How To Start A Blog - part 3

Hopefully by now you have created your blog and are ready to spice it up a little. Here are some ways you can do just that:

If you are in Blogger then this is how you add fun stuff to your blog:

1. Sign in to Blogger.
2. Click on the "Dashboard" link - your dashboard is where you go to see all of the blogs you have created.
3. Select the blog you want to add something to.
4. You will see toward the left side of the screen 3 tabs - posting, settings, and layout.
5. Click on the Layout tab.
6. Now you will see a diagram of the way your blog is laid out.
7. Select "Add Gadget."
8. Now you will see a list of items you can add to your blog. If you want to add something just click the plus sign and follow the instructions. If something is already on your blog it will read "Already added."
9. You will notice there are categories of gadgets and a search box. You can use this to find more specific things you are looking for.

The HTML gadget is a great feature. It allows you to add things from other websites, such as music, visitor counters, and some backgrounds.

To add music - you can go to sites like www.playlist.com or www.lastfm.com and search for music. When you find a song you like you can save it onto your play list. To put it on your blog you will need to look for a link that may have the code words EMBED, POST TO BLOG, SHARE, etc. Click on that and follow the instructions. The site will generate a code for your to copy and past into a HTML gadget box from the Layout screen of your blog.

To add a counter - there are several sites out there that offer free counters if you are interested in seeing how many people visit your blog on any given day, week or month. Statcounter is a very user friendly option.

If you have any other questions regarding blogging contact April E. at patrick.april (at) hotmail (dot) com. If she doesn't know the answer then she can try to point you in the right direction for help.

Happy blogging! Remember to email your blog address to cefcmops (at) gmail (dot) com to get your blog added to our MOPS Bloggers list!

How To Start A Blog - part 2

Starting a blog is so simple. Blogger is the recommended blog site if you have no experience or confidence in starting up a blog. Blogger is very user friendly. You will be amazed at how easy it is to create and maintain a blog. Some other blog sites include:

• Wordpress.com
• Typepad.com
• Squarespace.com

This post will coach you in Blogger, as it is the simplest to create. The following things, if thought about beforehand, will make the blog-creation process move a little faster.

DISPLAY NAME - This is the name that will appear at the end of each of your blog posts. If you are creating a personal blog then you can use your name. If it's family blog you are wanting to create, then you might want to pick something that describes your whole family.

NAME OF YOUR BLOG - This is a fairly important part of the blog-creation process. This will be the title of your blog and what people will see when they come to your page. In choosing a name for your blog you can make it very simple, or you can have a lot of fun with it and think of a creative and catchy phrase (see examples of our MOPS mom's blogs to the left).

LAYOUT/DESIGN OF BLOG - BEFORE you do any posts or rearranging/adding of items to your blog you will need to decide on the layout or design of your blog. Blogger will give you many options to choose from. If none of those seem to "grab you" then check out the sites below for other options

• Aqua Poppy Designs 2
• Cutest Blog on the Block
• Gisele Jaquenod
• PYZAM
• Simply Fabulous Blogger Templates by Lena Toews (Our MOPS blog design was created by her!)

If you see something you like but are not sure how to get the design on your blog (each site has a different process to follow, check sites for details) contact April at patrick.april@hotmail.com. She would be glad to help you out. Make sure when you write her to include

• the web address (copy it from the white address bar at the top of the Internet page) or link of the page containing the design you like
• the name of the design you want on your blog
• any other questions regarding the design or placement of the design on your blog

Once you have done all this you can start writing posts! The next post on this blog will address how to dress up your new blog with "gadgets" (things like a music player, a list of blogs you like to read, links to websites you like, a counter for your page to show you and visitors how many people have seen your blog and so much more).

BE SURE TO EMAIL APRIL THE WEB ADDRESS FOR YOUR BLOG ONCE YOU HAVE CREATED ONE - WE CAN ADD YOU TO OUR MOPS BLOGGERS LIST!

How To Start A Blog

There have been quite a few MOPS moms lately commenting on how they "could never blog" because it looks too complicated and they just aren't tech savvy. You might be surprised at how easy it is to blog! Read on and see why you should start your own blog today.

Reasons People Don't Blog:

1. I am too busy.

You don't have to write a post (blog entry) every day. Some people post on certain days of the week. With Blogger (who this blog is through) you can actually schedule posts for days in the future, so if you find you have some extra time you write some blog posts and then schedule them to be published later! Once you have your blog created and set-up, a post could take as little as 5 minutes!

2.) I am not creative.

You don't have to be creative to have a blog. When you create a blog there is usually a premade design (background, etc) that you start with. Some blog sites let you select from a list of options what your blog design will be (Blogger does this). There are lots of sites available for people who want a snazzy design (like this blog) for their blog decor. For those that want to spice up their blogs but have the slightest idea on how to do that, contact April E. at patrick.april@hotmail.com. She can help you out.

3.) I am not that tech savvy.

Again, you don't have to know very much to create a blog. You just need to know where the letters and numbers are on the keyboard and how to use a mouse. The layout of your blog is set a certain way when you start a blog. If you so choose, there are ways to change that. Blogger is really easy to change and rearrange things on your blog page. If you are looking for a change but have the slightest clue on how to get started contact April.

4.) I don't want my thoughts recorded for the public to see.

The great thing about blogging is that you get to decide what you want your blog to about, and you get to decide how much is on your blog. Very few people pour out their every thought on their blogs, just the ones they want people to read. Some people have recipe blogs where they post recipes. Some people have media blogs, where they critique books, music, videos, etc. Some make their blogs about their day-to-date family life. Other blog ideas are: following a famous person, blogging about an issues in which you are especially passionate, finding bargains or making things.

5.) No one will read my blog.

You would be surprised at how many people think they have nothing of value or interesting to share with the world. If you want to increase traffic to your blog you can put your blog address on sites like Blogher.com to let people know who (and where) you are.

6.) Everyone will read my blog.

If you are anxious about strangers lurking on your blog you can request during the creation of your blog that a password and username be assigned to your blog. Then only those you want to see your blog will see it. This option can be reversed should you decide to change it.

7.) Blogs are for those who are stuck on themselves.

This is a common myth. This is only true if you really want your blog to be all about how self-absorbed you are. Many moms have a blogs that are dedicated to their lives and the lives of their families. Again, your blog is what you choose to make it. There are no rules out there about what you should or shouldn't put on your blog.

Reasons You Should Blog (not extensive):

1. It's a great way to let your friends and family (especially if they aren't in the area) keep in touch with you.
2. You have a creative outlet to express your adult self.
3. You are forced to put your thoughts together in words - you learn to express yourself more concisely.
4. It's a great way to venture out and learn how to do something new!
5. You can share your knowledge on a particular topic or issue.
6. You will discover there are lots of people out there who are interested in what you have to say (and vice versa).
7. It's a great way to document your life.
   

Blogging Resources

For those who are new to the blogger world, or even those have been blogging a while but are looking to spice up their blog some here are some helpful resources:

For Help with Creating Blogger Templates
Aqua Poppy Designs - these are backgrounds only and not a whole blog face lift (changing your header/title and the way your boxes look, etc. However, if like this designer's style you can pay a reasonable fee and have her custom design everything on your blog to look amazing.

Gisele Jaquenod & Birdie - this blogger has a birdie fetish, so most of her templates have the trademark yellow birdie on them. They are very precious.

Simply Fabulous Blogger Templates - for those who have Blogger (*.blogspot.com addresses). You can find free pre-made templates here or, for a reasonable fee, she will create a custom design for you. NOTE: you have to have the Firefox web browser instead of Internet Explore to have these templates install correctly. Firefox is great! For more information about Firefox, ask April Emery or visit the Firefox website.

The Cutest Blog on the Block - these are backgrounds only. These do not come with a fancy schmancy header/blog title. Your title will look like basic Blogger set-up.

Summertime Designs - if you are into digital scrapbooking and know how to do HTML then this place is a resource of FREE digital scrapbooking resources offered by a stay-at-home mom.