This week, I’ll post my updated suggestions for three holiday activities that will get your computers and technology ready for the blitz of writing you’ll swear to accomplish in New Year resolutions. Here’s what you’ll get (the links won’t be active until the post goes live):
For regular readers of WordDreams, these are yearly reminders. For my new readers, these are like body armor in the tech battle. They allow you to jubilantly overcome or dramatically succumb. Your choice.
Today: Update Your Online Presence
For most writers I know, life zooms by, filled with research, writing, editing, critique groups, reading, promotions (of our books), people watching (to build characters), and thinking. There are few breaks to update/fix/maintain the tech tools that allow us to pursue our trade.
But, that must happen or they deteriorate and no longer accomplish what we need. Cussing them out does no good. Buying new systems takes a long time and doesn’t fix the problem that the old one wasn’t kept up. If they aren’t taken care of, we are left wondering why our blog isn’t getting visitors, why our social media Tweeple don’t generate leads or activity, and why our self-published materials languish. Here’s a short list of upkeep items that won’t take long to accomplish:
- Update your online profile–your blog profile page, your gravatar, FB, Twitter, professional groups, your PLN. Have you changed your focus? Switched jobs? Adding new publications or items efriends would like to know about? Is your contact information current? This, btw, should be done once a quarter, but at least at the new year.
- Clean up your FB stream–delete pictures and comments you no longer find as funny as when you first posted them or make them private. FB has become a common resource for future employers (be they companies considering you for writing gigs or readers interested in everything you’ve written) to use when researching your background. Make sure the YOU that shows up on FB is really YOU.
- Update grammar and spelling in old posts–start with the most-visited articles (under Site Stats) and work your way down (in case you run out of time). You’ll be surprised what you can catch with a fresh eye.
- Check individual post tags and categories–whittle down the options while still authentically grouping your writing. Sometimes, you’ll find a category you added at a point in the year which can include many articles written prior to its addition.
- Check the sidebar–for out-of-date and no-longer-relevant widgets and links. Include new pieces that add utility. Move pieces around to give a fresh look. Current thinking is ‘less is more’. Considering putting awards, PLN groups, memberships on separate pages noted in the menu bar.
- Check your list of ‘pages‘–are they still relevant? Could some be nested under other pages to save room and/or make them easier to find? While you’re at it, be sure all of these less-visited pages are up to date.
- Check the appearance of your blog on a smartphone and iPad–do those venues display properly? If they don’t, consider switching to a responsive theme that auto-adjusts for a variety of digital devices.
- Make sure everything posted reflects you. Your personal brand may change year-to-year. Review your posts, images, videos, and everything to ensure that they support the profile you are putting out there for readers.
- Make sure all online presence sites are current. Have something that shows it’s recently updated (within the last week). If it looks like no one updates it, visitors will not care how up-to-date your profile is. This means recent blog posts, feed activity, and information on all social media, blogs, and websites.
- Check your blog in different browsers–to see if you should recommend one over the other for best-viewing. For me, Chrome views best.
- Update your copyright–each year, cycle it forward.
- Unsubscribe from lists you no longer have an interest in. This is less about updating your online presence and more about freeing up your time!
- Update the stores where you sell your books. This includes your Amazon Author page, Teachers Pay Teachers store, and any other–prices, descriptions, categories, freebies. I need to do this more often.
- from Andrew over at Andrew’s View of the Week: Also check the age of any physical computers/devices you own – desktops, laptops, tablets, phones, etc. The average life expectancy for a device with a hard-drive is about 5 years. And given the rate of change in the device area, devices over 5 years are close to the end of their life. Consider replacing or budgeting for new equipment – you don’t want “unplanned failure”. Yes, plan your computer failures. If you have data on USB drives, check them and back up the contents to a cloud-based storage system. and if you use a UPS (uninterruptible power supply), check the battery age and order a replacement if needed.
Do you have any maintenance issues to suggest for the new year? I’d love to hear them.
Pingback: Top 10 Posts — and Most Commented — for 2021 |
Pingback: Top 10 Posts — and Most Commented — for 2020 | WordDreams...
Pingback: Top 10 (Tech) Tips for Writers in 2019 | WordDreams...
Very useful information. Updating FaceBook to reflect you makes sense. Never thought about updating copyright. Thank you
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am hoping to start in the next few days. I’m working on a webinar right now. That may take a while!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great tips, Jacqui. I always look forward to this post as it reminds me what I should be doing!! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
These should be done more than once a year but I never get that done! I’d rather write.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Me too!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pingback: Yearly Tech Maintenance: 13 Ways to Update Your Online Presence — WordDreams… – Bizzyworld blog
Reblogged this on deborahjay and commented:
Jacqui provides a timely reminder of those annoying things we should do each year, even though we don’t want to take the time our from our writing.
Thanks, Jacqui 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for sharing this, Deborah!
LikeLiked by 1 person
These are great suggestions that I will add to my rebranding and updating list! Thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have two more lists coming up, too!
LikeLike
I do most of this on an ongoing basis, but you’ve mentioned a couple I haven’t kept up with, so thanks!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I so wish I’d do this on an ongoing basis. I think it would be easier–doable. This doing it all at once is painful.
LikeLike
That’s a lot! Thanks Jacqui!
LikeLiked by 1 person
A little at a time. There’s a good three weeks of holiday feeling.
LikeLike
Thanks for such a detailed list of things to check. I think it will be fun to spruce it up for the new year!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
More to come tomorrow!
LikeLike
Great advice, thank you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Don’t want anyone bored over the holidays!
LikeLike
Great list! Thanks for sharing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Maybe I should apologize for creating more work for eveyrone!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am busy doing this with my blog, Jacqui. A most timeous post for me.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good for you, Robbie! I haven’t started yet. Soon, a few weeks I think.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh my, Jacqui. Great list. I have some cleaning up to do. That’s for sure. Ugh. It will take me a couple hours at least. I’m to get out the calendar and make an appointment with my laptop. Thanks so much for the reminder. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
It takes me multiple afternoons when I finally get started on this. There’s kind of fun–rethinking everything–but so time consuming!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh no, another list of things I need to do 😦
I’ll reblog later in the week, if nothing else to remind myself it all needs doing!
LikeLiked by 1 person
This online stuff is way too time-consuming! All I want to do is write!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yep, me too. Sigh.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great reminders Jacqui. Just spent the day changing my theme and all the fun stuff that goes along with it. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is fun, innit? That’s how I must approach it–not as a TODO list but as fun. I’ll have to check out your changes!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Exactly! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
These are all good! Thanks so much for the reminders.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I probably won’t start until after Christmas–that quiet time before the new year.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Long list. Great tips.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Some might even say, too long! Sigh.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I never thought of going through my FB stream, thanks!
LikeLiked by 1 person
If I did everything the ‘experts’ recommended, I’d have no time to write. So I pick and choose!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on Smorgasbord Blog Magazine and commented:
A much needed reminder from Jacqui Murray to get our online life in order with an annual check-up. I noticed today in my profile for example that I had not updated it with the latest number of books published and one of the links is no longer in use. There are also some reminders on the technical front for your devices, for example your security, and virus checking. Fourteen excellent points on the checklist and over the holidays is a good time to sit down and get yourself ready for another busy year online. #recommended
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for sharing this, Sally!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for a great list of reminders to clean up, sort out, and upgrade – thanks, Jacqui.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I bet yours won’t take as long as mine, Shari!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Actually, I need to completely revamp my blog as it’s a confusing mish-mosh – but I’m trying to devote time to the books I want to publish.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for the reminders Jacqui, I surely visit my most read posts and update them, re-read them. I have to visit my About page that I have not changed since I started blogging. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yikes! That About page… It took me a few years to even add mine!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I always forget the copyright thing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Me too. It’s not even on this one.
LikeLiked by 1 person
nice ma’am
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for visiting!
LikeLiked by 1 person
welcome
LikeLiked by 1 person
Whoa, a little overwhelming, but excellent list.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s not something you’d complete in an afternoon. Maybe a few weeks…
LikeLike
Also bookmarking! Great suggestions Jacqui thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Should keep you busy if you get bored over there! I heard the ‘who owns South Africa’s land’ lawsuit was settled. What did you think of the result?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Mmmmm thanks for your interest Jacqui – there is no short answer to this – and I confess it is all v v v confusing!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Aw, you just gave me more work to do, Jacqui…. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeah. If you’re like my husband (which you aren’t–you have the whole blog thing going), it’ll take you about a cuppa coffee!
LikeLiked by 1 person
These are great suggestions, Jacqui. Thank you. Now, where to start?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I did used to do them every year. Now, I toddle through when I have time, somewhere before the year ends.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s no good rushing these things. 🙂
LikeLike
Such a useful list. I really must, at least update my profiles. Thanks, for making the list I should have.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I spent a good bit of time one year normalizing my online presence with similar headers and such. I need to revisit those!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on chrismakan.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for sharing, Chris!
LikeLike
Jacqui, great advice and although I might think of one or two of these, there are lots of areas I wouldn’t have considered checking through. I’m bookmarking these for a quiet day!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ah, that infamous ‘quiet day’. Last year, this took me until June to do. I finally finished it because I was sick of seeing it show up on my TODO list!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great suggestions, Jacqui….but you’re making my To Do List even longer! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Mine too! Really, it will have to come after I’m done with Survival of the Fittest.
LikeLiked by 1 person