Entering your cards into blog challenges is the next step in blogging and can be a bit daunting the first time.
It really is simple though.
This is the way that I do it.
Firstly, type up your blog post as normal with your card that you want to enter into the challenge. Next you might already know which challenge you want to enter, but most of the time you may just want to enter it into as many challenges as you can.
Either way, the process is the same.
I would recommend that you visit Feline Playful. This is a pretty comprehensive blog that lists hundreds of blog challenges and what the current challenge is. It is updated daily, and also includes information such as how many times you can enter the challenge, how many challenges you can combine it with and for how long the challenge is open.
The next step is to add links to your post to the blog challenges. This is a requirement of the challenges. Open a second tab or window and go to either the blog challenge you want to enter or the Feline Playful blog. Go to the blog post of the current challenge and right click on the blog post title and click on Copy Shortcut. Return to the tab or window with your blog post and type the name of the blog challenge and the name of the current challenge. Highlight the challenge name and click on the Link button and paste the URL into the box. Highlight the blog challenge name and again click on the Link button and paste again. This time, delete the URL until you have only the blog name (http://xxx.blogspot.com/). Alternatively, you can Copy Shortcut of the blog header image and paste this into the Link box.
It should look something like this:
Continue this until you have added all the blog challenges you want to enter.
The next step is to Publish your blog.
Now you have to actually enter the challenges.
To do this, right click on your blog post title and Copy Shortcut.
Now click on the links to the current challenges one at a time. Look for the Inlinkz or Mr Linky gadget where you will enter your details. When you click on the link, a few boxes will appear. Paste your blog post link into the box marked URL, then enter your name (the one you go by in the blog world) and your email address where prompted.
Occasionally, a blog challenge may not use Inlinkz or Mr Linky or it may not be working and you may have to enter your card by adding a link to it in the Comments form. You can see how to do this here.
Some blog challenges also add a thumbnail image of your card to the Inlinkz/Mr Linky gadget, so when the page of images appears, scroll through until you see the one of the card you are entering and click on Select or the image itself.
You have now entered your first blog challenge. Continue until you have entered all of them on your list.
Something else you may want to do is create a list of the blog challenges you have entered with the date that the winners are announced next to it. The onus is on you to check to see if you have won the blog challenges you've entered, so you will be expected to check back and claim your prize. I created a Word document and copied and pasted the list I made in Blogger as the links are also copied (and can be accessed by holding down the CTRL button as you click on them). I rearrange the list so it is then in date order, and add to it as I enter more challenges and delete the links when the winners are announced.
Wednesday, 23 March 2011
Sunday, 20 March 2011
Changing Your Template Back To A Normal One
If you have added a new template, such as one from Leelou, but you decide you want to remove it for some reason, maybe because you've seen a background on a different site you want to add, then follow the very simple instructions below:
Click on Design in the top right corner and then the Design tab and then click on the Edit HTML link. Then click on Select Layout Template and choose a new Blogger template to use. If you wish to add a new background from a different provider, then you will need to select Simple or Minima.
Thursday, 17 March 2011
Changing Your Blog To A 3-Column Blog
Before you attempt to change anything, as indicated below, PLEASE do the following:
PLEASE copy all your HTML code paste it into a word document. Make sure you save it as Original Blog or something and then if it does all go wrong you can paste your old code back in and pretend it never happened.
to find the code, click on Design and the Design tab and then click on Edit HTML. Copy EVERYTHING that is in the box under Edit Template and paste this into your Word document and save.
There are a couple of ways of changing your blog to a 3-column blog.
The first is to upload a free 3-column background, overwriting your 2-column one. If you use one of the Leelou backgrounds, you can keep all your gadgets that you have already set up without having to manually change any of the coding. However, not all background providers' templates will do this and you may have to paste your widgets/gadgets back into your template manually.
If you don't fancy that option, then there is an alternative.
However, I'm not going to pretend I have the first inkling how to do this myself. I managed to do it by following instructions on someone else's blog - so I feel the best way to do this is to direct you to the blog I used.
The blog is actually called Three Column Blogger and the post I used is here. It would be wrong of me to just copy and paste all their hard work onto my blog, so I'd rather you head over there. (and then if it goes wrong, you can blame them and not me!!)
If you decide to follow the new Leelou background path, then find yourself a 3-Column Blog over on the Leelou site and then follow my instructions called Changing Your Background.
If you decide not to follow the Leelou background path and decide you want to adapt the background you have then follow the link to Three Column Blogger and edit your template, adding and changing the html code where appropriate. The easiest way to find your way around all that text may be to click Ctrl+F and type in the word shown on screen. This will find every time that word is mentioned and will jump to each one rather than you having to scroll through all the text.
The instructions given on Three Column Blogger are easy to follow (they must be - I managed it!). Just work through it methodically and double check everything you type in before moving on to the next bit. If you put in anything wrong you will most likely have to start again unless you methodically go through it all to find your mistakes.
And remember, if the worst comes to the worst, then just paste back in what you started with from your Word document!
PLEASE copy all your HTML code paste it into a word document. Make sure you save it as Original Blog or something and then if it does all go wrong you can paste your old code back in and pretend it never happened.
to find the code, click on Design and the Design tab and then click on Edit HTML. Copy EVERYTHING that is in the box under Edit Template and paste this into your Word document and save.
There are a couple of ways of changing your blog to a 3-column blog.
The first is to upload a free 3-column background, overwriting your 2-column one. If you use one of the Leelou backgrounds, you can keep all your gadgets that you have already set up without having to manually change any of the coding. However, not all background providers' templates will do this and you may have to paste your widgets/gadgets back into your template manually.
If you don't fancy that option, then there is an alternative.
However, I'm not going to pretend I have the first inkling how to do this myself. I managed to do it by following instructions on someone else's blog - so I feel the best way to do this is to direct you to the blog I used.
The blog is actually called Three Column Blogger and the post I used is here. It would be wrong of me to just copy and paste all their hard work onto my blog, so I'd rather you head over there. (and then if it goes wrong, you can blame them and not me!!)
If you decide to follow the new Leelou background path, then find yourself a 3-Column Blog over on the Leelou site and then follow my instructions called Changing Your Background.
If you decide not to follow the Leelou background path and decide you want to adapt the background you have then follow the link to Three Column Blogger and edit your template, adding and changing the html code where appropriate. The easiest way to find your way around all that text may be to click Ctrl+F and type in the word shown on screen. This will find every time that word is mentioned and will jump to each one rather than you having to scroll through all the text.
The instructions given on Three Column Blogger are easy to follow (they must be - I managed it!). Just work through it methodically and double check everything you type in before moving on to the next bit. If you put in anything wrong you will most likely have to start again unless you methodically go through it all to find your mistakes.
And remember, if the worst comes to the worst, then just paste back in what you started with from your Word document!
How To Add A List Of Your Favourite Blogs
This is called a Blog Roll or Blog List and is very simple to add.
Click on the Design link at the top right of the screen and then the Design tab and Page Elements. Click on the Add A Gadget button and scroll down to find Blog List. Click on the blue + button.
You can give your Blog List a name, and decide on the settings if you want to keep them as they are or change them. You can have your blog list alphabetically or the blog with the newest posts at the top.
There are a couple of other options there as well, including whether to add a thumbnail image from the post.
Click on the Add a blog to your list link, and then either type in or paste the URL of the blog you wish to add and then click on ADD.
Please note that if you have already added a blog to your list and you try to add it again, nothing will happen. It won't tell you it's already there, it will just look like it's frozen.
Once the blog has been added, you can now rename it in case you don't think you'll recognize it from its automatic name.
You can now either add a new blog by clicking on ADD TO LIST or click on SAVE.
You can now move this gadget to wherever you want it to appear on your blog. Click SAVE and then View Blog to check it's where you want it.
Click on the Design link at the top right of the screen and then the Design tab and Page Elements. Click on the Add A Gadget button and scroll down to find Blog List. Click on the blue + button.
You can give your Blog List a name, and decide on the settings if you want to keep them as they are or change them. You can have your blog list alphabetically or the blog with the newest posts at the top.
There are a couple of other options there as well, including whether to add a thumbnail image from the post.
Click on the Add a blog to your list link, and then either type in or paste the URL of the blog you wish to add and then click on ADD.
Please note that if you have already added a blog to your list and you try to add it again, nothing will happen. It won't tell you it's already there, it will just look like it's frozen.
Once the blog has been added, you can now rename it in case you don't think you'll recognize it from its automatic name.
You can now either add a new blog by clicking on ADD TO LIST or click on SAVE.
You can now move this gadget to wherever you want it to appear on your blog. Click SAVE and then View Blog to check it's where you want it.
How To Add A Contact Me Button
This is something I've wanted to have on my blog for a while but never been able to work it out. Now, thanks to Yvonne/Gattino, I've finally figured it out and I thought I'd pass it on to you too.
Firstly, you need to find someone online who provides this service. The one that I have discovered is called kontactr.
You firstly need to sign up. This involves filling in a form with details such as your name and the email address you want to be contacted at. You will also need to pick a username and a password. Remember to make a note of these somewhere safe, in case you need to change any details at a later date.
Once you have completed the sign up form, you should receive an email with an activation link. Click on this and then login to kontactr using the information you have just filled in.
The next page has a series of codes allowing you to choose what your Contact button will look like.
When you have decided which one you would like, copy the code in the right hand column next to the image you have chosen.
Return to your blog and click on Design and then Page Elements. Click on Add A Gadget and scroll through to find HTML/Javascript. Once the pop-up appears, paste your code into the large box.You may wish to give this a title, but it isn't necessary.
Remember to click SAVE, then drag and drop your Contact Me gadget to wherever you would like it to appear on your blog. Click on SAVE again once it is located where you want it, then you can click on View Blog to see what it looks like.
Firstly, you need to find someone online who provides this service. The one that I have discovered is called kontactr.
You firstly need to sign up. This involves filling in a form with details such as your name and the email address you want to be contacted at. You will also need to pick a username and a password. Remember to make a note of these somewhere safe, in case you need to change any details at a later date.
Once you have completed the sign up form, you should receive an email with an activation link. Click on this and then login to kontactr using the information you have just filled in.
The next page has a series of codes allowing you to choose what your Contact button will look like.
When you have decided which one you would like, copy the code in the right hand column next to the image you have chosen.
Return to your blog and click on Design and then Page Elements. Click on Add A Gadget and scroll through to find HTML/Javascript. Once the pop-up appears, paste your code into the large box.You may wish to give this a title, but it isn't necessary.
Remember to click SAVE, then drag and drop your Contact Me gadget to wherever you would like it to appear on your blog. Click on SAVE again once it is located where you want it, then you can click on View Blog to see what it looks like.
Wednesday, 16 March 2011
How To Add A Comment To Someone Else's Blog
One of the most common complaints I've seen in blogland is 'I wanted to leave you a comment but I didn't know how' or 'It wouldn't let me'.
To add a comment, the first thing you have to do is locate the link to the comment form. This is usually located at the very bottom of any post and usually contains the word 'Comment' itself.
Click on this and a comment form will appear. Type in your comment and then select your identity. If you have a Blogger blog, then click on the Google option. If you're already logged in, it will already show your name, if not, it will ask you to log in with your usual log in that you use when you want to post.
If you have a different type of blog, such as TypePad or WordPress, then click on the OpenID option and add your LogIn details.
If you have a different type of blog, such as one connected to a website, then you can click on the Name/URL option and add your details there.
If, however, you have none of the above, then you can comment using the Anonymous option. This means you don't have to add any details to add a comment, but you may wish to add more detail to who you are when you leave your comment so the blog owner knows who you are. This could include your forum name or nickname.
If you have logged in using your Google ID, then you can also click on the Email Follow-Up Comments button - this means that after you leave a comment, if any further comments are left, you will be informed. This could be important if you have asked a question in your comment and means you don't have to remember where you asked the question to discover if it has been answered.
Remember that sometimes you will be asked to complete Word Verification before your comment will be added, and some comments won't appear immediately as they have to be approved by the blog owner.
You should also remember that some people might restrict the leaving of comments to only their followers or Google members, but most allow comments from everyone.
To add a comment, the first thing you have to do is locate the link to the comment form. This is usually located at the very bottom of any post and usually contains the word 'Comment' itself.
Click on this and a comment form will appear. Type in your comment and then select your identity. If you have a Blogger blog, then click on the Google option. If you're already logged in, it will already show your name, if not, it will ask you to log in with your usual log in that you use when you want to post.
If you have a different type of blog, such as TypePad or WordPress, then click on the OpenID option and add your LogIn details.
If you have a different type of blog, such as one connected to a website, then you can click on the Name/URL option and add your details there.
If, however, you have none of the above, then you can comment using the Anonymous option. This means you don't have to add any details to add a comment, but you may wish to add more detail to who you are when you leave your comment so the blog owner knows who you are. This could include your forum name or nickname.
If you have logged in using your Google ID, then you can also click on the Email Follow-Up Comments button - this means that after you leave a comment, if any further comments are left, you will be informed. This could be important if you have asked a question in your comment and means you don't have to remember where you asked the question to discover if it has been answered.
Remember that sometimes you will be asked to complete Word Verification before your comment will be added, and some comments won't appear immediately as they have to be approved by the blog owner.
You should also remember that some people might restrict the leaving of comments to only their followers or Google members, but most allow comments from everyone.
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