Since many of you asked, I’m going to share some practical technical blogging and coding advice. I’ll be honest: I don’t consider myself an expert. Asking me for web design tips is a little like asking a waiter to teach you how to cook — I can explain the basic ingredients and techniques, but building a full menu is another story. Most of what I’ve learned has come from trial and error and a lot of searching online. Note: yes, the following visual is a coding joke, hence the brackets.
Even so, I’ve learned enough to design and maintain this blog with minimal outside help (Sherry helps with the look and functionality), relying only on host support and the occasional friend when we can’t figure out why the site crashes. So I must be doing something not totally wrong. If you’re more beginner than I am, take this advice with a grain of salt. If you’re more experienced, please don’t laugh — and feel free to add suggestions for readers seeking technical tips.
With that said, let’s dive in.
MY BACKGROUND: This blog wasn’t my first encounter with coding. In high school I took a required computer science course and learned C++ and a bit of HTML. That early exposure didn’t leave me fluent, but it did teach me how code behaves — and how a missing bracket can break everything. I used those basic HTML skills to build simple personal sites, though I never had formal training in CSS, JavaScript, or newer languages. So while I’m not a professional developer, I’m comfortable tinkering and learning as I go.
THE CODE-FREE WAY: One great thing about platforms like WordPress, Blogger, and Tumblr is that you don’t need to know code to get started. If you can write an email and upload a photo, you can publish posts. We began on a free WordPress.com account and for months our only “design” work was resizing a header photo. If the idea of coding terrifies you, starting on a hosted platform is a perfectly fine route.
BE FIND A GOOD HOST: After several months we moved to a self-hosted WordPress.org site to gain design flexibility. Self-hosting means buying server space from a hosting provider rather than relying on the platform’s free infrastructure. We started on a low-cost shared host, which was fine until our traffic grew enough to crash the server. Eventually we upgraded to a dedicated server with a host known for responsive customer service. Hosting costs rise as you grow, but reliable hosting is essential for a professional blog.
HOSTING IMAGES TOO: Offloading images to a separate host can reduce server load and improve performance. We experimented with free image hosts early on, but when access issues at certain workplaces showed up, we moved to a paid image service. Over time our image hosting costs increased with traffic, but investing in fast, reliable image delivery helps ensure readers can view photos quickly — a key factor for sites that rely on visuals.
ESTABLISH A THEME: A theme controls your blog’s appearance — colors, layout, fonts, and basic structure. Many themes are ready-made and customizable; some are premium and paid. You can also build your own if you have the skills. We chose a free theme and customized it to create a unique look. Picking a theme with the layout and features you want (columns, navigation styles, or a magazine-style layout) saves you from coding everything from scratch.
STYLING: Themes typically use Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) to dictate how a site looks. CSS controls the size and placement of elements, colors, link styles, and more. I learned CSS by experimenting — change some code, see what happens — and gradually understood cause and effect. There are many resources and tutorials online if you want to learn the specifics, but experimenting with small changes and keeping backups of original files is a practical way to learn.
AN IMAGE IS WORTH A THOUSAND CODES: Graphics like headers and sidebar icons are crucial to a site’s design. Use photo editing tools that let you adjust pixel dimensions, color, and file formats (web-optimized JPGs and transparency-capable PNGs or GIFs). Professional tools are helpful, but there are simpler alternatives that work well for most blogging needs. Also, make sure you have an easy way to upload files to your server, whether via built-in hosting tools or FTP software.
TRIAL, ERROR, AND GOOGLE: My main approach to learning code is “change some code, see what happens.” Often that helps you understand how a snippet affects layout or behavior. Always save a copy of original files so you can revert changes. When you’re stuck, search the error or code snippet — copying the code into a search can reveal forum threads, documentation, or similar examples. Platform-specific documentation and codices are particularly useful for understanding built-in functions and how to customize them safely.
PLUG-INS: Plugins extend WordPress by adding features and improving performance. They can add widgets, enhance posts, or make caching and optimization easier. However, plugins can also introduce instability if poorly coded or incompatible with other parts of your site. Prefer hard-coded solutions for essential functionality when possible; otherwise, limit plugins to those you truly need and that are well-supported.
GET HELP: Everyone gets stuck. Useful places to find help include:
- Search engines: Often your best immediate resource.
- Support forums: Platform-specific communities can solve many issues.
- Hosting support: Your host can help with server-side problems.
- Social channels: Public posts on social platforms can attract helpful responses.
- Other bloggers: Reach out when you admire a feature on another site — often people will share tips or code.
- Paid help: When problems are urgent, hiring professional support or freelance help is a sensible option.
That’s the overview I can offer from my own experience. For many specific problems my answer is still the same: “try a small code change, test it, and search for solutions online.” If you’re an expert, please share your tips for readers who want to deepen their technical skills. And one last question for nostalgia: who else owned a super sweet Dilbert sweatshirt back in the day? I hope you paired it with stonewashed jeans and a bowl haircut.
Update – We receive frequent questions about professional blogging—how we built our site, grew traffic, and monetized the blog—so we compiled detailed guidance on how we started, expanded our audience, and transitioned to full-time blogging.