I asked my friend Shazia to help me explain this one. She was on the same panel I was at BlogHer08 and discussed plug-ins and widgets and the difference between the two.
Plug-ins extend the functionality of the blog. For example, a plug-in can turn a blog into an online store, or a photo gallery, or a portfolio. Or a plug-in can provide things like an automated backup or spam protection. They usually need
to be uploaded for installation, and can require coding knowledge to
configure and use.
I think that “sidebar bling” is a good description for
widgets – these are easy-to-use code “snipets” that enhance your blog–mostly in terms of offering your readers some more information: about
you, or your blog, or just general information (e.g., Google maps,
visitor’s locations, and recent posts/comments etc.). Widgets can
usually be added to the blog via the control panel without the need
for any coding knowledge, but are limited to use in the sidebars.
Related posts:
- How to set up a Google Alert (and why it’s a good idea) Google Alerts is one of the most versatile online tools....
- Walt Disney World Moms Panel Do you love Disney World as much as I do?...
- FAQs from Beginning Bloggers Melanie Nelson answers some of the most frequently asked questions...
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
WordPress Admin
