While the official start to the January, 2010 Bloggiesta Challenge does not begin until tomorrow, I decided to take advantage of my snow day yesterday and get a jump start. I am SO excited at what I was able to accomplish.First of all, I have desired to have tabs at the top of the header for about 8 months now. I think it is a professional way to allow readers easy access to useful information. I emailed a few fellow bloggers who have done this in the past, and they assured me that the process is relatively painless. I used the wonderfully helpful sites of Blog U and Exploding Boy and in about 90 minutes I had a look that I wanted. I am sure that I will continue to play around with the layout and perhaps tweak a few things, but for now I am thrilled to have this much accomplished.
The other blog enhancement that I have wanted to add is the feature that links readers to other related posts on the site. It took me a while, but I finally discovered that it is a downloadable widget called Link Within and it is incredibly simple to use. In less than 5 minutes I had updated my blog to include what I think is a very handy tool. I know that I have enjoyed following these links on other bloggers' websites, and I hope that it is an added benefit to my site as well.
No need to worry about the Bloggiesta weekend, however, as I still have plenty of items that I hope to accomplish:
- I have a minimum of 4 book reviews that I need to write (and I hope I haven't waited too long and my short term memory has forgotten the necessary details).
- I can also begin to organize my reviews in a manner that is easy to navigate. Ideally I would like to have one book review page that lists the books by title (and perhaps by author) rather than by the year that the book was read. I don't think the current system is very user-friendly.
- I can also start to think of future posts and perhaps get a jump-start on writing them, as I know that my free-time will be greatly reduced once school is in full-swing.
I want to thank Natasha at Maw Books Blog for hosting this terrific challenge at such an opportune time. I think this is a great way to start a blogger's New Year on the right foot.
Your improvements look fantastic! Good luck with the rest of your goals.
ReplyDeleteI've been wanting to add tabs for quite some time, too. Will try the links you've included. Wish me luck!
ReplyDeleteMaybe I should sign up for Bloggiesta...
Looks great Molly. I've been wanting to try the tabs as well. I like the 3 column style as well. good job
ReplyDeleteBlog improvements, like housework, are never ending! Congratulations on the progress you've made.
ReplyDeleteThe tabs look great. Good luck with the rest of the weekend!
ReplyDeleteI've got two reviews to do, and I would love to figure out tabs (scares me a little). But my weekends are totally insane, with kids' sports. Plus my parents are in town, plus we are celebrating my husband's birthday. So I'm not sure I will be Bloggiesta-ing with the rest of you. Good luck! Thanks for including those links - I may need them!
ReplyDeleteSounds great! I've been wanting to add tabs and to expand to a three-column site. Generally, I've just added another Word Press blog to satisfy that urge! LOL.
ReplyDeleteI've bookmarked your pages where you learned these things, though, for that moment when I might feel courageous enough! First of all, how does one "back up" the template?
Probably something incredibly simple!
Ah, this is why I love bloggiesta! New tips on improving your blog! Like you, I've always wanted tabs, but never really knew how to put them in. Thank you so much for the tip.:)
ReplyDeleteVery nice tabs Molly. I'm joining in on Bloggiesta too. I have lots of housekeeping that needs to be done on my blog. It should be a time of fun too.
ReplyDeleteEverything looks great! I am so jealous of your tabs-I have wanted some for along time but I am just too chicken to try them on my own. I did follow your link and add the Link Within this morning and it worked! I have been wondering how to get that feature, so thanks a bunch for sharing! Sadly, I think this weekend will be spent taking down Christmas decorations and finishing unpacking from our trip rather than having fun with Bloggiesta for me. :( I am still not happy with my template background so I may play around with that today some. :)
ReplyDelete*smiles*
Looks like you got off to a good start!
ReplyDeleteMolly,
ReplyDeleteWe will have to chat more about Glee, it is absolutely the BEST thing on TV.
Beth
Also, thank you for the Link Within post. I've been wanting to add that feature as well! And never knew how. Thanks!!!
ReplyDeleteDisregard my previous question ... you did link to where to do the tabs. I'm off to give it a go!
ReplyDeleteAnd isn't LinkWithin easy and fun? I love it!
Thank you, Thank you for the tabs link - I added them to my blog and absolutely love them!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for these tips.
ReplyDelete