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Blogger for Beginners

Copyright: Amanda Kennedy Published: 21st July 2012 Publisher: Blogger Buster The right of Amanda Kennedy to be identified as author of this Wor has been asserted by her in a!!ordan!e "ith se!tions ## and #$ of the Copyright% &esigns and Patents A!t 1'$$( All rights reser)ed( *o part of this publi!ation may be reprodu!ed% stored in retrie)al system% !opied in any form or by any means% ele!troni!% me!hani!al% photo!opying% re!ording or other"ise transmitted "ithout "ritten permission from the publisher( +ou must not !ir!ulate this boo in any format( This boo is li!ensed for your personal en,oyment only( This eboo may not be resold or gi)en a"ay to other people( -f you "ould li e to share this boo "ith another person% please do"nload an additional !opy for ea!h re!ipient( Than you for respe!ting the hard "or of this author( .ind out more about the author and up!oming boo s online at """(bloggerbuster(!om or /amanda ennedyu

"""(bloggerbuster(!om

Contents
Blogger for Beginners((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((2 Contents(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((0 -ntrodu!tion((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((1 About Blogger((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((1 About this guide(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((1 2etting 3tarted(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((# Create your blog((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((# The Blogger &ashboard(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((($ Writing your first blog posts(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((' Adding lin s(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((10 -nserting images(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((11 Add 4ideo to your Posts((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((15 Publish or sa)e to draft6((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((11 3haring posts to 2oogle7((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((11 Permissions and pri)a!y((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((1# 8a ing your blog pri)ate(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((1# Adding authors and administrators((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((1$ Customi9e your blog((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((20 Choose a base template ((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((20 Ba! grounds and !olour s!hemes((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((21 3idebars and .ooter Columns :or not;<(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((22 Ad,ust the "idths of your blog and sidebar:s<(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((20 Ad)an!ed Template &esign =ptions(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((20 >sing &ynami! 4ie"s((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((25 2adgets and the Blogger ?ayout(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((00 @diting elements in the layout se!tion(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((00 Adding ne" gadgets to the sidebar and footer se!tions(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((01 Commonly used Blogger gadgets(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((02 Adding third party gadgets (((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((00 Comments and ba! lin s(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((05 Ao" to enable :or disable< !omments(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((05 Threaded Comments(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((01 &isableBenable !omments on a perCpost basis(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((01 8oderating !omments(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((0D About Ba! lin s(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((0# Publish and Ar!hi)e(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((0' Blog posts re)isited(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((0' 8ass editing blog posts(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((50 Ao" to s!hedule blog posts((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((50 ?abelling blog posts ((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((51 Creating Post 3ummaries(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((50 Creating 3tati! Pages((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((51 Configuring Blog Ar!hi)es(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((5# 3hare your blog((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((10
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5 What are Blog .eeds6(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((10 3ite .eeds a)ailable in Blogger(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((10 Ao" to !onfigure 3ite .eeds(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((10 8a e it easy for readers to E3ubs!ribeF to your site feed(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((11 Aelp readers share your posts using 3o!ial 8edia(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((12 Ao" do -(((6((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((15 (((add blogs to my Geading ?ist6(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((15 (((earn money from my blog6(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((15 (((upload a fa)i!on6(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((11 (((impro)e 3@= and generate more traffi!6(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((11 ((( eep tabs on my blogHs statisti!s6((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((1D (((add a stat !ounter to my blog6(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((1D (((edit the Blogger *a)bar6((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((1# (((ba! up my blog posts6(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((1# (((ba! up my Blogger template6((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((1$ ((post by email6(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((1$ (((send posts using my mobile phone6((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((1' (((!onfigure my blog for mobile de)i!es6(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((D1 (((use a !ustom domain6(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((D1 Where to find out more about using Blogger(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((D0 =ffi!ial Blogger Channels((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((D0 -ndependent 3ites((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((D0 Ba! 8atter((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((D1 Coming 3oon(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((D1 About the author((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((D1 Comments6 3uggestions6((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((DD

"""(bloggerbuster(!om

Introduction
About Blogger
Blogger is a free "eb based tool to help you easily publish your thoughts online as a E"eb logF( @stablished by Pyra ?abs in 1'''% Blogger is !redited "ith popularising EbloggingF as a format of "eb publishing( -n 2000% Pyra ?abs "as pur!hased by 2oogle% enabling Blogger to offer all itHs ser)i!es for free and de)elop the ser)i!e to be!ome the po"erful publishing format it is today( There are many reasons to !hoose Blogger to publish your blog in!luding: -t is !ompletely free to use; -tHs in!redibly easy to use; Blogs are hosted on 2oogle ser)ers% and ha)e no limitations on band"idth +ou !an !ompletely !ustomise the appearan!e of your blog 2adgets !an be added to the layout by means of a simple editor +ou !an post online% by email or using your mobile phone -t is easily integrated "ith other 2oogle ser)i!es% su!h as Pi!asa% +ouTube% 2oogle Plus% Ad3ense% and 2oogle Analyti!s( Ad)an!ed users !an !ustomi9e the templateHs AT8? !ode

And more;

About this guide

Blogger for Beginners is a basi! guide to starting out "ith the 2oogle Blogger platform( Through easyCtoCfollo" instru!tions% this guide "ill ta e you from starting your first blog through !onfiguring important settings% "riting blog posts and !ustomi9ing the appearan!e of your site( This eboo is di)ided into ten main !hapters: 1( Getting started I find out ho" to !reate a blog "ith Blogger and na)igate the Blogger dashboard 2( Writing your first blog posts I see ho" easy it is to begin publishing !ontent and ri!h media 0( Permissions and privacy I dis!o)er important settings about "ho !an see or publish to your site 5( Customise your blog I "ith ,ust a fe" !li! s you !an transform the appearan!e of
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D your blog 1( Gadgets and the Blogger layout I learn ho" to alter your sites layout and add ri!h !ontent "ith Blogger gadgets D( Comments and backlinks I dis!o)er Blogger !omments and settings% plus ho" to sho" lin s to pages dis!ussing your !ontent #( Publish and archive I find out more about publishing and ar!hi)ing your blog !ontent $( Share your blog I learn about Blog .eeds and syndi!ation% plus ho" readers !an share your posts "ith so!ial media '( How do !!" C Ans"ers to some freJuently as ed Juestions about Blogger 10( #earn more about Blogger I lin s to useful sites offering more information about 2oogleHs free blogging ser)i!e @a!h se!tion in!ludes !on!ise instru!tions and helpful s!reenshots "ith annotations( $ips and important notes are highlighted in grey shaded boKes li e this(

- hope you en,oy using this eboo as you ta e your first steps to"ards be!oming a Blogger afi!ionado; .eel free to either read from start to finish or ,ust di)e right in and read the se!tions most rele)ant to you(

"""(bloggerbuster(!om

Getting Started
-f youH)e ne)er used Blogger before% this short !hapter "ill get you up and running in ,ust a fe" minutes(

Create your blog

To start using Blogger% simply sign in "ith your 2oogle A!!ount( :-f you use 2mail% 2oogle 2roups% or +ouTube% you already ha)e an a!!ount(< -f you donHt ha)e a 2oogle A!!ount yet% you !an !reate one here( 4isit the Blogger Aomepage and enter your 2oogle username and pass"ord to sign in( *o" type a display name :this is ho" you "ill appear as the site author< and a!!ept BloggerHs Terms of 3er)i!e( .inally% !li! ECreate a BlogF to start !reating your first blog; =n the neKt page% youHll be as ed to !hose a title and >G? for your blog:

$ip: Choose a title "hi!h is rele)ant to the !ontent of your site% perhaps in!luding a ey"ord or t"o !onne!ted to your !ontent( This "ill help people find your blog more easily in sear!h engines( -tHs also useful to mat!h the >G? to the title of your site% as in the eKample abo)e( *eKt% pi! a Estarter templateF from the sele!tion further do"n the page( +ou !an easily !hange or !ustomi9e this later% so for no" ,ust !hoose the style you li e best( .inally% !li! the orange ECreate BlogF button and your blog "ill be ready to use; +ou !an start publishing right a"ay or begin to find your "ay around the Blogger &ashboard(
"""(bloggerbuster(!om

$ip: Ta e a loo at this )ideo "hi!h eKplains ho" to !reate a blog "ith Blogger

$he Blogger %ashboard

=n!e you ha)e !reated a blog "ith Blogger% youHll be able to use the Blogger &ashboard% from "hi!h you !an a!!ess any blogs you ha)e !reated% and !at!h up "ith ne"s in your reading list :see How do I..?<(

+our ne"ly !reated blog should be listed right at the top of the page( To !reate your first post% you !an either !li! the E3tart Blogging; ?in or the orange pen!il i!on( =n!e youH)e started using your blog% youHll dis!o)er statisti!s appear beneath your blog title% in!luding: Ao" many page )ie"s your site has had in the past "ee The total number of posts :in!luding drafts< and the last publishing date The number of people follo"ing your blog

$ip: This )ideo on +ouTube pro)ides a !omprehensi)e o)er)ie" of the Blogger dashboard(

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'

Writing your first blog posts

Gight no" if you "ere to )isit your blog youHd be presented "ith a noti!e eKplaining that there are Eno postsF to display(

Creating a posts for your blog is as simple as filling out a form( To get started% you !an either !li! the E3tart BloggingF lin or the orange pen!il i!on in the Blogger dashboard( -f you are )ie"ing your site on the "eb% alternati)ely !li! the E*e" PostF lin in the top right of the Blogger na) bar( This "ill bring up the blog posting form in "hi!h you !an "rite your post:

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$ip: When !hoosing a title for your post% try to in!lude a rele)ant des!ription of "hat the post "ill be about( This "ill help people find your post more easily in sear!h engines and attra!t more page )ie"s( +ou !an ,a99 up the teKtCbased !ontent of your blog posts in a number of "ays: >se bold% italic% underlined or stri eCthrough teKt using the buttons abo)e the form >se different !oloured fonts and ba! ground !olours using the dropCdo"n buttons -nsert a numeri!al :ordered< or bulleted :unordered< list 3ele!t an area of teKt to appear as a Juote using the blo! Juote button

Adding links
To add a lin in your blog post% sele!t the teKt you "ould li e to form a lin and !li! the hyperlink button( This brings up a popCup dialogue in "hi!h you !an spe!ify the >G? of the page you "ould li e to lin to% and !hoose "hether or not !li! ing on the lin "ill open in a ne" "indo":

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$ip: ?in s are regarded as the E!urren!yF of the "eb( Web pages "hi!h are lin ed to by many other sites are regarded as ha)ing more EauthorityF and often ran higher in sear!h engine results( -f you "ould prefer not to pass on this Elin lo)eF to the site you lin to% !he! the ErelLnoCfollo"F boK "hi!h tells sear!h engines not to follo" this lin from your published page( -nstead of a "eb address% you !an also use the hyperlin tool to lin to an email address( Ao"e)er% lin ed email addresses !an be!ome the target of spammers unless the address is en!rypted :an alternati)e safe method for posting your email address !an be found here<(

nserting images
There are many "ays of !hoosing images to in!lude in your blog posts: >pload an image from your hard dri)e -nsert an image pre)iously uploaded to this blog Add an image hosted in Pi!asa Web Albums >pload from your mobile phone :reJuires the 2oogle7 app< >se your "eb!am :reJuires !onfirmation of use )ia Adobe .lash< Paste the >G? of an image hosted else"here :e(g(: .li! r% Photobu! et< To add an image% !li! the image button in the posting toolbar and sele!t the method you "ould li e to use(

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The images "hi!h are a)ailable to paste into your blog post "ill appear in the larger se!tion on the right( $ip: +ou !an !hoose to paste in more than one image at a time by holding CTG? :or C8&< and !li! ing ea!h image( The sele!ted images "ill feature a blue border and "ill be added to your post "hen you !li! the EAdd 3ele!tedF button( By default% the images you paste into your posts "ill be EmediumF si9ed and "ill be aligned to the !entre of the page( -f you "ould li e to !hange the alignment% si9e or other image options% !li! on the image in the teKt editor to see a menu of a)ailable options:

+ou !an also add a !aption to appear beneath your image by !li! ing the EAdd !aptionF lin ( $ip: To ensure your images are more Ea!!essibleF% add a title and altCteKt for your image by !li! ing the EPropertiesF lin in this menu( This ensures rele)ant !ode is in pla!e for those "ho )ie" your site "ith images disabled :itHs also said to impro)e sear!h engine
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10 )isibility% though !annot be relied on<( When you upload images to your blog% these "ill be added to an album on Pi!asa "hi!h is named using the title of your blog( -f you e)er "ant to reuse a pre)iously uploaded image% you !an sele!t E.rom this blogF in the image menu( -mages added to blog posts are automati!ally lin ed to the >G? on "hi!h they are hosted(

Blogger&s #ightbo' (eature

Blogger re!ently introdu!ed a ElightboKF feature for blog posts% "hi!h is enabled by default in the blog settings( When )ie"ing a published post in your bro"ser% you !an !li! on a post image and this "ill bring up a larger )ersion in a lightboKCstyle format( -f multiple images are used in a post% you !an fli! through these images li e a slidesho" "ithout ha)ing to edit a single line of !ode;

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$ip: -f you "ould prefer not to use this feature in your blog% you !an disable the lightboK by going to Settings)Posts and Comments in your Blogger dashboard and !hoosing E*oF for the option titled E3ho"!ase images "ith ?ightboKF(

Add *ideo to your Posts

+ou !an add )ideo !ontent to your blog posts in many "ays: >pload a )ideo from your hard dri)e :most )ideo formats are a!!epted< 3ear!h +ouTube for a )ideo to embed -nsert a )ideo from those you ha)e uploaded to +ouTube :using the same 2oogle a!!ount as you are using for your blog< Add a )ideo from your mobile phone :reJuires the 2oogle7 app< Ge!ord a )ideo using your "eb!am

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Again% )ideos "hi!h are a)ailable to embed in your post "ill appear in the main se!tion to the right( -f you upload a )ideo% the !ode reJuired to embed the )ideo in your post "ill be automati!ally added so you donHt need to tin er "ith the postHs AT8?( 3ele!t the )ideo you "ould li e to add( The )ideo thumbnail "ill enlarge enabling you to pre)ie" it in a small player before inserting into your post(

Publish or save to draft"

=n!e youH)e finished adding !ontent to your blog post% you !an !hoose to publish it by !li! ing the EPublishF button( +our post "ill then appear on your blog( -f you "ould prefer to sa)e your post to edit it at a later time% you !an !hoose to E3a)eF your post% then !li! the ECloseF button to return to the Blogger dashboard( $ip: "hen !omposing or editing% your posts "ill be automati!ally sa)ed e)ery fe" minutes(

Sharing posts to Google+

By default% the setting to share posts to your personal stream on 2oogle7 is enabled( When you !hoose to publish your first blog post% youHll re!ei)e a prompt as ing if you "ould li e to share your post or E!an!elF( -f youHd li e to share% a snippet of your post% along "ith a thumbnail if you ha)e inserted an image% "ill appear in your 2oogle7 stream% "ith the title of the post lin ed to the item page( -f you "ould rather not share any of your posts to 2oogle7% you !an disable this option in
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1D Settings)Posts and Comments se!tion of your dashboard(

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1#

Permissions and privacy

8ost Blogger users !reate sites they "ould li e to be publi!% "hi!h anyone !an see on the "eb( This setting is enabled by default "hen you !reate a ne" blog(

,aking your blog private

-f you "ould prefer your blog to remain pri)ate% you !an easily !hange this option in Settings)Basic( 3!roll do"n to the EPermissionsF se!tion and !hoose from the follo"ing options: Anybody I the default setting% enabling anyone to )ie" your blog -nly Blog Authors I this ensures your blog is !ompletely pri)ate% and that only the authors you !hoose to add "ill be able to see your posts( -nly $hese .eaders I -n this area you !an add the email addresses of those "ith "hom you "ould li e to share your posts% 3eparate multiple email addresses "ith !ommas( >p to 100 blog readers !an be added in this se!tion% "hi!h should be more than ample for a reputable pri)ate blog;

.or ea!h email address you enter in the E=nly these readersF se!tion% the person "ill re!ei)e an email prompting them to do one of three things: 1( 3ign in to an eKisting 2oogle a!!ount 2( Create a ne" 2oogle a!!ount :"ith "hi!h to login to Blogger< 0( 4ie" your blog as a guest

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1$ -f the reader !reates or logs into their 2oogle a!!ount% they "ill be able to )ie" your blog "hene)er they are logged in( -n)ited readers may only )ie" your blog as a guest for a period of t"o "ee s using the lin sent in the email% after "hi!h you "ill need to in)ite them again if they "ould li e to )ie" your posts( $ip: -f you !hoose to ma e your blog pri)ate% your site "ill not produ!e any blog feeds :thus pre)enting un"anted )ie"ing of your posts<( To re)o e a readerHs a!!ess to your blog% simply !li! the EMF button beside the personHs name( Blogger sa)es your list of in)ited readers if you !hoose to !hange the readership setting to EanybodyF% allo"ing you to Jui! ly ma e your blog pri)ate again at a later time(

Adding authors and administrators

The !reator of a blog has administrati)e pri)ileges of the site( +ou !an add more blog authors and administrators in the Settings)Basic se!tion of the Blogger &ashboard( Blog administrators ha)e !omplete a!!ess to all features of the blog dashboardN they !an edit the template and !hange settings in addition to adding% editing and deleting posts and pages( Blog Authors may only !reate posts and edit their o"n posts( Authors !annot edit othersH posts% nor !an they !ontrol settings or edit the design(

Blog administrators ha)e the pri)ilege to add ne" authors and to pro)ide eKisting authors "ith administrati)e pri)ileges( To add a ne" author to a blog% !li! the + Add Authors lin in the Permissions se!tion of the basi! settings page( +ou !an in)ite ne" authors by typing their email address in the form% or by !hoosing from your 2oogle !onta!ts:

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1' When in)iting someone to be!ome an author to your blog% they "ill be sent an email to !onform they a!!ept( Blog authors must ha)e a 2oogle a!!ount and "ill be in)ited to !reate one if they do not ha)e an eKisting a!!ount( =n!e an author has a!!epted the in)itation% your blog "ill appear in the list of blogs in their Blogger dashboard% "ith permission to !reate ne" posts( $o promote an author to administrator status% !li! the arro" to the right of their Author status and !hoose EAdministratorF from the dropCdo"n menu( This menu !an also be used to re)o e an administratorHs status or to delete a person from the list of blog authors :pre)enting any a!!ess to the site<(

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20

Customize your blog

=ne of BloggerHs best features is the ability to easily !ustomi9e )irtually aspe!t of your siteHs design( The templates a)ailable "hen starting a ne" blog are but a small sample of the designs and layouts a)ailable for you to try( .urthermore% you !an add EgadgetsF to the layout for )irtually e)ery need% from a simple lin ed image banner to your blog ar!hi)es and a list of your publi! follo"ers; The $emplate se!tion of the Blogger dashboard enables you to !hange the o)erall design of your site% either by using the Blogger template designer or by directly editing your template H$,# code(

To get started !ustomi9ing your template% !li! the orange E!ustomi9eF button "hi!h appears beneath the "eb pre)ie" of your site( This ta es you to the Blogger $emplate %esigner through "hi!h most )isual settings !an be !hanged(

Choose a base template

There are !urrently # )arieties of base template you !an !hoose from :in!luding Dynamic Views% see belo"<% ea!h of "hi!h in!ludes se)eral )ariants( 3ele!t the template style you "ould li e to use% and the pre)ie" belo" "ill update to demonstrate ho" your site "ill appear(

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21

Ba! grounds and !olour s!hemes

+ou !an add a ba! ground image to your blog in the Backgrounds menu% or I if your !hosen template in!ludes a ba! ground image I edit the eKisting one(

Blogger has a )ast library of images you !an upload in ,ust a fe" !li! s% or you !an upload a ba! ground image from your hard dri)e(

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22

3e)eral preCset !olour s!hemes are suggested for ea!h template% enabling you to Jui! ly s"it!h bet"een them( 8ore !ontrol o)er indi)idual font and ba! ground !olours !an be a!!essed in the EAd)an!edF menu(

Sidebars and (ooter Columns /or not01

Aside from &ynami! Templates% all of the basi! Blogger templates enable you to ad,ust the o)erall layout of your site( >sing the #ayout menu% you !an !hoose "here to position sidebars :if indeed at all;< and ho" many !olumns to feature in the footer( +ou !an then add Gadgets to these areas of your layout :see Gadgets and the Blogger Layout<(

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20

Ad2ust the widths of your blog and sidebar/s1

+ou !an sele!t ho" "ide you "ould li e your o)erall blog to appear on s!reen and ho" "ide you "ould li e any sidebars to be( The main body !ontent and footer se!tions of your site "ill ad,ust a!!ordingly% and you !an pre)ie" the !hanges in the "indo" belo"(

Ad)an!ed Template &esign =ptions

By !li! ing the EAd)an!edF option in the Template &esigner menu% you !an t"ea the fonts% !olours and ba! grounds of indi)idual elements of your !hosen template( Customi9e your site by !hoosing from do9ens of 2oogle Web .onts% sele!t the si9e and style of teKtCbased elements% and use sele!ted !olour )alues for ba! grounds:

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25 -f youHre feeling bold% you !an e)en add your o"n custom CSS to t"ea your design e)en more; mportant I &onHt forget to !li! Apply to Blog to sa)e your !ustomi9ations "hen youHre done;

>sing &ynami! 4ie"s

BloggerHs &ynami! 4ie"s templates pro)ide # ne" "ays for readers to eKperien!e your site( As the title suggests% these templates are Edynami!F% enabling readers to )ie" posts in a more )isually to stimulating manner and find posts they may not ha)e other"ise en!ountered( %ynamic *iews templates are best suited to blogs of a more visual nature3 and some particular types will only work effectively when at least one image is present in every post! >nli e regular templates% &ynami! 4ie"s !annot be easily !ustomi9ed using the Blogger Template &esigner% and only !ertain gadgets :highlighted in the gadget lists% see Gadgets and the Blogger Layout< are a)ailable to use "ith these templates( When using &ynami! 4ie"s% your blog title and des!ription "ill appear at the top of the page% follo"ed by a toolbar "hi!h lin s to the alternati)e )ie"s "ith "hi!h readers !an )ie" your site:

-f Pages ha)e been enabled for your blog :see Publish and Archi e!% the toolbar "ill minimi9e to be!ome a dropCdo"n menu at the left% "hile lin s to pages appear to the right of it( A useful sear!h boK appears in the top right of all blogs using dynami! )ie"sN the )isuali9ation of sear!h results depends on the format !hosen( Aere are the se)en different types of E&ynami! 4ie"sF you !an enable for your blog:

Classic
-nfinite s!rolling repla!es the E=lder postsF lin % and posts "ill !ontinue to load as you s!roll do"n the page( Keyboard shortC!uts !an be used to Jui! ly ,ump bet"een posts using J :for older posts< ad K :for ne"er posts<( Alternati)ely the arro" eys may be used(
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21

(lipcard
Post thumbnails are arranged to span the "idth of the page( These a!t li e E!ardsF "hi!h !an be flipped o)er "hen the mouse is ho)ered o)er them to see the post title and !omment !ount( -nfinite s!rolling is enabled so that more posts load as you s!roll do"n the page(

Cli! on a !ard to see the post in full )ie"( +ou !an na)igate through the posts using J :older post< and K :ne"er post< or the arro" eys( Ait es!ape or !li! Ba! to all posts to return to the .lip!ard )ie"( -n the upper left% !li! to sort by Ge!ent% &ate% Author and Category(

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,aga4ine
The ne"est post in!ludes a larger image and snippet of the blog post( =n the se!ond ro"% large thumbs of re!ent posts "ill appearN beneath these you "ill see a list of older posts "ith smaller thumbnails to the left and a summary to the right(

Ao)er your mouse o)er a post to see animations featuring a !omments bubble :"hen the post has re!ei)ed one or more !omments< "hile the post date is highlighted in red(

,osaic
This template style organises images from blog posts into a mosai!Cli e display( -t is optimi9ed for the tablet )ie"ing% and supports s!reen rotation(

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2#

Cli! ing on an indi)idual tile "ill eKpand that post to the full "idth of the )ie"% and !li! ing again "ill !ollapse the post ba! into its original position( The eKa!t position of the tiles is randomly determined ea!h time the blog loads% but they "ill appear !hronologi!ally from top left to bottom right( =n!e a tile is eKpanded% you !an page do"n by using the OupO and Odo"nO arro" eys as "ell as J and K(

Sidebar
>sing this style% the left side of the blog is reser)ed for the titles% thumbnails and !omment !ount of re!ent posts( +ou !an na)igate bet"een posts easily using the J and K% or arro" eys(

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2$

Snapshot
>sing this )ie"% only posts "hi!h in!lude images "ill be displayed% and all images from a post "ill feature as large thumbnails :some of "hi!h are rotated<(

When ho)ering the mouse o)er any thumbnail( The thumb "ill eKpand and rotate to normal )ie" "ith a snippet of the post featured beneath( Cli! ing through any photo "ill display the full post page% "ith na)igation lin s at the bottom for *e"er and =lder posts(

$imeslide
This )ie" brea s the blog !ontent do"n into three different areas: #eft column: @nlarged pi!ture "ith a post snippet% title% and snippet displayed in !hronologi!al order ,iddle column: &isplays ,ust the post title and snippet .ight column: &isplays ,ust the indi)idual post titles

When using the 3ear!h fun!tion in this )ie"% sear!h terms on the page "ill be highlighted(

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$o use a dynamic views template for your blog!!!

3imply !hoose the )ie" you "ould li e to use from the list of options in the $emplate %esigner( +ou "ill be able to pre)ie" ho" your site "ill appear using a &ynami! 4ie" ,ust as if you had !hosen a regular template( $ip: ensure you ha)e published se)eral posts before adopting a &ynami! 4ie"s template for your site to better see ho" your blog "ill appear(

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00

Gadgets and the Blogger Layout

BloggerHs ?ayout feature is an easyCtoCuse template editing feature that allo"s you to add and edit ri!h !ontent in the form of gadgets "ithout any no"ledge of AT8? or C33( As mentioned earlier% you !an !ontrol the overall layout style of your blog in the $emplate se!tion of the dashboard( To populate ea!h gadgetCready area "ith !ontent and !ontrol elements of the blog !ontent% "e "ill be using the #ayout se!tion(

-n this "ireCframe )ie" of your blog% you !an add gadgets to your sidebar and footer se!tions( When "e first !reate a ne" blog% Archive and About ,e gadgets are automati!ally inserted into the template( 8ore gadgets !an be added by !li! ing the EAdd a gadgetF lin "hi!h appears at the top of ea!h gadgetCenabled se!tion(

@diting elements in the layout se!tion

AereHs an o)er)ie" of "hat you !an !onfigure "hen you !li! 5dit for ea!h of these elements "hi!h are in!luded by default "hen you !reate a ne" blog: 6avbar: 3ele!t the !olour youHd li e your *a)bar to be( Header: Add or edit the header of your blog% "hi!h in!ludes your blog title and blog des!ription( Blog posts: Choose the number of posts to display on your main page( +ou !an !hoose either the number of days "ith posts to display or the total number of posts on the main page( +ou also ha)e the option to sho" email post lin s that let your
"""(bloggerbuster(!om

01 )isitors easily email posts from your blog to their friends( Profile: @ditBadd your profile title% HAbout 8eH des!ription% and lo!ation( Blog archive: @ditBadd your blog ar!hi)e title% sele!t your display style :hierar!hy% flat list or dropCdo"n menu<% !hoose to display post titles% display oldest posts first% !hoose your ar!hi)e freJuen!y :monthly% "ee ly or daily< and date format( The follo"ing elements are fi'ed and !annot be mo)ed to different se!tions of the template: *a)bar Aeader Blog Posts

All other elements !an be mo)ed to different pla!es in the sidebar and footer se!tions( $ip: -f you ha)e enabled Pages for your blog% you !an list your pages as a hori9ontal bar "hi!h appears beneath the header se!tion% or as a )erti!al list in the sidebarBfooter( By default% all published pages "ill be lin ed to in the Page ?ist gadget% but you !an !hoose to hide sele!ted pages by desele!ting the boK to the left of the page name( $o rearrange gadgets in your layout% simply drag the gadget using your mouse to your !hosen position( +ou !an preview and save your !hanges using the buttons on the top right of the page(

Adding ne" gadgets to the sidebar and footer se!tions

Add ne" gadgets by !li! ing the Add a Gadget lin in the area you "ould li e it to appear( This "ill initiate a popCup page "here you !an !hoose "hi!h gadget to add:

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+ou !an !hoose from one of the 78 basic gadgets :pro)ided by Blogger< from the initial s!reen% or sele!t a thirdCparty gadget from the library( @a!h gadget in the list features a brief des!ription and !an be added by !li! ing the blue + i!on( 3ome gadgets ha)e options "hi!h !an be !onfigure "hen you !hoose to add to your template( =n!e you ha)e sa)ed your !hanges% the gadget !ontent "ill be li)e in your layout "hen )ie"ing your blog on the "eb(

Commonly used Blogger gadgets

AereHs a sele!tion of some !ommonly used gadgets you may li e to add to your layout: $ranslate I Allo" readers to translate your blog into their nati)e language for easier reading (ollow by email I ma e it easy for )isitors to subs!ribe to email updates from your blog Popular posts I Adds a list of popular posts% in!luding an optional thumbnail and snippet Blog stats I &isplays the number of )isitors to your blog Adsense I Pui! ly add an Ad3ense blo! to earn re)enue from Search bo' I @nable readers to sear!h your site "ith integrated 2oogle site sear!h H$,#9:avaScript I Aelpful for "hen adding Ja)as!ript "idgets% embed !ode and ri!h !ontent from other sites
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00 $e't C An easy "ay to add simple teKtCbased !ontent Picture ; >pload an image "ith optional title and !aption% "hi!h !an be lin ed to a!t as a banner Slideshow I Create a slidesho" "ith ease using images uploaded to Pi!asa Web Albums Blog #ist I 3ho" off your fa)ourite blogs% "ith optional snippets of their latest posts

Adding third party gadgets

8any sites offer "idgets you !an add to your blog( 3ome "idgets are easy to install by !li! ing an EAdd to BloggerF buttons:

This type of "idget install preCpopulates the !ontent of an AT8?BJa)a3!ript "idget "ith the embed !ode or Ja)a3!ript "hi!h you !an pre)ie" before sa)ing to your site( =ther sites offer embed or "idget !odes "hi!h you "ill need to !opy to your !lipboard and embed as the !ontent of an AT8?BJa)a3!ript gadget(

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Comments and backlinks

-f you !hoose to enable !omments% )isitors to your blog "ill ha)e the option to respond to your posts( Blogger supports threaded commenting% "hi!h means that !omments are presented in a "ay that a reader !an more easily differentiate bet"een "hether someone is ma ing a general !omment on the thread% or responding to another !omment on the thread through indentation( 3ingleCle)el !omments "ill al"ays be displayed !hronologi!ally(

How to enable /or disable1 comments

By default% !omments are enabled on ne" blogs( To !ontrol "hether !omments are enabled or disabled% go to the Settings)Posts and Comments area of your Blogger dashboard and s!roll do"n to the Comments se!tion(

Aere is an o)er)ie" of the )arious settings for blog !omments: Comment location ; sele!t ho" !omments "ill appear on post pages: 5mbed3 (ull Page3 Pop<up window or Hide Who can comment" C 3pe!ify "ho !an !omment on your posts( The options range from anyone :"hi!h means that anonymous users !an !omment "ithout ha)ing to sign in to any type of a!!ount first< to only members of the blog :ideal for pri)ate team blogs< Comment moderation C &e!ide if youHd li e to al"ays% sometimes% or ne)er
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01 moderate !omments( -f you sele!t OAl"ays%O youHll ha)e the option to enter in an email address "here you !an re!ei)e notifi!ations that there are !omments a"aiting moderation( -f you sele!t O3ometimes%O youHll be prompted to spe!ify ho" many days old the post should be before it reJuires moderation( Show backlinks C Turning on this option "ill sho" all the >G?s around the "eb that lin to your blog post( The >G?s "ill be )isible to both you and to the readers of your blog :see belo" for more information about Ba! lin s< Comment (orm ,essage ; Type a message "hi!h "ill be displayed abo)e the !omment form( This is a useful "ay of than ing readers for lea)ing !omments% or to eKplain about forms of !omment moderation(

n order to disable comments on all pages of your site % simply !hoose Hide in the Comment #ocation setting( $ip: 3ele!ting the EWord 4erifi!ationF option helps th"art a good per!entage of spam from the !omments se!tion% but the only true "ay to ensure no spam !omments appear on your site is to moderate all !omments(

Threaded Comments
To enable threaded !omments% you need to ensure that: 1( The setting for comment form placement is embedded below post 2( The Blog (eeds setting is set to (ull The Blog .eeds setting !an be found in the Settings)-ther se!tion of the Blogger dashboard( With these t"o settings !onfigured% Threaded Commenting "ill be enabled for your blog% allo"ing )isitors to respond dire!tly to ea!h other(

&isableBenable !omments on a perCpost basis

-f you "ould li e to disable !omments only on !ertain posts of your site% !hoose to edit your post and !li! on the menu on the right side of the Post @ditor to set postCspe!ifi! !omment settings( Aere you !an !hoose among three options: 1( Allo" 2( &onHt allo"% hide eKisting 0( &onHt allo"% sho" eKisting

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,oderating comments
-f you !hoose to moderate all !omments for your blog% you !an add an email address to "hi!h !omment notifi!ations "ill be sent% +ou !an then sele!t to appro)e or delete the !omment( When Comment 8oderation is set to Sometimes% you !an sele!t ho" old posts need to be for moderation to be a!ti)e% but "ill not re!ei)e notifi!ations by email( The number of !omments per blog "hi!h need to be moderated "ill display in the Blogger dashboard "hen you first log in( This lin s dire!tly to the !omment moderation page "here you !an )ie" !omments and sele!t "hi!h to appro)e or delete( +ou !an also delete !omments "hi!h ha)e already been left by !li! ing the Waste i!on beneath ea!h !omment "hile logged into Blogger( .rom the lin ed page% you !an !hoose "hether to temporarily or permanently delete the !omment(

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0# Temporarily deleting a !omment "ill pro)o e the message EThis !omment has been remo)ed by the administratorF to appear in pla!e of the original !ommentN the original !omment may be re!o)ered( Permanent deletion remo)es all tra!e of the !omment and !annot be re!o)ered(

$ip: Any lin s inserted into the !omment body or as the lin ed name :"hen Who can comment is set to Anonymous< are re!onfigured as no<follow lin s( This pre)ents lin Clo)e from your site being passed on to anyone attempting to manipulate lin s to their site(

About Ba! lin s

Ba! lin s are a "ay of eKpanding the !omments feature so that lin s to dis!ussions on other sites may be displayed alongside !omments on a post( To enable ba! lin s being displayed on your blog% go to Settings)Posts and Comments in your Blogger dashboard and !hoose E3ho"F for the Show Backlinks option( =n!e you ha)e set up ba! lin s and others ha)e lin ed to indi)idual posts on your site% you "ill be able to see a list of ba! lin s :along "ith a brief snippet of the lin ed page< beneath the !omments se!tion on post pages:

-n similarity to post !omments% ba! lin s may be disabled on a perCpost basis by !hanging the setting on the post editor for indi)idual pages:

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0$

Ba! lin s are dis!o)ered by the link= operator of 2oogleHs Blog 3ear!h( This means there may be a brief delay before a lin ing page is displayed in the Ba! lin s se!tion of your post pages( 3in!e Ba! lin s are generated Eon the flyF% there is not the option to subs!ribe to ne" ba! lin s in the same "ay "e !an subs!ribe to post !omments( -f you "ould li e to be notified of ne" ba! lin s% simply subs!ribe to the results of a Juery su!h as link=your< blog<url!blogspot!com in 2oogle Blog 3ear!h(

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Publish and rchive

=n!e youH)e published a post or t"o% youHll probably "ant to learn more about the organisation of !ontent in your blog( ?etHs re)isit blog posting% learn about Pages% and dis!o)er ho" our posts !an be labelled and ar!hi)ed(

Blog posts re)isited

+ou !an edit an eKisting blog post in one of t"o "ays: Cli! the 5dit lin "hi!h appears "hen ho)ering o)er a post in the Posts se!tion of the Blogger &ashboard Cli! the wrench i!on "hi!h appears beneath a post "hen )ie"ed in your bro"ser

This "ill open up the post editing s!reen so you !an edit and republish your post( When you ha)e "ritten many blog posts% you !an sa)e time sear!hing for an older item by sear!hing or filtering the posts "hi!h are displayed in the Posts se!tion of your dashboard: .ilter by post status :All" Published or sa)ed as Draft< .ilter by label :see Publish and Archi e for more information about Post #abels< >se the Search fun!tion

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50 $ip: -n addition to editing% in the Posts se!tion of the dashboard% you !an also !hoose to *iew% Share :on 2oogle7< or %elete a single blog post(

8ass editing blog posts

+ou !an !hoose to edit a number of posts at on!e by !he! ing the boK to the left of the post title :or !he! the boK at the )ery top to sele!t all posts<( =n!e you ha)e sele!ted the posts you "ould li e to edit% !hoose from one of the massC editing fun!tions near the top of the page: Add a #abel Publish :if the posts are !urrently draft< Save to %raft :"hen sele!ted posts are !urrently published< %elete the sele!ted posts :you "ill need to !onfirm before the deletion be!omes permanent<

Ao" to s!hedule blog posts

Blogger enables us to s!hedule a ne" blog post to be published on a spe!ified time and date( To do this% !li! the Schedule se!tion in the rightChand !olumn and sele!t "hen you "ould li e your post to go li)e:

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$ip: While )ie"ing the Posts se!tion of your blog dashboard% you !an Jui! ly identify posts "hi!h are Scheduled or %raft:

+ou !an also !hange the posting date and time of pre)iously published posts by editing and !li! ing the EPublished =nF se!tion in the rightChand !olumn(

?abelling blog posts

#abels are an easy "ay to !ategorise or tag blog posts( When "riting or editing blog posts% you !an add labels easily by !li! ing the #abels se!tion in the rightChand !olumn(

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Type ea!h ?abel you "ould li e to add% separated by a !omma( ?abels you ha)e used in pre)iously published posts "ill appear beneathN you !an !li! these to Jui! ly add them to your posts( When you add ?abels to a post% these "ill appear in the postCfooter se!tion beneath ea!h post( @a!h ?abel forms a lin to a #abel Search page% "here all posts in!luding the sele!ted label "ill appear in re)erse !hronologi!al order(

This helps readers Jui! ly lo!ate other !ontent "hi!h may be rele)ant to their interests( +ou !an also add a #abel Gadget to your blog in the #ayout se!tion of your site :see Gadgets and the Blogger Layout<( When !hoosing to add a ?abel 2adget% sele!t "hether you "ould li e it to display ?abels in a list% or as a ETag CloudF in "hi!h !ommonly used labels appear more prominently than those less used(

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Creating Post 3ummaries

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55 -f you "rite long blog posts% you may not "ant the "hole post to be displayed on nonCitem pages( Blogger offers a :ump #ink feature "hi!h allo"s us to !hoose ho" mu!h of a post to display( This has the benefits of: Pre)enting too mu!h )isual spa!e being ta en up on indeK pages Creating an enti!ing summary prompting readers to !li! through and read the "hole arti!le

Jump ?in s !an be added easily through the Post @diting page( 3imply "rite your post as usual% then pla!e your !ursor at the pla!e "here you "ould li e the post to be summarised( Then !li! the :ump #ink i!on to insert a dashed line into your post(

Continue "riting your blog post and publish as normal( All !ontent "hi!h appears belo" the :ump #ink line "ill only be displayed on item pages(

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51 By default% the teKt EGead 8oreF is displayed for ,ump lin s( +ou !an !ustomi9e this teKt to display your o"n "ording by editing the Blog Posts gadget in the #ayout se!tion of your dashboard:

Creating 3tati! Pages

Blogger Pages are standalone pages "hi!h are lin ed to from your blog% usually by means of a Pages gadget in your #ayout( +ou may "ant to !reate stati! pages for your blog for purposes li e: An EAboutF page A !onta!t page% featuring a !onta!t formN address% or phone number .APs% or lin s to rele)ant sites

To !reate a 3tati! Page% na)igate to the Pages se!tion of your Blogger dashboard and !hoose to !reate a ne" Blank Page

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+ou !an then !ompose a ne" page in mu!h the same "ay as publishing a blog post( The Page @ditor has fe"er options a)ailable in the rightChand !olumn sin!e there is no reJuirement to display ?abels% ?o!ation or Publishing &ate( When you publish a 3tati! Page for the first time% you "ill be prompted to add a Page #ist gadget to your Blogger ?ayout( +ou !an !hoose to add this gadget as $op $abs :beneath the Aeader se!tion<% in the Sidebar% or not to display at all :in "hi!h !ase youHd need to manually lin to pages in a gadget or blog post<( Pages "hi!h you ha)e !reated "ill appear in a list on the Pages se!tion of the dashboard(

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$o edit the Page #ist gadget% na)igate to the #ayout se!tion of the dashboard and !li! the rele)ant @dit lin ( This "ill enable you to reCorder lin s in the gadget and sele!t "hi!h Page lin s you "ould li e to display(

Configuring Blog Ar!hi)es

When publishing "ith Blogger% the most re!ent posts "ill appear on the home page( +ou !an set ho" many re!ent posts "ill appear on the home page by editing the Blog Posts gadget in the #ayout se!tion of your dashboard(

=n all indeK pages of your site% lin s to -lder Posts and 6ewer Posts "ill appear at the
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5$ bottom of the Blog Posts se!tion( This ta es readers to the neKt :or pre)ious< page "ith the set number of posts appearing on the page(

Adding an Ar!hi)es 2adget

As "e sa" Gadgets and the Blogger Layout% you !an add a Blog Archive gadget to your blog sidebar or footer se!tion( ?in s produ!ed in this gadget lead to pages of blog posts !orresponding to the ar!hi)ed time period

To add a Blog Archive 2adget% go to the #ayout se!tion of your dashboard and !hoose to add an Ar!hi)es gadget in the pla!e you "ould li e it to appear(

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5' +ou !an !hoose to ar!hi)e your blog posts by ,onth :the most !ommon !hoi!e among bloggers;<% Weekly or %aily( +our !hoi!e "ill depend on the freJuen!y :and timely rele)an!e< of your blog posting s!hedule( 3ele!t the format of your gadget% "hi!h determines ho" Ar!hi)e page lin s "ill be displayed% and de!ide on the date format :this !an be different to your !hoi!e for displaying the E&ate AeaderF on Blog Posts<( =n!e you ha)e sa)ed your gadget% it "ill appear in your blog "hen )ie"ed in a bro"ser( Ar!hi)e pages are automati!ally generated for you(

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Share your blog

By using Blog (eeds and Social ,edia ntegration% "e !an share the !ontent of our blogs "ith a "ider readership% offering more "ays for readers to eep up "ith ne" posts than simply )isiting your site(

What are Blog .eeds6

+ou may already be familiar "ith the term .SS (eed( A site feed is a ma!hineCreadable representation of your blog that !an be pi! ed up and displayed on other "eb sites and information aggregation tools( G33 is a ty#e of site feedN by default Blogger produ!es Atom feeds "hi!h is a similar format( 3pe!ial pie!es of soft"are !alled feed readers% ne"s readers% or aggregators !an s!an your site feed% and automati!ally let your readers no" "hen your blog has been updated( An eKample of su!h soft"are is 2oogle Geader% "hi!h you !an use "ith your 2oogle A!!ount(

Site (eeds available in Blogger

-n addition to the regular feed of Blog Posts% there are also feeds generated for: Comments :siteC"ide< if !omments are enabled PerCpost !omments ?abel feeds :similar to Post feeds% but in!ludes only posts using a parti!ular label<

Ao" to !onfigure 3ite .eeds

-t is possible to !onfigure settings for your blog feeds in the Settings)-ther se!tion of the Blogger dashboard( Aere% you !an sele!t ho" mu!h of your !ontent you "ant to syndi!ate( O.ullO "ill put the entire !ontent of ea!h post in your site feed% "hile O3hortO only in!ludes an eK!erpt from the beginning of ea!h post( 3ele!t O>ntil Jump Brea O to sho" all post !ontent before your ,ump brea ( $he >6one> option turns your site feed off entirely ( .or more ad)an!ed options% you !an sele!t OCustom(O -n this se!tion youHll see options for three different types of feeds( @a!h option has the same O.ull%O O3hort%O and O*oneO setting !hoi!es( Blog posts: This is the same as the original% OAllo" Blog .eedO option(
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11 Comment feed= This "ill !ontain all !omments made on all posts on your blog( Per<post comment feed: With this option% ea!h indi)idual post "ill ha)e its o"n site feed% !ontaining only its o"n !omments(

6ote= -f you "ant to display threaded !omments on your post pages% be sure to set the main Blog Posts (eed to (ull(

8a e it easy for readers to E3ubs!ribeF to your site feed

8ost modern bro"sers !an automati!ally dete!t if a site feed is present and enable the means for readers to subs!ribe( Ao"e)er% it is mu!h more preferable to offer an easy "ay for )isitors to subs!ribe to your updates% su!h as adding a subscription gadget or enabling readers to sign up for email updates( Blogger offers a simple Subscription #inks gadget in the #ayout se!tion of the Blogger dashboard( This produ!es lin s to both the Blog Posts and :site "ide< Comments feeds( 4isitors !an use these lin s to subs!ribe to site feeds in their fa)ourite feed reader(

+ou !an also add a Subscribe by 5mail gadget% "hi!h is ideal for those unfamiliar "ith site feeds% or "ho prefer to read updates in a more manageable digest( This ser)i!e is po"ered by .eedburner :"hi!h is also operated by 2oogle<( +ou !an read more about syndi!ating your blog feeds using .eedburner here( When you !hose to add a (ollow by 5mail gadget% you !an !hange the title and spe!ify the .eedburner >G? you "ould li e to use for your site:

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Aelp readers share your posts using 3o!ial 8edia

Blogger ma es it easy for readers to share your posts on their fa)ourite so!ial media platforms by enabling Share buttons for your blog posts "hi!h appear in the Post .ooter se!tion(

+ou !an !hoose "hether or not to display these buttons by editing the Blog Posts gadget in the #ayout se!tion of your Blogger dashboard(

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Those using &ynami! Templates "ill find 2oogle7% T"itter and .a!eboo buttons along "ith share !ounts for ea!h ser)i!e(

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!o" do I###$
Aere are ans"ers to some !ommon Juestions you may ha)e about eKtending and !ustomising your Blogger site(

(((add blogs to my Geading ?ist6

The Blogger Geading ?ist enables you to read updates from your fa)ourite blogs right in your Blogger dashboard( -t is !on)eniently lo!ated beneath the list of blogs you manage and is instantly updated ea!h time a ne" post is published on a blog you are follo"ing(

To add ne" blogs to your reading list% simply !li! the Add button in the left hand side and type the >G? of a blog you "ould li e to follo"% or !hoose to import blogs from 2oogle Geader( +ou !an opt to Efollo"F blogs publi!ly or pri)ately( To manage blogs in your reading list% simply !li! the Settings con at the top right of the .eading #ist se!tion(

(((earn money from my blog6

-t is )ery easy to integrate 2oogle Ad3ense and Affiliate Ads "ith Blogger right from the Blogger &ashboard; Cli! on the 5arnings tab to get started( +ouHll need to sign into your Ad3ense a!!ount or set up a ne" one( =n!e appro)ed% youHll be able to !hoose "here to pla!e Ad3ense ads in
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11 your blog :between posts% in the blog sidebar% both or none<( +ou !an also !hoose to sign up as a Publisher for 2oogle Affiliate Ads( =n!e youH)e appro)ed the terms and !onditions% youHll see a ne" Advertise Products gadget in the post editor( +ou !an use this to insert rele)ant lin s or full ads into your blog posts( Another option is to insert ad !odes from third party ad)ertising net"or s into an AT8?BJa)a3!ript "idget in your blogHs ?ayout(

(((upload a fa)i!on6
.a)i!ons are small i!ons you see beside some >G?s in your address bar( By default% ne" blogs "ill display an orange Blogger i!on( +ou !an upload a !ustom fa)i!on in the #ayout se!tion of the dashboard by !hoosing to edit the (avicon gadget in the top rightChand !orner( Choose a sJuare image "hi!h is less than 100 b in si9eN it "ill automati!ally be resi9ed and sa)ed at the root of your domain% repla!ing the default Blogger fa)i!on(

(((impro)e 3@= and generate more traffi!6

3@= :3ear!h @ngine =ptimisation< helps in!rease traffi! to your blog and !onne!t your !ontent "ith the intended audien!e( .or more ba! ground on 3@=% read through this arti!le in the Webmasters Aelp Center% and be sure !he! out their free 3@= 3tarter 2uide :P&.< "hi!h - re!ommend highly; Blogger pro)ides advanced options to manage sear!h engine preferen!es( 8ost 3@= options !an be found in the Settings)Search 5ngine Preferences se!tion of the Blogger dashboard% in!luding: &es!ription Custom Page *ot .ound Custom Gedire!ts Custom robots(tKt Custom robots header tags =ther options% su!h as image properties and header tags% are lo!ated in the Post @ditor( 6ote= Keep in mind that in!orre!t settings !an result in unintended !onseJuen!es; -f you are ne" to 3@=% be sure to only "or on the aspe!ts you are !omfortable "ith( -n depth information on BloggerHs 3@= preferen!es !an be found in the Blogger Aelp Center(

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!!!keep tabs on my blog&s statistics"

The Stats se!tion of the Blogger dashboard helps you eep tra! the )isitors to your site(

Aere you !an !he! : The number of page )ie"s your blog re!ei)es Popular posts Traffi! sour!es 4isitor information ?in through to 2oogle Analyti!s for inCdepth information about your blog statisti!s

!!!add a stat counter to my blog"

A simple Blog&s Stats !ounter !an be added to your sidebar or footer in the #ayout se!tion of your dashboard(

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+ou !an sele!t the style of !ounter you "ould li e to display% along "ith the timeCframe you "ould li e the gadget to !o)er(

(((edit the Blogger *a)bar6

The *a)bar is a)ailable in se)eral !olours% and is !onfigured in the #ayout se!tion of the Blogger dashboard( Just !li! the O@ditO lin on the *a)bar page element and sele!t the style you prefer( -f you "ould li e to remo)e the na)bar altogether% follo" the instru!tions on this page(

!!!backup my blog posts"

-t is good pra!tise to ba! up your Blogger posts periodi!ally( +ou !an e'port your entire
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1$ !atalogue of blog posts or import the !ontents of another Blogger site in the 3ettings)-ther se!tion of your Blogger dashboard( +our posts "ill be sa)ed as a Blogger @Kport .ile :(Kml< "hi!h you !an sa)e as a ba! up to your !omputer hard dri)e or import into another site(

(((ba! up my Blogger template6

-f you ha)e made eKtensi)e !ustomisations to your site% you may "ant to ba! up your template before eKperimenting "ith a ne" template or !hanging design settings( To do this% na)igate to the %esign se!tion of the Blogger dashboard and !li! the Backup9.estore button near the top of the page( .rom here% you !an !hoose to sa)e your eKisting template as a backup or restore a pre)iously sa)ed design(

((post by email6
>sing the 8ailCtoCBlogger feature% you !an post to your blog using any email !lient( To set this up% you "ill need to set up a secret email address in the Settings),obile and 5mail se!tion of your Blogger dashboard(

+our se!ret email address "ill !onsist of your username :"hi!h you use to log into your 2oogle a!!ount< follo"ed by $ecret %ords "hi!h you !an set( mportant= you must ensure your email posting address is ept se!ret as anyone able to use this address "ill be able to post to your site; 3ele!t "hether to Publish email immediately or Save emails as draft post to edit or appro)e before publishing( =n!e you ha)e sa)ed your settings% any email "hi!h is sent to your se!ret posting address "ill be published or sa)ed as a draft post to your blog( Posts sent by email can be sent as raw te't or rich H$,# :"hi!h "ill be formatted a!!ording to the C33 styles applied to your posts<( To in!lude images in posts sent by email% simply atta!h the images to your email and they "ill be published at the top of the
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1' post( >nfortunately% "e !anHt yet atta!h #abels to posts sent by email "hi!h are automati!ally published( -f you need to label posts sent as email% set these to save as draft then add #abels through the post editor "hen logged into your Blogger dashboard(

(((send posts using my mobile phone6

-n addition to sending posts by email using a mobile de)i!e% there are t"o additional methods you !an use: 1( 3end :short< posts as S,S9,,S 2( >se a smartphone application :for Android or Apple de)i!es< $o post to an e'isting blog using your mobile phone % go to Settings),obile and 5mail in your Blogger dashboard and !li! the Add ,obile %evice lin under the ,obile se!tion( Then follo" the steps gi)en to post to your site using either 883 or 383(

+ou !an also !reate a ne" blog by sending an 883 to go/blogger(!om( This !reates a ne" mobile blog for you% and you should re!ei)e both notifi!ations and a )erifi!ation !ode sent to your phone( -f you "ould li e to !laim your blog at a later date% you !an log in to your mobile blog at go(blogger(!om using the )erifi!ation !ode sent to your phone and either merge your posts "ith an eKisting blog or de)elop your EmoblogF as a standalone site(

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D0 Tip: )isit this page on the Blogger help site for a helpful )ideo and more information about mobile blogging( Android and Apple apps for Blogger offer a more ad)an!ed system of blogging on the go( >sing these apps you !an "rite posts "ith ri!h !ontent% in!luding photographs ta en "ith your smartphone% your lo!ation and post labels( To get started% do"nload the appropriate app for your de)i!e: =ffi!ial Android App for Blogger =ffi!ial iPhoneBiPad app for Blogger

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D1 =n!e youH)e do"nloaded your app and run it for the first time% youHll be prompted to log in to your 2oogle A!!ount( After this% you "ill be able to manage all blogs asso!iated "ith this a!!ount in!luding !reating% publishing and sa)ing posts to draft(

(((!onfigure my blog for mobile de)i!es6

-n the $emplate se!tion of the Blogger dashboard% you "ill be able to !onfigure ho" your blog "ill be displayed on handCheld de)i!es( Cli! the settings i!on beneath the EmobileF pre)ie" of your site and sele!t E+esF to enable a mobile )ersion of your site(

+ou !an !hoose from one of the preset styles% or sele!t Custom if you "ould li e Blogger to ma e a mobile template based on the !ustomisations you ha)e made for your main template(

(((use a !ustom domain6

Blogger offers t"o free publishing options for your blog: hosting on Blogspot :eKample(blogspot(!om< and hosting on your o"n !ustom domain :"""(eKample(!om or foo(eKample(!om<( +ou !an !hange your publishing option at any time% and your !ontent "ill al"ays remain unaltered regardless of "hi!h of these options you !hoose(
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D2 To use a !ustom domain for your blog% !hoose from one of the follo"ing t"o options: 1( Pur!hase a domain name through Blogger :the easy option< 2( >se a domain name you ha)e pur!hased else"here :more ad)an!ed% but often !heaper;< -t is mu!h easier to pur!hase a !ustom domain dire!tly through Blogger as all important settings "ill be !onfigured for you( Currently !ustom domains !ost Q'('' >3& per year( -f you already o"n your o"n domain name or "ould li e to pur!hase one more !heaply% !hoose to set up your o"n !ustom domain( $ip: 8any domain name pro)iders offer dis!ount !odes "hi!h you !an easily find using a 2oogle 3ear!h( 8y personal preferen!e is using 2o&addy as domains !an often be pur!hased for ,ust a fe" dollars per year( To pur!hase a !ustom domain through Blogger% or find detailed instru!tions for setCup by domain pro)ider% )isit this lin on the Blogger Aelp site(

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Where to find out more about using Blogger

Blogger for Beginners "as "ritten to pro)ide an o)er)ie" of basic Blogger fun!tionality for those ne" to using the platform( Aere are lin s to some useful "ebsites and resour!es "hi!h !an help you eKtend your blog and no"ledge of the Blogger platform(

=ffi!ial Blogger Channels

$he Blogger Help Center < -n!ludes pages of useful information about all aspe!ts of using the platform Blogger Product (orum I Post Juestions if you need help and dis!uss all aspe!ts of the Blogger platform BloggerHelp ?ou$ube Channel I .ind useful )ideo tutorials about using Blogger Blogger @nown ssues I -n!ludes details of any no"n issues affe!ting the platform( A useful first stop for the odd o!!asion "hen something goes "rong( Blogger on Google+ C Where posts about Blogger ne"s% updates and forth!oming features !an be dis!o)ered Blogger Bu44 I The offi!ial Blogger blog; Blogger %evelopers 6etwork I .or those de)eloping appli!ations and eKtended uses for Blogger

Although it is not possible to !onta!t the Blogger team dire!tly% you !an !he! out the Conta!t Poli!y page to find out "here best to get help for your parti!ular needs( +ou might also "ant to !he! out BloggerHs Terms and Conditions% Pri)a!y Poli!y and Content Poli!y(

-ndependent 3ites
3e)eral Blogger de)elopers publish tips and tutorials for Blogger( Aere are lin s to the independent Blogger help sites you may find useful for eKtending your no"ledge of Blogger: Blogger Buster I @stablished in 200#% this site features many useful tutorials for !ustomising your Blogger templateN arti!les about using the platform% and the latest Blogger ne"s( +ou !an also find many free and premium templates( $he .eal Blogger Status I =perated by *ite!ru9er :a )eritable legend in the Blogger Aelp 2roup<% this site offers eK!ellent ad)i!e about dealing "ith BloggerC related problems% publishing issues and general Blogger ne"s( Blogger $ricks I Tips and tutorials for Blogger users% "ith many free templates a)ailable Blogger Plugins I Puality Blogger tutorials% tips and gadgets
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D5 Southern Speakers I An eK!ellent resour!e for those using &ynami! 4ie"s templates Blogger Stop I -nno)ati)e "idgets% !ustomisations and templates #eBlogger I A .ren!h language blog :easily translated if reJuired< featuring a plethora of useful tutorials and Blogger ne"s Blogger Apertise I A gro"ing resour!e of Blogger tips% useful s!ripts and the o!!asional Blogger template Btemplates I The premier resour!e for free Blogger templates

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Back %atter
Coming Soon
BCC Ways with Blogger
Want to learn ho" to get the most from your Blogger site6 .eaturing 100 standCalone tutorials% this eboo "ill help you learn ho" to impro)e your design% eKtend your blog and rea!h a "ider audien!e( .ind out ho" to: Create a simple slidesho" of your images >se Blogger as a ne"sletter ser)i!e Publish your portfolio "ith Blogger Create a simple "ebsite for your business -ntegrate your blog "ith so!ial media 8a e money by selling goods and ser)i!es from your site

And mu!h more; &'' %ays with Blogger offers useful guidan!e for anyone !hoosing Blogger as their publishing platform% "ith tutorials suitable for those ,ust starting "ith the platform in addition to ad)an!ed guides( Be sure to subs!ribe to Blogger Buster or follo" on 2oogle7 for updates on the release of this ne" boo ( Release date( )BA

About the author

Amanda Kennedy has eKtensi)e eKperien!e of using the Blogger platform :dating as far ba! as 2000<% and is best no"n as the author of Blogger Buster I a resour!e site for those using 2oogle Blogger :est( 200#<( Amanda has "ritten se)eral eboo s about 2oogle Blogger and !urrently resides in the >K "ith her family and numerous !ats( +ou !an read more about Amanda on her personal site or find her on 2oogle7% T"itter and .a!eboo (

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Comments" Suggestions"
.eel free to !onta!t Amanda "ith any !omments or suggestions about this eboo by emailing amanda/bloggerbuster(!om

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