Blogging Basics 101» Uncategorized

Headway Themes Offers Easy-to-Use, Beautiful WordPress Theme for Bloggers (Excellent Holiday Gift for Bloggers!)

Melanie Nelson — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 13:34:20 +0000

Wondering what to give your social media lover for Christmas? Know a blogger who seems to have everything and you have no idea what to get them for Hanukkah or Christmas? Never fear, I have you covered. While I was at Blog World Expo in LA I met the fine folks at Headway Themes and I was completely blown away by how cool their newest version is. As a long-time blogger who is always looking for an easy theme to implement and recommend to my readers, I was immediately intrigued by the drag-and-drop interface and the fact that you can quickly build a wireframe of your own design for your blog or website.

And if you’re interested in Headway Themes, let’s just say it would be a really good idea for you to check it out and buy it this week, before November 25. Headway Themes is moving to a new pricing model on November 25. If you buy the individual or developer license before then, you’ll be locked in to lower pricing and free support forever.

Here’s the basic deal: Though details of the new Headway Themes pricing structure haven’t been released yet, if you buy the individual ($67) or developer license ($164; worth it if you think you’ll be using the theme for more than one site), you’ll be locked into the current low price and free support forever. After November 25 the price is increasing and there will be a monthly fee for support.

It makes sense to go ahead and buy your version of Headway Themes now. Yes, they are releasing a new version of the theme, and yes, if you buy before November 25, you’ll still get the new update — for free! In fact, you’ll get all new updates free of charge! Buying your license before November 25 just makes sense.

Why buy the Headway Theme? I met Clay Grant and his team at Blog World Expo in LA and was intrigued by the theme’s easy drag and drop interface that allows you to build a basic wireframe of your blog or website’s design. You truly have the ultimate control of your design with little knowledge of CSS, PHP, or HTML. It’s amazing, frankly.

You can buy Headway Themese before November 25 and ensure you take advantage of these perks (reprinted from the Headway Themes site):

Developer License

Support for unlimited Headway sites that you own or develop
Access to Headway Beta releases as we develop them and before final release to the public.
Full access to our members only Forums, e-mail support and Developer License exclusive resources (If you are building sites for clients, your clients will not receive members only forum support unless they purchase their own personal license.)
Free Headway updates for life

Individual license

Support for two (2) Headway sites that you own or develop
Option to upgrade to the Developer’s Option for only $77
Full access to our members only Forums and email support if needed
Free Headway updates for life

I’ve been so busy writing my chapters for Facebook All-In-One for Dummies that I haven’t been able to work on my own projects as I’d like. That includes installing Headway here on Blogging Basics 101. My final chapter deadline is at the end of January and, even though I’ll have some other things to work on for the book (e.g., marketing and online content), I plan to install Headway here and do a thorough review of the theme in February. In fact, I bought several domain names and am planning to expand the Basics 101 franchise and Headway will be part of that expansion. I’m really looking forward to diving in and learning everything about this amazing theme.

Please note that some links in this post are affiliate links. I feel strongly enough about this product’s quality that I’m willing to recommend it to you and help them sell more.

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How do I customize my blockquotes in Blogger?

Melanie Nelson — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 11:00:14 +0000

READ THIS: Before you start changing anything in your template code, please for the love of all that is sacred to your blog, back up the template. Blogger makes this really easy. On the Edit HTML page, just click the Download Full Template link and choose where to save the file. Make a note of it so you can find it if you need it.

OK, now that we have that out of the way, let’s figure out this customized blockquote business.

Log in to Blogger.com
Go to Design > Edit HTML
Find this code in your HTML: blockquote {

The entire code string will look similar to (though probably not exactly like) this:

blockquote {
margin:.75em 0;
border:1px dotted #619644;
border-width:1px 0;
padding:5px 15px;
color: #000
}

In a blog post, the code above would tell your browser to display the blockquote between two green dotted lines:

Below are three different ideas for customizing your blockquotes. I show you how the blockquote will look, then I show you the code to use. To change your current blockquotes to one of the customized versions below, just copy the code from here and use it to replace the current blockquote code in your template.

Vertical Line Blockquote

Use this code for a vertical line beside your blockquote:
blockquote {
font: 14px normal helvetica, sans-serif;
margin-top: 10px;
margin-bottom: 10px;
margin-left: 50px;
padding-left: 15px;
border-left: 3px solid #619644;
}

Colored Background for Blockquote

Use this code for a colored background for your blockquote:
blockquote {
margin: 1em 3em;
padding: .5em 1em;
background-color: #b1d2a3;
}

To change the color to match your blog’s design, simply change the hex color.

Box Around Blockquote

Use this code to put a box around your blockquote:
blockquote {
margin:1em 20px;
border: 1px solid #619644;
padding: 10px;
}

Where it says “solid” you can change that to “dashed” or “dotted” (without the quotes) to see if you like that look better.

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How do I format recipes on my blog?

Melanie Nelson — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 11:00:13 +0000

Reader Question:
I have trouble with formatting recipes and getting the columns lined up. I usually do several lines of ingredients and amounts and hit return. Then I will highlight the ingredients and amounts and click on the bullet feature and then un-do it. Then is when the ingredients come together, but they are not aligned! What am I doing wrong?

Melanie’s Answer:

It doesn’t sound like you’re doing anything wrong. There just isn’t a great way to format some things without specific HTML (like that for a table, which I’ll show you in sec). Since you want to format the ingredients of recipes, I think you have a few choices.

Instead of trying to format the list with a bulleted list, you can simply type the amount of the ingredient, hit the space bar, then type your ingredient (which is how most recipe sites I’ve visited do it). Example:

10 roma tomatoes
1 yellow onion
1 lime
1 bunch fresh parsley
1 jalapeno pepper

If you like the simple typed list above, but want it indented, you can do that without a bulleted list. Just type your list, highlight it, then click the blockquote button in your editor. It looks like this: Your list will look like this:

10 roma tomatoes
1 yellow onion
1 lime
1 bunch fresh parsley
1 jalapeno pepper

It’s a very subtle difference from the list in #1 above, but you should notice it’s indented a little. NOTE: Your blockquotes will likely look different than mine because my template automatically adds the gray color to the text and the line to the left as part of the formatting. Your template will likely just indent your text.
If that’s not what you want, you can implement an HTML table. I’ll be honest with you: the method above is easier, especially if you don’t have experience with HTML. Putting a table together with HTML is easy, but you have to keep track of what you’re doing or the cells won’t line up properly. Here’s what your ingredients list might look like with a simple table:

1	can tomatoes
1	bunch parsley
1	yellow onion
1	lime
1	jalapeno pepper

The HTML for that table looks like this (notes in red just tell you what the HTML is doing and shouldn’t be used in the HTML you write for your table):

signals the beginning of the table
signals the beginning of a table row
signals the end of that cell. You can have as many table cells () on a row as you like.

signals the end of that table row
(repeated from above)

1	cantomatoes	signals the beginning of a table cell;
1	bunch parsley
1	yellow onion
1	lime

signals the end of the table

As you can see, there’s not a lot of difference between a basic table and simply typing your ingredients. You can adjust the padding of each cell (the white space around the cell; it makes it appear there is more space around each table cell) to get the table to look just right, but it takes some tweaking and experimenting to figure out what works for you. To learn how to make an HTML table, please see the W3 Schools Tutorial on HTML Tables.

photo credit: Leo Reynolds

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TypePad for Dummies Winners!

Melanie Nelson — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 19:19:10 +0000

Update: One of the winners did not contact me, so I’ve had to choose a new one. The new winner of a TypePad for Dummies book is Rammy.

Thank you to everyone who left a comment to enter to win a copy of TypePad for Dummies (and possibly a year of free TypePad)! Here are the random numbers chosen at Random.org:

I will contact each of the winners via e-mail today. Winners must respond within three days or I’ll choose a new winner for that prize.

The winner of the year of TypePad and the TypePad for Dummies book is #22, Sarah at For the Love of Naps! Pack up your Blogger blog, Sarah, because you’re moving to TypePad!

Winners who will receive a copy of TypePad for Dummies:

Comment Number		Winner’s Name
21		Dominique
7		Angie
36		Carol
18		Scottitude
16		Moagie
28		Jennifer
10		Ricardo
30		Steff
6		Headless Mom

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SEO: What Are NoFollow and DoFollow Links?

Melanie Nelson — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 11:00:25 +0000

Linking, whether you’re linking to another site or your site is being linked to, is an important part of SEO (search engine optimization). How a site treats links is important because it can determine how search engines treat those links as well. Specifically, I’m talking about whether a site uses NoFollow tagging within its links.

What do NoFollow and DoFollow mean?

When you create a link within your blog, whether it’s on your sidebar, within your article content, or in a comment, a regular link will be coded similar to this (obviously the URL and link text will be your own):

Blogging Basics 101

If a link is tagged as NoFollow, it will look similar to this (again with your own information):

Blogging Basics 101

The part that defines the link as NoFollow is the rel=”nofollow”. If you take that out, your link becomes DoFollow. There is no actual DoFollow tag. The absence of the NoFollow tag makes the link DoFollow.

If a blog or web site doesn’t use the NoFollow tag, the search engines acknowledge the link; if a site does use the NoFollow tag, the search engines do not acknowledge the link. Why does this matter? In a previous article, I explained Google pagerank. Basically, if a site with a high pagerank links to you, Google increases your authority, and in turn, your pagerank. Those links can be links directly to something you wrote or links left in comments (since most commenting forms allow you to include your URL). But what if that site with the higher pagerank is using the NoFollow tag and not sharing the love? Well, Google ignores the fact that the site links to you and you don’t get the increased authority or pagerank. It is therefore desirable to interact with DoFollow blogs or web sites.

Is Your Blog DoFollow?

Most web sites have the NoFollow tag automatically enabled. Check out these article for tips on figuring out whether your blog is DoFollow or NoFollow:

How to Tell If Your Blog Is Do Follow via Newru
How to Tell if a Link is NoFollowed via Search Engine Guide
How Do I Know if a Blog Is Do Follow? via DoFollow Blog Information

Should You Use the DoFollow Tag?

Your readers will appreciate it if you don’t use NoFollow tagging. After all, you’ll be building their authority. It’s a way to give back to your community. Like everything, though, there’s a downside to being a DoFollow site: spammers may inundate a DoFollow blog with comments and links. If you choose to become a DoFollow site, be aware that you may experience an increase in spam comments and it may take more time to filter out the spammy stuff.

If you decide ditching the NoFollow tags is worth it, here are some links to help you change your blog to DoFollow:

Self-hosted WordPress
TypePad (you’ll need to have Advanced Templates enabled)
Blogger

When should you consider using the NoFollow tag?

Not every link is created equal. Every site has links that are less important or link to pages that don’t change (e.g., a site map or your About Me page). Use the NoFollow tag for those links. In addition to low priority links, Google suggests using the NoFollow tag for untrusted content and paid links. If you have text link ads on your site, make sure they’re tagged as NoFollow.

Further Reading

Debate: DoFollow vs. NoFollow Links via Blogussion
DoFollow FAQ via PageRush
Nofollow Links – The Good Side and The Bad Side via All Blogging Tips
NoFollow vs. DoFollow: Who Wins? via Free Blog Help
Understanding What the “No Follow” Tag Can Do For You via eVisibility

A version of this article was also posted at BlogHer.com.

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Blog World & New Media Expo: Countdown!

Melanie Nelson — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 05:00:55 +0000

I attended Blog World for the first time last year and came away with buckets of information. As I look over my recap posts from last year, I notice that most of that information had to do with affiliate marketing. I’ve since determined that affiliate marketing isn’t a fit for me, but I think it’s a viable option for many bloggers and I’m happy to have some pointers on this site. This year, I’ve been looking over the schedule and trying to decide what to learn about. You see, when I attend a conference (shell out that hard-earned money for airfare, hotel, registration, food, drinks, etc.), I’m going with the goal of learning something new or building on what I already know. Then I bring that information back to you and share it. And that’s where you come in. Want to help me decide what panels to attend so I can share that information with you? What do you want to know more about?

I have some of my Blog World schedule already set, but I still have a slot on Friday and another on Saturday that I could use your help with. I’d appreciate it if you’d use the polls below to vote on which panels you think I should attend. All the panels in a box are presented at the same time, so I’ll only be able to attend one. I’ll go to the one you want to hear about most. And thanks for helping me choose!

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Guest Posts Now Being Accepted at Blogging Basics 101

Melanie Nelson — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 19:14:53 +0000

Do you have a blogging topic you’re passionate about? A blogging tip you want to share? Advice for beginning bloggers? Blogging Basics 101 invites you to submit your article as a guest post. Guest posting is a great way to introduce people to your writing and your blog. When you’re a guest blogger at Blogging Basics 101 I encourage links back to your own blog so new readers can see what else you’re writing.

When you write an article for Blogging Basics 101, you’ll retain full copyright ownership of your post and I will not re-use or re-print your article without your permission. What you write belongs to you, it’s just posted here at Blogging Basics 101. You’re free to re-print and re-use as you see fit (though a little re-writing will help us both in the area of SEO).

I’m pretty picky about what I accept so before you contact me I ask you to do a few things:

Have your article idea developed before you contact me and then explain exactly what it is and why it would appeal to my readers (mostly women, beginning and intermediate bloggers).
Send me the article itself or a writing sample.
Proofread. I understand we all make mistakes (I definitely miss a few things!), but it would be great if you caught some things before I look at it. First impressions and all that.

You can submit written articles, video tutorials, or even podcasts. The sky is the limit. Make your inquiries to melanie.nelsonATbloggingbasics101DOTcom. I look forward to reading your articles!

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Helpful Blogging Links: July 3, 2009

Melanie Nelson — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 05:00:11 +0000

What Everyone Ought to Know About Podcasting, Part 1 via Edublogger. This article is the first of two that explain how to start podcasting on your blog.

Social Media & WordPress via @anidan.design. Code and links to share your social media information on your WordPress blog.

Lifehacker’s Firefox Add-On Packs via Lifehacker. I’m a huge fan of Firefox and the productivity add-ons it offers.

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Blog Out Loud: The Interview

Melanie Nelson — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 05:00:25 +0000

Megan Arquette and Rebecca Orlov started Blog Out Loud, a networking event for “creative people looking to gather inspiration and information about starting and maintaining a blog while creating a presence online and joining an amazing community.” I know. Awesome, right? Rebecca told me that they gear their get-togethers toward “creative folks – interior designers, shop owners, artists, photographers – with the idea that a blog can enhance your business in an informal yet real way.” I love the way these gals think. When I was running Bloggy Giveaways that was exactly what I was trying to do: promote creativity and related businesses online. Needless to say, when Rebecca asked me if she could interview me about blogging tips, I was more than happy to oblige. So, please, check out my interview, and, if you’re in the San Francisco area, please sign up to attend their next Blog Out Loud event on Monday, August 24!

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National Mom’s Night Out Twitter Party & Video

Melanie Nelson — Thu, 07 May 2009 17:21:06 +0000

Maria Bailey, the genius behind such companies as BSM Media, NewBaby.com and MomTV.com, is hosting National Mom’s Night Out parties all over this great country of ours TONIGHT (OK, so she’s not personally hosting them, but it was her idea). I wanted to make sure you know about the different ways you can be involved today–even if you can’t attend a party near you.

From Maria’s press release:

Twitter Party
We will be starting at 3 PM EST and ending around midnight. Follow @momsniteout and @momtv to be “seen” for prizes during the party.

Be sure to end your comments on Twitter with #MNO-09. We will be able to see you and chat back.

You can use tools like TweetGrid.com to track us and MomsNiteOut from other locations.

Live Streaming!
We have 10 sites that will be streaming LIVE content from their parties so you can see moms across the US and join in via the Internet. Visit NewBaby.com or MomTV.com to watch.

It’s going to be great fun tonight! If you want to follow the Tulsa party on Twitter, use #tulsamno!

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