Build a Better Blog

Update on Sociable gadget

2010-09-27T16:14:00.000-04:00

A few months ago we recommended that you add a gadget called socialable to your blog so others could quickly pass your post on. See this post.

BUT like everything on the web, things have changed. Blogger now has included a similar list of social media buttons at the bottom of each post. They call them Share Buttons. To turn these on or off:

Go to the Design tab of your blog
Locate the Blogs posts area and click Edit
Locate the Show Share Buttons area
Check the box to turn it on or UNcheck to turn it off (not have it appear on each post)
Scroll down and click Save

A new "Page" gadget

2010-03-10T15:23:00.000-05:00

Blogger.com has added a new "Page" gadget which provides another way for you to display your About Us or Contributors page. Or, you can use the gadget to create a new page with contact information or the purpose of the blog. Pages created with the Page gadget are "static" pages and you can have up to 10 of them on your blog.

To get a new Page:

Click the Layout tab
Click Add a Gadget
Click Pages
Make any changes, optional
Click Save
Click the Posting tab
You should now have a Edit Pages link
Click New Page
Add a Title (title of the page)
Add the body (looks like a post)
Click Publish Page when done

When you view your blog, you will now see a Pages Gadget in the side navigation (unless you made changes in step 4 above).

To add another page, repeat steps 6 through 11 above.

To edit an existing page, return to the Posting tab, click Edit Pages, find the page you want to edit and click Edit.

To delete an existing page, return to the Posting tab, click Edit Pages, find the page you want to edit and click Delete.

You can also control the location of where this gadget will appear on your blog. It can appear anywhere within the side navigation or you could move it to the top above your posts. To move it to the top, go to the Layout tab, locate the Pages box, click, hold and drag it up above the Blog Posts, release your mouse.

Use a Header with Penn State Logo

2010-01-13T14:06:00.003-05:00

The minimum visual standard for each blog is to display a banner graphic/header that contains the Penn State mark. Please keep in mind that the header should not be so large that it overpowers the content on your blog or pushes the content too far down on the page.

The Ag Communications group will assist bloggers in developing a banner/header. You can contact Steve Williams (sfw3@psu.edu) or Chris More (cjm49@psu.edu) to request help creating a header.

Subscribe Via RSS

2010-01-07T16:17:00.003-05:00

You should allow your readers the ability to subscribe to your blog via RSS and email subscriptions. To allow readers to subscribe via RSS, you will need to add the "Subscription Links" gadget.

Subscribe Via Email

2010-01-07T16:17:00.002-05:00

You should allow your readers the ability to subscribe to your blog via RSS and email subscriptions. Follow these instructions to add a gadget to your blog that will allow readers to subscribe via email.

Go to http://feedburner.google.com/
Log in with your Google Account
Below “Burn a feed right this instance” enter your blog URL
Click Next
On the Identify Feed Source page, choose the RSS option
Click Next
Click Next
Click Next
Click Next
Click the Publicize tab
On the left, click “Email Subscriptions”
Click Activate
Copy the code shown
Go to your Blog in Blogger
Go to Layout tab
Select the Page Elements option
Add a Gadget
Choose the HTML/Javascript Gadget
Enter a title, such as Subscribe Via Email
Paste the code into the Content area
Click Save

Standard Links

2010-01-07T15:15:00.008-05:00

In order to enhance the possibility of increased traffic to other blogs and to Penn State sites, each blog should have the following links displayed/listed:

College of Ag Sciences (agsci.psu.edu)
Penn State (http://www.psu.edu/)
Your department, program or Cooperative Extension home page
The Dean's Desk (agsci.psu.edu/dean/blog)
Possible other college blogs

Facebook Link

2010-01-07T15:10:00.008-05:00

Each blog should have a link to the College's fan page on Facebook.

Use the Link List gadget
Use this name: Ag Sciences Facebook
Use this link: http://www.facebook.com/pages/University-Park-PA/College-of-Agricultural-Sciences-Penn-State-University/53789486293

Sociable

2010-01-07T15:08:00.007-05:00

This cool gadget allows your viewers to quickly take your post and add it to their social media applications such as Delicious, FaceBook and Twitter.

To add this functionality to your blog, you will need to add the "Sociable" gadget.

Twitter Feeds/Updates

2010-01-07T15:05:00.004-05:00

If you, the author maintains a relevant Twitter account, you can include it on your blog. If you don't tweet, you could use a departmental tweet, a program team tweet, a county tweet or the Dean's tweets (twitter name:MEDFLYGENES).

You will need to add an HTML/Javascript gadget and copy and paste the following code into the gadget. Once it is pasted, you will replace our twitter name (AGITTRAINING) with your twitter name in the two locations shown.

<div id="twitter_div" style="border: 1px solid #cccccc; padding: 0px 10px 0px 2px;"><ul id="twitter_update_list"></ul>
<a id="twitter-link" style="display:block;text-align:right;" href="http://twitter.com/AGITTRAINING">follow me on Twitter</a>
</div>
<script src="http://twitter.com/javascripts/blogger.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
<script src="http://twitter.com/statuses/user_timeline/AGITTRAINING.json?callback=twitterCallback2&count=5" type="text/javascript"></script>

Followers

2010-01-07T15:00:00.005-05:00

The Followers gadget is a tool to help you grow your blog's audience. Readers often visit a blog and enjoy it but fail to return. With the followers gadget you can get readers to return and become a fan.

Also, if you have a blog which has many readers you can show off the popularity of your blog using Followers.

We recommend that you write a post about your followers gadget and encourage readers to become a follower. Many readers ignore sidebar items so writing a post about your followers gadget should grow your audience.

NOTE: In order to become a follower of a blog, users will need to have a Google, Twitter, Yahoo, AIM, or Netlog account or an OpenID.

To Show Labels or Not?!

2010-01-06T19:16:00.002-05:00

Labels or categories can be used on each post to allow them to be grouped together. Labels are handy if you blog about a lot of different subjects, since readers can then choose to view all of your posts on, say, gardening at once. When you publish your post, the label(s) may be listed with it. Clicking any of the labels will take you to a page containing only posts with that label.

Use the Label Gadget and edit the settings to determine how many labels to appear in the gadget, although you can use more labels than actually appear. We recommend you use a maximum of 10 in the gadget.

A few other tips:

Be consistent with the names of your labels. Use the Show all button if needed on each post.
Authors of team blogs should agree on a pre-determined set of labels to use.

Note: The following characters cannot be used in labels: & < > @ ! ,

Contributors - Who are they?

2010-01-06T19:14:00.000-05:00

The Contributors gadget is more important than you think. This is the author or authors of the blog. People want to know who you are and why should they listen to what you have to say!

Blogger has a built in profile page which should include pictures, bio, professional expertise are good. Or you have some other options to create a different bio page:

Create a custom post and link to that if you wish
Create a page outside the blog and link to it (i.e. page on county or dept. website)

If you are using the built in profile page from Blogger.com be sure to edit it today and then review on a regular basis to make sure it's current.

Use Lists, Bullets Points and Pictures

2010-01-06T16:54:00.000-05:00

Long posts of straight text can be, well BORING! I mean, long posts of straight text are less likely to attract readers.

People like to absorb information in bite-size pieces. Use headings to break up the block of text.

Bullets and lists help organize the information.

Pictures also make your posts more interesting to look at and give readers a quick clue about the content. jpegs work well, while gif's are iffy.

Let's Focus

2010-01-06T16:47:00.000-05:00

Stay focused on each post!

Stick to one topic per post and make sure the topic is different enough from the previous posts so your readers don't get bored.

Posting Guidelines

2010-01-06T15:45:00.003-05:00

Frequent and consistent posts are a must! This will develop traffic and loyal readers and help with the overall effectiveness of the site.

Recommendations:

Post every 2 weeks or more often.
Use original text and pictures
Link to relevant information on other sites
Link to other sites that may be of interest to your audience

Google Analytics

2010-01-06T15:17:00.000-05:00

Google Analytics is an application that allows for tracking the visits and reactions to posts over time. It provided detailed reports. Google Analytic code should be activate. More information and the code is found on the Communication & Marketing page.

Comments

2010-01-06T15:14:00.001-05:00

All blogs should accept comments to allow for possible audience dialog. Commentscan be moderated or unmoderated, your choice!

Moderated comments will require the author to check in and accept or decline each comment.

Unmoderated comments are the easiest for the author and the spam comments can still be deleted.

Marketing & Promotion 2

2010-01-05T16:16:00.000-05:00

Once you get your blog established with more than a few posts, start publicizing it. Use the link in your newsletter, your county or department page, your email signature line, Tweet about it and post it on your Facebook page.

Get the point?

Put in on your pencils, pens, bookmarks... :)

Marketing & Promotion 1

2010-01-05T16:12:00.001-05:00

Successful blogs grow slowly so be patient!
You will not be added to the College's blog list with your first post, or even your second.

Successful blogs grow slowly over time and require input and attention beyond management and content develpment. Being listed on the College blogs list will help as will crosslinking with other college blogs but in order to find new readers it is important to find other blogs, sites and forums on the Web relevant to your blog and begin posting on those sites with links back to your own. These posts must be relevant to those sites and not purely a pitch for your own. This is a time consuming process if not carefully managed. It is suggested that a written plan be developed indicating which sites you will visit, how often and stick to that plan so as to not get caught up in those sites and spending more time than necessary.

For more information about promoting a blog visit How to Promote Your Work essay and How I'd Promot My Blog if Starting Out Again. Or, just google "How to Promote a Blog" for lots of suggestions.

Defining Your Blogging Committment

2010-01-04T16:19:00.000-05:00

Boggers should make their employer aware of their blogging plans if they will be doing this as part of their job or referencing their professional work. Plans for how the blog will be handled if the blogger changes jobs or can't continue should be discussed and planned for.

Blogger vs. Other Programs

2010-01-04T16:12:00.000-05:00

Blogger is our recommended blogging tool at this time. It will allow for the growth of a community of bloggers that can provide support and expertise among the group. It is suggested that new blogs using other tools that have not yet developed an audience consider migrating to Blogger.