Blogging Tips: How to Keep Things Simple for your readers




Technology and us don't always play nice together. We frequently have questions on how to do things on our blog, so when we discover the answer, we like to share with other bloggers.

We thought maybe these tips would be useful for our fellow Running Bloggers!
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Pinterest button


1. Adding a Pinterest Button to your images.  This was one of the very first "Techy" things we learned how to do on our blog.  Have you ever noticed that when you hover your mouse over one of our images it can automatically be pinned?

Below is the code that we found so you can have your own "Pin It" button. I only know how to do this for the BLOGGER platform.

<script> //<![CDATA[ var bs_pinButtonURL = "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV4z0AqWTprqFEFOGfJqlMDO7mcCffvK0WmGaLFEwLR5ZzUWNXWQI8SP6kFtRMsfNqnPygF_CtEZ6l60WxJ8wCE2l4TY-t1Tb715mVcwQqrpG45LTT_4xn1bX8TRsC8JT8lR-rSorNeXqv/s1600/pinterestx1_72.png"; var bs_pinButtonPos = "center"; var bs_pinPrefix = ""; var bs_pinSuffix = ""; //]]>< /script>< script src='http://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/1.8.2/jquery.min.js' type='text/javascript'></script>< script src='http://greenlava-code.googlecode.com/svn/trunk/publicscripts/bs_pinOnHoverv1_min.js' type='text/javascript'></script>< !-- please do not alter or remove the following code --><div id='bs_pinOnHover'><a href="http://www.bloggersentral.com/">Blogging tips</a></div>

To insert this code:
1: Go to  your Blog's Overview page/Blogger dashboard.  On the left hand side of the screen choose Template>Edit HTML.
2. Press ctrl+F to open up your "find" bar.
3. Locate the </body> tag near the bottom of the template.
4. Copy the code above and insert it right above the tag.
5. Click SAVE. Then View your Blog. Hover the mouse over the image you want to pin!

Let me know if  you tried this and if it works for you.


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2.This next one might not be so much of a "Tip" as it is a Plea for bloggers to please remove the Captcha!  If you don't know what Captcha is, its the group of letters or numbers that your readers have to type in as a sort of security code in order to leave a comment.  If receiving comments are important to you, you might receive more of them if you turn the Captcha off. There are times when I feel I have left a thoughtful comment for a fellow blogger but I have the most difficult time typing in the Captcha code. If I am lucky enough to get a code that is all numbers, I am happy and things are easy peasy but sometimes I get ones that are letters and for the life of me I can't figure them out. I'll go through a couple of rounds of trying to put the correct letters in before I just give up and that particular blogger misses out on a comment. I know typing in a bunch of letters should be easy, but if you've ever struggled with Captcha, you know what I mean.

On Your Blogger dashboard Click on Settings (on the left hand side of the screen) >Click on Posts and Comments. You will see something that says "Show Word Verification".  You can choose to turn that off.  Some people keep their Word Verification or "Captcha" on because it eliminates most Spammers. You can also change who can comment on your blog which will also eliminate most spam messages too.  You will see these options on the same screen. 
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3 While we are on the subject of commenting: We like to visit those bloggers who stop by our blog and leave comments. We do this by clicking on the commenter's name. In some cases, clicking on the name will take us right to that person's blog ( if they have one). In other case, clicking on the name takes us to their Google Plus profile. This makes us sad because sometimes we can not find their blog through the profile ( even though we know they are a blogger). Sometimes its like a scavenger hunt to find their latest blog post.  Did you know you can make it easier for people who are clicking on your name and expecting to go right to your blog?   If you are using the Blogger platform, you can click on your picture icon in the upper right hand corner of your blog and change your profile so it shows your Blogger profile, not your Google Plus profile. This way when someone clicks on your name from a comment you had made, it will take them to your blog instead.
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4. And one last thing about commenting. If you ever leave a comment for someone that is on the Blogger platform ( like us), you will notice that there is a little box that says "Notify me". If you click on that box, you should receive a message when we reply to your comment.  This will only work if you have your email address shared on your Blogger profile. If you have your e-mail set as private then you are what they refer to as a "No Reply" blogger.  EDIT: Clicking the Notify box may result in you seeing ALL responses to that blog post.

So , Did you learn something new here today?
Would you please Pin one of our images for us and let us know if it works?

Do you ever check the "Notify" box for comments and does it work? I've clicked it a few times and I've only ever got a response back from one blogger and I think its because she responds manually through e-mail.


And Since it is July First, My "Official " Goofy Challenge training starts today. I found some really good training plans from Lauren that she found from Run Disney. If you need help with a plan, go check out what she's found!




     

42 comments:

  1. Do I have a Captcha? I have no idea if I do, I'm just not techy enough to build a complex blog. I took web building in college as a fun class, but that was 9 years ago.

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    1. Actually I just commented on your Blog and Yes, you do have Captcha. This time I only got the numbers though so it wasn't so bad!

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    2. Thanks. Just turned it off (hopefully it'll stay off). I can see what the comments are as they come in and can delete them if they're spam.

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  2. I didn't know the thing about commenting with your blogger profile vs your google+ profile. I checked and it turns out mine is set as my blogger profile but that was luck! I didn't know it could be set in other ways. I've used the notify box sometimes and it generally works. But sometimes the box isn't there for me to check and I'm not sure why that is. It's on the same blogs where it's there sometimes and not at other times.

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    1. That's good that you were already set up with your Blogger Profile. I had heard that one you sign up or Google + that Google changes it to your Google profile automatically. Its good that it didn't do that with you.

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  3. Great tips! I like when comments are from Blogger profiles rather than Google + as well. Makes things much better! I don't think I have captcha, but if I do please let me know!

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  4. Great tips! I love the pinterest hover buttons and think it should be blogger law to use them. ;)

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    1. Yes, I am more likely to pin an image on someone else's blog if they have the Pin It button installed.

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  5. Oh god Captcha…drives me insane. OK quick question though. On your particular blog I HAVE to use Google plus to comment because I have no other option. With your commenting system I've seen other people have name and URL where I can fill my details in, but that's not on yours. I haven't been able us use open ID successfully. Love the pin it code!

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    1. Google Plus and Blogger supposedly work together somehow but I haven't figured it out yet. I have it set for Open ID, Which I thought would allow people to put in their name and website, but apparently it doesn't. One of these days I'll figure that out too!

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  6. good tips! one of mine is for bloggers who use blogger to add the name/url option so wordpress bloggers can leave comments easily without having to sign up for something! it's really simple to do :)

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  7. These are great tips! Good luck with the Goofy training, I just officially started training for my first Dopey! :)

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  8. Loved all these tips! Quick question for you- I don't have the "body" code in my html. Any ideas on how to add the pinterest button? Also, how did you get the "You might also like:" on the bottom of your post? Love your blog- thanks for the tips!!

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    1. Hi, Thanks for stopping by! You do have a "Body" its just really far down in your html code. That's why it is best to do a search for the word. As for the "You might also like", that is a gadget/widget ( I forget what it is called exactly), but you can add them right from the settings tab. Click add Gadget, then scroll through and add the one you want. Its pretty easy.

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  9. I need to do that "pin it" thing...
    I have done the "notify me" thing here on your blog... BUT, I'm finding it sends me EVERY comment others put on your blog.
    & yes, I hate when people use Google + & I can't find their blog...

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  10. Love this post!
    I added a pin it button to my blog not long ago, and I agree it's made a huge difference! I kinda like your code better, I may contemplate switching, I'll have to give that some thought. I like the P in the middle, the one I use now does the P in the left corner.
    Also, I loved the info on the Google + - Seriously, I was wondering if I was the only one who could never track those commentors down. I always try to comment back if someone takes the time to stop by and leave me a message. But I have spent loads of time trying to figure out who some are, sad to say I have a few that still to this day comment on my blog and I can't figure out if they have a blog themselves:) I've asked them in my reply to let me know if they have a blog, so either they don't or don't see my response, but I am at least trying:)
    Great post!

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    1. Yea, I'm pretty proud of myself for figuring out how to do that "Pin it" thing. I am more likely to pin an image one someone else's blog if they have the button.

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  11. Great tips! Thank you!

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  12. Great tips! I'm going to try the Pinterest button thing when I don't have my 13Y/O breathing down my neck waiting to use my computer!! Actually, maybe I should just have HIM do it for me! After all, he's WAY more tech savvy than I am!! I did change my profile to blogger (I hope!).......

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    1. You are lucky to have a 13 year old to help you...lol

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  13. I hope that Google changes that someday - those with google plus profiles make it harder get to blogs. That's one reason I haven't changed over to Google plus completely on my blog.

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    1. Same here, We are afraid of what it will do to our blog...lol

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  14. I finally succumbed and use my Google profile to comment on Blogger blogs (ie, yours, I could never comment) but don't like to use it. You should consider opening up the Name/URL option for people who don't have those profiles.

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    1. I would love to change to that method. I just need to figure out a way to do it so we don't get a ton of spam!

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  15. Love this! Thank you- I printed out the whole thing so I can reference back to it! And yes the Pin it thing worked- the image is pinned to our Tutus and Tennies pinterest page! Check it out!

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    1. Aww, I am SO glad that this helped you and am smiling knowing that you printed it out. I will go follow Tutus and Tennies on Pinterest!

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  16. Damn i forgot the notify me box- I clicking it now~

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    1. I'm responding to you just so you can see if the notify button worked. Please let me know :)

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  17. Great tips! Patty taught me about the pinterest hover button, and Courtney taught me about turning off Captcha! Blogger buddies give the best tips. Thanks for linking up with us!

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  18. Thanks for the clear cut info on the "pin it" button!

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  19. Great tips! I hate captcha. (I'm also not a fan of blogs that require me to use my google account either though. I have so many gmail/google apps accounts between my blog, work, and personal life that I constantly have to sign out and sign in to make sure I'm in the right one. LOVE It when I have the option of Name/URL) Thanks for joining the link up!

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  20. These tips were really helpful. Thank you!!

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  21. I have to say that you ladies come up with the best ideas for posts! I really like when I read 'tips' for blogging. I had no clue how to use a pin it button and I just might have to try it out. Captcha drives me bananas...lol. I did click Notify once when I was commenting on a very popular blogger. Then my inbox flooded with other emails about every other person who commented and not just mine???? Is there a simpler way to do this so that I only see the authors reply to my comment?

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  22. Thanks for these tips- the one I was most curious about is the notify box. So if I understand this right, since I am on blogger, the only way people will get a notification that I responded to their comment is if THEY have their email address shared on my blogger profile? Kind of like, it's out of my hands?

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  23. Great post! I like the "notify me" box that Blogger added but it is a pain! I have noticed that when I hit it on certain blogs that it sends me ALL the comments that reply after me. This is frustrating since I only want the reply from the blog that I commented on! I don't know if Blogger has fixed the issue but this is why I don't check that box anymore!

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  24. Great tips!! I especially agree with the captcha one. I'm with you, if I have to type it more than twice then I just give up. It's frustrating. I barely have any time to comment on every single post I read so when I do comment, I don't want to waste time on figuring out what it says. Hope you both have a happy and safe 4th of July!! :)

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  25. You are right on the money with both captcha (drives me INSANE) and Google+...I hate it when I can't "find" a new (to me) commenter's blog.

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  26. Great suggestions! I tried the Pin it button, but it wouldn't show me a preview (said there was an error?) and I am too chicken to hit save without seeing a preview :)

    WhatTheHeckWhyNot?

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