Blogger is a wonderful free blogging platform, maybe the best one of the freebies out there, but it is still trailing from other, mostly when it’s faced against those which can be installed on propietary servers. In this case we’re talking about Wordpress, which is the reference CMS that comes to mind when we can have access to a server.
Pitting it against Wordpress.com doesn’t have much sense because its free version limitations leave it far behind Blogger.com. We also need to say that the fact we have Wordpress on a proprietary server gives it a lot of space ahead Google’s service, however I think that most of the things Blogger does not have (yet?) can be implemented with a little more effort on the developer’s team.
The features and functionalities I think Blogger needs to have to be like Wordpress are:
1. File hosting.
As we speak, CSS and Javascript need to be placed into the template itself which makes the loading process a bit slow, or hosted on a third-party service, which most of the time have a bandwith limit.
2. Developer Community
Even though it is one of the most used blogging platforms in the world, Blogger lacks a developer community around it, the few improvements come from the official developer team and this makes a much slower evolution compared to Wordpress.
3. Efficient Valid Code.
I’ve said this a lot of times before, Blogger’s code is very inefficient. I can understand that it is a lot stronger because of the template system they use, but a lot of their elements are loaded in some not-so-useful or plain useless code and validating it is a nearly impossible task.
4. Categories and labels.
Blogger’s current label system only uses one-level tags, which means, sub-tags cannot be created to at least simulate Wordpress’ sub-categories. Having more than one classification method comes really handy as the blog grows, as for the user as for the blogger.
5. Comment moderation.
It is true that Blogger made a great step ahead by adding the comment-form to the post page, by this time it doesn’t always work as it should. Comment management is completely manual, so you need to visit every post with new comments in order to read and reply. Also, there isn’t access to some of the commenter’s information like e-mail and IP address. And going a bit further, support to external services like gravatar.
6. Pages.
In Wordpress it is clear the differences to the uses of "Pages" and "Posts", the posts are the daily news, dynamic and the pages are for static contents like "About…", Contact, Advertising, Privacy policy, etc. These are exactly the kind of pages that do not exist on Blogger, we have to make a post with an old date or look for help on an external service.
7. Custom fields.
Even though it is not so common on Wordpress, these are magnificent tools to power a blog and it is missing on Blogger. With these you can create some more complex stuff quicker, a showcase or a "Read More" or a summary with examples.
8. Documentation.
In the counterpart of Wordpress, Blogger’s documentation is poor and rarely updated, added the fact the user community doesn’t produce too much information, it is logical the difficulty which represents this platform to someone who has quite some time using it and wants to customize it.
9. Image Management.
Gallery creation, image administration from the Blogger’s control panel (right now only available by Picasa), multiupload and an improved image uploader.
10. Trackbacks.
Theoretically, Blogger has built in a trackbacks system, but is nearly impossible to trackback a blog made on Blogger.
Conclusions
These 10 features are in my opinion the ones with the highest priority to be included on Blogger so they can be closer to Wordpress, but there are many other details in which Wordpress claims the lead, we have to admit Blogger has some great things over Wordpress, a few, but there.
What is striking is that these 10 points are really very basic things, any actual Wordpress user thinks of this as a problem from the past, but it is exactly what’s in front of Blogger users.
What do you readers think? Can Blogger catch up on the other platforms? Why do you think Blogger is getting left far behind considering the other Google services?
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Free Studiopress Magazine Template for Blogger
Features of this Template
- This is a two fixed free blogger Template.
- This Template is Google Adsense Optimized.
- This Template has got 6 tabbed menu.
- This Template has got sidebar enews and updates box.
- This Template has got the customized blogsearch engine
- This Template has got customized dropdown category(labels) widget with the menu bar.
- This Template has got breadcrumb menu to each posts.
- This Template has got two menu bars.
Get this Template
5 better ways for bloggers to connect with their readers
1. Reply to their Comments and Email
Its the responsibility of every blogger to answer the query of their readers and make them find the solution for their problem regarding blogging.Your readers always query you either by writing the comment or by sending you the Email.If you answer them in a good manner and make satisfied with your answer, you will surely be considered good by that reader and he will also try to promote you through their blog/site.This will surely maintain a good relation with your reader and your blog.
2. Write the Post what your readers want
Noone is going to read your blog is your blog doesn’t contain the things what people are interested or what the want.So yo should always write the post according to the will of your readers.you can run a poll or survey inyour blog to know what your readers would like to read on your blog.If you post according to their will then they will surely read your posts and it also makes them feel you are with them.
3. Give your readers a chance to write on yours
Yes I am talking about the guest posts section run by many blogs.You can too give the chance to your readers to write the post onyour blog .But you can implement some rules and regulations for writing the guest posts.Your readers will be very happy to post on yours and will be surely more connected toyour blog.
4. Accept them or Follow them Back
I am talking about the different Social networking sites or micro blogging sites.If your reader add you as a friend or follow you then its your responsibility to accept their request and follow them back too.This will also surely maintain a good relation between you and your readers.
5. You got it give them Free
You got many contents in our blogs.Some might be the blogger templates,wordpress Themes, ebooks or other valuable things.So if possible distribute theme free to your readers.They will surely consider your hard work and they will surely help you promote and hence your readers will be more connected withyour blog.
Its the responsibility of every blogger to answer the query of their readers and make them find the solution for their problem regarding blogging.Your readers always query you either by writing the comment or by sending you the Email.If you answer them in a good manner and make satisfied with your answer, you will surely be considered good by that reader and he will also try to promote you through their blog/site.This will surely maintain a good relation with your reader and your blog.
2. Write the Post what your readers want
Noone is going to read your blog is your blog doesn’t contain the things what people are interested or what the want.So yo should always write the post according to the will of your readers.you can run a poll or survey inyour blog to know what your readers would like to read on your blog.If you post according to their will then they will surely read your posts and it also makes them feel you are with them.
3. Give your readers a chance to write on yours
Yes I am talking about the guest posts section run by many blogs.You can too give the chance to your readers to write the post onyour blog .But you can implement some rules and regulations for writing the guest posts.Your readers will be very happy to post on yours and will be surely more connected toyour blog.
4. Accept them or Follow them Back
I am talking about the different Social networking sites or micro blogging sites.If your reader add you as a friend or follow you then its your responsibility to accept their request and follow them back too.This will also surely maintain a good relation between you and your readers.
5. You got it give them Free
You got many contents in our blogs.Some might be the blogger templates,wordpress Themes, ebooks or other valuable things.So if possible distribute theme free to your readers.They will surely consider your hard work and they will surely help you promote and hence your readers will be more connected withyour blog.
10 things to do once you start a blog on Blogger
Every time you’re told about the advantages of a blog it is always mentioned the ease of creating one. And even thou this is true, after starting the blog the path is not so clear and now it’s time to have our say about the 10 things to do after starting a blog on Blogger.
1. Write a description for the blog.
Go to the Settings tab and in the "Basic" option you will find the text field in which you can put the description. This is useful for newcomers and it might be helpful for search engines too.
Dashboard → Settings → Basic
2. Get a nice template.
There are many websites with Blogger Templates (as a matter of fact this is one) in which you can find a great variety of designs.
Do not base your decision only on the graphic side (headers, buttons, icons, etc) but also in the structure (number of columns, accessibility, etc) and remember always to read the instructions for each template because usually they are important in order to get the right visualization of it.
3. Buy a domain and use it with your blog.
I’ve always said that a domain has to be the blogger’s first investment and by less than 10 dollars you can have a proper name with a lot of advantages, this is heavily advisable. Have a look on adding your own domain on Blogger.
Dashboard → Settings → Publishing
4. Change your blog’s feed for a Feedburner one.
Feedburner is a Google service that allows you to have stats of how many people read you via this method. From the Blogger’s Control Panel it is possible to add feedburner to your blog.
Dashboard → Settings → Site Feed
5. Correct the comment link.
A little detail that improves your blog’s accessibility. To correct the comment check it has to be done by hand.
6. Change the images of your template to a new host.
Many templates have their images hosted on free services which limit the traffic to them (bandwidth) which makes it possible to sometimes none of the images load properly. Hosting them on Blogger seems like the best option.
7. Add the basic gadgets on your sidebar.
In the "Layout" tab select "Page elements" it is possible to add gadgets. the most basic of them are: Labels, Blog Archive (list mode) and Subscription Links.
8. Embed the comment form in the entries’ individual page.
As this feature is still on test phase it is necessary to do it by hand in customized templates or automatically in Blogger’s default templates.
Dashboard → Settings → Comments
9. Add your stats-tracking code.
It doesn’t matter if you use whether Google Analytics, SiteMeter or any other stats system, the important thing is to add their tracking code before the </body> that is in the "Layout" tab, "Edit HTML" option, almost at the end of the code.
Dashboard → Layout → Edit HTML
10. Add Google Tools to your blog.
The Google Tools allow you to keep track of your search stats and errors related to your site. Its use is really intuitive and free.
After doing all this your blog will be a more effective tool, you’ll have more control about your stats, it’ll look better, it will have better negotiations with the search engines but on top of that, it will be a better space for your visitors.
Source: Btemplates
Show Posts short URL in blogger with bit.ly API key
Tutorial Step by Step
1. Proceeding with the first step, Copy the following block of Javascript code and paste it just above </head> in your Blogger Template.
<script type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8" src="http://bit.ly/javascript-api.js?version=latest&login=bitlyapidemo&apiKey=R_0da49e0a9118ff35f52f629d2d71bf07"></script>
<script type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8">
BitlyClient.addPageLoadEvent(function(){
BitlyCB.myShortenCallback = function(data) {
// this is how to get a result of shortening a single url
var result;
for (var r in data.results) {
result = data.results[r];
result['longUrl'] = r;
break;
}
document.getElementById("shorturl").innerHTML = "Share this link: <input type='text' value='" + result['shortUrl'] + "' name='bitlyurl'/>";
}
BitlyClient.shorten(document.location, 'BitlyCB.myShortenCallback');
});
</script>
2. In the second step add the following block of CSS code to your Blogger template just above </b:skin>.This code gives the style to area displaying the shorted links.
form#shorturl {
color:#666;
font-size:11px
}#shorturl input {color:#999;
border:1px inset #CDCDCD;
padding:1px 5px;
}
3. Now in third step you need to choose the place for displaying the shorted links.For this Search for the following line in your Blogger Template.but remember to Expand the Template before you proceed.
<div class='post-footer-line post-footer-line-3'></div>
Now Paste the following line of code between the above code in your Template.
<b:if cond='data:blog.pageType == "item"'><form id='shorturl'/></b:if>
Now Save your Blogger Template then you’re done.
Source: bloganol.com
Download Free 3 Column Excellent Thrilling Blogger Template
This 3 column Thrilling Blogger Template is the wordpress conversion of the excellent Thrilling Wordpress Theme designed Originally by the Thrillingheroics and FreelanceWP.,Take a view at the demo,features and Customizations of this free Template.
Features of this Template
- Customize your header with your own logo & snapshot image!
- Easy integration with Twitter, Flickr & Facebook
- Tabbed features/popular posts & more in the sidebar
- Integration with FeedBurner email subscriptions
- 125×125 and 300×250 ad management
- 3 widget-ready sidebar areas
- Built-in support for Related Posts.
- Built-in Social Bookmarking widget.
- Compressed CSS & minified JavaScript for faster load time
- Totally FREE for commercial & individual use
Customization of this Free Template
Though this Template is really very perfect but you need to do some more customizations to make it work even better.here are the lists of some places you need to customize.
1. Top Header menu
To edit this Section with your default link and text,Search for the following block of code and edit it with your own.
<ul class='nav1'>
<li><a expr:href='data:blog.homepageurl'>Home</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.bloganol.com/' title='Blog Archives'>Blog Archives</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.bloganol.com/' title='Support'>Support</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.bloganol.com/' title='Sitemap'>Sitemap</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.bloganol.com/' title='About Us'>About Us</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.bloganol.com/' title='Contact Us'>Contact Us</a></li>
</ul><!--/nav1-->
2. Header Thumb
To change the thumb at your header,search for the following code at the footer of this Template and change the url of the Image of the thumb..But remember to use the image of size 137×137px only.
<style type='text/css'>
#header .spacer{background: url(http://www.bloganol.com/blogger/templates/thrilling/scripts/thumb.php?src=http://www.bloganol.com/blogger/templates/thrilling/images/krabi.jpg) no-repeat 0 0 !important; margin:-28px 0 0 !important; padding:28px 0 0 6px !important;ro}</style>3. Below Header menu
To edit this Section with your default link and text,Search for the following block of code and edit it with your own.
<div id='topmenu'>
<ul class='grid_15' id='nav'>
<li><a href='http://www.bloganol.com/' title='View all posts filed under Parent Category II'>Parent Category II</a></li>
<li>
<a href='http://www.bloganol.com/' title='View all posts filed under Parent Category III'>Parent Category III</a>
<ul class='children'>
<li><a href='http://www.bloganol.com/' title='View all posts filed under Child Category III'>Child Category III</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>
<a href='http://www.bloganol.com/' title='View all posts filed under Parent Category I'>Parent Category I</a>
<ul class='children'>
<li><a href='http://www.bloganol.com/' title='View all posts filed under Child Category I'>Child Category I</a></li>
<li>
<a href='http://www.bloganol.com/' title='View all posts filed under Child Category II'>Child Category II</a><ul class=’children’>
<li><a href=’http://www.bloganol.com/’ title=’View all posts filed under Grandchild Category I’>Grandchild Category I</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li class=’fb’><a href=’http://www.facebook.com/deineshd’><img alt=” src=’http://www.google.com/s2/favicons?domain=www.facebook.com’ style=’border: 0; padding: 0; margin: 0; vertical-align: middle;’/> Join the Community</a></li> </ul>
</div><!–/topmenu–>
4. Subscription box
To Edit the Subscription Option in The subscription box of this Template,Search for the following code and edit with your own.
Source: Bloganol.com
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