Then we have the Post Editor itself. It has two tabs. Normally, always starts in the tab “Compose” where you can write the post content including formatting which include images, etc.. The tab “Edit HTML” shows the content of the post with HTML tags. If we write from this tab, you will need to enter your code by hand.

Now, Begin writing your content article and When you’ve finished it, it’s time to format and include images. If you interrupt your writing for including images, formatting text, you may end up losing conentration so it is better to complete writing article first and then move on formatting and editing or so called finishing.

To format, you use the toolbar icon on the tab. Its operation is like in any word processor: select the text you wish to format and give it to one of the icons. Let’s review each.

Font: This is not an icon, but a drop down list. It offers you the choice between a few fonts to apply them to your text. The reason that so few is because the rates offered are those that can be viewed in any browser and computer from which you access the blog. My advice is do not use any. The templates come with a font defined with which to display the text of the posts and change the source from here you can change the look of the blog too. Change the source only when deemed absolutely necessary to convey the message you want.

Font size: As its name suggests, lets you change the font size used. Use it only when you want to perform, such as subtitles within a post.

Text Color: Lets you change the color of selected text. One tip: with few exceptions, not using it. The texts that vary in color can be very annoying and harder to read.

Link: Used to convert the selected text a link or link so that clicking on it will open the page that you indicate. By clicking on this icon opens a small text box where we write the address to which you want to lead.

Alignment left, center, right or justification to both sides: allows you to put to one side or another text. The justification will extend the separation of words to cover every line from one end to the other post. As a suggestion, saying that it is better not justify the text: the spaces between words are often mixed and it looks worse than if they are aligned to the left.

Numbered list: Numbers each selected paragraph. It usually occurs with bleeding on the left, although this will depend on the template used.

Bulleted list: Place a small image in front of each paragraph. Depending on the template used, this image may be a black circle or other more complete picture.

Blockquote: Gives a special format that varies according to the template, but differs from the text. Allows you to place an appointment, indicating that the content is formatted so we have not written them, but what we get from elsewhere.

Check spelling: We check the spelling of our entrance. Clicking on this icon, highlight the words that are considered wrong. Use your common sense and your knowledge at the time to correct.

Add image: Will open a window through which we can include one or more images in our driveway. We will discuss this at greater length in another post in this series.

Add VideoIt allows us to upload a video to our blog from our computer. If we want to embedding (embed) from another service like YouTube and similar method to follow is different. We will discuss this in another post.

Remove formatting from selection: Does what its name says. This is very useful when we have written copy text in a word processor such as Word or that we extracted from other website. Removing text formatting, we make sure to display properly in our blog, not retained by the formatting as before.

Preview: Clicking on this link, the text box the contents of the post will shrink and show us as shown below in the format that we have implemented. This preview is really a view about, for not using many of the formatting elements that ends up providing our staff. Gives you an idea about things like alignment and if the images and videos are fine, but it is very possible that your post is not exactly as it will last.

Label: These can be used for specifying category of Article so that you can group articles of same type under one heading, this is useful for readers too to access articles written under one topic.

I hope using these options, you will complete writing your article successfully so, using Publish Button will Publish it on Homepage and Save Button will just save it as draft for further editing. Also, you can schedule your publishing by specifying Date and Time. It will automatically publish article at that time without your action.

Finally, we have a few more options that are quite important. However, as this post has already been too long, we will explain in depth for the next entry in this series.

The post 5: Write Post on Blogger – Beginner’s Blogging Guide appeared first on Blogsolute.

External Appearance of Blog

Our blog has two main pages:

Homepage: Is the page you see when you access it. Shown in reverse chronological order published last posts that is, that you have posted in the last appears first, then followed the before you published it, and so on first. You can indicate in the configuration of many blog entries are going to see on the Homepage.

The post or individual entry: Each entry you post has its own individual page. It shows only content accompanied by the comments that readers have left.

Header: The place where the name of our blog. Under the name appears a brief description of our blog (if we added in the configuration).

SideBar Gadgets: This is an area where we can add various accessories to our blog via gadgets (called widgets on other systems). Depending on the template, we can expect more of a sidebar or other areas where they can be placed depending on template.

Content:On the Homepage, they appear one after another and on Single Entry page, only one article per page.

Footer: Depending on the template, in this area you can also put gadgets. In Blogger templates, this area is usually occupied by credits from the creators of the template or adapters.

Unlike systems such as WordPress, Blogger does not allow creation of pages outside the input stream, so to speak. For example, if you have a page containing information about you, need to publish it as a post and then link to it from the header bar (or any other site).

Internal Appearance

I manage the blog from the Blogger Dashboard. When we sign in to Blogger, we’ll see something like this:

Any options will allow us access to the administration of the blog, except that entering through different sections. There are four main sections:

Creating entries: From here you can handle everything related to the entries. You can write new posts, edit existing and moderate comments.

Settings: This defines basic and advanced settings of your blog. Go deeply into this section in subsequent entries. However, you can explore it very useful to discover how to get the most out the system.

Layout: Is all that concerns the appearance of your blog. From here you can add gadgets on the sidebar and configure some of the fixtures of the workspace, as the header.

Monetize: Integrating AdSense ads on your blog. Despite it seems simple but Its not easy to get approval of Adsense on any newly created blog so, I will not go into deep here. If you want, you can choose to monetize your blog later.

Remember that the best learning system is practice and exploration (I did the same) yourself. In the next post, we will talk in detail about the publishing posts or entries on Blogger.

The post 4: Parts of a Blog – Beginner’s Blogging Guide appeared first on Blogsolute.

Then you get to choose the name and blog address. These are not necessarily occur, but is highly recommended do so. When choosing the direction, you can follow these tips already mentioned when choosing a domain name. The address you choose will be added with the suffix blogspot.com. Therefore, try not be too long.

Once you’ve written the address, click on the link that says “Check availability” It may happen that address you chose is already taken so keep entering different names till it says “The Blog address is available”

Try provided the address and name of your blog are the same. If you change the former, the latter also changes. It’s not necessary, but gives good results. The people generally remember the name of your blog and associate it with the suffix blogspot.com. Your address and blog name are different, the thing is difficult.

Now, its turn to decide the appearance of your blog. You will be given with some choices default by Blogger system. Choose anyone of them, Don’t worry even if you didnt like it much, you can easily change it later on.

It’s called a template because it uses a file (XML) that defines all the aesthetics of the blog without the contents being affected. The advantage of the templates is that they allow you to change at any time look so easy and simple.

So, you are done with all pre procedures and successfully created your blog and ready to start posting content or write articles. Click “Start Blogging”

This is your post editor, If you want you can write at that moment your first post or leave for another time.

That’s all. From now on, you can access your blog from Blogger.com and entering the username for your Google account (if you created from the panel that I showed before, will be an email address) and password. Needless to say, these data are very important and you should keep or lose your blog.

In next article, we will see the parts of Blog on Blogger.

The post 3: How to Create Blog – Beginner’s Blogging Guide appeared first on Blogsolute.

Blogger.com (aka Blogspot)

Who’s who: Blogger is a free service created by Pyra Labs in 1999 but was acquired by Google in 2003.

Features:

• Address:  The one you want, provided they have not chosen before. Put the suffix blogspot.com. For example: http://blogsolute.blogspot.com. You can also buy a domain name and address to the blog you’ve created on Blogger.
• Ability to store files: Only images and nothing else.
• Storage limit: 1GB of images (actually, the images are uploaded to Picasa free account, you get when you open an account with a Google service).
• Customizability: On their own in a matter of appearance is very limited. Just offers a few templates. However, there are many non-Blogger sites where you can get a template of your blog will look you seek. And although in some difficulty, you can always create your own. You can find some in Blogger Templates section of Blogsolute.

WordPress.com

Who’s who– WordPress.com is a free service created by the company Automattic Free CMS and uses the same name, which was also developed by them, although with some limitations.

Features:

• Address: The one you want, provided they have not chosen before. Put the suffix wordpress.com. For example: http://blogsolute.wordpress.com. You can also buy a domain name and address to your blog.
• Ability to store files: Yes, but only in pictures (jpg, jpeg, png and gif), documents (pdf, doc, odt) and presentations (ppt).
• Storage limit: 3GB in files of the formats mentioned.
• Customizability: Today, you can choose from 70 themes or templates provided by the system. However, you can not add any own (or other).

What to choose- Blogger or WordPress.com?

What to choose?

My suggestion is that Try both. Not to write in both, but you open an account on both and see for yourself so that you get whole idea about each. Its always better to tr and experience before starting your work.

However, there are some aspects I think is important to highlight each service in order to make the best decision.

• WordPress.com does not allow Javascript: This is one of the programming languages used on the web and means that there are many functions of external sites that you could not use, including putting Adsense contextual ads.
• Customizing a blog on Blogger may require a fairly steep learning curve: Blogger does not have the limits of WordPress.com, but get to change aspects of a template is the closest thing to enter a maze.
• Blogger allows you to use a greater number of widgets: Widgets are those little additions (sometimes up to nearly complete applications) that have been put on the sides of the blog and show you from last posts published to a virtual pet. Blogger, apart from having a good variety of widgets to enable JavaScript can be inserted other external services.
• The customization is very limited WordPess.com: 70 templates are considered sufficient to choose, but it is possible to integrate many third-party services (although the most popular). However, as far as appearance is concerned, many templates can upload an own header image, which will help you differentiate yourself if you choose a popular template.
• WordPress.com keeps expanding its functions: Although these are limited, one must admit that Automattic is more concerned with their services than that of Google’s own. Although Blogger has the ability to use Blogger in draft (a mode in which functions can be tested under development), the truth is that developments takes long to appear.

Conclusion

It’s your decision and, as I said, you can open your account within two to go exploring. If you then want to change you, you do not lose anything by publishing, migrating your posts from one service to another (both have that feature). Now, by offering some type of solution to the dilemma of choosing between the two, I personally raise these questions:

• Want to monetize your site directly? or Make Money from blog? The easiest and where everyone starts is Adsense. Then, use Blogger. But remember that may be easy to make money with a blog but it needs much effort and time. It is not open and count the notes.
• Want to upload your content regardless of the direct monetization? Use WordPress.com. It seems much clearer and less confusing. Though you can not insert contextual advertising, remember that a blog can serve to position in the market and publicize your services.

Are you on blogger or WordPress.com? Leave a comment or recommendation in the comments.

Image credits: OptimalResume

The post 2: Choosing Blog Platform – Beginner’s Blogging Guide appeared first on Blogsolute.

What is a Blog?

A blog is a website which has a so called software that allows publishing content in very simple and quick manner. Typically, its front page (homepage) shows the latest content that has been published. These are usually displayed in reverse chronological order, going from last to first published.

Publishing system is called CMS (Content Management System) which is a software when installed on the server, allows us to publish content on a website without messing with codes. The CMS for blogs are focused on the function to create and publish content easily and quickly. Examples of these CMS are WordPress and Movable Type. There are also web services that we offer free hosting for our blog, offering the CMS installed (often created by the company itself). This is the case Blogger and WordPress.com. If you are very new in this field, I would recommend signing up on any of the free services.

Regarded as means of communication, I would compare a blog with a magazine: it may be single-minded or cover various topics, is divided into items that can be classified into sections (categories) and has a subscription (RSS) bridging the technology gap, of course.

Why have a blog?

In a Presentation by Amit Agarwal, its said that blogging can help you building Contacts-Identity-Memories-Money

• Build Contacts- Connect with others in your business or interest
• Identity- Make your name or brand visible
• Express yourself- Reach out to the public about issues you’re passionate about
• Share your knowledge
• Make money

In beginning, Many people often feel restless due complications of technology behind it. But that is the least of the problems. The main thing is the content on which the blog is to nurture. Yes, appearance is important, design and functionality of it, along with accessories but content is king.

A blog is ideal for anyone who has anything to say or want a space to say whatever he wants. You can serve almost any thing, but it is mainly communication so, do not forget that. Yes, it can serve to make money. You can make you gain reputation and contacts. It can give you much satisfaction (and occasional annoyance) but it may serve simply to tell the world what you think of it. Depending on what your goal, you should follow these or that strategies.

Requirements for having a Blog

• The skills you have to create and maintain a blog depends on the principle of I want to.
• It is not necessary to know programming but help concepts of HTML and CSS (especially for difficult times).
• It is not necessary to spend money.You must have some minimal knowledge of computers (which is always easily extendable with all the information out there on the internet).
• You must have desire to write and to do it correctly: that is to say, that is understand what you say, respecting spelling and grammar.

From here, it all depends on your goals: about views, these views will become minting money, build you a reputation, networking with people who share your interests and so on But there are three points that you should always bear in mind:

1. Dedication: It is more of certainty and not of speed. As said in one of my interview, Be focused and dedicated to what all you do.
2. Patience: This is more important because From day one to the next, you are going to have neither thousands of visits, nor thousands of subscribers.
3. Original Content: Written by you, not copied from elsewhere. Or if you are taking reference or excerpt from elsewhere, always quote the source.

These three are the pillars on which you build a blog with frequent readers.

In next part, we will discuss about choosing a platform for publishing blog. Yes, I will consider only free services. Whether Blogger or WordPress?

The post 1: What is a Blog? – Beginner’s Blogging Guide appeared first on Blogsolute.

You could say that there are two trends on these pages: one, trim or fun, and another that points to usability rather than aesthetics. Although this last aspect is perhaps the most we have to take into account, a balance between aesthetics and ease of use can enrich the user experience when visiting our site.

General Directions :

Take the points below as general discussion and think about it…

• Different from the rest of the pages on your website : Don’t confuse (more)
• Clear : The visitor should not keep think about what happened- Make him realize that it’s 404 error. Tell it loud and clear.
• It must exist! : Yes, there should be a 404 error page on your site, to customize the content and theme of your website. That shows that you have taken the trouble to take care of small details like this.

What to include ?

• A message that clearly tells the user that an error has occurred. Should be short, but if you can extend to lengthy explanations (even humorous), it is up to you.
• Your logo or at least the name of your site for you know who has gone where I wanted to go but have not found what you wanted.
• An internal search engine on the web: to help the user to find what you need.
• Nothing that makes it heavy when he got the leg as he got. No user will like it over with a big picture or even a flash animation that shows how good you are with yours.

What is recommended:

• Links to other parts of your website or highly visited posts: ask the user to know, but maybe what you’re looking for is no longer there, you still have many interesting things to see. However, do not abuse. With three or five links is more than enough.
• A link to the homepage: This seems obvious, but not all sites comply.
  Link to site map, if you have it (which is also highly recommended).
• Tag clouds and / or an index of categories helps your user to locate what you are looking for, or at least to discover new things about your site.
• Of course the number 404 or put it in the background: the majority of users do not say anything that error, and may even confuse some. Although this may depend on what kind of audience you are going.

How to Customize?

It is extremely simple. Within the folder of theme of blog, there is a file called 404.php: this is the file you need to change.

The changes are according to your taste. Generally, this file includes the header, the Sidebar and the Footer. You can keep them. 404.php file a very simple and can be seen.

All you have to do is change what is between the <? Php get_sidebar ()> and <? Php get_footer ();?>, Including why your own code. If you want your page does not have any of the elements of your blog, just delete everything and put anything you want there to be seen.

Simple, right?

The post Customizing 404 : Not Found Error Page appeared first on Blogsolute.

Let’s have a look at them one by one and I am sure they will prove to be useful for improving aspect of Blogger platform.

1. Remove Blogger default Navbar

This Navbar seems to be of less importance because it doesn’t look cool at the top and take an extra space in your design. It doesn’t have enough resources or tools for the reader so better vanish it from your blog. It’s easy to remove it, just go to Edit HTML section of your blog and find :

]]></b:skin>

And add following code before hitting the above line.

#navbar-iframe { height:0px; display:none; visibility:hidden; }

2. Add Read more or Expanded posts Continue Reading function

Read More…

To make browsing more light to our readers many times should show only a summary of the articles. As Blogger does not have this feature by default, we will have to use CSS or Javascript to achieve this purpose. You can find well explained at eblogtemplates.

3. Add Paged numbered Navigation

Blogger only shows a link to this page and above, with the page to display a larger number of pages to navigate indicated by numbers. Again the operation is based on a script that is necessary to install on your blog to make it work. So, do it yourself by reading tutorial by Amanda.

4. Show Recent posts and Recent Comments in Sidebar

Give more Navigation options to you reader and encourage them to comment and interact by showing off these gadgets in blog sidebar. Click for Recent posts and Recent Comments gadget here.

Another way to do it by adding Feed address in Add Feed content Gadget

5. Add Popular or Most commented Gadget in sidebar

When an article has many comments, that talks about its possible value for visitors. This is not a feature of Blogger so it requires the use of a new script. It can be easily accomplished by reading Popular post article.

6. Change Blog Title for post pages

Using this trick changes Blog title to the post title while viewing individual post. It’s a necessary hack for Search engine optimization. Just make some changes in HTML codes and its done. Read tutorial to do it yourself.

7. Add Comment form or Feedback below every post

No trick is associated with this feature as this has become default feature of Blogger and you can turn it on from Comments tab under settings of Blogger account. It will be automatically embedded below posts but sometimes you will need to perform it manually if it doesn’t work.

8. Put Adsense Ads inside or in between blogger post

Embedding adsense code inside Blogger article can gain more clicks as it catches reader’s attention so follow tutorial to place adsense units inside posts.

9. Add favicon to your blog

Favicon gives and identity to your blog. It makes possible to navigate to your blog when multiple tabs are open in a browser. There are various methods to do it but you can got this one as this online service does this for you free within seconds.

Update: Blogger now integrates feature to apply favicon directly. There is no need of manual work.

10. Custom Domain on Blogspot blogs

In everyone’s Blogging journey, a time comes when he wants to move on to his own domain instead of blogspot.com so, how can you move without losing your Permalinks. Blogger has this feature under Publishing tab of Blogger settings but if you still find difficult, head towards this tutorial.

The post 10 most wanted Blogger tricks appeared first on Blogsolute.

Blogger blog can be locked if your blog has spamming content, malware posing possible threats or anything against TOS or some Malicious users may have flagged your blog reporting it abuse to Blogger using NavBar of your blog. Many innocent Blogs are caught in crossfire for no use. Blogger system without reviewing it first locks your blog and then you can’t do nothing instead of waiting. Read on to know how to unlock it yourself.

For Example your blog URL sony.blogspot.com gets locked, First of all don’t panic! Your blog has not been deleted. Instead, you will not be able to post until your blog has been reviewed and cleared by a member of the Blogger team. But when this reviewing process will complete? Follow the steps.

1. Go to Blogger in Draft, Create a new blog (Yes, you do have access to your blogger account even thought blog is blocked) and For example the new blog URL is tony.blogspot.com.
2.  Now, Go to setting tab of your new blog and from Blog Tools column, Click on Import Blog. Import all your blog posts and comments of sony.blogspot.com to tony.blogspot.com.
3. Now, Go to Settings of locked one (sony.blogspot.com) and under Publishing tab- Give Blog*Spot address as anything except sony or tony. Let us call it sony-new.blogspot.com
4. Again Go to settings of tony.blogspot.om and under Publishing tab, change the Blogspot address to sony.blogspot.com
5. Done, Your Locked blogger blog is now unlocked, You can now post, edit, delete anything you want as a normal blogspot blog.

This happenss because, Blogger systems while blocking a blog takes into account your blog ID not the URL of your blog. Blog ID is a unique number given to all blogs for their identification by Blogger systems. It generally appers while your are on control panel of a Blog. For example – http://blogger.com/blog-options-basic.g?blogID=XXXXXXXXXXXX

Whereas you are interested in Blog URL not its ID, isn’t it? So, getting locked Blogger blog back is easy but this post is not for promoting malicious content or spam on Blogs. You should not spam because you are getting free hosted full fledged Blogger hosting for free and it’s great to use it. This tutorial is published to help those innocent bloggers who have been a victim for no purpose. Since, Blogger will not get time to review your blog manually (I think so) and so, you will have to take this steps.

It is recommended to always have a backup of your blog on any dummy URL for safety.

The post 5 steps to Unlock Flagged Blogger Blog Yourself appeared first on Blogsolute.

1. Write a description of your blog – Go to the tab “Settings” and the “Basic” find the field and give a description to your blog. This is useful for new visitors to know your blog as well as for search engines.
2. Look for a good template.There are several sites with templates where you can find a great variety of designs. Not only base your choice on the chart (headers, buttons, icons, etc.) but also in the structure (number of columns, accessibility, etc). Always remember to read the instructions on each template as at times it is important for proper display of the same. Browse our Blogger Templates.
3. Buy a domain and use it with your blog.
   I have always said that a domain should be the first investment of a blogger. Seeing that for less than $10 can have its own name with many advantages, this is highly recommended. You can also have a free domain + DNS with all features.
4. Change the feed of your blog by the feedburner.
   Feedburner is a service that lets Google have statistics of people who read your blog through this medium. From the control panel blogger is possible feedburner add to your blog.
5. Change your template images of a new accommodation.
   Many staff have hosted images on free services that limit the number of accesses to them which leads to moments where you do not have any pictures on the blog. Stay at Blogger seems the best option.
6. Add basic gadgets in your sidebar.
   In the tab “Design” option “Page Elements” is possible to add gadgets, the most basic are: Labels, File blog (as a checklist) and subscription links.
   
7. Insert the feedback form on the page of your individual entries.
   As this feature is still in the testing phase is necessary to do it manually, in templates or modified automatically only for templates default blogger.
8. Add your code tracking statistics.
   Whether you use Google Analytics, StatCounter or other statistics system, it is important not to forget to add your tracking code before the label under the tab “Design” option “Edit HTML,” just until the end of the Code.
9. Add your blog to Google Webmaster’s tools.
   The Google webmasters tools allow you to continue to search statistics and errors related to your site. Its use is very intuitive and free.
10. Start Content posting
    Start posting by telling the world what you are going to write about on blog and you can write about your self too. Being natural and original is the best initial approach that should be made.

After making all that, your blog will be a more effective tool. You’ll have more control over statistics, look better, it is understood better with search engines but above all, be a better place for your visitors.

Recommended Reading:

• 10 Most wanted Blogger tricks
• Change Blogposts Title on Blogger Blog To Make Google SEO Friendly
• Add Blogger Blog / Submit Blogspot Sitemap to Google Webmaster Tools

The post 10 Things You Must Not Forget After Opening Blog on Blogger appeared first on Blogsolute.

How many posts should one publish on a blog in a single day? This is a common question among we bloggers. So, let’s have a look at it to know should you really worry about your posting frequency?

How Posting Frequency Affects Feed Subscribers

It depends upon the type and number of categories covered by your blog. Some blogs need often posting than others in order to satisfy their readership while for others’, number may be less.

More the number of topics covered means more is the posting frequency. For example: If you are a News Blogger then reader would expect daily updates while for literature or Recipe blog can be updated twice or thrice a week.

Other factors may be style of writing, demographic characteristics of readers and number of bloggers (publishers) posting on a single blog.

Here are some resultants of increasing and decreasing the frequency of blog posting.

1. Posting Slower

• Regular visitor will stick with you and stay subscribed.
• Commenting will be as usual.
• Less pages will be indexed by Search Engine which means less chances to get new visitors.

2. Posting Faster

• Regular reader will be fed up of reading too much posts and they may unsubscribe.
• Number of commenting readers will go down. They will lose spirit of readership.
• Blog will grow and more pages will be indexed by Search Engine hence, more chance to get new readers.

With whom will you go? slower or faster? We will discuss on topic “How Often Should a Blogger Post?” in our next post so, subscribe and stay updated.

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