A unique and memorable custom domain is a great way to make your blog stand out. WordPress.com makes it easy to add a custom domain to your site: just go to Store → Domains in your dashboard, and enter the domain name you want. Now, your custom domain is not just for your blog. Our […]

In the past few weeks, we’ve gone over the basics of domain ownership in “Introduction to Custom Domains” and covered the details of domain registration versus website hosting in “Mapping It Out.” In our last segment of Domains 101, let’s delve into the wild world of custom DNS (Domain Name System) records and email. Ready? What is a […]

Images are one of the simplest ways to inject personality into your blog. No matter what theme you’re using, you can add life with images — insert them into posts and pages, use them for headers and backgrounds, or liven up your sidebar with image widgets. Today, we’re exploring the latter, as our tour of […]

Features abound in the WordPress.com dashboard. When you first got started at WordPress.com, you likely identified a handful of tools that you used every time you posted and then ignored the rest. But after you’ve been blogging for awhile, you might discover some parts of the dashboard you’ve ignored have just the features you need! Here […]

iTheme2 was originally conceived as a tech blog theme, paying homage to the sleek design of Apple websites. The three blogs we showcase here are proof of its remarkable versatility: not one of them covers technology. Whether it’s the natural splendors on view on Yosemite Park Blog, the romance-heavy book reviews on Have Book Will Read, or the cutting-edge […]

A few weeks ago, we whetted your palate with Domains 101: An Introduction to Custom Domains, an introductory post about custom domains. This week, we’re going to delve deeper into the details of domain ownership and hosting your site. Your registrar versus your host Let’s pause the tech-talk for a moment, and switch to a time-tested […]

Many of the blogs and websites we discover are fertile ground for a mix of voices and perspectives, and for some of you, blogging is a collaborative effort. On WordPress.com, you’ll stumble upon pockets of micro-communities on every subject, from the author-illustrators writing about illustration and design at Illustration Age to the political science PhD students […]

Imbalance 2 is a clean, modern, grid-based theme great for blogs, portfolios, and magazine-style sites — and one that easily transforms into a cheerful, mouthwatering food blog. Carrie of The Patterned Plate combined free theme options like a custom header, featured images, and footer widgets with font, color, and CSS upgrades to build a cook’s paradise that […]

Wasn’t it Shakespeare who once said, “A blog by any other domain would read just as sweetly”? While it’s true that, as long as you are writing good content consistently, you will find your niche and audience, your site address is an important part of your online presence. A memorable site address is a direct […]

As you may have heard, Google Reader is shutting down on July 1. As readers ourselves, we understand the importance of a go-to space on the internet for your daily feeds and regular reads — and a place to discover new finds. If you’re looking for a new reader (or are not using it already), […]