How to: Install a Blog Badge (or add an Html Sidebar Gadget)

This tutorial will cover the steps for installing a sidebar gadget that using html or java script code.  It's a simple but important process as it allows you to easily install badges, buttons and widgets from all of the internet. Whether it's my own blog badge, a fellow blogger's button, or one of those nifty gadgets, the few steps involved are quite useful in helping us create our own blog space.

To use this tutorial you'll need to have a sidebar item selected that uses Html code.  For example purposes we'll use my own blog badge seen below but you can also find a wide range of free inspirational sidebar buttons from this page: http://www.prl-images.com/blog_buttons.html

<center> <a href="http://www.plumroselane.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://www.prl-images.com/images/my_images/badges/PrL_badge.png" alt="Plumrose Lane" /></a></center>
To install this badge on your own blog you'll need "grab" the code or "copy" it and "paste" it into an Html/Java Script gadget. If you need help understanding or practicing how to copy and paste with your mouse I recommend following along with this easy video tutorial: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXRT2YH8EDM  The most important thing to remember when copying and pasting html code is that if you loose a snippet of code it may affect how the button appears so be sure to "grab" all of the code.

So let's begin...

1. Begin by logging into your blog, and click "Design"...

2. Now navigate to the "Layout" section of your blog...

In this area you can see a skeletal view of your blog. Looking over the various sections you'll see the navigation bar, "Header" area, "Blog Posts" area, and any sidebars you have setup on your blog.  This is where you can easily install, move around, and remove various gadgets for your blog.  Clicking on "Add a Gadget" enables you to access a wide range of built-in gadgets that Blogger offers it's user.  

So let's go on and access this area...

3. Click on the "Add a Gadget" link in the sidebar area of your blog...

4. You'll see a small window up...

This is where you can access all of the built-in add-ons that Blogger offers.  

5. We're going to be using "HTML/Java Script" gadget so using the scroll bar, scroll down until you see that option...

6. Now click on either the title or the blue + button...

In this area you'll now see where we can title your gadget and paste in any Html or Java Script code.

7. Going back to the code from my own blog badge at the beginning of this tutorial, copy the Html code and paste it into the large rectangle as shown below...

When I'm working with a lot of sidebar gadgets, I find it easier to temporarily title new ones so I can easily move them to their final location so let's do that too while we're here...

8. Type a simple title in, something easy like "new button" works and you can always change this or delete it later...

9. With that completed we can now click "Save"...

10. You will now see your new gadget present on your blog's Layout...

Now let's reposition this new gadget so we can remove that temporary title...

11. By clicking on the gadget with your mouse, you can easily drag the object to a new location within your layout...

12. Choose where you would like to place your new button and then click the "Save arrangement" button...

13. With that done, you can click on the "Edit" link within your new gadget to remove the temporary title...

14. Just be sure to click "Save" to keep your change...

15. Your new gadget will now be titled by it's default gadget title...

16. That's it! Congratulations ~ you've now added an Html/Java Script gadget! You can click the "View blog" button to view your new item...

Enjoy~