- Introduction:
- These notes are currently on NineDollarWebPage.com
site, links 15 & 16 in the right menu bar.
- I am sharing a few things I have learned while creating
the Brown Library's Susquehanna SeniorNet web page and
several others. (Hard to find info in Wmspt area?)
- Note that Google has an extensive Blog Help section at
help.blogger.com,
to anawer all questions
- Definition: What's
A Blog ??
A blog is one of many types web pages -- generally
intended to be sort of an online diary or journal, but
can be "tweaked" to use as a fairly attractive web
page.
- The source I use is Google,aka Blogger.com, aka
Blogspot.com. There are many others available.
- If you want a web page
for either business reasons or just to expand your
skills, there's no longer any reason for you not to have
one.
- For organizations with no web page, even a simple 1
page site with schedule / overview / contact info would
be 1000% improvement over no web page.
- Note that pages you create may look BETTER than my
mine, as you likely may have more artistic talent
then me.
- The Two Main
Steps:
- You can
create and maintain an inexpensive web page
of reasonably-nice appearance, at a cost of
about $9 per year, that you can easily update
yourself, by doing the following 2
steps:
- Create a
web page, by using a currently-free
blog from Google (Blogger.com) or
similar.
- Register a
"forwarding domain name" of the format
"YourName.com" from a low-cost Registrar like
GoDaddy.com, or 1and1.com, or
similar (~9/year), and then forward it to
your web page.
- The
domain name is optional. You don't need a
domain name to have web page.
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B. Advantages
Of Using A Blog
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- Low
cost.
- Simplified
Hosting:
You don't have to worry about finding a web hosting
company to host your domain, and all the accompanying
details. Google provides you a free, reliable hosting
service via a blog page.
- Updating:
You can update it YOURSELF.
- A blog is easy to update. It's almost like sending
an email -- except after you finish editing, you
click the 'Publish' button for a blog, instead of the
'Send' button as you would with email.
- Any family member, friend, or responsible high-school
student could be hired to handle updating.
- Photos:
Photos will display viewable size, but when
"clicked", will open FULL size. Blogger software
does this automatically.
- For best results, use a photo-editing program to
re-size appropriately before uploading -- like Photoshop
Elements, or free online Picnik.com
(free online PhotoShop Elements??).
- I usually reduce the full-size photo to 1500 pixels
wide max, and usually 30% - 60% "quality".
- Blogger will display the photo about 400 pixels wide,
and open it to the full 1500 pixels when you click on
it.
- Multiple
Administrators:
- You can give (and remove) "Administrators"
privileges to people, so they can also update/add/remove
pages.
- You can also configure the blog to give a particular
user "Author" type "privileges", so they can edit only 1
or 2 pages, but cannot modify the rest of the blog.
- (Negative: Unfortunately, any "adm" can delete whole
blog; not like Yahoo groups where "owner" can assign
privileges.)
------------More Advantages Of A Blog
- Turnaround Time
Minimized:
This frees you from needing to write an elaborate
description of what you need changed, sending it off to a
web design company, then having to WAIT for it to get
done.
- Software:
- The only software required is a free web browser
like FireFox or Explorer or similar (either Mac or
PC).
- This frees you from needing complicated or expensive
web-authoring software, that requires continuous updating
and relearning
- Any Computer:
You can update your website from ANY
internet-connected computer. (Because all data is stored
on Google's computers, not yours.)
- Change
Appearance:
You can easily change the whole color scheme by
changing to a different "Template", & then further
"tweak" that template.
C.
Disadvantages Of Blogs
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- Less Fancy:
You cannot create as fancy a web page using a blog,
compared to what can be created by hiring a professional
web designer using a professional web page program like
Dreamweaver or GoLive or similar.
- Limited Formatting
Tools:
You can only do only relatively simple formatting; you
cannot (easily) have tables, or links to the middle of
the page.
* Comment
- I put this
outline on my own website, rather than Blogger, because I
wanted tables.
- Note there are "how to" blogs that deal with "souping
up" & customizing your blog.
- Size:
A blog can become cumbersome if you're trying to build a
really large website.
- Backing Up:
Not as easy to "back up" as web site that resides on your
hard drive.
- I periodically use my Mac to save the whole blog as a
PDF file, as a backup method.
- If you cannot save in PDF format, you can use "save as
web page archive".
- Can't Store All
File Types:
You can upload only JPG, GIF & PNG formats (photos).
Other file types you might need,such as PDF files or
Quicktime movies, have to be stored somewhere else.
- Statistics
- There is no easy way to tell how many visits to each
page of a blog. (Some ISPs include built-in statistics
that tell you this.)
- You can apparently add counters by inserting them into
the HTML, but seems sort of clumsy.
D. Examples
Of Local Blog-based Websites
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- Pa
Design Gallery
('Tic-Tac' template, blue background, apparently
modified)
- In Greencastle Pa - no connection to me, just a nice
example.
- Note the 'automatic para. numbering does not seem to
work with this template
* Demo
- use "View Source" to see what blog template was
used
- SusquehannaSeniorNet.org
('Thisaway Blue' template, blue background)
* Demo
- Show how this "connects" to Brown Library's main
website JvBrown.edu.
It gives SeniorNet a way to operate its own "satellite
website", to update its own info, without having
to bother the Library's webmaster, or worry about
disturbing the main website.
- Allows a 2nd
person to update the 'Class Details' page.
- Links to YouTube
class overview videos.
* Observe
- Some templates use black text on a white background,
others use colored text on a colored background.
- NineDollarWebPage.com
('Rounders 2' template, gray background)
- The support page for this "Easy Web Page" project.
- The concept has been for me to do the initial setup of
web page and domain name registration, then "turn it
over" to the owner so they can maintain it.
- - The "weak spot" in the concept, is that owners tend
to procrastinate doing their updates, and they forget the
"training" I have given them.
* Observe
- Can make title shorter (example $9web), so page numbers
or names show in multiple tabs.
- KaraffaConstruction.com
('Minima Black' template, black background)
- This black template nice for displaying photos;
probably not so good if lots of text.
- Used logo and photos provided by Don Karaffa.
* Demo
- "Masking" is turned on (hides actual
address).
* Demo
- Clicking on a photo, opens it full size.
- 'Back' button usually returns from photo back to web
page, but occasionally not.
- CatawissaTrackCleaners.com
('Minima Black' template, black background)
This site displays PHOTOS of unique, custom-made
products; an EXCELLENT use for a web page.
- WilliamsportBallroom.com
('Ms Moto' template, magenta background)
Allows multiple groups to post their dances.
- KidsAndTrains.org
('Rounders 3' template, dark blue background)
Hands-on model railroading program for community kids, a
volunteer effort run in Danville
* Demo
- the YouTube video allows the organizer to show the
program to the whole world (talks 2:15)
- Track2
RailNet Fall Train Shows
Page ('Rounders
2' template, gray background)
A good example of how a blog works well, for listing a
modest-sized calendar of events
- Central Pa Mac Users
'Members'
Web Sites' Page
('Rounders' template, green background)
- Uses small photos and automatic line numbering.
Some More Blog sites set
up by James Ingram
E. Overview -
Updating A Blog
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.
- The image at right,
shows the 'key' part of the update steps.
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- Step 7:
Verify the 'Compose' tab is selected (otherwise
see html code).
- Step 8: Type in your updates.
- Step 9: Click the 'Publish Post' button, and
your web page is updated.
Note you have
font style & size, boldface, alignment,
number and bullet controls.
A complete
outline of the complete editing process can be
viewed on NineDollarWebPage.com on
Page 13 'More
Detailed Editing
Steps'.
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F. Other
Types Of Simplified Web Pages
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- - Verizon -
FrankAndSandy.com
(local Wmpst Consistory dances).
- Comcast also offers them. Info
is here. (Could
not get them working with my Comcast account.)
- My personal opinion (based on using both) is that
Verizon is more reliable for both internet & web
pages, although I'm currently w/Comcast.
- Disadvantage - Your web page is now "married" to
your ISP.
- Registrars Web
Pages:
- 1and1.com offers a free website up to about 5 pages as
part of the domain package
- Godaddy.com offers a website for about $5 or so per
month - example, SoundsOfMusic.Name
in Pittston.
- - I don't recommend paying for this, when you can do
essentially the same thing using a blog for free.
- Google Pages -
Jennifer
& Jason's Wedding
by Kathy Scott (prev. Bus, Services Mgr)
- Drawback: Spammers can deduce her Gmail address from
the web page address
- Google has suspended new accounts for Pages
- Google now apparently is offering 'Google Sites',
example 'The
Scott Family Site'
(Google example, no connection to Kathy Scott). A less
'clean' appearance?
- Zoomshare.com -
example LaNotaDance.zoomshare.com
(near Scranton)
- Credit Cards -
sometimes offer a web page as part of their package,
example Let's
Dance Studios
in Pittston.
- Also Yahoo Geocities,
Freewebs.com, tons of others (Google search on "free web
pages").
G. Demo -
Creating A New Blog Page
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- *
Play
YouTube video -
'How
to create a blog with
Blogger' by
Blogger support staff (2 min)
- - Also
'Adding
a Google Gadget to your
blog' by
Blogger staff.
- - Note main gadget of interest to us, is the 'Links
List' - used to list links in the right sidebar.
- Other video available - see NineDollarWebPage
'Pg
3 VIDEO Overviews'
for more links.
~~~~~~~~~~~
- *
Demo
- Create new blog page, use 'Rounders 2' template (gray
w/white text background)
- Title: 'October 9 Demo Page', URL 'jvbtest3'
- - Publish 1st post
(page) with the title 'All About Setting Up A Blog'.
- Publish 2nd post page with title 'bb'. (explanation on
NineDollarWebPage 'Pg
10 Saving Posts For 1st
Time'
* Observe: Blogger uses the initial title ('bb') in the
URL, so better to publish 1st time with a short title,
then later rename it.
- ----> "Clean Up"
(declutter) the blog, by using the steps on
NineDollarWebPage "Pg
11 Settings For New Blog
<---- Return here when done on Page 11.
- - Upload a test
banner, and photo from the image directory
track2.com/ninedollarwebpage/jvb/images-demo/.
- Change template from 'Rounders' to 'Minima Blue'
- Add a links list, and link the two pages together.
* Observe - When logged in, pencil shows in Posts area,
and screwdriver/wrench shows in Links area. You can click
on these to edit these areas.
- Other:
Putting page numbers in titles - considered "old school",
but makes it easier for me to find pages. (Church hymnal
example.)
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This page created 9/26/2008
modified 10/07/08 by
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(bottom include)
JamesRobertIngram.com
, Williamsport
PA, Apache Junction AZ
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