Using Blogspot

Hello readers!

I have been told that I have helped a few people to get to grips with creating their blog, and was asked if I could blog about it to help others.  So here it is!  I don't expect to put the 'difinitive' guide to blogging on here and you shouldn't expect it either, but I do hope to help with a few basics.

OK, so you have made your blogspot account and you want it all set up and ready to go. There are a few relatively easy steps to take for this to occur. (NB. All of the following are done in the traditional style interface, so if the website looks all minimalist orange and grey click the option on the top right to change back to the normal view!):

1. Pick a template design, or design your own using the various options and menus - just remember to click the 'Apply to blog ' button!
2. Choose your layout - this is a personal choice so go with whatever you fancy, there are many to choose from. Again don't forget to 'Apply to blog'
3. When you have finished with styling your page, you will want to make sure that you have visible all the elements of the page that you want, whether they are groups for you posts (called labels here) or a page counter, whatever you fancy.  To add a 'gadget' as they are called in blogspot, simply click on a blue 'add a gadget' wherever you want it to go.  Then from the drop down menu that pops up, scroll down until you find what you want and click the blue + on the right of the item.  You can repeat this as often as you like, but bear in mind the more you add, the slower the page will load to people with slow internet speeds. 
4. You can also move these added 'gadgets' once you have added them.  Whilst in the 'page elements' page - where you added them in the first place, you can grab a gadget and hold the left mouse button down, then drag up up or down the list it's in or even move it to another location where there is an 'add a gadget' option.  Don't be afraid to have a play with it, it's your page and you should be proactive in it's design! I would like to point out one gadget however, and that is the 'labels' gadget.  This one is brilliant for storing your posts into groups.  In you are wondering what I am talking about, look to the left of my page and you will see 'clickable' words like 'A215', and 'Random'.. that is the labels gadget in action.. Nice isn't it!
5. Click on the 'Settings tab' this is where you can update the title and description but also do much more advanced settings like changing who can comment on your blog.  Your best off having a look through all of these settings yourself, and setting them up as you want them, but I would suggest you click on 'comment's and change it to allow 'anyone' to comment.  It's a personal choice though so have a play with it.
6. Posting on your blog. OK, the time has come to post on your blog.  Once you have given it a title, written all the words and checked it over, make sure that you take note of the 'labels' box.  This is where you can let the post know where you want it to appear.  You can add as many labels as you like, just serparate each one with a comma.. eg.  A215, Random, Stuff..  you get the idea.  As I mentioned in point 4, it's worth doing in my opinion.  They will only show up though if you have the 'label' gadget on your page - you will if you have followed this guide correctly. 
7. Following others.  If you would like other people to view your blog, then it's a good idea to follow other people yourself, and don't forget to put thoughtful and constructive comments! In order to follow someone else there are a multitude of different options available to you to add them to your 'following' list.  Either go to their blog, and click follow, click on their picture in your follower list and then click on their 'link', or you can go to your dashboard - which you should think of as your hub for all blog action, you can easily get to your dashboard via the top right of the screen, either click dashboard, or if it isn't there, then click design and then dashboard! When on the dashboard screen, scroll down until you see the word ADD which is under your 'reading list'.  Click the 'add' button and add the required link into the 'url' box.  This is the best way that I know for adding 'wordpress' blogs to your reading list!  So once you have added the url to the box, eg.. http://trying-to-write-right.blogspot.com click next and follow the instructions.  You will note the 'manage' box next to 'add'. Manage is where you can unfollow any blogs that are no longer wanted. To do that you have to click the 'manage' button, then 'settings' to the right of the correct blog, and then 'stop following this site' which is on the right hand side of the pop up box.

OK, I think that is it for now.  Please feel free to comment if you have anything to add or query! I will try and help out with whatever I can.

Thanks for reading, and I hope that it helps you!

Neil