues improvement, cognitive process awakens, and self awareness creating a new person with purpose. Get Ready Today for a new day tomorrow!

  5. What I want my blog to show are opinions and facts on the academic growth in young children. And comments on what others think of the given topics as well. And I want to see connections made amongst others in their comments.

  6. From the video 3 Things you need to know about blogging, I learned that patience and consistency is key to being successful at blogging. Our audience is not going to grow fast, but if we keep practicing and make our posts better and the more possibilities of gaining an audience will get. Another thing that I learned was that blogging clarifies our writing.

  7. My blog style I believe will mostly include thoughts more than resources and news. I would plan on providing resources however if I was writing my thoughts. Ive never done a blog before, so I am not sure of what my preference would be.

  8. From the video i learned about which types of blogs are appropriate. they can be viewed by all or it can be specific for who can view the blog. The most challenging thing for me was to follow the steps that were within other steps. I found myself very confused at times and almost wanted to give up. However, I did’nt give up and i began to redo the steps until it made sense to me.
    https://imaniwilson3.edublogs.org/2022/10/16/a-reason-to-teach/

  9. https://imaniwilson3.edublogs.org

    From the video i learned about which types of blogs are appropriate. they can be viewed by all or it can be specific for who can view the blog. The most challenging thing for me was to follow the steps that were within other steps. I found myself very confused at times and almost wanted to give up. However, I did’nt give up and i began to redo the steps until it made sense to me.

  10. Blog post style: Do you think your blog will include more posts that are thoughts, professional practice, resources, or news? Or maybe you will include a mixture? Tell us in a comment.

    I feel that my blog style will include posts that are about my thoughts and professional practice. I feel that I can add my thoughts and tips about my professional practice and can also hear other people’s thoughts on the professional practice.

  11. From Steve Wheeler’s video, I discovered that blogs can be either public or private. However, having a public blog is crucial because creating a private one might be challenging given that fewer people will view your entries. My biggest challenges are taking my time while writing blogs and making sure that they are packed with content that will draw readers in. Having a public blog allows you to reach a global audience of readers who may want to interact with your blog and possibly disagree with you on certain topics. I also discovered that blogging requires patience and that it takes time.
    https://amartin16.edublogs.org/2022/10/06/when-i-realized-children-was-my-passion/

  12. Blog post style: Do you think your blog will include more posts that are thoughts, professional practice, resources, or news? Or maybe you will include a mixture? Tell us in a comment.

    I think my blog will include posts that are my thoughts, professional practice, resources, and news. I don’t want to limit myself to only posting content about one topic as my thoughts and knowledge is always evolving!

  13. I want to try to include some person thoughts and information when creating my posts while also including some educational posts – regardless I want it to be fun.

  14. What I learned from watching Steve’s video is that blogs can be public or private. Blogging is probably the most important public unchoreographed discourse we have available to us. Blogging takes time to gain an audience.

  15. Some things that resonates with me from reading A No-Excuses Guide to Blogging by Sacha Chua is not really knowing what to write even though I have my topic, however she brings up a good point about being able to include links to stem information off of.

    Here is a link to my first post: https://testtakingtipsforstudents.edublogs.org/wp-admin/post.php?post=1&action=edit

    I think that my blog will include a lot of links and personal stories about my experiences with test taking and how I applied certain tips to my test taking experiences.

  16. I learned from Steve Wheeler’s video that going public with a blog is very important because making a private one is hard because there are less people that are going to read your posts. Having a public blog opens a globally audience with people who might what to engage in your blog and possible argue with you on specific points. I also learned blogging takes time and it is important to be patient.

  17. Do you think your blog will include more posts that are thoughts, professional practice, resources, or news? Or maybe you will include a mixture? To answer this question I would say my blog would include posts that are both thoughtful and resourceful.

  18. This is my first experience with blogging with blogging and I am concerned I will not have enough to talk about. But I guess I will or I would not have started this in the first place. I like the advice shared about writer’s block, will come in handy.

  19. One thing I learned from Steves video is that its accessible to everyone. One excuses I use alot is I don’t want to be wrong but its taken alot of reflection and learning that without being wrong there is no room for growth. My blog style would probably be a mixture or what I can relate to the topic discussing.

  20. My blogging style will be a mixture of thoughts, professional practices, and resources. I plan to provide my readers with resources they can use and share my thoughts about them. I am not a blogger but I am open to learning.

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