Conzep for Blogger
Conzep for Blogger is a modification of a WordPress theme called Conzep, originally designed by Joe Mitcho. It is also a derivative work from WordPress default theme, Kubrick (WordPress version of this beautiful theme can be found at authors blog). Check out live demo of this template to see it fully functional.
Main features:
- Two column layout
- Advanced commenting (1)
- Recent comments on sidebar (2)
- Integrated Technorati tags (3)
- Integrated Google Sitesearch (4)
This is a free template released under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.5 License. This means that you can use this template for your personal or commercial blog, edit it according to your needs, and even re-distribute it as long as you keep the credit links at footer.
Download:
0 comments
Kiss for Blogger
Kiss for Blogger is a modification of a theme called Kiss, originally designed by Oinam. This template is also available for Movable Type, TypePad, Live Journal, and WordPress (all other versions of this beautiful theme can be found at here). Check out live demo of this template to see it fully functional.
Main features:
- Two column layout
- Recent comments on sidebar (1)
- Integrated Google Sitesearch (2)
This is a free template released under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.5 License. This means that you can use this template for your personal or commercial blog, edit it according to your needs, and even re-distribute it as long as you keep the credit links at the end of sidebar.
Download:
0 comments
NewZen for Blogger
NewZen for Blogger is an interesting Blogger theme with AJAX sidebar menu (yes, it is possible to use AJAX with Blogger templates). This theme has been modified from its WordPress version, which is originally designed by Fauxzen. WordPress version of this template can be found at here). Check out live demo of this template to see it fully functional.
Main features:
- Two column layout
- AJAX sidebar menu (1)
- Recent comments on sidebar (2)
- Integrated Google Sitesearch (3)
This is a free template released under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.5 License. This means that you can use this template for your personal or commercial blog, edit it according to your needs, and even re-distribute it as long as you keep the credit links at footer.
Download:
0 comments
Green Lush for Blogger
Green Lush is a modification of the layout originally created by Yamazaki. Original layout can be found at Open Source Web Design website (id 2898). Check out live demo of this template to see it fully functional.
Main features:
- Two column layout
- Recent comments on sidebar (1)
- Bookmarklets for certain social bookmarking sites at item (post) pages
This is a free template released under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.5 License. This means that you can use this template for your personal or commercial blog, edit it according to your needs, and even re-distribute it as long as you keep the credit links at footer.
Download:
0 comments
Artica for Blogger
Artica is a 3 column Blogger template with AJAX sidebar menu and bookmarklets at post pages. This template is a modification of the layout originally created by caljrimmer, which can be found at Open Source Web Design website (id 2713). Check out live demo of this template to see it fully functional.
Main features:
- Three column layout
- AJAX sidebar menu (1)
- Bookmarklets for certain social bookmarking sites at item (post) pages
- Chicklets for certain aggregator services on sidebar
- Flickr badge on the 3rd column (2)
- Integrated Google Sitesearch (3)
This is a free template released under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.5 License. This means that you can use this template for your personal or commercial blog, edit it according to your needs, and even re-distribute it as long as you keep the credit links at footer.
Download:
0 comments
Rounded Blue for Blogger
Rounded Blue for Blogger is a modification of a WordPress theme called Rounded v2 Blue Edition, originally designed by Ghyslain Armand. WordPress version of this beautiful theme can be found at authors blog. You can also get the theme PSD graphics from his blog, and fully customize the template through your needs. Check out live demo of this template to see it fully functional. Main features:
- Two column layout
- Recent comments on sidebar (1)
- Flickr badge on sidebar (2)
- Integrated Google Sitesearch (3)
This is a free template released under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.5 License. This means that you can use this template for your personal or commercial blog, edit it according to your needs, and even re-distribute it as long as you keep the credit links at footer.
Download:
0 comments
Foliage for Blogger
Foliage for Blogger is a one column template with AJAX top menu and smooth scrolling functions. This template is modified from its award winning WordPress version called Foliage (v1.02), which designed by Derek Punsalan. WordPress version of this beautiful theme can be found at authors blog. You can also get the theme PSD graphics from his blog, and fully customize the template through your needs. Check out live demo of this template to see it fully functional. Main features:
- One column layout
- AJAX top menu (1)
- AJAX smooth scrolling for internal links (1)
- Integrated Google Sitesearch (2)
This is a free template released under GPL license. This means that you can use this template for your personal or commercial blog, edit it according to your needs, and even re-distribute it as long as you keep the license and the credit links at the footer intact.
Download:
0 comments
Blog Templates
1 comments
Free vs Paid Blog
Introduction
The early years of the Internet spoiled us - we learned to expect to get things for free. At one time just about anything could be had for free - computers, Web sites, server space and, of course, blogs. I remember a day when companies would actually pay us to have ads running on the bottom of our screens. As the Internet economy has righted itself, the amount of free resources has fallen. However, there is still a lot you can get for nothing if you are willing to compromise features for cost.
UNDERSTANDING THE OPTIONS
To begin your own blog there are two things you will need. The first is software that is capable of running a blog. Just as you might use a program like Microsoft Word to create and read text documents or as you are using an Internet browsing program to look at this site, so you need software that will allow you to write and publish your blog. The second thing you need is a place on the Internet to put your blog. Just like you are now visiting a Web site at the address www.blogbasics.com (this is known as a URL) you need an address for your blog so that people can find you. This is known as "hosting" because somewhere on the Internet a server (a type of computer) will host your site. Software and hosting are the two dynamics you need to take into account.
Your Options
Using those two dynamics there are four categories of blog:
- Free software with free hosting - This is the entirely free way of blogging. You do not pay for the software or for the hosting.
- Free software with paid hosting - In this option you will use free software but will have to pay for hosting.
- Paid software that includes the price of hosting - This option is subscription-based and combines software and hosting in one recurring fee.
- Paid software and paid hosting - In this option you pay for both hosting and software.
So now you might ask why, if there is the ability to do everything for free, why would anyone choose to pay? Well, you have probably heard the expression "you get what you pay for" and this holds true in blogging. The problem with free solutions is that they usually are reduced-featured versions of something better. They often include only a small subset of the features you could have if you were willing to pay. So with some software, for example, they will allow you to have only one author on your blog if you use the free service, but will allow unlimited authors if you pay for the service. If you choose to use free hosting, the host will place advertising in or above your blog.
In the following pages we will look at each of these four categories, their advantages and disadvantages, and will provide recommendations for each. This tutorial should take no more than a few minutes to read and at the end you will understand the range of options you have.
0 comments
Blogging For First Time
INTRODUCTION
So you've heard the term "blog" and you want to know what blogs are all about. Well you've come to the right place. In this series of four articles we will take you from asking what a blog is to having all the knowledge you need to start a blog of your own so you can share your thoughts with hundreds or even thousands of readers.
WHAT IS A BLOG?
Let's begin with some definitions. A bit dry, we realize, but this is a necessary evil. First we'll define the word this whole site is based around - blog.
A blog is a frequently updated online personal journal or diary. It is a place to express yourself to the world. A place to share your thoughts and your passions. Really, it's anything you want it to be. For our purposes we'll say that a blog is your own Web site that you are going to update on an ongoing basis. Blog is a short form for the word weblog and the two words are used interchangeably.
Here are a couple of other definitions:
"...the first journalistic model that actually harnesses rather than merely exploits the true democratic nature of the web. It's a new medium finally finding a unique voice."--Andrew Sullivan
"[a] collection of posts...short, informal, sometimes controversial, and sometimes deeply personal...with the freshest information at the top."--Meg Hourihan
TERMINOLOGY
As so often happens in the English language, many derivates of the word blog have been created. One who participates in the activities of maintaining a blog is known as a blogger and the activity of keeping a blog is known as blogging. So we could say that the blogger blogs in his blog, but that might cause your English teacher to weep. We are going to use these terms with alarming frequency, so make sure you understand what they mean before you go on.
Blog (noun) - a journal or diary that is on the Internet - Andrew Sullivan has the most popular blog on the Internet.
Blogger (noun) - a person who keeps a blog - Bloggers are revolutionizing the way news is shared.
Blog (verb) - to write a blog - I am going to blog before breakfast this morning.
Blogging (verb) - the action of writing a blog - Blogging is my way of sharing my passions with the world.
Originally blogs were known primarily as places for people to write about their day-to-day activities. Their mundane, everyday tasks became fodder for journal entries. Somehow these writers gained a following and the hobby of blogging was born. Today people write about far more interesting topics. But we'll get to that in a minute.
WHO BLOGS?
So who are these fearless people who would be willing to post about their lives in as public a forum as the Internet? They are people just like you. Once the haven of technical know-it-alls, blogging has suddenly caught-on as a legitimate hobby and has entered the mainstream. Every day millions of people, some of whom have no technical ability whatsoever, write on their blogs. To meet this demand some amazing tools have been created that will allow anyone, even people with very little knowledge of computers, to have their own blog. If you can find your way onto the Internet and follow some basic instructions you can have your own blog. It's just that easy.
WHY DO PEOPLE BLOG?
So you may be asking why anyone would want to have their own blog. We believe the answer lies in the fact that every human has a voice and wishes their voice to be heard. The Internet is a medium that is unparalleled in its reach. Never before have average people like you or me been able to reach a global audience with so little trouble. Bloggers have the opportunity of reaching hundreds or even thousands of people each and every day.
There are still many people who like to share the details of their days. They may post twenty or thirty times a day, detailing when they ate lunch and when they headed home from work. On the other hand there are bloggers who give almost no detail about their lives, but write instead about a hobby or interest of theirs. They may dedicate their blog to something they are passionate about. Let me give you some examples:
http://hot-computers-reviews.blogspot.com is about the computer
So by now you know what a blog is and know that people from all walks of life have their own blogs. We'll turn now to the various components of an average blog.
COMPONENTS
- Advertising - Many blogs have advertising banners on them. Most often the money generated by advertising goes to the company providing the blog software, not the individual blogger.
- Title - The blog's title.
- Date - The date of the most recent post. You will notice that previous posts have been pushed down on the page to fit below the most recent one.
- Post Title - The title of the most recent post.
- Text - The actual text of the most recent post.
- Posting Information - Information telling who wrote that particular post and when it was posted to the blog.
- Comments - An area for readers of the blog to add their comments. This is an option some bloggers use and others avoid.
- Previous Posts - A list of the most recent posts.
- Archives - A link to view the archive section which contains older posts.
Though there may be variety from one to another depending on the preferences of the individual blogger, most blogs have all or most of those components.
REVIEW
A blog is a place for anyone to say anything to everyone at any time. Blogs are so easy and accessible that even a novice computer-user can begin and maintain one and gain a dedicated readership.
WHAT NEXT?
In Step Two of this tutorial we will look at how to get started, what costs you can expect and what pitfalls to avoid.
0 comments
Posts
