Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Blog Tips

I'm updating this post today 14 January 2018 to make it easier to make italics or bold words and create easy links in the comments box of blogs.

Just copy and paste the tag that fits your needs, then type/paste in the words to be italicized or made bold.

For Italics:

<i>TYPE/PASTE words here</i>


For Bold:

<b>TYPE/PASTE words here</b>


To make links in comments (without typing/pasting long URL):

1. Copy and Paste this link Tag:

<a href="PASTE LINK URL HERE">TYPE WORD/S TO BE HYPER LINKED HERE</a>

2. In the Tag, Type in word to be hyper linked (the word/s that will take you to the website link when you click on it. It will show up as blue in the comments).

3. Copy and Paste the link/website address in between the quotation marks to replace PASTE URL LINK HERE

4. Preview in comments to see if the link works. If it does work, then Publish comment.



Original Post follows (Kept for archival purposes):

I've been meaning to finish the post since last year. I started blogging last year, and I've picked up a few things. Mostly, it's style and formatting tips. It's been trial and error, but I've got a few tips I'd like to share that I hope you'll find useful.

Tags:

Ever wonder how in some comments, there are words that are italicized, or bold, or even linked (without the long URL address)?

Well, they use tags! Tags are the things that affect how words are displayed in the comment (or post). Now, if you have a blog, you pretty much know those easy icons on the Create Post menu bar that helps you create styles and format your posts.

Now, you realize that sometimes, when you copy and paste inside a comment box, the effects don't show up at all!

So, there's a reason why. Blogger seems to allow only a few types of tags to be used in the comment section. But that's okay. I've found three that have been very useful.

How to italicize words in comments and posts:

Say you want to create an italicized word or phrase in your post. I'll give you some step by step instructions, and leave the tags you need in red.

1. First, type < then the small case i then followed by > This is your start tag.

2. Type in the word/s you want to italicize.

3. Then type < then / then a small case i then followed by > This is your closing tag.

Remember, it should look like LESS THAN and GREATER THAN surround small case letter I. Then the WORDS to be italicized; finally the LESS THAN followed by a BACKSLASH then the small case I followed by a GREATER THAN.



Use the PREVIEW button on the comments section to see if it has the italicized effect. In fact, go ahead and practice on the comment section of this post. See if it works! You don't have to PUBLISH your comment if you don't want to; I just want to make sure you can see if it works. The PREVIEW button does a good job of showing you if you did it right.

How to make words bold in comments and posts:

The same rules apply to making a bold comment. The tags you need are

1. First, use the < followed by a small case b then followed by > This is your start tag.

2. Type in the word/s you want to be in bold followed by

3. Type in < followed by / then small case b followed by > This is your close tag

Remember, it's LESS THAN and GREATER THAN surround the small case B. Followed by the WORDS to be put in bold. Then LESS THAN followed by BACKSLASH then small case B followed by GREATER THAN.



Go on and practice in the comments section; remember to use the preview button on the comments section to see if the effects work.

How to make links in comments and posts:

The last tip I want to talk about are the links in the comments! Ever notice how some people's comments are blue and lead to a link? Those hyperlinked texts are easy and you don't have to worry about the long URL getting cut off when you're trying to share it in the comments.

Here are the tags you need.

1. First, type <

2. Then type a href=

3. Then type quotation marks "" followed by > This is your start tag

4. Then type the word/s for you want hyperlinked

5. Then type < followed by / then small case letter a

6. Then type > This is your ending tag.

7. Finally, copy the URL you want to link to and insert/paste it between the quotation marks "COPY AND PASTE URL HERE"

Remember, it should look like LESS THAN then the small case letters A HREF and EQUAL SIGN. Then QUOTATION MARKS with link URL in between the quotation marks. Next is the GREATER THAN sign. Then the WORDS that need to be hyperlinked. Followed by LESS THAN then BACKSLASH then small case letter A followed by GREATER THAN.



Go ahead and try it out in the comment section, and use the preview button to see if you got it right.

*Edited 11:45 am to add: When you see your blue link in the preview section, right click on it and open in new tab to check to see if it's the right link.

Now, comes the best part! You can actually use all three tags with each other! Say you want something bold and italicized, then use the tags.

1. Type the start bold tag, then italicized start tag.

2. Then type the words you want formatted;

3. Then type the closed italicized tag, followed by the closed bold tag.

Remember, your first tag should be the same as your last tag; in other words, if you start with a bold tag, then end with a bold tag.



You can even combine all three! Just remember, the order of your tags. What ever tag was first is going to be last. If you start with a bold, italicized, and linked tags, then close with a linked, italicized, and bold tags. Go ahead and experiment in the comment section and use the PREVIEW button to see if it works.

Feel free to share any tips you may have; your feedback is also important to see if the instructions are easy enough to follow, or if I can improve them in some way.

26 comments:

  1. How about that. A blogging for dummies. I love it.

    I wonder if this works

    ReplyDelete
  2. Beast, you've got it down! Great Job Thank you for testing the post.

    CP, thanks for the link! The pic is fantastic. I've edited the post per your feedback to include checking to make sure you're link works. Just use the preview button, then right click on the blue link, then open in new tab to see if it's right!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I'm quite proud of myself.

    I never thought I'd be able to make links in the comments.

    ReplyDelete
  4. THIS MEANS I WON'T HAVE TO TYPE EMPHATIC WORDS IN CAPS ANYMORE, DOESN'T IT?

    ReplyDelete
  5. Why the Hells weren't you around two years ago when I was buggering things up good and proper?!

    ReplyDelete
  6. CP, you did a fantastic job of creating that link! Now you can go crazy on the comments if you feel like it!

    MJ, you can still use CAPS to get your point across...you just have more options now!

    IDV, two years ago, I, too was busy buggering good and proper...

    ReplyDelete
  7. I always get confused making links so this is very useful. However, since you seem to have mastered the techniques, I think I'll just send you my comments with directions on how to format them and whose blog to post them on.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Why thank you, professor! ;)

    I can remember the basics, like how to bold, italicize and underline. It helps at work too, when I'm sending some "You'd better read this or else!" post for a student. Bold is very assertive, not as aggressive as all CAPS, but hopefully they know you're serious being bold.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Snooze, let me pull out my steno pad and start working!

    Tara, bold is beautiful and assertive, compared to all CAPS. I have a problem following ALL CAPS; generally, I just skip ALL CAPS messages; it's too LOUD for me to read :)

    ReplyDelete
  10. now tell me, why were we (I) included in your buggering?

    I'm a little jealous.

    ReplyDelete
  11. CP, I'm sure you were doing a little buggering of your own... ;p

    ReplyDelete
  12. Your next task is to post on how and where to change the HTML to add people to a links/blogroll.
    As I have no idea how to do it and would like to have a blogroll so I can name and shame the guilty

    ReplyDelete
  13. Beast, if you're using blogger and have all ready signed in, look at the right upper corner of the blogger menu.

    1. Find the word Customize and click on it. Or, if you're on the "Dashboard" part of blogger, then click on "Layout"

    2. It should take you to the page that says "Blogger: Edit Layout" on the very top of your browser.

    3. The page should show "Page Elements". And on that, you'll see a blank layout.

    4. On the side of "Blog Post", you should see a blue option that says "Add a Gadget". Click on Add a Gadget.

    5. A screen should pop up that says, "Add a Gadget". And you're in luck! They've updated and added a lot of new stuff that makes it easier to add to your blog. In fact, "Blog List" should be first on the list. Now this new feature lets you add blogs and shows when they are updated. It's a very new addition. I haven't used this one.

    I used the old "List" option. Click on it and a new pop up will show. It lets you fill in the "Title" of what your List is going to be. You can type Blogroll or whatever you want. Then skip down to URL.

    6. I go to the other blogs and one by one, I copy and paste their URL into that "New Site URL", then fill in "New Site Name" with that blog name (or a fun name) :)

    7. After entering that blog's name, Click on "Add Link".

    8. Repeat steps 6 and 7 until you've got your list. You can "Sort" your list alphabetically or not; it's up to you. When you're done, click "Save"

    9. Once the pop up window goes away, you should be back at the Page Elements. Click on the blue "Preview" button to see if the links appeared! A new pop up will show the changes you've made.

    10. If you don't like 'em, then click "Clear Edits". You can start over if you want. But if you do like 'em, then go on and click "Save". And you're done!

    Or you can always make another list, or try some other gadgets. It's okay to experiment, just remember to PREVIEW first before saving any changes. That way, you can decide what works for you and what doesn't.

    Keep this comment window open so you can have this as a guide while you work on your blog roll. Let me know if this helps or not. I'll see if I can clean this up better.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Hmmm

    Since I had such a special layout on my blogger site I had to add them in html code. Which was a little annoying and still is when I edit them.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Moi buggering?

    Have I ever... tsk tsk tsk

    ReplyDelete
  16. CP, that's why you've a great, unique looking site. You're much better at this than I am, so feel free to give advice as you see fit...when you're not too busy with buggering tasks, of course ;p

    Beast, good luck; if it doesn't work, let me know. We can ask CP if he knows another way.

    ReplyDelete
  17. How about a sequel, featuring <hr>, <br>, <p>, <u> and <s>.

    That leaves room to make it a classic trilogy with <ol>, <ul>, <img>, <sup>, <sub> and mailto

    Ignore the porno version with <blockquote> and <centre>

    Am I jealous that I didn't think of getting lots of visitors by explaining HTML for bloggers?

    <h2>Absofragginglutely
    not!</h2>

    ReplyDelete
  18. Kapi, Ha! Ha! Ha! :) I'm fairly new to blogging, and I was curious as to how certain comments looked all fancy and exciting. I had some difficulty figuring them out. So, once I figured out how to do them, I decided to share that knowledge so it can help someone else.

    When it comes to formatting a post, I stick to the easy buttons in the Create a Post menu :) It's a whole lot easier than changing the html code!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Hello! Thanks for the bloggy tips. Will these be on the test?

    Just checking.

    ReplyDelete
  20. AB, no test! This is extra credit freebies! :)

    ReplyDelete
  21. Scarlet blue gave me the heads up about you so thank you so much for your helpful advice. I have typed it out and look forward to trying it.
    After three years I had just about learned how to link but had no idea how to do it in a comment box. Here's hoping;)

    ReplyDelete
  22. PI, you're welcomed! Scarlet Blue is a darling and lovely lady. I hope the tips are helpful. If there is anything here that I can help to clarify, please feel free to ask.

    ReplyDelete