Someone told me once that a good way to make a place feel welcoming is to set out a bowl of lemons.
Because they're cheery.
I think they're cheery and so I'm sort of going with that even though I don't really know if it's true. (That would be because my decorating sense is severely hampered by my fear of accumulating stuff which I will eventually have to pack and move. Because I've moved 27 times in my life. True story. And now I have issues.) But anyway, a digital image of lemons I can do. So, welcome!
1. Navigating this site
I'm constantly trying to figure out how to make stuff easy to find around here. Notice the two navigation bars up at the top there? One has the basics (About, My eBook, Contact, etc.) and the other has links to the main content (Latest Tips, Get Start Here, Make Money, etc.). Also, don't overlook the Search bar way up there in the top right corner. Search bars are useful. Every site should have one. (Does yours?)
2. Want to read my newest blogging tips?
I generally post on Tuesdays and Thursdays. You can always read my latest posts here or by clicking the "Latest Tips" link in the navigation bar above. But personally, I think it's a spectacularly better idea to sign up to get those tips sent right to your email inbox. 
It's like room service. Only free. And look at that, you don't even have to tell me your name! (I like privacy. I assume you do too.) Will ya?
3. Are you new to the world of blogs and websites?
I'm ecstatic you're here because I specialize in making the technical sound not-so-technical (that's what people tell me anyway). I suppose that comes from 6 years of trying to teach myself the ins and outs of the internet. This is the site I wish I had when I started my first blog back in 2004. So, you can trust me. I'm a doctor. Wait, no I'm not. Never mind. Just go ahead and get started here.
4. Want some tips to make your blog run better (and maybe make you run better too)?
I might be able to help.
5. Would you like more traffic?
Me too! Here are some of my ideas.
6. Do you wonder how people make money online?
I'm always asked this question so I've written a bit about how to make money blogging (and online in general).
7. Need some ideas for spreading the word about your blog or website?
I'm not a marketing expert, but I've got some ideas for that too.
8. Have you ever been asked by a reader: "How can I start a blog?"
If you've been blogging for any length of time, chances are you've been asked that question at least once. Many of you have said that when you get asked that, you send 'em here to BloggingWithAmy.com. Thank you! That always makes my day. Many of you have also asked if I have a blog button. I do! Grab the code in the sidebar.
9. I'm other places too. Hang out with me!
I spend a fair amount of time on Facebook and Twitter (@AmyLynnAndrews) and I'm starting to hang out on Google+ too. I'd love it if you joined me. The informal nature of those places is great, so a lot of conversation and tips get shared there as well.
10. The Archives
So, to make browsing BWA easier, feel free to explore the navigation bars as I explained above, but if you'd like to see the whole enchilada, check out the archives.
Thank you for stopping by. I feel very honored that you did.
Here at BloggingWithAmy you'll find tips, tools & tutorials about blogging and websites. In plain English. Want to 
The new look is great
Hey, your the first person I've seen add Pinterest to your social media icons list – is it your social bookmarking site of choice?
Well, not sure I would say it's my bookmarking site of choice, but boy is it fun!
Love the new look! I'm also glad to see someone else using a left sidebar. So many people told me it was the wrong way to go, but it is working great for me (I set it to load last, so it doesn't mess with SEO).
It's beautiful — congrats!
Thanks, Mandi.
Love the new look Amy! You always have such great tips!
Thank you Noel!
Looks great.
Yep. That's all I've got.
Feel free to mail me my "Lamest Comment" award.
Oh, I'll take it! Thank you.
Love the lemons and the new look! I have yet to start a blog but am making plans and getting lots of tips from your site!
Thank you Marcie! So glad it's helpful.
I was just "introduced" to your blog through Mara @ Kosher on a Budget, so I missed the non-spiffed up version. That said, I think it looks fantastic now, and am very much looking forward to perusing your content.
So glad you stopped by!
Love the new design! I think it looks great, is easy to navigate and is well organized. Great job! I just added a Pinterest button to my blog too. Thinking about adding Google Plus, but I do not have enough room at the moment.
I also like the comment from Jen – good tip about having your left sidebar load last. My sidebar is on the right, but it's something to think about in the future if I ever want to change it up.
Yes, I liked Jen's tip too and will be pondering that as I tweak this design over the coming weeks.
Thanks for the encouragement regarding the design!
The new design is beautiful. It fits the website really well. Love reading all your helpful tips! They've helped my blog out so much, especially when I first got started.
Thank you so much, Hope. I'm always so excited to hear BWA has been helpful to other bloggers.
Hi Amy!
I like your new site, though I like the old one too!
I was wondering how you chose your child theme. I am needing badly to move to Genesis. Too many options to choose from!
Thanks!
My biggest tip regarding choosing a child theme is to pick the layout you want (i.e. make sure the items on the page are in the place you want them to be on the page). I explained it a bit more here.
I love the new look Amy!
And of course, I love room service (it's why I subscribe). hehee
LOL! Thank you.
PS: thanks for naming what the plugin is called!! i can't stand spam!
No problem! (Wait, in case others are interested…was it G.A.S.P. I mentioned to you? I'm thinking so.)
Love Love Love the new look! Very user-friendly – great job! And your lemon story is fun – now I need to know all about your moving issues hehehe
Love the new look!
Really like those 'follow' buttons. Can you point me to them pls?
Thanks, Julia. Actually, Shalanda and I just chatted about the social media icons on Facebook here.
I think your site looks fabulous and is always a wealth of information!! I was wondering, I would love to be able to add an online order form (currently in excel) to a blog I am working on. Is their any way to do this? I have checked woofu and it doesn't have the capabilities that I am looking for and neither does google docs – unless I am missing something. Just thought it might be a tutorial you could share with us if you know how to do this.
Thank you again for a wonderful site and always being so helpful.
Thank you Tammy. Hmmmm…online order form…would PayPal's Merchant Services work? You might also search for a "shopping cart" plugin (if you're on WordPress). Just go to Dashboard–>Plugins–>Add New and search for "shopping cart" or something similar. (Here's my tutorial on installing plugins.)
Thank you Amy
Right now I only have a "free" WP site that I have been "playing with" and so I am on blogger right now. The Order From that I am looking for is fairly simple in that no money is exchanged, just telling me what the person wants – a basic excel spreadsheet with a button that submits the info to me via email. I actually have one that looks good, but I can't get it to total. Of course that defeats the purpose LOL I might have to research the WP plugins a little further and see if they have something that will work for me. Thank you for your response to my question – you are soooooo helpful!!!
Will a Google Docs form work? What you can do is create a spreadsheet in Google Docs as you would in Excel. Then, you can create a Form using the information you put into your spreadsheet. The Form can be embedded in your website and anytime someone fills it out, it'll automatically fill in their info in your Spreadsheet. Handy if you don't need to exchange money. Here's a basic tutorial but you might also check YouTube for video tutorials (search for "Google Doc Forms" or something similar). Hope that helps!
Hi Amy.
The form will embed just fine but it is nothing more than a "pretty picture". If you want to email me privately, I can give you links to what I am working on. It is all so very simple – it seems, but has been the most frustrating lol If you don't have time, I also understand 
I have tried Google Docs before but I thought I would give it one more try. After 5 hours trying desperately to make it work, I have still come up against a brick wall
Feel free to shoot 'em over: amylynnandrews at gmail dot com.
Ha! Love it.
And I have a bowl with lemons and oranges on my table. Citrus is always beautiful. And you can make lemonade!
Phew! Seriously, I am not a decorator. Well, I can paint a wall pretty well, but when it comes to accessorizing, I'm totally lost!
Love the new look. You have taken lemons and made lemonade. Sit down and have a glass.
Your tips and information is so helpful!!
I love the new look! It is so crisp and easy on the eyes.
As for the lemons they actually did make me smile. There is something about the color being so sunshine-y. lol
Thanks for all you've been teaching me. I do appreciate your blog
Wow! I love it!!! Colors, layout, type faces….it's gorgeous…if blogs can be gorgeous….yours is!!!! Thanks for sharing all your wonderful insights and tips. You're the best Amy!
you rock amy! I love your writing style, your helpfulness, how you set things up and this awesome new layout! Thank you! (I will be spreading the word about you when I go back to work)
Thanks so much, Steph.
I noticed the makeover a few days ago, and it looks great Amy!
What did you use to create your sitemap? I have one but it's geared for search engines and is not pretty.
Hi Sarah, are you referring to my Archives page or the sitemap which happens behind the scenes? I'm thinking you are referring to the Archives and I generate that page automatically using the handy Archives template in my Genesis theme.
Hi Amy! I love your website.It is fabulous! I think I'm going to be a regular visitor. I am such an idiot with computers and how to put things on my blog. I have wanted to put cute social icons on for months and can't get it right
Ps… You now have me wondering how many times I have moved in a lifetime. I'm thinking you might have me beat silly girl… Love the lemon photo too.. XoXo
Thanks for stopping by, Katie. Have you seen this tutorial about adding social media icons on Blogger?
Your story about the lemons made me laugh because actually, I find the lemons here very inviting! Moving 27 times…no wonder you don't want to collect too many things. I'm here (again) because I read an interesting article this morning about how the quickest way to kill conversation on your blog is to have comment moderation enabled. I do because I get a ton of spam…10 spam comments to every 1 real comment, so I wasn't sure what to do and then I remembered that you had a recommendation for a spambot plugin in your comments section so I came to find out what it was. Thank you for always making the information accessible and easy to understand. I'm off to install Growmap and disable comment moderation!
Sorry to bother you Amy, but I installed the Growmap and activated it and it is not showing up on my blog in the comments section. Is there something else I should have done?
It's showing up for me! At the very bottom of your comment form.
Thanks Amy. It's still not showing up for me which is so strange and even though I turned off comment moderation, it is still holding my test comments in the queue. WordPress just doesn't like me this morning!
OK, just left two comments for ya.
My comments did get held but G.A.S.P. worked like a charm!
Thanks Amy! I appreciate your time and help. I've tried every setting in the discussion (comments) section and even though the comment moderation is not clicked and those setting have been saved, it is still holding comments. At least the G.A.S.P. is working!
I LOVE your new look although i didn't really know your old look because I'm a new follower! I've spent hours looking through your blog and you've given me lots of ideas about increasing traffic. I'm new to blogging:) Oh, and my husband is a closet follower of yours too. He loves the pinterest posts! Keep us informed and keep it simple and keep havin' fun doing it! Many Blessings! Annie Nelson
So glad to see you here Annie! Just took a look at your site and you're doing a great job! Are you having fun yet?
Be careful or blogging will suck you in, LOL!
Well the lemons certainly got my attention so that is great. I love your blog I have been reading your articles and find them very informative. I am trying to keep my website interesting and your tips certainly do help. Maybe someday I will make a little money at it. B
Thanks for stopping by! I'm glad it's helpful.
I just wanted to say that I am so glad I found your blog! Your articles and tips have helped me tremendously with starting my own blog
I'm not sure I would have thought of a lot of the tips you've shared. Thank you!
Thanks, Jessica! I'm so glad it has been helpful.