How to use HackMD for Blogging on Steemit

Creating a wonderful post with all the necessary details and graphics can be quite challenging but when you have access to all the tools that make it easier for you to do so, then blogging on Steemit becomes a breeze! All you need to do is do what you know how to do best: Blog!

There are a few tools out there but today, I will like to share with you how to use the writing tool called Hackmd. Hackmd operates in a markdown environment with the tags and codes already built in. All you have to do is click some buttons on the work space and you are on your way to creating beautiful posts on Steemit!

So let's get into the process.

1. Go over to hackmd.io to sign up.

Once you are on this page, you can look around. There are three price plans available for you to sign up for but I will suggest signing up for free! Free is always good! Everything you need to churn out great post after post is available in the free version.

1. Go ahead and click on sign in. When you do, the following page will pop up:

Once this page pops up, you can sign in with Facebook, Google, Github, Drpbox and Twitter. If you have Gmail running in the background, you can easily sign up with your account and that will be enough to get you started.

1. Once you sign in, the work page will appear for you to start typing and formatting your post. The amazing thing about hackmd is that you can sign in on multiple devices. That in itself is not amazing but try opening up a post you are creating on two or more different devices and you will see the magic this thing can do and the possibilities built in! As you type on one device you will see the changes and movement of your prompt, with the messages being typed in real time on your other devices. It's like an invisible hand typing on the other devices. This is amazing! It means you can create a team and the team can simultaneously work together from different locations and make changes on a project in real time without having to sign up for the more expensive platforms to do so.

Anyway, coming back to the point of discussion, hackmd is powerful and can help your blogging experience.

In other to have a dual view of your input and output, simply click on the middle book icon above and you will see the split screen below.

If you want to concentrate on your typing and editing without having the distraction of looking at the output as you go along, click the pencil icon to disable the dual view.

To have a full view of what your blog will look like once finished and posted on steemit, click on the eye icon.

To insert an image simply click on the image icon and the markdown format will appear as shown in the image below. All you need to do at this point is copy and paste the image URL within the brackets and your image will be formatted automatically.

If you want to reference a source by inserting a link, simply copy the source link URL, click on the link icon as highlighted in the image below and insert the URL in the brackets and your link will be formatted automatically.

This tool automatically saves your work so don't worry about losing your write up. Once you have finished, you can click on the publish icon or copy the post as formatted in the live edit work station, and paste it directly to the Steemit blog editor. Type in your title, add your tags and simply click post and your post will go live.

This platform has a beautiful user interface (UI) such that all your previous work are arranged beautifully for your to access at anytime on the front page without any problems.

The only downside to this tool, at least at the moment, with the latest version is its inability to highlight grammatical errors and make suggestions to correcting them. You can use the Steemit editor to do that after pasting your work into the editor. Check for misspelt words which most times show up as words underlined in red. Aside that, this tool should be a beautiful addition to your blogging tools collection.

If you have enjoyed this post, upvote, follow @delphia16 and resteem! If you didn't, upvote anyway!

Happy Steeming!!!