How the Heck Did You Do That?? Blogger Tips and Tricks #4

Blogger Tips and Tricks #4

1. How do I create a scrolling blogroll?

• Go to add a gadget or html code for sidebar 
• For blogger under add a gadget select html/java code
• Paste the following code and add a title such as "Blogs I Follow" 

<center><div class="textwidget"><marquee direction="up" width="200" onmouseover="this.stop()" scrollamount="2" onmouseout="this.start()" height="200" align="left">

</marquee></div>

• Now you can add buttons. 
• Go to your fave blog.
• Copy their button code and paste that code between red html code and the blue html code

You have a scrolling blogroll for your favorite blogs. You can add as many buttons as you like, but always keep the code between the red and blue html. 

Here is an example:

<center><div class="textwidget"><marquee direction="up" width="200" onmouseover="this.stop()" scrollamount="2" onmouseout="this.start()" height="200" align="left">

<a href="http://www.caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa411/kimbathecaffeinatedbookreviewer/vectorstock_715065-1button.jpg" /></a>

<a href="http://rainydayramblings.typepad.com/"><img src="http://rainydayramblings.typepad.com/Images/button.jpg">

</a>

<center><a href="http://melissaseclecticbookshelf.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Melissa Eclectic Bookshelf" src="http://i913.photobucket.com/albums/ac339/Loriimagination/melissasbookshelf/testbutton2.jpg"/></a></center>

</marquee></div>

The mustard, purple and green colors are all button codes, and you simply copy and paste them under each other, being sure to keep them between the red and blue html code.



2. Five tips on how to grow your blog:

• Visit other blogs and leave meaningful comments.
• Start a twitter account -get to know bloggers and authors. Tweet your content. Be sure your twitter name and icon match your blog so they are easily recognizable
• Start a facebook page for your blog. This is a perfect place to connect, share bookish news and control the content on your blog.
• Post consistently. While you do not have to post everyday, a blog that sits inactive for weeks at a time, will be forgotten. 
• Review things you are passionate about. Good reviews that show your personality and reflect books you like will attract like minded readers. 

3.  I was emailed the following question: 

 How do you post on a daily basis? 

                   

I am actually posting weeks in advance. For instance this post which will publish on November 17, is actually being written on October 10th. 

Ideally, the way to do this is to create blog posts for two to three weeks before you go live. However if you are like me, you dove in headfirst and asked questions later. So here are some tips to build a base:

• Write up reviews for books you have already read. Lets say six to eight reviews. These can be books you read in the last five years, or make a post showcasing a series or author..be creative. 
• Participate in at least one meme or create your own weekly post. Since we all cannot review seven books a week, try to have at least two days with memes such as Waiting on Wednesday or The Sunday Post. As an alternative create your own weekly post such as a bookish news post. 
• Join a blog tour group. Ask bloggers you trust which tour groups they recommend. 
• Map out at least two weeks worth of reviews, memes and tours. 

Now that you have a PLAN, your pre-written posts, memes and hopefully tour date you are ready to organize. Gather all of the books you have promised to review but have not read. Create a list based on release dates. 

Organization is the key!

Get a calendar or use an online one.  (I use Google calendar) 

• Determine how many books you want to review and how many you can read each month. This is really important..do not overreach in your commitments or you will quickly burn out. Error on the low side. 
• Determine how many scheduled memes you will be participating in each week. 

For me I can easily review 8 books a month.
I participate in two memes a week and once a month I post Blogger Tips and Tricks

Open your calendar for the Next three months:

• Add all of your scheduled memes(for the entire 3 months) I know you haven't written them, but fill in those dates. I use red for planned and blue for completed and scheduled.
• Schedule all of the book reviews you wrote from above for the next two to three weeks, add in any blog tours you have scheduled. 
• Now beginning two - three weeks from today's date start adding book post dates. These are books you have not yet read for review. The number of books scheduled to post for review will be based on the number of books you decided you could read a month.  (For me I can do eight a month, so each week I schedule two review posts, usually on Tuesdays and Thursdays.)
• Now that your schedule is up, begin reading the books scheduled for two to three weeks from now. You should have ample time to read and review them. (If you aren't able to read your own books or feel locked into a reading schedule ..go back and adjust the number of books you can review in a month.)
• Fill in empty slots with blog tours, books you've read, bookish news, cover reveals or another meme.

Scheduling Ahead for Book Reviews, Blog Tours, Guest Post etc:

Whenever you are asked to review a book or find yourself drooling on NetGalley, look at the book(s) release date and head to that calendar month. Have you accepted your max number of books for that month? Using this method will ensure you do not overbook, that you enjoy your blog and deliver a steady stream of content. 

Have a question? Want advice? Want to know how they did that? Email me

How the Heck Did You Do That?? Blogger Tips and Tricks #3.

Blogger Tips and Tricks

1. How did you get that coffee cup next to your URL address? 

   That little image is known as a Favicon. 

This is fairly easy to do using a really cool website gadget. All you will need is an image you'd like to make a fivicon out of. Here is the website: http://favicon.htmlkit.com/favicon/

• Simply follow the directions.
• Once you have made your favicon, download it to your computer
• On blogger open your layout page. You should see an favicon box, just select edit and upload your icon. 

2. How do I make a button for my blog??

                                                    <a border="0" href="http://www.caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa411/kimbathecaffeinatedbookreviewer/vectorstock_715065-1button.jpg" /></a>

• Make an image for your button and make it no larger than 250x250.(mine is 240x240) Be sure not to use an image that you do not own unless you get permission. I bought mine from Vectorstock. You can edit this image and add words using Photoshop, Photobucket, Pixlr or Ribbit .
• Once you have made your image you will need to save and store it on flickr, photobucket etc. It doesn't matter where as long as its in the cloud. Do not save to your computer or your button will not work, you will need a url address for it. It should look something like this: 

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa411/kimbathecaffeinatedbookreviewer/vectorstock_1017111.jpg 

• Now we are ready to make your button and the box with code for others to grab. 
• 
  

Here is the code you will be using:

<div style="margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; text-align: center;">

<img src="URL to button image" /> <br /> <textarea style="text-align:center" rows="4" cols="22"><a border="0" href="URL for Blog Address" target="_blank"><img src="URL to Button Image" /></a></textarea></div>

• Copy and paste the above code into word, notepad or document.
• Copy and paste your button's image and add to red areas of code. Be sure and do both areas.
• Next add your blog url address into blue area shown above.
• Finally add your blog name, save document so you have the code and formula handy. 
• On blogger add a gadget and select html code/text and on WP add html code to your sidebar. 
• Copy and paste the code with your links, add title to gadget such as "Grab my Button" and hit save.

You now have a button to share with others! This is an excellent way to promote your blog. This code can also be used to make event buttons. Enjoy! 

Hope these help you and if you have additional questions please email me. 

Is there something you want to learn? 

email me and I will try to bring it to you on the next Blogger Tips and Tricks! 

How The Heck Did You Do That?? -Blogger Tips and Tricks #2

My first Blogger Tips and Tricks post received such a positive response that, I have decided to make this a monthly feature. I know sometimes html codes and blogging in general can make you feel like you've just taken a trip in the Tardis..but my wish is to make it as simple as possible for you. 



 1. Placing Images Side by Side on my Blog.

This is a simple way to place them side by side. 

Access the HTML side of your post and type the following code:

<center><table>

<tbody>

<tr>

<td><img src="URL IMAGE OF PHOTO 1" width="180" /></td>

<td><img src="URL IMAGE OF PHOTO 2" width="180" /></td>

</tr>

</tbody></table></center>

In the highlighted blue area you will need to place the web hosted URL of your image. You can use photobucket(this is what I use and it's free), flickr etc to house these images. What?? how do I do that?? It's easy, download image desired to your computer. Set up account with web-based photo shop such as Photobucket. When you are logged on, upload picture from your computer by selecting upload and following directions. Then click save and go to your albums. Under photo you will see direct link, copy and paste that url into the red area above, repeat for second image. In the blue area select the width you want the photo to be.


2. Want them to have clickable links????



(go on click on them) 


Use this code in HTML:

<center><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tr>
<td><a href="paste link url here"><img src="paste image url here" border="0" /></a></td>
<td style="padding-left:10px;"> <a href="paste 2nd link url here"><img src="paste 2nd photo url here" border="0" /></a></td></tr>
</table></center>

• To add to your post, go to html side of compose and copy and paste this code into post. 
• copy and paste the link site URL in the red area.
• In the blue area copy and paste your image URL. Remember it must be an image stored online, for example photobucket or flickr. (be sure and size them the same)
• Repeat for each image.  
• The 10px  is the distance between images and you can change that number to suit your needs. 

Here is the code I used for my #Fraterfest side by side images to give you an inside look:

<center>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><a href="http://www.caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/2012/07/fraterfest-read-thon.html"><img border="0" src="http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa411/kimbathecaffeinatedbookreviewer/fraterfest1.jpg" /></a></td>
<td style="padding-left: 10px;"><a href="http://www.caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/2012/07/fraterfest-read-thon.html"><img border="0" src="http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa411/kimbathecaffeinatedbookreviewer/fraterfest1.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</center>

4. Can I do more than 2 side by side images? 

Yes you can, for more images, simply add more code surrounded by  <td style="padding-left:10px;">  and </td>.  Make sure you add them before the tag </tr>.

• <td style="padding-left:10px;"> <a href="paste 2nd link url here"><img src="paste 2nd photo url here" border="0" /></a></td>

5. Can these codes be used in my side bar?

Yes, just be sure to re-size images to fit width of your sidebar. On blogger, go to add gadget and use html code. Copy and paste the codes we used above.

Tips:

1. Commenting on other blogs:

Be sure to set up accounts with all comment systems that include a link to YOUR blog. (ie. comment luv, blogger, disqus, worldpress, twitter.) I get comments and would love to reciprocate..but if I cannot find you easily I cannot comment. 

I know it's a pain, and I know it takes time to set up profiles but you will see an increase in comments to your blog..trust me. Choice a user name and icon to use for all profiles. This will make you recognizable!!! You can use the same password to make it easier to remember. Add your blog and twitter link to this profile. Market yourself everywhere you go. 

2. Images in your side bar 

To all the bloggers with pictures in your side bars that hang out over the edges..you can use photobucket, flickr etc to re-size those images to fit within the sidebar. You can also resize your side bar by customizing your template. For blogger, go to template, customize, adjusts widths and play around with it, till you get the look you want.

Good Luck and if you have a problem..email, tweet or facebook message me :)

If there is something you want to learn about or need advice on 

email me and I will try and include it in an upcoming post.