I don’t at all consider myself an expert at blogging or blog design, but because I’ve been asked for blogging advice three times in the last week or so, I thought I’d write a post about it!  This is intended for beginner bloggers (getting ready to start a blog or have just recently started), but there might be a thing or two that is new for those of you who have been blogging longer!

Q: How do I start a blog?  What site do you recommend?
A: I have only used Blogger (okay, confession, I did use Xanga waaaaay back in high school), that is what I would recommend.  I have also heard great things about WordPress, but I can’t help you with that since I’ve never used it.  Go to Blogger and it is very easy to get started making a blog!  Once you’ve done that…

Q: What template do you use for your blog?  How do I edit my template/change colors/customize things?
A: Blogger has several layout templates you can choose from when you get started, but I recommend using one from another source. I like Our Blogger Templates, and that is where I got my layout template from. I use Brooklyn. This one is a very clean, minimal design with 3 columns. You can customize it a lot (fonts, colors, etc.) once you upload it. First, download the template you want. Then, go to your blogger dashboard, click “design,” then click “edit html” near the top. Browse for the template and upload it. To customize the colors and fonts, click “template designer” and change away!

Q: How do I add a custom header?
A: Creating a custom header in photoshop or gimp (or another photo editor you like) is the easiest way to customize your blog. Make sure the size of your header is 800 to 978 px wide and 300 (or so) px high.  On the “design” page on blogger, click “edit header” and upload your new custom header.

Q: How do I add “pages” to my blog (about me, contact me, etc.)?
A: To add “pages” to your blog (like how I have tabs for recipes, house tour, etc.), go to your dashboard, then click “posting,” then click “edit pages,” then add a new page.

Q: How do I add things like links and polls to the sidebars on my blog?
A: These are called gadgets or widgets.  Go to your blogger dashboard and click “design.” Decide where you want your widget and click “add gadget.” You have lots of options to pick from: photos, links, blog rolls, polls, etc.

Q: How do I add an “etsy mini” like you have on your blog?
A: To add an etsy widget, first create an etsy mini through your account on etsy. Under “your etsy,” click “etsy mini.” You can choose to use items from your shop or from your favorites. It will generate a code for you. Copy this code. Now go back to your blogger dashboard and click “design.” Decide where you want your etsy mini and click “add gadget.” Select the “html/java script” option and paste the code in the box. Save and view!

Q: How do I add a custom signature to my posts?
A: You can add a signature to your posts by following this tutorial. (This same site also has other great tips.)

Q: How do I change the font of my blog post titles to something cute?
A: Making all your post titles show up in a cute font is kind of advanced and takes a while to do, but it’s so worth it! (I just did it recently.) Here’s a tutorial that shows how.  (That is a really fun blog too.)

So, as you can see, I basically have learned how to customize my blog by googling, “how do I ____ in blogger” anytime I want to do something new!  Hope these tips help you become a better blogger as well!

Feel free to ask me any more questions about blogging, and I’ll try my best to answer them!

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