By Marvin Smith, D.Min. M.L.S. — General Services Librarian, Palmer Theological Seminary

Even though I started blogging just a few months ago, I have pushed myself to include the visual element whenever possible. Other bloggers tell me that it took them “a long time” before they felt comfortable inserting pictures or video into their blogs. Although it may appear intimidating, it’s not that difficult to add media to your blog.

Ok, first a bit of a review from my previous “Blog About Writing a Blog” at …

https://warnerlibeu.wordpress.com/2015/09/15/a-blog-about-writing-a-blog/

• Decide on your blog address – just two or three words
• Decide on your blog theme from WordPress – I suggested the “Twenty-Ten” theme:

https://wordpress.com/themes/twentyten/

• Click on the “Start a Blog” button (located in upper-right corner)

Congratulations!! You just entered the world of blogging (once you enter your Blog Address, your E-Mail address, your Username, and your Password).

I type my blog text in Microsoft Word and then copy and paste the text into my new post. Once I start working and changing my post using WordPress, I must be careful to
“Save Draft” BEFORE exiting that page. Or, all my edits just disappear!! In the upper-right corner of the WordPress edit screen, you should see this “Publish” action box. Get into the habit of pressing that “Save Draft” button early in your blogging career!

Want to see your blog? Press the “Preview” button. When you are satisfied with everything, just press the “Publish” button and you will post your very first blog and officially enter the blogging world!!

Congratulations!!

Jpeg

To add some visual components to your blog, you must become familiar with your Media Library. In the upper-left corner locate “My Site, Dashboard, and Home.” Now look down several options and click on “Media.”

Your “Media Library” should open. Click the “Add New” button to open a dialogue screen. You can upload your media to your WordPress Media Library by clicking the “Select Files” button and selecting the file from the folder on your hard drive or flash drive, etc. Media types include .jpeg or .gif or even Word documents and PDFs.

Ready to insert that picture into the text of your blog? Place the cursor next to the text where you want your media and click the “Add Media” button near the top of your edit screen.

WordPress opens your Media Library in the “Insert Media” window. Click on the pic that you want to insert and click the “Insert Into Post” button at the bottom right-hand of the “Insert Media” window.

Your “Media Library” should open. Click the “Add New” button to open a dialogue screen. You can upload your media to your WordPress Media Library by clicking the “Select Files” button and selecting the file from the folder on your hard drive or flash drive, etc. Media types include .jpeg or .gif or even Word documents and PDFs.

Ready to insert that picture into the text of your blog? Place the cursor next to the text where you want your media and click the “Add Media” button near the top of your edit screen. WordPress opens your Media Library in the “Insert Media” window. Click on the pic that you want to insert and click the “Insert Into Post” button at the bottom right-hand of the “Insert Media” window.

Want the text to wrap around the pic that you just inserted. Easy – Cheesy!! Just place the cursor on the pic and click (left click, NOT right click!). An option box opens with four alignment options: left, center, right, and no alignment.

Video
Want to insert a video from YouTube? Just copy the URL and paste it into your blog. You can view the video when you click the “Preview” button.
PDF
Want to create a hyperlink to a PDF? So that viewers can click on text in your blog and open a PDF? Now this one is a bit tricky – but very doable if you follow these steps:

1. Click on the “Media” button (see above)
2. Click the “Add New” button (see above)
3. Upload the PDF to your WordPress Media Library by clicking the “Select Files” button (see above)
4. Click on the icon for this PDF and “Attachment Details” screen will open.
5. Copy the URL from the upper-right corner of the “Attachment Details” screen (close this screen by clicking the “X” in upper right corner)
6. Highlight the text within your blog text where you want the PDF link.
7. Click on the Hyperlink icon (see red arrow below)
8. The following “Insert/Edit Link” dialogue box will open:

Notice that the text you highlighted appears in the “Link Text” box. Check the “Open link in a new window/tab” square if you want the PDF to open in a new Window.

9. Copy the URL from Step #5 and click the “Add Link” button.
10. DONE!