How to: Install Sidebar Tags

In this tutorial we're going to cover how to install and move sidebar tags on your Blogger blog.  The sidebar area is the column or columns to the side of your main posting area.  The process for working with sidebar elements is surprisingly easy and opens up a world of possibilities for customizing your blog.

Before we begin you'll need to have an image or two, set aside to install on your sidebar.  You can find an assortment of free sidebar tags located within each of my designer blog themes by clicking this title: A-Z Blog Theme List  Be sure to have your image ready to use and in an easy to remember location on your computer.

Once your image is ready we can begin~

1. Log into your blog and navigate to the back area by clicking on "Design"...

2. The back area looks like this...

3. Now click on "Layout" in the left link list...

This is the area we'll be working in to add a few sidebar images.  You layout may look different than mine depending up how you have your blog set up. You can easily change your layout at any time by visiting the "Template Designer".

3a. To add an image to your sidebar area we'll be using the "Add a Gadget" link.  You'll see they appear in several locations within the Layout view...

I find it easier to click the link with the area I want to add the gadget, this helps lesson the confusion that come when you have a lot of sidebar gadgets later on

4. So let's begin by clicking on the "Add a Gadget" in the sidebar area...

5. A pop-up window will appear with a selection of choices....

For those of you who are new to this area, this is how we add all sorts of bells and whistles to our blogs, from the "Followers" and "Subscribe" features to "Labels", "Archives" and "Polls", there truly is a plethora of sidebar goodies.  I recommend taking the time to explore this area further and getting to know some of the tools offered here.

6. For now, we'll scroll down to the "Image" gadget, at the time I'm writing this it's the fourteenth selection down...

 
7. To open the gadget you can click on either the title or the plus symbol...

8. You will now see the options appear for adding an "Image" gadget...

9. Let's read over what the different options are for this section ~

Title - this is where we can title the item which helps when organizing or rearranging your sidebar items.  Leaving this area blank can create a nice clean final appearance to your blog.

Caption - the information typed within this area will appear below the image. A good example is if you're holding a giveaway or sale you can insert the end date in this area.

Link - if you would your image linked to a blog post, page or an outside webpage then this is where that information would go.

Image - this section offers two choices; the "From your computer" option is to upload the image from your computer and the "From the web..." offers you the option of inserting a link so the image will show up.  We will be using the first choice for this tutorial.

Shrink to Fit - the last option is a check box for the "Shrink to fit" option.  This enables you to use a larger image and fit it within your sidebar area.  The size it shrinks down to is dependent upon your own sidebar area settings at the time you're adding the image.  I don't usually use this option myself because all of my free sidebar tags are already set to the standard size of 200 pixels wide.

10. Now, to add an image ~ click on the "Browse" button to navigate to where you have your image/s saved...

11. Click on the image you wish to use...

12. Then click "Open"...

13. Once loaded, you'll see the image you selected appear in the window...

14. You can add any other information you choose and once finished click "Save"...

15. Your new image will automatically be inserted at the top of your sidebar area...

...so if you have other images or sidebar elements there, you'll know the top one is new.

16. If for any reason you wish to change the image you can simply click the "Edit" link to open the gadget window again...

17. Once you have your image uploaded you have the option of moving it to a different location.  To do this simply click on the image gadget and drag it to a new location...

18. When you're finished rearranging your sidebar gadgets be sure to click "Save arrangement" to keep your changes...

19. To view your new changes click on the "View blog" button at the top...

That's it!  You can easily add and make changes to this area at any time by returning and using the steps we just followed above.

Enjoy~

How to Add a Favicon to Your Blog

With this tutorial I'll show you how to easily add a favicon to your blog. A favicon is the little icon associated with a website. It can appear in the address bar when you're visiting a website or on a browser's tab or in your browser's favorites or bookmarks area.  Blogger's in a large white "B" surrounded by orange as show in the example below...

These icons cater to the part of our brains which absorb symbols and icons, as described by Carl Jung, but we'll save that topic for another day.  For bloggers and indie business, they're a great way to personalize your blog and an easily recognizable symbol is you select something simple that personally relates to you and your blog.

Before we begin ~ you'll need to select an image to use for your own favicon.  It should be something simple like a flower, butterfly, or any other element and image size should be small and square since favicons are square and you don't want yours to appear cut-off. I've never tested whether there are size limitations and favicons are usually very small at 16 x 16 pixels, so here's a link to generate a free tiny favicon using your own image ~ Dynamic Drive Favicon Generator.

Begin by logging into your blog, then click "Design" link found in the top right corner of your blog...

Next click on the "Layout" link in the left side link area...

Locate the "Favicon" rectangle and click on the "Edit" link...

A pop-up window will appear, click on the "Browse" button to begin locating your favicon image...

Navigate to your image, click on the image and then click "Open"

Now click the "Save" button...

That's it!  Your new favicon is now in place...

Congratulations!  Often times the actual change won't take affect in your browser until you've closed it and reopened so if it doesn't show up right away in that view just be patient.  As long as it shows up in the "Layout" view, your favicon is properly installed.

Enjoy~

How to Add a Favicon Icon

Today I'd like to talk about a new feature I noticed while roaming around the back end of my blog. I noticed a new item I hadn't see before, there under the "Design" tab was a new goodie titled Favicon.

Now, for those of you who aren't familiar with this term, a favicon is the little icon associated with a website. It can appear in the address of a website or in your browser's favorites & bookmarks area. Mine is the little plumrose inserted above as an example. These icons cater to the part of our brains which absorb symbols and icons, as described by Carl Jung, but we'll save that topic for another day...

Blogger has now simplified the process of adding a favicon icon to our blogs; where we once had to dabble in the html code section of our blogs, we can now easily upload an image and voila! Our own personal favicon appears. So, if you're interested in adding your own favicon to your blog simply navigate to the "Design: tab of your blog and click the "Edit" link next to the Favicon object to upload an image. I'm not sure if there are size minimums as favicons are usually very small, so here's a link to generate a free tiny favicon online ~ Dynamic Drive Favicon Generator.
Enjoy~