How to Create Blogger Posts and Menus

In this tutorial I will cover basic Blogspot functions like creating new posts and rearranging page elements.

Creating New Posts

Open up your blog. Again, go to http://blogger.com and log in if you don’t yet remember the exact address. Or if you are on a page, find the NEW POST link in the top right corner, as shown below.
Type in your post, a Title, and Labels. Note that the “Labels” are the equivalent of keywords from a webpage – make sure to include them since they will enable visitors to better search for your pages. Click on SAVE NOW to save a draft. To publish, click on PUBLISH POST.
If you want to insert images in your posts, click on the image icon, browse
to find and then upload your photo, and then click OK, as shown below.
After your image is inserted into your post, click on the image and you
will have options to align it left, right, or center as well as make it
bigger or smaller. Remember to PUBLISH!

Rearranging Page Elements

Once you are logged in, either click on

Customize from one of your blog pages displayed, or

Layout from your Dashboard. Choose the

Page Elements tab as shown below.

You will see a screen like the one shown below.

Click on Edit to edit each component.

You may also drag and drop some components to rearrange your blog.

Below the image, I have notes and suggestions for different components.

NavBar Configuration – This is personal choice. Whatever color looks best.
Configure Header – In the Title it is important that you place 1-3 keywords that correspond best to your blog and the search traffic you might want to capture. For example, if your blog features Free Printable Crafts, you would want those keywords in the title. In the Description, also feature those key words along with a little more detail. You can also create a custom header in this edit window, as described at this layout guide.
Top Menu – The title here is immaterial. It only shows up in edit mode so you might as well leave it alone unless you want to rename it something line “menu bar”. Leave the Number or Links to Show blank if you want to use your top menu as a navigation tool (which I would suggest). Leave the Sorting option set at Don’t Sort. You can manually move links around. If you have a top menu, you can create a navigational structure by doing the following:
1. First create posts that will serve as linking points to key areas of your site. So if you had a craft site, you might have a post called “Free Printable Crafts” and another post called “Fabric Crafts”. You might also want to create some major pages within each of these categories. For example, you might have a page linking out to different Printable Holiday Crafts and Printable Childrens Crafts. Also, within this example, you could have Holiday Fabric Crafts and Easy Fabric Crafts. So you will have to to do this and then return to the Top Menu edit mode.

Within the top menu edit mode, you will enter the URL and name of each major category link, as shown below. After each link, click on ADD LINK to add another link.
To enter subcategory menu items, enter a dash in front of the name, as shown below. Note that this method works with the free templates I provide that use Artisteer. I am not sure that it will work with other layouts or templates.
When you have all your menu links and menu sub-links entered, get them in the correct order by clicking the up or down arrows as shown below. Make sure your subitems (with a dash in front) lie under the appropriate main menu item. Remember to SAVE!
A screenshot of the sample blog with the new menu structure (and a crafts theme) is shown below. Having this type of menu allows visitors to find popular items quickly, rather than searching through years of blog archived posts.
Note that most blogspot (aka blogger) templates and layouts do not include this top menu bar. I have some free blogspot templates that you can use that do include this top menu bar – click here to view these layouts. I would highly recommend having such a menu.

Blog Posts – Change the number of post to show (if you want) from 7 to whatever. Keep in mind that if you show 20 posts, then when someone goes to your home page they will have to wait for 20 posts to load up! Personally I would keep it at 7 or so. We will cover the Show Ads option in the make money section so leave it alone for now. All other settings are probably fine the way they are but you can tinker with them if you want.

About Me – This is an important section to fill in. You should put your full name and any credentials and experience you have that adds credibility to whatever you have to offer on your blog. You may wish to keep your location undisclosed, however. About Me will show up in a side bar, if you so choose (I would recommend that you show it). People do read these sections, at least I do.

Followers – a good thing to have on your blog. Don’t edit the colors. They already match your template colors!

Blog Archive – You can choose to archive more often than monthly, if you want. In addition, you may wish to use a flat list to shorten the list. Again, the top menu discussed above will eliminate the need for visitors to dig through archives to find posts.

Footer Links – This is a handy place to put less important links to content that should be on every page. For example, you could create a Contact Information page and then create a link to it. Or create a page that links to other significant posts or blogs on your site or some other sites. I know of no way to create sub links like was done in the Menu Bar. Otherwise, create these links as was done in the menu bar.

Copyright Text – Fill this in with your copyright information. A good idea!

More Gadgets? If you noticed, I had a Facebook Share gadget on my page. I found this by first clicking on Add a Gadget in the area of the edit screen I wanted the gadget. Then I searched for this gadget and when I found it I clicked on the + sign. After you add it, you can move it or edit it, if you want.