10 tools to make a better blog

There are many useful tools out there that can help you improve, tweak and maintain your blog. There are also tools that can help you blog better, easier and be more productive.

In this post I want to list some of the tools I personally use. Here they are, in no particular order:

1. Windows Live Writer

   In addition to doing what other blog clients are doing, WLW lets you preview your post (I mean really show you what it would look like when posted). In my opinion, it is the best blog client out there. The image handling capability is second to none.

2. Google Webmasters Tools

   Google Webmasters Tools allows you to submit your blog sitemap to Google. You can also check your blog search queries, crawl errors, popular keywords, site performance, inbound links, internal links and subscriber stats. 

3. Firebug

   Firebug is an add-on for Firefox. Point the mouse to any place in a webpage, Firebug will show you the codes that go with it. You can then change the code and instantly view the effect. A great debugging and learning tool.

4. Statcounter

   A web tracker, providing real-time statistics of your blog traffic. I prefer Statcounter to other web trackers because it can handle multiple sites with just one account.

5. w3schools

   This is a website, but I consider it a tool too. This is the place you go if you want to learn about HTML, CSS and Javascript (or any else related to web building). The aspect that I like most here is the ability to try out the code and view the effect instantly, in the same screen.

6. Syntax highlighter

   Web browsers are smart, you put in codes, they translate them into pictures and display on the monitor. But, but…what if all you want is to just display the codes. Then this is the tool you use. After much searching, I found the one I like. I’ve written about it in How to show code in blog post.

7. Color Picker

   Found a color you like, but don’t know the hex code for it? Then use this tool. Just click the color and it copies the hex code for you. You can then paste the hex code in your CSS stylesheet.

8. CoLT

   CoLT (COpy Link Text) lets you copy a link easily. It has 3 options -copy only the anchor text, only the link or copy both text and link (in HTML link or text form).

9. Ping-O-Matic

   Ping-O-Matic provides free blog pinging service. It is a service to tell different search engines that your blog has been updated. Use it every time you publish a new post.

10. Google Search

    No introduction needed.

Enjoy!

What tools do you use? Feel free to share them in comments below.

 

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