Friday, January 2

Sidebar Housekeeping

For some reason at this time of year my mind always turns to the need to change some aspects of my blog.


I've started by a bit of tweaking of the sidebar. One or two elements have been consigned to the virtual dustbin. They are probably things that you won't notice have gone.



The feeds to our other blogs have been changed. The Blogger feed widgets were very boring - just lists of link. If you haven't already guessed, I'm a visual person and often think a picture can convey more than a block of text so when I found a free feed creator that can incorporate picture thumbnails I decided to try it out.

Initially this was to use on this web page where I link to most of our online stuff.
I wasn't sure that it would work very well - if at all - with Blogger but it seems to.
The main change is that, after each visit we make, Martyn and I now upload what we consider to be our best photographs into an online portfolio which I had already created a link to. I found that the RSS feeder works with that too and so I have added a widget on the sidebar.
I've also added a feed to our YouTube videos but at the moment it only likes Martyn's videos so I am feeling offended.
If you visit Martyn's blog, you will notice that the same feeds have been added to his sidebar.

Now I know that some of you will have no interest in the sidebar contents at all and some will even find a sidebar to be annoying. On the other hand some may find the contents useful or interesting. I find that it is a useful way to join everything together and it can always just be ignored of you wish.


Copyright: Original post from Our Plot at Green Lane Allotments http://glallotments.blogspot.co.uk/ author S Garrett

17 comments:

  1. It's a bit like spring cleaning, tidying everything up for the new year ahead.

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  2. There's nothing like a bit of a clean up at the beginning of the year - out with the old - in with the new. Happy New Year to you.

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    1. It can get a bit boring sticking to the old way, Elaine. As they say a change is as good as a rest.

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  3. I think change is good, Sue - an subtle change won't alienate anyone but will make you fee much better for having done it. I like sidebars when they're relevant, which yours is. Was the school vegetable patch there before? See, I'm looking more closely already! Happy New Year to you and Martyn.

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    1. The School Veg Patch was there before, Caro but just as links, To be honest it's not very active so I do take guest posts for that. The links at the top of this blog go to a website of the same name that I set up to support school gardening projects and it is well used.

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  4. You know, I think some people really overdo their blogs in terms of layout. I find many blogs and websites really hard to navigate because they are too full of stuff! This is one reason why I think the concept of the Sidebar is good. You can use it or ignore it. I must get round to refreshing my "Favourite Blogs" links. Some people haven't posted for AGES, so their links just have to go!

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    1. I'm trying to male the sidebar into an almost separate entity, Mark which as you say can be taken or left as visitors choose.

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  5. I have no idea how to put anything in my side-bar.....I would like to figure it out as I'd like to list blogs I enjoy....there is no hope for me!!! I love all the info on yours.xxx

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    1. In Blogger it depends on the template that you choose whether or not you can have a sidebar, Dina, Then if you go to the layout tab you can populate it with what are called gadgets.
      Try having a look at the layout of your blog to see whether it will let you add a bloglist gadget.

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    2. Thanks Sue, I'll try that, I think mine is weird as it's my own website.xxx

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  6. A bit of a pre-spring clean Sue. You are far more knowledgeable about these things than I am. I'd love to change a few things but don't have the confidence just in case Iose stuff!
    I notice your bird link is still there (thats good) and the picture of the goldfinch is always one that puts a wee smile on my face.

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    1. I think some people find the bird identification link useful, Angie.I have a soft spot for the goldfinch too.

      When I wanted to make major changes to my template, I set up a new test blog and experimented on that.

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  7. Most of the time I ignore sidebars, but I've found a lot of good blogs with them, including yours. I really ought to do a blog link up. I used to but it kept getting out of date as people came and went.

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    1. That us a problem with bloglists, Daphne. My bloglist is set up so new posting come to the top and any that are inactive languish at the bottom doe a while. Also there is a last posted time that helps show which have been inactive for a while.

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  8. Good idea Sue. I've been thinking for a while that my blog needs more visual content and I've been getting bored with its current format. Probably one reason I haven't posted much lately.

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    1. It's good to have a change Rooko. I look forward to seeing what you do.

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