Back to the Basics: 5 HTML Tips Every Blogger Should Know
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David
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February 18th, 2013
You don't have to look far for a blog post or story touting the power and usefulness of HTML. Many HTML tips are so simple that most bloggers overlook them.
HTML is short for HyperText Markup Language. It's a special file format that works much the same way that Microsoft Word reads and understands .doc files. When you open a Microsoft document, the .doc file has instructions for how to rebuild the document the next time you open it, along with other data, like who the author is and when the document was created and modified last.
Likewise, HTML is a language that is understood by various web browsers. With special syntax that contains markers wrapped around text, the site will look the same to everyone who opens it, regardless of whether they're using a PC or a Mac.
But it doesn't take much to make your site look professional. Sometimes it is important to get back to the fundamentals of HTML before diving into things that are more complex. Here are a few of those fundamentals that you may have forgotten.
Headers are Good
SEO and blogging professionals will tell you that blog posts are better when they are broken up with headings. If you don't use headings, then you are ignoring a way to break up your longer posts. Here's how to insert a header:
These tags give you a slightly smaller than huge header. Insert these into the HTML editor, not the WYSIWYG editor.
tags are slightly smaller. The higher the h number, the smaller the header is. The highest number is 6.
Change the Color
Another way to make your blog stand out is to add color to the text. Maybe you have something you want to make sure readers notice. To change the color of text, use this HTML in the HTML editor:
This is your text that will be purple or whatever color you want.
Open a link in a new window
You don't want people to leave your blog. Here is how to make a link open in a new window.
TEXT
The _blank part tells the browser to open the link in a new window.
Create a line break or a horizontal rule
Sometimes you want space between two lines of text, and sometimes you want a straight line drawn there. A word of warning, though: WordPress does not by default recognize the line break in the post editor.
Break:
will give you a line break.
Horizontal Rule:
will give you a horizontal line in your post.
Remember the p!
The simplest of all tips, if you are blogging in the HTML editor, remember to use the paragraph tag so that WordPress knows where to separate your paragraphs. Example:
This is my paragraph. It is awesome, and you know it. Remember to comment on this post and tell me how freakin awesome it is. If you would like to know how to become as awesome as I am click here!
On your way to HTML Wizardry
Once you get these tips in your arsenal, your content will look much better. These are just a few of the basics, though. Remember, too, that WordPress does a lot of these things for you in the WYSIWYG editor. If, however, you appreciate the more hands-on approach, these HTML tips will get you started on your way to true HTML wizardry.