Tech-y Tuesday | Blog Buttons


First and foremost, I cannot even begin this post with out pointing out something I noticed yesterday -- If you blog via Blogger, tell me this is new!! Tell me I'm not just noticing this long and over-due easy-peasy option for our links!!


I used to have to swap to "Edit HTML" mode and manually type out a long and tedious code to have this option, and now all I have to do is check a box -- to tell you I'm stoked is such an understatement! 

Okay, moving on to the topic at hand: Blog Buttons! As I've mentioned before, if you have a blog and invest your time into it (ie: care enough to pimp it out and publish blog posts on a consistant basis) then you should not only have your own custom domain, but you should also have a Button/Badge!

I do -- check it out!



Creating Blog Buttons/Badges is beyond easy, and I believe anyone can do it. All you need are three things: A photo, a picnik account, and a photobucket account -- all of which should be FREE, and I like free!

I honestly think the hardest part is determining a photo. Once you decide on a photo, edit it the way you want your button to look and save the image at 200 -- only because you want your button to fit in the average bloggers sidebar. Some might advise 125, but seriously, that is flippin' small, and resizing is an easy fix down the road if you ever need to accomodate such a change.

Let's do it together; I'll make another button with you.

So let's pick our photo:

I pick this one because... 
..I think everyone knows I'm Starbucks biggest fan, so I find this photo to be pretty fitting for a button, don't you?

Now let's upload our image to picnik and edit accordingly...

This is what I came up with:


When you save the image, remember to change the SIZE of the image to 200. Save it to your desktop, "Blog Folder," or wherever, and then upload your newly edited photo to your photobucket account.

Now comes the fun part... Adding your button to your blog.

If you use Blogger for example, click on your "Design" tab. Add the HTML/Java widget and copy/paste the following code:

<a border="0" href="YourWebsiteURL" target="_blank"><img src="YourButtonImageURL" /></a>

<textarea rows="4" cols="20"> border="0" href="YourWebsiteURL" target="_blank"img src="YourButtonImageURL"/ </textarea>



Get the "Direct Link" for your image from photobucket, and fill in the above highlighted areas accordingly (including your blog's URL--which should be a short, and easy to remember customized domain; tsk, tsk).

In the title area of your widget, put something like, "Grab My Button!" if you want, and click save. When the box closes, make sure you drag and drop the widget where you want it on your blog if it isn't there already, and click save again in the design area.

Preview your blog, make sure it's perfect-o, and BOOM, new blog button!




Easy, right?!

I told you!

Now let me see yours--I showed you mine!! ;)

Do you have a blog button?
Want to Swap Blog Buttons?
Why don't you have a blog button?
Do you plan on creating a blog button now?
Were these instructions even helpful?

[Have you Entered my Rafflecopter Giveaway yet?! Click Here!]

-------
If you are a reader and haven't yet followed me via Google Friend Connect located on the top right of my Blog's Sidebar, what are you waiting for?! Now is the time to join the party, and leave me a comment while you're at it--I won't bite!


posted under |

18 love notes:

Stesha said... [Reply]

this is so helpful!!! So many time people dont know how to get things that are so easy, just lack of knowing how. Happy November!!!

xo
Classic & Bubbly

Ali Mc said... [Reply]

I didn't notice that link option either!!!! that's great. I edited the html once but then it would open EVERYTHING in a new window and leave people with like 20 of my pages all over their screen = not good. So I deleted it. This is GREAT news :D ALSO I don't have a button and have asked for my own domain for xmas :) lol as I will leave blogger when I do that

Sarah said... [Reply]

I have been wanting that feature forEVER! Thanks for noticing they finally made it! I'm so excited!

Vanessa @ Gourmet Runner said... [Reply]

THANK YOU! I have seriously been wondering how to make a button for ages but it seems like such a mission.

Julia said... [Reply]

SWEET!!!! thanks for sharing. i pretty much do not know how to do anything tech-y so this post was perfect for me to learn something new. i will have to get on this maybe this weekend at some point!?! yay! fun!

Megan said... [Reply]

I've never noticed that either, so it must be new! And that's awesome!!

PS: I don't have my own domain name. Blog fail. Haha.

Katie @ Will Race for Carbs said... [Reply]

I love your techy Tuesdays. I learn something every time!

Vanessa said... [Reply]

Do you have a blog button?

No, I do not.

Want to Swap Blog Buttons?

Sure... is this like yearbook thing??

Why don't you have a blog button?

Because I didn't see the purpose of it. But now I kinda get it. Kinda (fuzzy preggo brain here!)

Do you plan on creating a blog button now?

Yeah... just need a photo op.

Were these instructions even helpful?

Is there sugar in syrup?

Christina @ The Athletarian said... [Reply]

I have always thought about a button but (a) I never knew how to make one and (b) I didn't think anyone would want it. I thought it would just be a useless photo on my sidebar! I might think about doing it for fun now that you broke it down!

Beth @ RUNNING around my kitchen said... [Reply]

I LOVE YOU!!! I know it sounds ridiculous, but I have been wanting to create a banner/header with pictures ever since I started and I couldn't figure out how to do it so that I actually liked it enough to post…and I just did it!!! It might need a little more tweaking, but it's good enough for now - thank you a million girl, you're the best!!! Now to work on the button…that will be a project for another night :)

Anonymous said... [Reply]

Thanks Lover! Will my new Hedonistic website idea be a hit?
Anyway, now I can make it much more scandalous.

Da Boss

Mae B said... [Reply]

YAYYY! I did not even notice that little option to open the link in a new window. Thanks for the heads up!
And thanks so so much for the blog button tutorial! So helpful!
I gotta get on that!
xx

Suz and Allan said... [Reply]

This definitely reminds me of the night you helped me make my blog button and we talked for hours. What a great night!

Vanessa said... [Reply]

Sister... it's not working for me. I've been C&P like crazy over and over and the code comes up all weird.

Cyndi ✪ Blue Star said... [Reply]

OK, sounds like something I can do. But WHY do I want one? When i'm on other people's blogs I see "Grab my button" but I don't know why I'd want theirs either. I'm a rookie blogger, so pardon my ignorance! Can you help a sister out?

Detroit Runner(Jeff) said... [Reply]

I got it on my blog but I'm not sure how people grab it to get it on theirs?

coach dion said... [Reply]

I think I'm the stupid one, because it all went right over my head!!!!

never mind, I'll just keep writing my stories and reading yours...

Racingtales - Alison Gittelman said... [Reply]

Awesome, and so easy - thanks!

Post a Comment

Newer Post Older Post Home

This place is all about Jennʻs Adventures: a Maui Girl who has evolved in to the modern day female nomad! Departing from her home in 2005 until the beginning of 2011, only the leave again less than a year later. Follow Jenn's Adventures in life, healthy living, travel, and love. To learn even more about Jennʻs Adventures, read this! Thanks for stopping by, please stay awhile & say ALOHA!

past adventures!



mis·cel·la·ne·ous

[mis-uh-ley-nee-uhs]
–adjective


Fitness Blog
***