We talked about the importance of tracking yesterday using Google Analytics.

Today, let’s walk through the simple process of how to install Google Analytics so you never have to play the guessing game when it comes to where your visitors are coming from, how long they’re staying, etc…

1. Go to Google Analytics . Open a new account if you don’t have one.

2. Go to the bottom of the page and click on “Add Website Profile”

3. Add your domain address and click finish.

4. Click on New tracking Code (Not legacy), select and copy all code to a notepad document. Then click finished but keep this window open to Google Analytics.

5. Go to your blog’s admin and go to design > theme editor .

6. Click on “footer.php” and at the very bottom, past in the code you got from Google Analytics. make sure you click save at the bottom.

7. Go back into your Google Analytics and you should see something like the following image with a message saying “Tracking Installed.”

Give it a few days to collect some data.

A tip about checking stats: Don’t get too hung up over the stats because at the end of the day, it’s only feedback. If you’re not doing anything to get traffic, then the feedback will not be there.

Not getting into traffic today but try something new to get traffic and then watch your stats to see if it’s working or not.

Here is an easy to follow video from Google.

Here is a question that comes up a lot, “What are the most important plugins?”

So let’s chat about this today.

There are many important plugins and it’s based on what you are trying to acomplish with your blog so answering this question is not easy because I have no idea what you’re trying to do.

However, for me, the most important plugin is Google Analytics for WordPress. (scroll to the bottom of the page for the plugin)

Why is because it tracks your traffic.

Where it’s coming from.

Read the rest of this entry »

Let’s talk about adding audio to your blog today

First, why would you want to do that?

Well for starters, it’s cool?

How about for the people that like to listen more than read or watch?

With the easy ability to add video, images, text and sound to your blog, why not mix them all up so you communicate to all types of people? Types of people? Sure! What I mean is, some people like me would rather just watch a video but others may want to read some text or just listen to an audio on your blog.

Try to at least use two forms of media in each post of yours. Text and images, audio and text, or video and text. Now if you want to go all out, test using all four but that may just be over kill.

To add audio to your blog, download and install Audio Player from http://www.wpaudioplayer.com for wordpress. It’s straight forward to use and I got mine running in five minutes. If you’d like a step by step walk through, leave a comment.

As an audio test I’ve added the following mp3 which is a testimonial I received that’s going to be used on a new coaching site of mine.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Craig…I read your posting on adding audio to your blog. I download and installed the plugin you suggested. I already have podpress installed.

Maybe you can give me some advice on the settings for wpaudioplayer, since after installing and reviewing the settings I don’t see this a choice for me. When I try to add audio I still keep getting podpress. Should I deactivate that plugin?

I would like to get a little more detail on how to use the wpaudioplayer.

Thanks Cindy

OK, first, you most definitely need to disable podpress plug-in before using wpaudioplayer.

Before I continue to talk with you about this audio plug-in I’m using, let’s chat about why to use this.

Use wpaudioplayer plugin for mp3 audio files you want to post from time to time. Now if you are going to add audio to your blog often, I’d most definitely would go with podpress because of its easy to use podcast management system. (Podcasting is a great way to get traffic and share your content with the world but you’ll need to be consistent with your content. )

Once you install wp audio player and activate the plug-in, create a new folder calling it “audio” and put that in your main directory where your blog sites. This is the folder that will house your mp3 files.

If your blog sites in a sold folder like my blog, then the path to that folder will look like this

http://www.idiotproofblogging.com/blog/audio/

If your blog is on your main domain it would look like this

http://www.idiotproofblogging.com/audio/

Now upload your test mp3 file to your new audio folder.

The settings for  wordpress audio player are easy to follow to change the colors of your player and anything else you want to do.

Once you did the above, create a post and whereever you want your audio type the following code

Replace Carol.mp3 with your audio file name.

Side Note: This plug-in can be used for podcasting.

Most of the time when plugins don’t work it’s beecause the PATH to the audio file is wrong. This will make the plugin get lost because it can’t find the audio file.

Another reason plugins like this don’t work is because your wordpress is out-of-date.

Sorry if you got 8 emails from me telling you this blog has been updated.

The setting is to send one mail not 8 when there is an update.

I’m using an auto responder that is connected to this blog’s rss reed. Every time this blog gets an update it is set to send one message. The service has lost its mind!

I’m sorry about filling your in-box with duplicate content

Let’s chat about using your “add media” to posts.

This example was done using wordpress 2.5.1

Once you start a new post you’ll see a an interface that looks like the following.

Type a little text first before we add any images because if you don’t your image will site at the top of the post. Now if you want the image at the top, then just go ahead now and click the little add image button like the one in the image.

A window will pop open within the window your working from and you should see the following.

You have two choices.

1. You can upload an image from your computer.

2. You can add an image URL from anywhere on the Internet.
For example, if you choice to use a free image host such as  photo bucket. Sites like photo bucket provide you with a URL to your image being hosted there.

If you choice two, put the URL where it belongs and give it a description.
TIP about descriptions. Whatever your blog’s topic is on, try to use those words to describe your image.

For me today, mine would look like this, “Here is an image teaching how to upload and add images to wordpress blogs.”

Why? Because the search engines read this text so I want to make sure what my site is about is being represented here. Don’t go over with it.

For today’s example, I am using option 1 in the image above. “choose file to upload.”

When you like on that, I’ll let you search your computer to pick an image you want to use.

Once you picked on, you’ll see the following image.

1. Give your image a keyword reach title. Mine was I think, “An image teaching how to install images in wordpress.”

2. Caption is what is seen if the image does not load fast or does not load at all. The search engines read this too.

3. We talked about image descriptions already.

4. I delete this URL by selecting “None” because I am not going to let wordpress link to it. If not, people will click on the image and it will open in a new window. I don’t like this. Personal preference.

5. How would you like the image to sit in your text? take your pick!

6. I go with the full size. You can play with the others if you like… Nothing will brake.

7. Click insert and you’re done.

If all goes well, you’ll see your image like this,

That’s Ochya and Moka. Father and Son… My family’s dogs.

This year we went to Kyoto which was great.

Here is yy only child Celina.

The following is my wife Aki.

The name Aki is a Japanese word that means Fall in English. The season that is.

If you need a program to prepare images, have a look at http://www.gimp.org/

The images above were prepared with snagit.