BlogWritingCourse

I enjoy blogging.  Really, I do!  But it’s possible that I might not enjoy it quite as much if I didn’t have some terrific blogging tools that I have come to depend on.  I guess it’s sort of like a baker.  I’m sure he or she always enjoys baking - - but they probably wouldn’t like it QUITE so much if they didn’t have their favorite sifter, or their favorite cheese cloth or their favorite candy thermometer. 

Fortunately, I don’t have to imagine a world where I would have to blog without my techie tool kit.  That’s because many of the great programs and helps I use are absolutely free and as easy to get as a quick download.

1. My all-time favorite blogging tool - - hands-down - - is Windows Live Writer.  I write several different blogs, and Live Writer keeps track of them all.  I write my posts within the software, and it has automatic saving capabilities as I go - - no more lost blog posts!!  Images are a snap to include in posts, which is a lot more than I can say for the interfaces within either Blogger or Wordpress.  And there are tons of plug-ins which provide no end to the other cool things I can do to my blog…generate tags, create Polaroid-style images, link up with my Picasa albums…you name it, Live Writer can probably do it!
2. Another trick that makes blogging easier is the terrific “Share This” add-on for Firefox.  Seeing something on the web that you want to blog about is now as simple as clicking on the “Share This” button in your browser and choosing your blog host.  (you can also share content immediately in dozens of other ways including Twitter, MySpace, Digg, and even by email)
3. I’ve recently become very impressed by the GetSocial application.  GetSocial is a simple social bookmarking tool that will generate a code for each blog post you write so that readers can easily share YOUR content with others via several different bookmarking options.
4. This probably isn’t news to you, but Google rules the world.  And sometimes, with good reason.  There probably isn’t any better analytical tool for finding out how your blog is doing than Google Analytics. It’s accurate.  It’s comprehensive.  And it’s free! What’s better than that??
5. Is your blog content worth saving?  Hopefully, you are all nodding your head “yes” out there.  If you are, then you should know about Web2PDF.  This service allows you to embed a cool tool on your blog so that readers can save or print your articles as pdf files.  It also keeps track of how many people are using the service so you can know which parts of your blog are the most helpful to others.

Yes, you could make an apple pie without your handy-dandy apple peeler/corer/slicer.  But why would you???  I wouldn’t.  Just like I wouldn’t want to blog without these handy-dandy blogging tools.  If you have any favorite tools for blogging that have served you well, why not share them in the comments!

Until Next Time,

The mysterious widget.  It sounds like something right out of a conversation between Piglet and Pooh, doesn’t it? 

Piglet: Oh, d-d-d-dear.  I think I just saw a widget flying by my window!”

Pooh:  Was it holding my missing honey jar, perchance?

Despite it’s strange name, however, the widget (also called a “gadget” by Blogger users) is a quite important piece of the blog puzzle.  Whereas blogs might be thought of as simply websites containing scrolling pieces of writing from most to least recent, the truth is that today’s blogs are so much more.

HTML and Javascript coding have introduced all sorts of possibilities for blogs - - even those hosted on free blog hosts!  As long as a blogger has access to blog settings, he or she can add any number of things to their sidebar.

Here are some popular options for sidebar widgets:

• Picture of the blogger or a graphic representation of the blog
• “About Me” information to get more background on the blogger
• Subscription information, such as how to subscribe to the blog via email or RSS
• Blog Archive – a history of the posts from most recent backwards, usually organized by month
• Search box for being able to search the blog by keyword
• Category listing for grouping blog posts by topic
• Advertisements such as Adsense ads or individual ads
• Links to blogs the blogger enjoys reading or wants to promote - - often called a “blogroll”

Depending on the blog software you use, inserting a widget into the sidebar, can be as simple as clicking on a box and typing in some text, or as complicated as completely coding every line of CSS script.  Most of the mainline blog hosts make it a very easy process, though. 

This ease of use DOES have a downside, however.  Newbie bloggers can often make the mistake of OVER-using widgets and cluttering up their sidebar so much that they detract from the blog posts themselves.  Be wise with your use of widgets and make sure they are inherently tied to the theme of your blog, and not so graphically “tacky” that readers are turned off by the visual clutter.  Try to find a balance between providing helpful information and remaining aesthetically pleasing.

So go ahead…have some fun with those widgets.  That’s what Pooh would do!

Until next time,