Do you use hot keys on the computer? You know, the combinations of keys you can press to make things happen, on your computer. There are a ton of hot keys out there and you can even write macros to make your own, if you really want.
Mostly, they are a time-saver. Awhile back, I read an article about the amount of time a company estimated their traders lost in a day by clicking with a mouse instead of using the relevant hot keys. It was an hour a day. (Unfortunately, I can’t find the article again.)
An Entire Hour
What does that tell us?
Not only can hot keys save you frustration but they can make you more efficient. If you’re, say, side hustling in the evenings, the faster you can do things, the better. If you can’t get enough done in a day at work, same thing. Let’s say that you could use hot keys enough to save yourself fifteen minutes a week on blogging. Every month, you’ve got an extra hour. That extra hour could be another post, it could mean your rate-per-hour has gone up, or it could mean that you can go do something else.
Here are the blogging hot keys that I use on a regular basis. I work in Excel a decent amount at work and you all know that I spend way too much time on blogging related things!
*These are all for PCs, sometimes there is a Mac equivalent, other times you’re scuppered.
Ctrl + K
This is the blogger must-know hot key. I myself only learned of this fabulous thing recently. Now I use it basically every day! Ctrl + K inserts links. It works in Microsoft Office products, like Word. It works in WordPress! It works in Google Docs. Isn’t that handy, and universal? In Google Docs, it will also bring up an option to search for things related to whatever text you have highlighted. Hat tip to Sarah at LifeCommaEtc for clueing me in to that one!
Pressing Ctrl + K when you are in the middle of a link will also open up the dialogue box to show you what it links to. This is very handy for finding out where your freelance or staff writers have linked, from within the WordPress dashboard.
Shift + Arrows
This is how to select text, a letter at a time. Once you’ve selected it, you can hit Ctrl + K to add in your link, then Ctrl + V to paste in your link. Fancy, but still slow.
Ctrl + Shift + Arrows
Now we’re cooking with rocket fuel! This way selects whole words at a time. Click back four times and you will select the four words you just wrote, then pop in your link.
End Key
After you’ve selected, Ctrl + K’d and popped in your link, punch your end key to go back to the end of your current line. This sequence should help out a lot when it comes to writing and linking blog posts quickly!
Shift + Enter
This hot key is kind of going the way of the do-do bird, but there are times where it might still be useful. Once you have typed in a site name in your browser, hit those two and it will add the www and the .com for you. Most sites now just skip the whole www thing, but sometimes you need it. At the very least, you’ll save typing four letters for dot com!
Ctrl + Shift + Enter
This one is really more for academics, but it works just like the last one in your browser and adds .edu. Isn’t that neato?
Alt + Tab, Ctrl + C, Ctrl + X, Ctrl + V
Everything else above is also assuming that you know how to utilize these basic hot keys already. If you don’t, alt + tab switches between windows, Ctrl + C copies things, Ctrl + X cuts things and Ctrl + V pastes things.
Ctrl + Z
This is UNDO. Very important.
Ctrl + Y
This is REDO. It can be VERY important. Remember that time? Ya.
There’s a lot more hot keys for bloggers out there, this is just a little sampling that will help make you a faster blogger!
I also just recently learned about Control Z! Now I use it a lot. I’m going to have to experiment with Control K. Thanks for the tip!
Dee @ Color Me Frugal recently posted…The Value of Being Neighborly
They are both awesome ones for blogging.
Thanks for sharing some of these hot key functions. I’m a Ctrl + C/V mostly. Never knew about the Ctrl + K though. Good to know. The benefits of the Internet. So many ideas and tips to share.
DivHut recently posted…DivHut Blog Stats
So many! There are a ton of hot keys, the tricky part is remembering them.
Is ctrl+K something specifically set up on your PC? Because on mine it just makes the URL bar active, in Chrome. And it does nothing in any other program. Even when I am editing a post in Word Press (in Chrome), it just jumps up to the URL bar. Maybe I’m missing something.
My favorite hotkey is Windows Key + D, this is a shortcut to the desktop. Convenient when you’re blogging at work and need to hide everything quickly 🙂 Alt+Tab is good for that too, which you do mention. I couldn’t imagine living without either of those!
Leslie Beslie recently posted…Exploring the Bronx: Little Italy on Arthur Avenue
Nope, I use it on a bunch of computers. Text has to be selected in Chrome, or it will just put a ‘?’ in the URL bar.
Haha, the desktop one may just come in handy!
Anne recently posted…My Fav Excel Hot Keys
Thanks, this post helped me a lot!
I actually don’t use Alt + tab! That will save me hours switching from Chrome to Word!
And one hot key I like is Ctrl + T for a new tab. Because I’m always opening like a bazillion new tabs.
Will (First Quarter Finance) recently posted…Brand Loyalty: Are You a Switcher?
Whoa – it will change your life!!
Anne recently posted…My Fav Excel Hot Keys
Already has!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Will out. *Alt + tab*
Will recently posted…Opening a CRAP Fund Will Keep You from Driving so Dang Much
Great tips I like all the shortcuts. I will probably use the cntl +K more often now. Thanks,.
It’s a super-super useful blogging one.
Anne recently posted…My Fav Excel Hot Keys
I very recently became a Mac-person after growing up with Windows. And let me tell you, I spend AT LEAST an hour a day trying to remember the new hot keys on my Mac. I can only imagine that if/when I get back to work how hard it’s going to be to go back to Windows.
Amanda recently posted…Tales from a Tenant: The Mold 2nd Edition
Oh dear. I’m told it gets easier, as you become more familiar with the mac ones!
Anne recently posted…My Fav Excel Hot Keys
Great tips ~ I usually have a hard time remembering these, but with practice I should get it right. I will add these to my repertoire immediately! Thanks, Anne!
debs @ debtdebs recently posted…Debt Do Run Run
I just try to learn one or two at a time, but they’re so worth the mental effort! I have a page on my wall at work with a bunch of them, to help me learn more.
Anne recently posted…My Fav Excel Hot Keys
I use most of these but I didn’t know about the Ctrl + Shift + Enter one. Neat post idea Anne 🙂
Kassandra @ More Than Just Money recently posted…Sunday Sweetness Vol. 3
It was a lot more useful back when I was in university, that’s for sure.
Anne recently posted…My Fav Excel Hot Keys
Holy Cow, I definitely didn’t know the Ctrl+K one. Clearly I am a shoddy blogger 🙂 But I’ll be using it from now on.
Alicia recently posted…Versatile Blogger Award
It’s soooo awesome. I’ve only known about it for a little while, but am SO GLAD I learned about it!
Anne recently posted…My Fav Excel Hot Keys
YES, yes, and yes! Control Z is a big one because I tend to erase all my work frequently. =/
Holly@ClubThrifty recently posted…5 Unfortunate Facts About Self-Employment
Yikes, that’s a scary tendency!
Anne recently posted…My Fav Excel Hot Keys