How to use Tumblr: 7 useful tips for beginners

When you subscribe to Tumblr, it can be a bit overwhelming. What is Tumblr and how does Tumblr work? What do you do on Tumblr and how do you post on Tumblr?

We answer all these questions and more in this article, explaining how to use Tumblr. Here are the most useful Tumblr tips that all new users should know.

What is Tumblr?

Tumblr launched in 2007. It's best described as a microblogging site that resembles a mix of Twitter, WordPress and Facebook.

Users can post text, images, videos, audio and links. If you follow other users' blogs, you will see the content they publish in their feed.

The content on Tumblr is extremely varied. You can find Tumblr blogs dedicated to everything from fashion to space exploration. There are currently hundreds of millions of blogs on the service.

1. How to make a Tumblr

When you create a Tumblr account, you automatically have a new blog created. However, you can create additional Tumblr blogs in the same account.

To create another Tumblr blog, click on your profile picture in the top right corner and go to Tumblrs> New .

The page will ask you to give your new blog a name, choose a URL and decide whether you want the blog to be public or private. You can also add password protection so that only people who have been vetted can see your posts.

2. How to navigate Tumblr

When you first log in to Tumblr, you'll be taken to your account dashboard. It's like a newsfeed on Facebook.

The dashboard is a real-time list of all the new content on all the blogs you're subscribed to. It's organised in chronological order.

On the right-hand side of the page you'll see a list of recommended blogs for you (based on what you already read) and Radar. Radar has a post that is distributed throughout the site. Getting your content to show here is the Holy Grail.

At the top of the page are tabs for exploring the whole Tumblr site, sending private messages to other users and tracking activity in your account.

3. How to post to Tumblr

Let's be clear: you don't need to post content to Tumblr to use the service. Just as you can view content on Twitter and Facebook without interacting with anyone, you can follow other blogs on Tumblr without actively developing your own page.

However, if you decide to try your hand at starting a blog on Tumblr, creating content will be easy. On the Tumblr home page, find the blue pen icon in the top right corner. Click on the icon and you will be given the choice of creating a text post, photo, quote, link, chat, audio file or video file.

4. How to save messages on Tumblr

Whenever you browse a social media app, it's not uncommon to see a post or link that interests you but you don't have time to read at the moment. So you need a reliable way to find that content later in the day so you can dive into it.

On Twitter, you can use the "Like" button as a bookmarking tool; Facebook has a "Saved Items" section where you can build collections of content you like.

Tumblr doesn't have a built-in save feature, but there are some workarounds:

Use the " Like " button .
Reblog (similar to retweet) a post on a private blog you've created specifically for this purpose.
Use an IFTTT recipe that will automatically add every new post or reblog you've tagged #Save to your Pocket account.

5. How to use the Overview tab

The Explore tab is where you'll find interesting content on topics that interest you.

When you're new to the Tumblr platform, this is the easiest way to find new blogs. Remember that if you don't follow other people's blogs, you will find Tumblr a boring and lonely place.

At the top of the "Overview" page is the "Recommended for you" tab, as well as various content categories you can dive into, such as "Trends" and "Staff selection" . In the right-hand panel there is also a list of current searches.

To add your favourite blog, click on the "Subscribe" button on the post card.

6. How to follow search terms

For certain topics, it may make sense to follow certain search terms. For instance, if you want to keep up to date with information about your favourite sports team, would you prefer to follow dozens of individual blogs, or would you simply have your sports team information automatically appear in your feed?

To follow your search query, click on the "Research" tab and enter your keywords in the box at the top of the page. A clickable Follow button will appear in the search box .

7. How to manage your blogs

Sometimes you may want to clear your content stream and start again. If so, it's easy to unsubscribe from blogs and keywords on Tumblr. Click on your profile icon and go to Account>Subscription .

Tumblr even shows you the last update date of the blogs you follow, making it easy to see if they're no longer active.