The latest version of WordPress, version 3.3.1, was released today. Even though version 3.3 was released rather recently, 3.3.1 features over a dozen security updates and bug fixes, so you’ll definitely want to download it ASAP. You can also read more about the release of WordPress 3.3.1.

Last week, a few days after my friend Danielle mentioned it on Twitter, I finally got off my lazy butt and updated all of my WordPress installation to the newest version, which is 3.3. And it’s quite snazzy. I like how the WordPress developers implemented the collapsed-by-default menus in the sidebar which are darker and thus stand out more from the rest of the dashboard. Some of the other updates to features and usage are quite nice; and of course the security updates that were implemented are very much appreciated.

If you haven’t already updated to the latest version of WordPress, I highly recommend you do so!

I was lucky enough to secure a Rafflecopter invite, and I couldn’t be more excited. Rafflecopter takes the hassle out of running giveaways on your blog, by providing you with an easy, widgetized, somewhat-automated way of setting up the entry options for your giveaway (comments, Facebook page likes, blog post likes, Twitter follows, tweets, etc.), and then compiling the entries, totaling them up and choosing your winner(s).

Right now I’m running my very first Rafflecopter-powered giveaway on Mamahood.org, and so far I’m very pleased with the results, even though the giveaway is still in progress. I’m really looking forward to being able to run giveaways with more ease thanks to Rafflecopter!

Right now Rafflecopter is still in beta mode, but you can sign up for notifications and an eventual invite (I got mine within days of signing up!) at Rafflecopter.com.

If you want to use the Tweetmeme plugin for WordPress but can’t get it to display regardless of whether you’re using the auto-positioning option or manual inclusion, try adding <?php wp_footer(); ?> to your blog – insert it just before the </body> tag. This fix worked for me! (Many thanks to the WordPress support forum!)

Or “linkys”, if you plan on deliberately butchering the English language. But I don’t, so I will stray from the mommy blogger mold and call them giveaway link ups, because that’s usually what they are: special widgets that allow visiting bloggers to link-bomb. Usually the link ups are used for giveaways, but on occasion they’ll be used for other things, such as blog memes or photography memes. Some blogs even allow you to link anything, such as a post you recently wrote about polaris sportsman parts. How are these seemingly automated posts done? Well, Mister Linky is the secret behind these mass link listings on blog posts, and so far, from a blogger’s standpoint, the service works wonderfully.

Now I’m going to try it from a blog owner’s perspective – check out In My Bag every Monday morning for a new Giveaway Link Up post, which will give you the opportunity to leave a link to your giveaway — and visit other giveaways!

WordPress themes make it easy for you to set up your blog and go, but there are definitely some disadvantages to go along with those advantages. While pre-made WordPress themes are great if you don’t have the time, resources or knowledge required to code your own theme from scratch, there are a few downsides:

• Inability to easily customize colors, images
• Some themes aren’t widget-enabled
• In contrast, other themes may be widget-only, so you won’t be able to thoroughly customize your sidebars
• Lack of choices in colors, layout style
• Obtrusive credit text/links
• Outdated code, obselete plugins, etc.

Personally, I’m a fan of creating my own WordPress themes. My theme “base” is from one of the original premade themes that came bundled with the WordPress installation I uploaded to my server way back in 2005. Here are a few sources worth checking out if you’re interested in making your own theme:

Eruanna.net: How to Write Your Own WordPress Theme
ThemeShaper: How to Create a WordPress Theme
Spoon Graphics: How to Build a Custom WordPress Theme
WP Designer: So you want to create WordPress themes huh?

The latest version of WordPress, WordPress 3.1.1, was released on Tuesday. Updates in this version include security fixes, and performance improvements, including updates to how media is handled.

Read more about the release of 3.1.1, or go download.

I am currently dealing with a very frustrating issue with In My Bag, the issue being that all of the posts I painstakingly wrote and scheduled out late last month aren’t posting as they should. I just realized now that a rather long article I wrote about mesothelioma symptoms for a client didn’t post as it should. Fortunately it’s the weekend, so the client didn’t notice.

What makes this issue especially frustrating is that In My Bag is one of seven WordPress-powered blogs that I manage. All seven blogs are on the same server, have the exact same installation version, and even the exact same plugins. So why would the other six blogs work just fine with scheduling out posts, but In My Bag won’t? I’ve tried the various troubleshooting methods recommended via Google searches, but so far nothing is working. Does anyone have any advice?

If you install and manage blogs for others, or simply want your own blogs to reflect your own site’s branding, check out White Label CMS. White Label CMS is a WordPress plugin that allows you to add your own branding to your WordPress administration area. Add custom logos to the login and logout screen, add custom icons within the dashboard’s header and footer section, change colors, choose which menus should be displayed, and even add your own custom welcome title and message. The plugin is very easy to install and configure, and offers you a lot of great options for branding your WordPress installation!

Have you ever wanted to share an unpublished or scheduled post with a friend or a business associate? Rather than publishing the post early, publishing it with a password or sending a copy or a screenshot, install and activate the Simple Preview plugin! This plugin simply allows non-logged in individuals to view an unpublished or scheduled post. It’s very simple to use: install, activate, then check “Allow Anonymous Preview” in the dialog box that will now be present beneath the post writing area on your post writing pages.