Favorite Blogging Tool
How do you write your blog posts?
Do you go directly into WordPress or Blogger, and write them there? Or do you write them in Word, then copy and paste?
My absolutely favorite tool in blogging is Windows LiveWriter. It’s a free desktop application – I write my entries offline, and can preview them in the blog’s template to see what they look like before either uploading them as drafts or publishing them.
With plug-ins, you can insert:
* graphics
* hyperlinks
* tables
* maps
* video
* Adsense
* book details
* Silverlight
* Flickr images
* smilies
* Amazon links
This program is sweet when it comes to graphics. You can copy a graphic, paste it in the program, then add a drop shadow, margins, alt tag, link it to a URL, play with the size, adjust the contrast, and add effects.
When the content is uploaded, the code is totally clean – none of the junky Microsoft coding that you get with Word. Formatting is much easier – there are certain things I have problems with in the WP editor that not only work like a charm in LiveWriter but also upload perfectly.
When you’re ready to publish your blog, I suggest that instead you click on “post draft and edit online” so you can add the title and meta description before you publish it. You always do that, right?
Tip: I don’t know if you find it as much of a PITA to upload graphics for a sidebar as I do, but now I’m going to reveal my awesome shortcut! Just paste your graphic into a blank LiveWriter post, fix it up to look just right (add that nice dropshadow, an affiliate link, margins, etc.) and click on “post draft and edit online.” Your WP blog will open up in the post editing screen. Click on “html,” copy the URL of your graphic, and place it wherever you want on the blog site. Delete the faux blog post and you are DONE.
Hmm.. is it really recommended to use? I just go into the blog and use its own posting features.
I was so excited to get this new tool, and now see it’s only Windows. I’ll suggest they develop for mac users too.
I used to use a couple of them, then reformatted my system and forgot to download again…. I’ll check into this one straight away, thanks!
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This sounds like a great tool. I know that one of the most time-consuming aspects of typing posts directly into the blogging platform is having to continually hit the preview button to see how your post will format. A tool like this sounds extremely useful. I’m a Mac user, so I can’t try out Windows LiveWriter, but hopefully I can find one like it for Mac.
And my favourite tool is “post2blog” instead of WLW (Windows Live Writer). I don’t like Microsoft’s products.
I log right into WordPress and make my post and all edits there. What I love about doing it this way is that I can save the post and preview it before I publish it.
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@Roger – give it a try and let us know what you think!
@Tatiana – that’s too bad! Hmmm, I guess is is a Microsoft product…
@Dennis – you’re welcome
@MLRebecvca – exactly, I hope you can find one for your Mac.
@NoMoreSEO – I will check that one out; I’ve never heard of it before.
@Patty Gale – you cn do the same thing with LiveWriter. It’s actually quite a bit quicker to check your post with LW.
Yeah it’s true, I was so excited to get this new tool, and now see it’s only Windows. I’ll suggest they develop for mac users too.Comic Sharing Community
I think it’s easy to just go right in to wordpress admin panel. It’s easy to add photos and links so why bother with text document… imo
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as far as I am concerned i use the old way. I just use wordpress I mean. That’s because it is faster and more secure. In fact, if I am not mistaken the method you chose can be exploited by hackers, so be careful! No method is hacker proof but what I said above is what I heard from a friend of mine who used to post by using Windows Live Writer.
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I am going to have to check this one out. I don’t like to use Word because it leaves weird formatting information in my post. Typically I write my posts in Word and then transfer them into Notepad before I paste them in my blog. This program might help save me the extra steps.
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It’s my first time to visit your website. I have my personal blog and it depends upon my mood. I need to check that Windows Livewriter so that i can add some good things on blog. Thanks for the information!
I will check it out. I am on 164 th blog so have gotten used to the Word Press but do have to go outside to get tables and some other things. Thanks for the tip.
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@harmano – I found MarsEdit 2 for Mac, with a 30 day free trial, but it costs $29.95. It’s supposed to be excellent. I couldn’t find a free one.
@Jesse – WP takes so long, at least for me, and LW is quick.
@Web Talk – I can’t imagine how it could be exploited. Essentially it uploads the post to the blog via ftp. I’d like to hear more about it.
@Ryan – Word add awfull formatting! I think you’ll love LiveWriter.
@Eric – tables are super easy in LW; it’s one of the features I really like.
I never was thinking before about using any tools for postings. I just go to my blog and write there. Thanks for the info, I will try the Windows LiveWriter. The most attractive feature for me is that one that deals with pictures.
I like to write them directly in to WordPress. The reason being is that I haven’t been able to find any offline blogging software that has all the features that I need. For example, there are a number of plugins that I run on my websites and I find that I would be double handling the post.. if that makes sense. I would like to try Windows Livewriter however I recently switched to the MAC platform and can honestly say after being a Windows person for all my life, I will never go back.
This sounds like a great tool, but my favourite tool is post2blog
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Hey there! thanks for pointing me to this interesting tool, which sounds great.
BUT – does it actually support editing/rewriting existing posts, or is a oneway thing?
Thanks
Christoph
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@Seon – like the picture feature – it’s so much easier to use.
@DStudioBali – I looked at post2blog but it doesn’t seem to have as many features.
@Christoph – it does; LiveWriter pulls the existing post from the server, you edit it, add a pic, whatever you want, then repost. Works like a charm!
Please pardon my ignorance, but if I would like to use WLW for Active Rain, which blogging platform do I select (WordPress, Atom, etc.)? I have been trying out NVU, but would like to try this out as well. Thanks.
I actually just enter them into wordpress as I go…which probably isn’t the best idea, but I’m lazy like that. Actually, it does auto-save the drafts, so in the event a lightning bolt hits my computer I would probably only lose a couple sentences. Then again I’d probably be dead…hmmm…
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@Michelle – you can’t upload to AR directly from LWR. I use it to write my AR posts, then copy and paste. That way it’s still easy and I don’t have all the formatting code Word puts in there. No shortcut for AR, though, unfortunately.
@Gaming YouTube – LWR autosaves too, which has saved me a couple of times!
it’s sounds a great tool!!!!i’m not into using it this time but i’m looking to it…hope it is truly user friendly…thanks for this information….i’l gonna check this out!!!
I write everything in Word. It helps with typos and grammar. It is not 100% fool proof, but it’s saved me from looking like a fool more than once.
@philam – give it a try.
@Pink – the problem with Word is it puts a lot of junk in your source code. Sometimes I take info that is in a word doc and then put it into Live Writer to clean up the code automatically. Works like a charm!
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