Blog Design Technique & Tips

[stylistforhire]

The blog service I found that lets you customise your blog the easiest is http://www.pitas.com
You can create a design with html for your whole page
and also the separate blog entries
It's so simple. None of this weird widget/tags/etc stuff

I don't understand why blogger is so complicated
There is just too many codes to mess with

I'd like to stay with blogger though
it's so popular and more people have their own accounts and are willing to comment on each other's posts
I'll try to research some way to make the codes simpler

This is the page I am looking at so far:
http://woork.blogspot.com/2008/04/top-down-approach-to-simplify-your-css.html
It gives you an idea..
The codes are to separate the thing in sections
Just that in blogspot there is far too many sections
I tried editing my own template with what it says there, but I guess I am missing something because it's not working

Looked at this site too and it looks like I would have to start another blog on the pitas site which doesn't interest me. Can you use the pitas templates on blogspot? Pitas did have some great templates etc, and I looked at some of the blogs which looked pretty good.

 

[gius]

^No, I don't think you can save the templates as separate files... to upload on blogspot.

But it's very easy to make your own
You just create a layout/design and you only enter a code in the spot where you want the entries to be (ie. %%journal entries here%%), and as you update your journal, the entries will show up automatically
You do need to know HTML (and/or CSS)

 

[decadentdiamond]

In regards to the site I posted, I have only used the tutorial for adding a third column, which in the process taught me the basics of html. There is a lot of information on that site (enough to make your eyes go blurry!), and it took me a second time to look at it before I attempted modification (I was desperate for a third column!)

stylistforhire, are you looking to get a third column too?

 

[punky]

I didn't use etsy, But i know people who have. My boyfriend is a graphic designer. He just quickly took a picture of me and made it in to banners.

I'm looking at the site now, thanks for the recos....did you use this site? I think I'll just contact them, but I'd much rather code it myself because I want to learn more about coding. I like your top pic, that's what I'm after an identity that immediately tells the viewer a bit about the blog.

I'm starting another blog geared towards industry professionals. There will be interviews etc, so this blog has to have it's own look.

Any other suggestions are gladly welcome but thanks Punky for suggesting that site.

 

[stylistforhire]

In regards to the site I posted, I have only used the tutorial for adding a third column, which in the process taught me the basics of html. There is a lot of information on that site (enough to make your eyes go blurry!), and it took me a second time to look at it before I attempted modification (I was desperate for a third column!)

stylistforhire, are you looking to get a third column too?

For my blog right now, I would like to add a third column and move the ads. I'm not sure how the ads got to the bottom of the page but they're there nonetheless. You're right your eyes do go blurry. Can you offer anyone offer any assistance?

Cheers

 

[decadentdiamond]

This is the page to add a third column... make sure you're completely chilled out when you attempt this (if you know absolutely nothing about html) and give yourself about an hour... http://tips-for-new-bloggers.blogspot.com/2007/02/three-columns-blogger-template.html
Make sure you're in the Minima template too.

I'm glad I had the patience to complete it because it really did make a lot of htmling clear to me!

 

[stylistforhire]

This is the page to add a third column... make sure you're completely chilled out when you attempt this (if you know absolutely nothing about html) and give yourself about an hour... http://tips-for-new-bloggers.blogspot.com/2007/02/three-columns-blogger-template.html
Make sure you're in the Minima template too.

I'm glad I had the patience to complete it because it really did make a lot of htmling clear to me!

I had to laugh when I read "make sure you're chilled out..." I will heed your advice/warning, I don't think I'll attempt it today. I'm in the midst of creating new posts and I would like to have it completed by the end of the week. I know what you're saying re:HTML, it can only benefit in the future.

Many thanks,

Jacqueline
PS: Gius, I may be pm'ing you to get your input.

 

[stylistforhire]

This is the page to add a third column... make sure you're completely chilled out when you attempt this (if you know absolutely nothing about html) and give yourself about an hour... http://tips-for-new-bloggers.blogspot.com/2007/02/three-columns-blogger-template.html
Make sure you're in the Minima template too.

I'm glad I had the patience to complete it because it really did make a lot of htmling clear to me!

I decided to jump straight in, but I don't know if I did this right. How can you tell if you have a third column? I followed the instructions, completely but I don't think I did it right. Have a look.

Cheers

 

[decadentdiamond]

You'll be able to see it! .. I also forgot to add, to preview everything before you save it, or, to download and save your current template if you're attached to it. Incase it all goes wrong! .. and you'll see the extra column in the 'add and arrange page elements' page, if it worked. Trust me, there's a whole load of fiddling about and you need to have a really sharp eye, especially when you don't really know what you're looking for at the beginning.

(I currently can't see a third column on your blog by the way)

 

[gius]

PS: Gius, I may be pm'ing you to get your input.

No problemo!

 

[educo]

Hey guys I was wondering how to post pics side by side on blogger? Is that even possible?

 

[decadentdiamond]

I don't think you can do that.. I can't recall ever seeing it like that unless you mess around with the html.

However, when I need to have images next to each other, I just crop and put them all onto one page on Photoshop, so it just acts as 'one' image when I upload it, even though it can be showing 3/4... if that makes sense.

 

[gius]

your blog's looking gorgeous, educo
i like the giant header image..

to post pictures side-by-side,
when you go to upload a picture, choose "NONE" under "Choose a layout"

 

[educo]

your blog's looking gorgeous, educo
i like the giant header image..

to post pictures side-by-side,
when you go to upload a picture, choose "NONE" under "Choose a layout"

God bless you

 

[jingco]

What widgets do you have on your blog?

I was checking out blogs and noticed all the cool widgets people have on their blogs. Did some google searches and got codes to add these widgets to my blog.

The one I'll be adding is the Clouds Tags, probably add a bunch of other cool stuff.

What widgets do you have on your blog?

You can even find a bunch here. Couple of cool ones is the message box/guest book and the Google Translator that translate your blog to different languages.

 

[gius]

welcome to theFashionSpot jingco
i merged your thread with this one on blog design...

i didn't realise widgets were codings.. or that you could get different kinds from other places.
i use the ones offered by Blogger since i use that service

-Links list widget
-Profile, archive and header widgets
& -javascript widget for a sneaky invisible thing

 

[jingco]

Thank you gius!

If anyone is interested in exchanging links let me know. Or if you want me or my team to write about your stuff, also let me know. We should support each other.

I installed the Label clouds and translator on my blog. I recommend installing the label clouds because it increases your search engine ranking so more people will find you on Google. I read that installing the translator helped blogs get international visitors but I haven't noticed that too much.

Btw when you guys make changes to your blog you are changing the CSS, not so much the HTML. I'm a programmer so if you guys have any questions let me know.

 

[stylistforhire]

Thank you gius!

If anyone is interested in exchanging links let me know. Or if you want me or my team to write about your stuff, also let me know. We should support each other.

I installed the Label clouds and translator on my blog. I recommend installing the label clouds because it increases your search engine ranking so more people will find you on Google. I read that installing the translator helped blogs get international visitors but I haven't noticed that too much.

Btw when you guys make changes to your blog you are changing the CSS, not so much the HTML. I'm a programmer so if you guys have any questions let me know.

Hi Jingco and welcome!! It's great to have more bloggers to brainstorm with. I am v. interested in exchanging links and also the having a piece written up. My blog was a test ground to see if I really liked blogging and to also play around with the templates etc. I am starting a new blog that will focus in the design industry, this blog has to look, feel and read brilliantly.

Sorry but what is CSS? I only changed the HTML.

All the best

 

[jingco]

Hello StylistforHire!

I checked out your blog, pretty cool. I have added you to my blogroll: Fashion Style Blog. Do you want a write up on your current blog or your new one?

CSS (Cascading Style Sheet) is the code for the layout and style of your blog such as 3 columns and the colour of fonts, links, etc... Certain things you can use either CSS or HTML. HTML is the static stuff on the page such as images, text, headers. HTML is known as the Content and CSS is the style or layout.

You use Zookoda for email list, how are you finding it? Should that be something we should consider?

BTW, can you add a link to my blog? Thanks!

Hi Jingco and welcome!! It's great to have more bloggers to brainstorm with. I am v. interested in exchanging links and also the having a piece written up. My blog was a test ground to see if I really liked blogging and to also play around with the templates etc. I am starting a new blog that will focus in the design industry, this blog has to look, feel and read brilliantly.

Sorry but what is CSS? I only changed the HTML.

All the best

 

[stylistforhire]

My blog needs work, I'm toying around the layout, colours etc....any suggestions? You know I was starting to guess what CSS stood for and I almost got it. I'm a bit of a geek-in-training when it comes to this stuff...I LOVE IT! In fact I'm going to take a web design course in the near future, hope to really know HTML etc before starting though.

Having a something written about my current blog doesn't hurt, so I'll say yes why not.

Happy to add you Jingco but I want to do it properly. Do I require special code to do a blogroll?

All the best