How to Switch Back to Old Blogger

Technology is not pretty.
Angelina Jolie is pretty.
Technology is no Angelina Jolie.
~~ Tricia Weight

These instructions were created to assist bloggers who want to use the 'Going Pink For October' templates I created.
However they can be also be helpful for anyone who just wants to revert their blog back to the old blogger template interface.

The article with written instructions and photo screenshots for reverting back to the old Blogger dashboard and template editor is HERE --> Switching back to Classic Blogger. This also includes instructions on how to back up your templates in both old and new Blogger as well as directions and screenshots to update to the new Blogger interface. **Note: If you click on an instruction photo it will open in a large window of it's own--then you can see it better without having to leave the instruction page.

These are FREE BLOGGER CLASSIC TEMPLATES some may bump uglies with new browsers and such. I do my best to help when someone asks, but my hope is that you'll be able to help one another. If someone has a question or a problem, please respond if you have a solution or a suggestion.
In the meantime I'll be out there doing my part to keep us all rockin'.



Friday, April 30, 2010

Using Images as Links How Spiders Read Your Page

You should make special note in the image below of the code I've used to create image attributes.

blogger_template_instructions

The first attribute is title, but replacing the word title with alt works just as well. This is important for the indexing of your images by search engines. Spiders cannot 'see' the image when they crawl your page. The 'title' or 'alt' attribute is your way of telling the spiders what's going on in the picture, how you want them to index that image, your post, and your site properly.

This is an extremely important attribute for SEO. If you're selling from your blog, you might want to add a picture of a product, say a book. In order for the picture, and your site, to come up on searches for this book you'll need to be specific in the 'title' attribute. If you title it book your image will get lost amongst the millions of images called book on the Internet.

I've told the spiders exactly what this image is and how I want it indexed by using the book's title and author's name in the title attribute.

jury_of_her_peers_elaine_showalter

Now, roll your cursor over the image. This is an added benefit to alt and title attributes. The title pops up when you scroll over the image. I can then link either the picture itself or text to the URL of my review of the book.

The second attribute is target=blank. Because I've linked my image to another website I am, in effect, sending readers away from my page when they click the link. In order to allow them to remain on my page, and still see the page I've linked, I've added the target blank attribute. This code added to an image makes the link open in a new window keeping your reader on your site.

The title, alt and target = blank attributes can be added to text links as well, in the same area that you add them to an image. They have the same effect of opening the link in a new window, helping spiders index the topic of your post, and creating a scroll-over title. **The scroll over attribute doesn't work in Firefox. Only in IE.

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How To : Pre Format Add Links Signature to Blogger Template

Save time by setting permanent links in each post.
Or Add awesome image signatures and links to posts!


These simple step by step instructions, with images, will guide you through the process of creating a blog signature or a set of links that will automatically publish with each new post on Blogger. **Click pictures to enlarge**

The first step is getting the graphics for your signature.
You can use a picture of yourself. An avatar. You can create a text graphic signature using any graphics program or you can create a custom signature by visiting mylivesignature.com Select the signature creation wizard to create your signature.

blogger,template,instructions

Once you have saved the graphic signature as an image you can copy paste the code. No need to host the image on your own server!

This is my signature. I've changed the URL in the code to go to my home page.

just_another_geek_girl

Once you have the graphics you want to use you're ready to create a permanent signature and links in each post.

This method is called pre-formatting a post template. Using this method the code will already be inside your text editor whenever you click New Post. You can decide with each post where you want it to appear, as a footer, as a header, at the head or end of each post.

To begin: Go to your Blogger Dashboard.
Find the blog you want to add the signature and links to and click Settings.

blogging,template

This takes you inside the blog dashboard.
Click Formatting.

blogger,blogger,template,graphics

Scroll to the bottom of the Formatting page.
You'll see the empty box that reads Post Template.

blogger,template

This is the area where you'll insert the text and html to create permanent links in each post. ** Keep in mind that you should add the html (line breaks, non-breaking spaces, etc) right in this window so you won't have to bother with placement again.

In the jpeg below you can see that I've added the signature code that links to my home page as well as a text link to my writer's profile on Blogcritics.org. I've decided to use Currently Reading to keep readers updated on the next book that I'll be reviewing.

blog,graphics

I blindly added line breaks when I first put the code in, just to break up each element, then I edited it later. There is no preview on the Post Template Formatting page. I'll explain how to do it further down.

You should make special note in the image below of the code I've used to create image attributes.

blogger_template_instructions

The first attribute is title, but replacing the word 'title' with alt works just as well. This is important for the indexing of your images by search engines. You can read more about it on Using Images As Links How Spiders Read Your Page

Once you've inserted your signature, images, and links into the post editor you need to click the SAVE button just below it. If your adding a lot of links you might want to click SAVE as you work so you don't run the risk of losing what you've already added.

When you're finished adding everything and you've hit SAVE, you should click on POSTING and then Create New. As soon as the post window opens you should see everything you added in the POST TEMPLATE already inside.

blogger,template,instructions

Now you have the option to use it as a header or to start typing above it and use it as a footer as I have.

blogger,template,instructions

Editing the Post Template:

As I said before, there is no preview for POST TEMPLATE so you'll have to open a new post and then hit preview to see how it looks. I usually adjust everything right there in the post window until it looks just as I desire. Next I (control c) copy all of it and save the post in draft as 'post template' (just in case). Then I go back into Formatting to the Post Template and delete everything out of it. I click in the window and then (control v) paste the edited version into it. I click SAVE again, go into posting and open a New Post. Now I can hit preview and make sure that everything got transfered correctly into the Post Template.

The last step in editing cannot be done until you actually publish a post. As you know the Post Window is usually larger than your actual blog template. You'll have to wait until a post goes live to see if you need to make any final adjustments.

Once you've got your Post Template set perfectly you won't have touch it again until you decide to change the links or images.

You can see my live footer on woodnotwood

Another Useful Blogging Tip: You can use the Post Template as a place holder for links that you change often. If you want to change ads with each post, feature other blogs, link to articles on other sites or perhaps even to a related post on your own site you can add the empty html in the Post Template and just fill in the link text and URL each time you get ready to post.

If you post your content on different sites on the Internet or re-publish your older posts you should take certain precautions to insure that search engines don't see your site as part of a SPAMblog network. Read this post Avoiding Duplicate Content Penalties for more information.

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