Advanced Tumblr Blog Tips for Beginners

Tumblr Dashboard Updates and Advanced Tips

Approximately one week following the publication of my initial compilation of Tumblr guidance, the platform implemented alterations to its ubiquitous Dashboard. The redesign proved to be a favorable update for numerous users, although some voiced significant concerns.

Despite these changes, the core functionalities of the Dashboard have largely been preserved, accompanied by several improvements.

Expanding Your Tumblr Experience

Should you be newly joining the Tumblr community – a step I wholeheartedly suggest – the following, potentially more sophisticated, tips may prove beneficial once your Tumblr blog is established and a following has been cultivated.

Rest assured, none of these suggestions necessitate any coding expertise.

Getting Started with Tumblr

For those who have not yet created a Tumblr blog, a comprehensive guide detailing the setup process is available in this article.

It will walk you through each step to get your blog online quickly.

Key Takeaways

The Tumblr Dashboard received a redesign with both positive and negative feedback.
Core Dashboard features remain consistent, but with added enhancements.
These tips are geared towards users who have already established a Tumblr blog and audience.
No coding knowledge is required to implement these suggestions.

Pages and Tags

We will now revisit Tumblr's Dashboard Preferences, as there are additional features available that can improve your blog's functionality. Several other Preference options were explored in the preceding article.

Pages:

Much like on Wordpress.com, static pages can be incorporated into your Tumblr blog. Your blog isn't restricted to solely a homepage. Navigate to the Dashboard and click the Customize button, then select Pages > Add a page. Three page types are available: Standard, Custom Layout, and Redirect.

These pages allow for the inclusion of virtually any content you desire. Consider the following application as a potentially helpful example.

Tagged Post:

Should you consistently utilize tagging for your Tumblr posts, as previously discussed, you can establish a page displaying all posts associated with a specific tag. For example, you might wish to showcase all of your shorter "essay" style posts. The setup process is outlined below.

Choose the "Redirect" page type. Then, copy and paste the URL of a tagged post that you want to feature on your new page. The URL structure will resemble this—your blog's name, followed by "tagged," and concluding with the precise tag name you are filtering for.

http://sampleblog.tumblr.com/tagged/essay

Ensure that "Show a link to this page" is selected, and then enter a name for the page. This name will appear in your homepage's menu bar. Clicking the page will display all posts bearing the specified tag.

Further Customization Options

Within Tumblr's Preferences settings, navigating to the Appearance tab reveals several additional features that are not activated by default.

Enabling the Streampad

To introduce a musical element to your Tumblr experience, select the Streampad option. This effectively integrates a plugin that plays tracks uploaded to your Dashboard.

The music player’s placement will vary based on your chosen Tumblr theme, typically appearing at the bottom of your homepage. For detailed customization, visit the dedicated Streampad page and adhere to the provided instructions for modifications and code integration.

Utilizing the Fixed Sidebar

Should you prioritize maintaining user attention on the sidebar content, activating this feature is recommended. It ensures the sidebar remains consistently visible, even as visitors scroll through your Tumblr posts.

Implementing the Small Follow Box

If the "People I Follow" icons become excessively lengthy, selecting this option condenses them into a compact, scrollable box.

Utilizing the Ask Me Widget on Tumblr

For users who are new to the Tumblr platform, you may frequently observe followers submitting inquiries to others via a text box on their Dashboard. This is a useful function, however, the method for its implementation isn't always immediately apparent.

This feature allows for direct engagement with your audience, fostering a more interactive experience on your blog.

How to Create an Ask Post

The process of initiating an "Ask Me" post is straightforward. Begin by composing a new Text post. Then, formulate the question you wish to pose to your followers.

It’s crucial that your question concludes with a question mark ("?").

Upon including the question mark, a box labeled "Let people answer this" will become visible on the right-hand side of your Dashboard.
Select this box to enable the question-and-answer functionality.

Proceed to publish your post as you normally would. All responses submitted by your followers will be conveniently located within your Inbox.

Note that the "Let people answer this" checkbox will only materialize once the question mark is appended to the end of your query.

This simple method provides a direct line of communication with your audience, encouraging interaction and building community on Tumblr.

Tumblr Mobile Application

For individuals who utilize smartphones running iOS, Android, or BlackBerry, and are frequent users of Tumblr, downloading the official Tumblr application is highly recommended. The iOS application, accessible through the iTunes Store, is particularly intuitive and user-friendly.

This application facilitates both the viewing of your personalized Dashboard and the creation of posts for your Tumblr blogs.

Integration with Other Platforms

Beyond the official app, several third-party applications, such as Instagram, offer integrated support for Tumblr functionality.

Future Developments

Tumblr is currently experiencing rapid growth as a prominent microblogging platform. Consequently, further enhancements and the introduction of new features are anticipated in the near future.

The platform is poised to continue evolving and expanding its capabilities.

Share Your Insights

We encourage users to share any additional Tumblr tips or advice that would be beneficial for new bloggers to learn.

Your contributions can help others maximize their experience on the platform.

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