Blogging Tips For The. . . Blogger. . .

  :) I have had this in my head for awhile, and so if you have any tips YOU would like to share, please comment! :)

Post Often.

I dislike it when people have these AWESOME blogs, but only to find out after

I follow them, they haven't posted for four months. Try to post often so people know

they can come back to your blog with a new post ready for everyone

to read. :) 

Have a nice blog design.

Most of the blogs I am attracted to have colorful or cute blog designs. You don't 

have to pay to have cute designs! Google some ways how to make

your own header and background, or even have someone do your

blog for free! Here is Britt's blog design link: http://silverliningblogdesign.blogspot.com/

{She did my blog}

Have handy gadgets.

I love blogs who have pages, menu bars, archives, a search bar, or even just labels. 

Don't have too many gadgets.

I don't like it when people have their whole sidebar full of pictures,awards,blog buttons,

etc. Try to limit down these distracting gadgets by having a separate page for awards and buttons,

or figure out how to make them in a scrolling list. The reader gets distracted by the side bar when

there is gadgets to the end of the blog.

COMMENT AND FOLLOW!

The more you follow and comment, the more visitors/followers you get! You all know Caelen,

right? Every time I visit a doll blog, she has commented at lease once, plus followed. She has followed SO MANY blogs! All the work pays off, because now Caelen has 75+ followers!

Advertise, but don't beg.

What I mean by this is you can post "Please comment!" or "I don't get a lot of comments, so please comment!" if you still don't get comments, but don't do this; " PLEASE COMMENT! I DON'T GET ANY COMMENTS!! PLEASE???" It is very good to remind people to comment, because you might of asked a question you wanted people to answer on your last post.

Ask Questions.

I learned that if I don't have a post ending with a question, or something people can relate to, I don't get any comments, because what is there to comment about? Pizza on a post about a cat? No. :)

Respond to other people's comments!

Chances are, when you respond to another comment someone wrote, you will get ONE more visitor! Sweet! ;)

CLICK!!!

Include pictures in your posts! I noticed the blogs with the most followers are the ones with photos in almost every post. I am trying to get a camera soon, so photos WILL be added to my posts! :)

Extra Fun for Viewers
When your viewers are waiting for a new post, give them something fun to do. Put a Cbox on your sidebar, or even have a special page with links to your favorite websites. 

I hope this helped all new bloggers, and maybe even some old bloggers. If you have any more tips to add to the list, comment below and maybe your tip will be one the list! :) 

{I actually had another post planned for today, but something went wrong when I tried copy and pasting the photos, and my computer wouldn't stop loading when I clicked something, and I lost my other post. I will try to post it next week.  IT WAS SAVED IN DRAFTS! BOO YAH!! :D Also--look out for AJ's guest post tommorow! :)}

I had a dream. . .

  Not that type of dream! ;) I had a dream that someone hacked my blog, and erased all of my posts and wrote new ones! They also took off my background and moved a bunch of things on the sidebar. It was one of those dreams that are so real that you almost cry if the dream is about something bad. I was *probably* in about tears when I found out my whole blog was messed up horribly.

Call me a nerd, but wouldn't YOU cry, or even just a little bit, if your blog was messed up and all of your memorable posts were gone, and maybe even all your followers you worked hard for? Are you misty-eyed now just thinking about it? Huh? Huh? ;)

I hope to have another "Say What??" contest, because only two people entered, but that's okay because I know people are/were super busy with getting ready for school. I bet you girls didn't notice that Rebecca was actually holding a balloon! You could only see the string though. And the winner of the FULL blog makeover, is, Pryia! Congrats!!! Please email me at my Chunkey Monkey email so we can work out the details. Thanks!

I GOT MY FRONT HANDSPRING TODAY! I had it on the long tumble tramp at gymnastics, but since most people don't own a long trampoline, my bestie, Meerah, is amazing at teaching herself moves, such as a front brandi. {Don't ask what it is, I don't either!} She also is in the circus! I NEED to go to the circus, because that's where I belong! ;) Even my teacher agrees! ;)

Happy September, girlies! It's officially the first day of September! Who has already started school? I start on the 12th.  We got assigned a 20 page, front and back, and I still have 8 and 1/2 pages left. But that's not too bad! I can't wait to start school! But sadly, my bestie, Meerah, {who is a follower} isn't in my class! :( I entered American Girl Contest a couple of weeks ago, and the first theme is "Celebration". I got to take the photo tonight, and I will also send in my head shot after I edit it. :)

summer {it's coming to an end.}

{please ignore the complete craziness with my pages. . .in the middle of making my new blog design!}

Summer. The season every single student of all grades looked forward to. The time for fun, water, and fun. The time for friends,pools,beaches,vacation,tanning ;)cornrows,walks,swimming,sand castles,ice cream,hoses,water balloons,sleepovers,tank tops,shorts,shells,no homework,t-shirts,sunglasses,sunscreen,oceans,seas,icees',goggles,ice,sunset,sun,late nights,dance, grass, flowers,swings,slides,waterparks,water,butterflies,camping,tent, s'mores,sleeping bags,mosquitos,bug spray, bug bites,itch,sports,soccer,ball,catch,yellow,orange,  lighting bugs,fireflys,beach bags,beach towels,Mexico,Florida,warm,heat,hot,pools,no school,airplanes,flip-flops,sandals,dog walking,money,trips,early mornings,sleeping in, and

FUN.

Fall. The season *most* students do not look forward to. It's time for h.o.m.e.w.o.r.k. But it's also the time for much for than that. It's time for leaves,new friends, paper, pencils,glue,raking,leave piles,hoodies,gloves,scarves,rulers,teachers,walks,cold nights,wind,breezes,red,orange,brown,yellow,harvest, Thanksgiving,thank you,your welcome,turkey,pilgrims, mayflower,corn,pumpkins,halloween,purple,green,orange,black,creepy,witches,candy,trick o' treating,decorations,lights,costumes,masks,October,November, September, chocolate,parties, and cold nights.

September is about school and new friendships.

October is about creepy Halloween nights and costumes.

November is for giving thanks for all of those you love and more.

♥ I love Autumn. It is truly the best time of the year, for me. I love seeing the crisp leaves lay upon the faded green grass, looking up at the red,orange, and yellow trees, waiting for more friends to join the great pig leaf pile for kids to jump in. I love just walking on the crunchy leaves in the cold breeze. Fall, don't ever leave, ever. ♥

how to | blog button

Hi Girlies!
A while ago, I was searching Google on how to make a blog button. I could NEVR find a easy enough tutorial, until I came across Sew. Craft. Create. It was so simple! Now, using her code, I will tell you how to make one!. A blog button is a picture in which you can "grab" using a code, then you can add it to your side bar. Here is one I made for Pryia








<center><a href="http://agplayground.weebly.com/ <br /> "><img border="0" src="http://i1228.photobucket.com/albums/ee449/ChunkeyMonkey00/pryiA.jpg" width="125"/></a></ center>
{Please Grab it for your blog by copy and pasting it into a HTML/Java Script accepting place.}

{Credit to Sew. Craft. Create. and Adorkable. Follow their blogs, THEY ARE AWESOME!}

First, you are going to have to make the actual picture. I love to use Picnik to make mine.

Second, size it to about 200x200, or until it is big/small enough to fit on your side bar {or where ever you would like it}.

Then, upload it to Photobucket, or another file sharing website.

After you do that, you will need to open Word or another document program. Copy and paste this code on to the page: 

<center><a href="Blog Address" target="_blank" title="Blog Title"><img alt="Blog Title" width= "150" src="Code from photo" /></a></center>

<center><textarea id="code-source" name="code-source" rows="3"><center><a href="Blog Address"><img border="0" src=" Code from photo" width="125"/></a></ center></textarea></center>

You will need to fill in the blue text to what it says. On Photobucket, you will take the HTML code from underneath the photo. I highly recommend using Photobucket for 100% results.

 Be very, very, careful when you replace the blue text. If you delete just one thing, your whole entire button will not work. 

When I was just searching Google for cool things for my blog, I came across Adorkable and her AWESOME tutorial on how to make a hover over image. Thanks, Adorkable! {I love your blog!}

If you want to make a switching button with TWO photos when you hover over it, use this code instead when placing the code for the button: 

<a href="Blog Address">
<img src="First Image you want to show up BEFORE you hover over"
onmouseover="this.src='Second Image you want to show up AFTER you hover over.'"
onmouseout="this.src='First Image Again'"
alt="Optional Text " /></a>

Use that code instead of the HTML codes from Photobucket on your blog button!

new blog design | final touches

Hi Girlies!

I've been working on my new blog design this morning, and it's looking good! :) I will probably put it up in about 2-3 months, so I can still admire Britt's work. :D I love my blog design right now, it's awesome! Once again, THANK YOU BRITTS! She's so awesome, don't you agree? {everyone nods yes} Do YOU girlies want to see my work in progress? You DO? You sure? Okay! Here is some of the elements! :)

Background

Header

Cute! :) Here are the colors I will be using. . .

Red,Grey, and White! :) Exact colors, made on FotoFlexer. 

Please do NOT steal any photos.

I am making everything myself, and this is the first time I am making a background for my own blog. :) Caelen, I will finish yours on Monday! 

I am also hoping no one will get hurt during Irene today or anytime soon. :( I am keeping everyone in my thoughts today! :)