If your AdSense earnings aren’t meeting expectations, one of the most effective things you can do is fine-tune your ad settings. Today, we’ll take a closer look at an often-overlooked feature called "Fill empty in-page ads"—what it does, why it matters, and how to manage it properly.

1. What Is “Fill empty in-page ads”?“Optimize ad slots when display ads are not available.”
This setting allows Google to fill empty ad slots with optimized content or fallback ads when no regular display ads are available. If this option is turned off, these spaces may remain blank—meaning lost revenue opportunities.
​
📌 In short, enabling this option can help maintain ad coverage and maximize earnings.

2. Where to Find This Setting

To access the option, follow these steps in your AdSense dashboard:

• Go to Privacy & messaging > Blocking controls > Ad serving
• Scroll down to find "Fill empty in-page ads"
• Toggle it ON (blue) to allow Google to optimize empty ad spaces

Here’s what it looks like on screen:


If it's set to Blocked, as in the screenshot, you may want to switch it back ON to avoid empty slots that hurt your revenue.

3. Other Blocking ControlsAdSense also allows you to block specific types of ads through the Ad serving section. You can block:

• Advertisers by URL
• Sensitive ad categories
• Entire ad networks
• General interest categories

Here’s how the control panel looks:


⚠️ Caution: Blocking too many ad types can reduce ad competition and lower your revenue.

4. How It Connects to Search Visibility

AdSense settings and ad behavior aren't the only factors that matter. Your site’s content quality, internal linking, and authority all contribute to better visibility. For example, here is how one of my books appears at the top of a Google search:


That kind of visibility is the result of not just good content, but a well-structured and well-maintained website. Optimizing your ads is just one part of the bigger picture.

5. Final Thoughts: Stay Ready for Your Moment

Think of it this way: your content is a well-prepared field. When the right season comes—more traffic, a trending topic, or external link—it needs to be ready to harvest.
Settings like “Fill empty in-page ads” help ensure that your site performs its best when opportunity strikes.

Useful Link:

• Official Google Guide – Fill empty in-page ads

As bloggers, one question naturally arises over time:
​
“How is my website actually performing on Google?”

Google Search Console is the tool that answers that question—clearly, directly, and for free.

Since managing my own site, annakoh.com, I've come to realize just how powerful and essential this tool is. It’s not just for SEO experts—it’s for anyone who cares about visibility, growth, and reaching more readers.

1. What is Google Search Console?Google Search Console (GSC) is a free service provided by Google that helps website owners track and improve their presence in Google Search results.

With it, you can:

• See which search queries are bringing visitors to your site
• Monitor how often your pages appear in search and how many clicks they get
• Check for mobile usability issues
• Submit your sitemap for better indexing
• Identify errors or pages that are not indexed properly

2. Why You Should Use ItIf you only blog for yourself, you might not need this. But if you care about growing your audience and making your content more discoverable, Google Search Console is indispensable.

Here’s why:

• Discover which keywords drive traffic to your site
• Fix indexing or technical errors that keep your posts from appearing in search
• Submit a sitemap to help Google find your content faster
• Improve your mobile performance and user experience

3. How to Get Started (Quick Guide)

1. Visit Google Search Console
2. Add your website as either a Domain or URL prefix property
3. Verify ownership (for Weebly users, the HTML tag method is recommended)
4. Submit your sitemap (https://yourdomain.com/sitemap.xml)
5. Wait a few days for data to start appearing

4. Key Features You’ll Use

• Performance: See what search terms people use to find your site
• Coverage: Find and fix indexing issues
• Mobile Usability: Identify layout or accessibility problems on mobile devices
• URL Inspection Tool: Check if a specific page is indexed and request re-indexing
• Links Report: Track internal and external links to your site

5. Final Thoughts

Google Search Console isn’t complicated, and once it’s set up, it quietly works in the background—giving you real insights into your blog’s visibility. It’s one of the most valuable tools for long-term blog growth.
If you're running your blog with care and consistency, then you deserve to know how your work is performing in search. GSC gives you that clarity.

You’re making great work, but your blog isn’t getting clicks, your portfolio isn’t showing up in Google, and your Instagram growth has slowed.
The problem might not be your art — it might be your keywords.
In 2025, these are the trending terms that are driving visibility, search traffic, and online interest in the art world.

Knowing and using them smartly can help your art reach more people.

​When I first started my blog, I didn’t worry much about keywords.
I simply wrote what I felt, documented what I created, and followed the rhythm of my own artistic life.
But recently, I’ve started wondering:
“What are people actually searching for in the art world today?”
I realized that while writing from the heart will always be my foundation,
understanding popular art keywords might help my work reach more people--
not by changing who I am, but by learning to speak a language more people can hear.
So I did some research with ChatGpt, and here’s what I found:
the most relevant, creative, and trending art keywords of 2025--
and how artists like us can use them without losing our voice.

7 Art Keywords Artists Should Know in 2025

​1. AI Art / Artificial Intelligence-Based Visuals

• Generative artwork made with tools like DALL·E, Midjourney, or custom-trained models
• Examples: AI-generated painting, machine learning art, prompt-based illustration

2. Mixed Media / New Media Art

• Combining analog and digital: watercolor with digital overlays, collage with AR, etc.
• Examples: mixed media botanical, digital and handmade, new media fine art

3. Biophilic & Nature-Centered Art

• Earth tones, botanical elements, environmental storytelling
• Examples: eco-conscious art, climate-inspired work, biophilic design in art

4. Bold Color Palettes

• Vibrant, expressive use of color for emotional impact
• Examples: bold abstract, color drenching, vivid watercolor

5. Textured & Tactile Painting

• Thick brushwork, impasto, layered surfaces, and physical texture
• Examples: textured canvas, impasto floral, tactile surface art

6. Art with a Message / Climate & Activist Art

• Art that addresses climate change, social justice, identity, or peace
• Examples: climate art, art as activism, ethical visual storytelling

7. Retro & Abstract Landscape Revival

• Nostalgic tones, 70s–90s aesthetics, combined with loose landscapes
• Examples: vintage-inspired landscapes, retro abstract, nostalgia art trend

To be honest, I didn’t pay much attention to keywords, meta tags, or SEO when I first began writing.
I wrote spontaneously—whatever I was experiencing, thinking, or creating.
There was no strategy, no structured outline, just a genuine flow of thoughts.
Ironically, despite this lack of planning, I’ve come to learn that my website still performs surprisingly well on search engines.
It seems that authenticity and consistency have a value of their own—especially when they are built over time.
Now, I’m beginning to understand how meta structure and SEO can amplify what I’ve already built.
It’s not about changing how I write, but about framing it more clearly so that search engines—and people—can better find what I share.

As I continue learning about writing for the web, I’ve decided to share these discoveries step by step.
Many artists, myself included, are naturally intuitive and spontaneous. We don't always enjoy being confined by structure or rules—especially when it comes to expression.
But at some point, I realized that organizing my writing within a certain framework doesn't have to diminish its authenticity.
In fact, it can help more people find and connect with it.
That’s when I discovered how useful ChatGPT can be for artists like me.
It doesn’t write the heart of the story—I do.
But it helps me take what I’ve written and shape it into a format that search engines understand, without sacrificing my voice.
For artists who find SEO and structure overwhelming, I truly believe AI can serve as a gentle guide, not a replacement.

If you're running an artist portfolio, blog, or small business site on Weebly, you might be wondering how many people are actually visiting your site—and what they're doing once they get there. That’s where Google Analytics 4 (GA4) comes in.
In this post, I’ll walk you through how I connected GA4 to my Weebly site step by step. It’s easier than it sounds, and once it’s set up, you’ll gain access to powerful insights about your visitors.

Step 1: Set Up a GA4 Stream

1. Go to Google Analytics and sign in.
2. Create a new Property (if needed) and choose “Web” as the platform.
3. Enter your website URL (e.g., https://www.annakoh.com) and complete the setup.
4. You’ll be given a Measurement ID, which looks like this:

Step 2: Add the GA4 Code to Weebly

1. Log into your Weebly Editor and go to Settings > SEO.
   
2. Scroll down to the Footer Code section.
   
3. Paste the following code into the box:
   

​<!-- Google tag (gtag.js) -->
<script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-your id"></script>
<script>
  window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || [];
  function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);}
  gtag('js', new Date());
  gtag('config', 'G-5MN5VB856F');
</script>

​Click the Publish button in the top right corner to save changes.

Step 3: Test the Installation

1. Go back to your Google Analytics account.
2. Click Reports > Realtime in the left menu.
3. Visit your website in a new tab (or from a different device).
   If your visit shows up as an active user, your setup is working!

🔁 What if There’s an Older Tracking Code?

​If your site previously had a Universal Analytics (UA) tracking ID (e.g., UA-xxxx or G-CE2FZ8BYGV), you can remove it. Google is transitioning fully to GA4, so only your new GA4 code is needed.

✨ Final Thoughts

​Connecting Google Analytics 4 to your Weebly site turns it from a static portfolio into a data-powered platform. You’ll be able to track which posts perform well, where visitors are coming from, and how long they’re staying.
As an artist, it helps me understand how people engage with my creative world—and that makes my work even more meaningful.

In today’s creative classrooms, digital tools are no longer optional—they're essential. One of the most delightful and accessible tools I’ve used with my students is Canva. Whether we’re designing digital posters, holiday cards, or simple animations, Canva provides a safe, user-friendly space for kids to explore design and express themselves visually.

Take the image above as an example. This sweet “I love you MOM” card was created using Canva’s drag-and-drop interface, which allows children to easily combine shapes, flowers, stickers, and text.

What makes this tool so powerful for young learners is its balance between structure and freedom. Students can begin with a blank canvas or choose from pre-made templates, allowing them to focus on design without feeling overwhelmed by technical barriers.

Canva is particularly useful for:

• Holiday or celebration projects (Mother’s Day, birthdays, classroom events)
• Visual storytelling (digital comics, picture diaries)
• Creative communication (thank you cards, posters, social media content)
• Developing digital literacy (learning layout, composition, color, and typography)
  
  

What I’ve Observed as an Art TeacherKids quickly grasp how to use Canva, even those with limited tech experience. The tool teaches them how to think about visual space, layering, color harmony, and purpose—all critical artistic skills. What’s more, they take pride in sharing their finished works, especially when printed or sent to family members.

The best part? It’s joyful. Watching a student discover they can express love for their mom not just with words, but with design elements like a crown, heart, and flowers—it reminds me how art connects us beyond language.

Practical Tips for Teachers and Parents

• Start with a short project (e.g., “Make a thank-you card”)
• Limit the number of elements at first to avoid overwhelming them
• Show them where to find the search bar, templates, and “undo” button
• Celebrate their work by printing it or sharing it digitally
  ​
  

If you’re teaching art in a modern classroom or even just looking for a fun weekend project with your kids, Canva is a wonderful gateway into digital creativity. It’s not just about making something pretty—it’s about giving children the tools to express what matters most to them.

What Is Canva? — Empowering Everyone to Design

​1. Overview: A New Era Where Anyone Can Be a Designer

Canva is an online design platform that originated in Australia, created to help anyone—regardless of technical or artistic background—produce beautiful visual content with ease. It is browser-based (with app versions available) and allows users to design everything from posters, greeting cards, presentations, and social media posts to videos, logos, resumes, book covers, and even websites.

The philosophy behind Canva is simple:
“Design anything. Publish anywhere.”

Its goal is to make design accessible to everyone and empower users to create and share with confidence.

2. Key Features

Easy-to-Use Templates

Canva’s most powerful feature is its vast collection of ready-to-use templates. Whether you're making a birthday card or an Instagram story, you can simply choose a layout, replace the text and images, and quickly create a professional-looking design.
Drag-and-Drop InterfaceCanva’s intuitive interface allows users to simply drag and drop elements onto the canvas. This ease of use is one of the main reasons Canva has become so popular, especially among beginners.

Rich Library of ResourcesCanva offers a large library of icons, stickers, vector graphics, stock images, videos, and audio clips. While some are part of the paid Pro version, many resources are available for free.

Font and Color Guidance

Canva helps users maintain good design practices by suggesting harmonious font pairings and color combinations, helping to avoid visual imbalance even without a design background.

Real-Time CollaborationSimilar to Google Docs, Canva allows real-time collaboration, making it ideal for teachers, students, teams, or creative partners.
Export and Publishing OptionsDesigns can be downloaded in various formats such as PDF, PNG, JPG, or MP4. Canva also allows users to post directly to social media or send projects to print services.

3. Canva in EducationCanva is not just a design tool—it is also a valuable educational platform. It supports teaching and learning in areas such as visual literacy, digital storytelling, presentation skills, and creative thinking.
Classroom Examples:

• Student self-introduction posters
• Book cover redesigns for literature units
• Presentation slides for science or history projects
• Digital picture books and visual diaries
• Class newsletters, thank-you cards, event posters

Even Young Children Can Use ItYoung learners, including kindergarten and early elementary students, can use Canva due to its visual interface and simple drag-and-drop features. (Note: Children under 13 must use it under adult supervision.)

4. Canva VersionsVersionDescription

Canva FreeIncludes access to basic templates, design tools, and limited assets
Canva Pro (Paid)Includes premium assets, brand kits, background remover, and advanced tools

Canva for Education (Free)Pro-level access for verified teachers and students, completely free for schools

5. Changing the Culture of Design

Canva is transforming design from something reserved for trained professionals into a tool for everyday creativity. Entrepreneurs, educators, students, artists, and creators now have the ability to share their ideas in visually compelling ways.

This movement is more than just a technical shift—it’s a democratization of design. By lowering the barriers to entry, Canva gives voice to more creators across all walks of life.

Canva is not just a design app. It is a creative gateway that empowers individuals, families, teachers, and students to express their ideas freely and beautifully. If you haven’t used Canva before, spend just ten minutes exploring it—you might find that it completely transforms how you create, share, and inspire.