Blogger Basics With Sandy - Lesson 3 Adding Video

Now we’re getting flash! If you would like to know how to add video to your blog post, this is the lesson for you.

The How To…

1) To add your own video that is saved on your computer:

In Blogger, when you are typing your blog post, click on the ‘Add Video’ icon. This will open an ‘Upload Video’ window.

Click on the ‘Choose File’ button. Double click on the video file saved on your computer. Tick the ‘I agree to the upload terms and conditions’ box. Click ‘Upload Video’.

Now you wait and wait and wait. This can take up to 20 minutes! Be patient.

Eventually you will see your video in your blog post.

2) To add a video from elsewhere on the internet:

This is far easier than option 1.

In Blogger, when you are typing your blog post, simply copy and paste the ‘embed HTML code’ from the source destination into your post.

The easiest way to get the ‘embed HTML code’ is from YouTube. If you find a YouTube video you want to display on your blog you will see the code next to ‘Embed’ a third of the way down the screen, on the right hand side. Simply copy and paste into your blog post.

When you click on ‘Preview’ you will see the video on your blog post.

Video Hints and Tips

If you want to add a home movie to your blog post it will probably be easier to create a YouTube account. You can then upload your videos there and simply copy and paste the ‘embed HTML code’ into your blog post.

If you want to use a video you have found on the internet please check the copyright situation. You may find that an image is ‘creative commons’. This means you can use the image, but you should give credit to the creator. You can do this by adding the sentence ‘Video Credit: Jo Blogs/website url’.

If you’re not sure, it’s best to assume that the video is copyright and you should not use it without permission.

I have found that it’s best to add any video you would like to use before you start typing your blog post. I find if you add an image later it can confuse Blogger and change the font you are typing in. I then find it infuriating trying to correct the font. This may be a quirk of Blogger, or it could just be me!

One excellent use of a video is the ‘A Minute for Madeleine’ campaign that was recently promoted on British Mummy Bloggers. If you didn’t see it, it’s on my blog, posted 6th November 2009.

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Next time on Blogger Basics: Lesson 4 - Widgets

If you have any questions please ask, either in the comments here, or you will find my email address on my blog  Baby Baby

Blogger Basics With Sandy - Lesson 2 Adding Images

Lesson 2 – Adding Images

They say a picture paints a thousand words and this is certainly true when you’re blogging. Relevant photographs and other images will make your blog post stand out. If you would like to know how to add an image to your blog post, this is the lesson for you.

The How To…

In Blogger, when you are typing your blog post, click on the ‘Add Image’ icon. This will open an ‘Upload Image’ window.

If the image you wish to upload is saved on your computer you should click on the ‘Choose File’ button. Double click on the image.
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If the image you wish to upload is on the internet you will need to copy and paste the URL into the ‘URL’ box. You can do this by right-clicking on the image and selecting ‘Copy image url’ and then CTRL and V or right-click and ‘paste’ into the ‘URL’ box.

You can then choose where you want to place the image on the post in the ‘Layout’ section, and what size you want the image to be.

Once you have chosen these options, click on ‘Upload Photo’, then ‘Done’

You should now have an image in your post. If it’s not what you were expecting, for example it may be too large; you can delete it and try again.

Image Hints and Tips

If you want to use an image you have found on the internet please check the copyright situation. You may find that an image is ‘creative commons’. This means you can use the image, but you should give credit to the photographer. You can do this by adding the sentence ‘Image Credit: Jo Blogs/website url’.

If you’re not sure, it’s best to assume that the image is copyright and you should not use it without permission.

I have found that it’s best to add any images you would like to use before you start typing your blog post. I find if you add an image later it can confuse Blogger and change the font you are typing in. I then find it infuriating trying to correct the font. This may be a quirk of Blogger, or it could just be me!

One excellent use of an image that you may have seen on blogs is ‘Wordless Wednesday’. It’s an easy way to use images on your blog. You can add a caption and quickly share a family snap or amusing cartoon.

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Next time on Blogger Basics: Lesson 3 - Adding Video

If you have any questions please ask, either in the comments here, or you will find my email address on my blog Baby Baby

Blogger Basics With Sandy - Lesson 1 Adding Links

Welcome to first of which I hope will become a regular feature, Blogger Basics with Sandy

Sandy writes a blog called Baby Baby and very good it is too!

Sandy is happily married to Andy. Who are the proud parents of two baby boys, born within a year of each other - they planned this! Presley is two and Cash is one. She used to be a financial controller, now she's a full time mum. It's hard work but she love it.

Sandy thinks the phrase 'you've got your hands full' was written for her".

So without further ado, here is lesson 1

Lesson 1 – Adding Links

So you’ve started your Blogger blog – fantastic! You’ve written a few posts, people are starting to read what you’ve written. You may have joined British Mummy Bloggers . You’ve been reading other blogs and you can see that they use links in their blog posts. If you want to know how to add links within your blog posts, this is the lesson for you.

The How To…

1. In Blogger, when you are typing your blog post, you should type the word or phrase you would like your readers to click on. For example, this could be a person’s name, the name of a blog or organisation, or even ‘click here’.

2. In a new window or tab, open up the website you would like to link to. In the address bar on your web browser you will see the address of the page you are looking at. This is known as a url.

3. Click in the address bar. This will highlight the url. To copy, hold down CTRL and press ‘C’, or right click and choose ‘copy’.

4. Go back to your blog post. Highlight your ‘click here’ word or phrase. Then click on the icon that looks like a globe with a paperclip on it. This is the link icon. A box will open asking for the url you want to link to. You then hold down CTRL and press ‘V’ to paste, or right click whilst hovering over the box ad click ‘paste’.

You now have your link in place.

Ideas for links

There are lots of reasons to include links in your blog post.

One of the main reasons you would link to another blog is to acknowledge that blogger. For instance, they may have written a post that has inspired you to write your post. It is good form to add a link to their post when you write yours.

You may have been given an award. You can thank the blogger by adding a link to their blog. When you pass on awards to other blogs you can list them and a link to each blog. This will enable your readers to quickly go to the blog you’re acknowledging or recommending.

You may also want to include a link to an article you have read, one that you think will interest your readers.

Happy linking!

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Next time on Blogger Basics: Lesson 2 - Adding Images

If you have any questions please ask, either in the comments here, or you will find my email address on my blog Baby Baby

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