With the end of the year, and the decade, fast approaching, I took at look back at the 200+ blog posts published in 2019 to identify my most popular posts.
Typically, the posts read most often are about WordPress, accessibility, and user experience, the main topics I write about.
But there’s always a few posts that my readers like that don’t fit into my main categories
And this year there are a few.
One of my goals for my site is to publish posts that are helpful to you in your work, personal life, and business, whether you’re a:
- Web professional
- Blogger
- Someone who wants to learn more about technology, security, and the web
Read on to learn which posts stood out for readers of my blog!
10 Most Popular Posts in 2019
Free Email Services That Don’t Require Phone Verification
Not surprised this post made it to the top of the list. I’ve noticed over the past five years that more email services are asking for a phone number for verification.
Which is often a barrier, when you already have an email account with an email service, and have used your phone number. Services don’t allow you to associate a new email account with the same phone number.
I researched services that don’t require a phone number and found two email services that offer free email without phone verification.
How to Add Alternative Text to LinkedIn Images
Not sure why, but LinkedIn is one of the last major social media services to provide the ability to add alternative text to images.
As of August 2019, adding alternative text to LinkedIn images is only available on desktop.
One of the features I like: LinkedIn tracks how many characters you’ve used in the image description.
Do You Add the Date to Your Blog Posts? [Updated]
Displaying a published date on your tutorial, code example, or news announcement, is crucial.
Knowing the date adds context to the content, allowing your readers to know immediately whether the content is new.
Or five years old.
I’ve been an advocate for years for adding the date to blog posts. Without dates, the reader has no idea when your post was written.
Inclusive Content Strategy: How to Ensure Your Content is Accessible to Everyone
In my recap of AmyJune Hineline’s Inclusive Content Strategy: How to Ensure Your Content is Accessible to Everyone presentation, I shared my takeaways of how content editors can craft content that is accessible to everyone.
One key takeaway: inclusion means different things to different people.
You’ll find a link to the 52-minute video in my recap post.
Where Does That Shortened Link Go? Here Are 3 Ways to Find Out.
A malicious short link can happen to anyone or any organization.
Before you select that shortened URL in a blog post or social media update, find out where that shortened link will take you.
I wrote about three free online services that expand shortened URLs. My favorite: DuckDuckGo, the privacy-focused search engine.
Accessibility and Inclusive Design Meetup Groups
I’ve been updating my list of accessibility and inclusive design meetup groups every year since 2015. And it continues to be one of the most read posts on my site.
If learning about web accessibility and inclusive design is one of your goals for 2020, you’ll want to check out my post for a nearby meetup group. Updated this month, the post now includes almost 60 in-person meetup groups around the world.
Takeaways from Digital Accessibility–Guide to Trustworthy Free Online Resources
Did you know the Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) at the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) has a wealth of digital accessibility resources available on their website?
Shawn Henry, who leads education and outreach promoting disability at WAI, shared info about the free online resources in her presentation on digital accessibility guide for trustworthy online resources.
Whether you’re a designer, developer, project manager, or content author, you’ll find helpful guidelines, links, and resources in my recap of Henry’s talk.
Photo of the Week: My Third Whooping Crane in Michigan in Three Years!
Hard to believe I’ve seen a Whooping Crane in Michigan each year for the past three years. What a beautiful bird!
This year’s bird was seen in Washtenaw County, a first-county record.
The Whooping Crane is one of the rarest birds in North America. In 2017, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service estimated the wild population of Whooping Cranes at 505.
Are You Looking for a Remote Job in Technology or Development?
You can spend hours or weeks looking for job opportunities. Or you could check out the helpful resource in my remote job opportunities in technology or development post.
Compiled by Alexander Garcia, the Google Spreadsheet offers a wide range of companies around the world offering remote job opportunities.
His spreadsheet includes:
- Link to company website
- Company Twitter account, if they have one
- What the company does or produces (in 10 words or less)
- Company headquarter location (city, state, country)
- Company Chief Executive Officer (CEO) name
- Company CEO’s Twitter account
I’m wishing you good luck with your job search!
Advent Calendars for Web Professionals: 2019 Edition
This year marks the eighth year I’ve published a collection of online Advent calendars for web professionals.
Each day you’ll find a tidbit of news, resource, or helpful tip for working on the web.
Whether you’re a web designer, developer, content author, blogger, digital marketer, accessibility specialist, business owner, you’re bound to find an interesting Advent calendar in my collection.
Wrapping Up
Did your favorite post make my top 10 list? Or do you have another favorite? Share your favorite post in the comments.
