Blog Post #5 - Labels

When composing a new blog post, there is a section to the right, under "Post Settings", called "Labels." In some blog programs, these are called tags.

Labels like this are important because they help your readers find your posts by categories. By typing in a word, say, "Eastern University," as I have here, Blogger automatically creates a new category. When I publish this post, Blogger simultaneously files this post both on the main page chronologically, like it did every time before, but it also now files it under the new Eastern University category.

You can add multiple labels to the same post. I have added the word "labels," "Eastern University" and "St. Davids." The first two are self-explanatory. I added St. Davids because it's good to label a post with a location, either where I'm writing from, or what I'm writing about. This helps readers, as well as Google, know more about you.

Having categories is important for your regular readers. It also helps you find old posts if you need to reference them in the future.

Categories are also important because they're a piece of puzzle Google uses to find your blog. Now that I have added an Eastern University category, Google will rank my blog higher on the search list when someone searches for Eastern University. However, don't think by adding the label Eastern University, your blog will reach the first page of Google.

When I do a search for Eastern University, 41 million searches come back. I'm just saying that instead of being at the 40 million mark, Google might move me up to 20 million simply by adding a category with the same search term. Google does, however, push your blog higher on the search results page if you were to add Eastern University to every blog post, as you add more posts in the Eastern University category, and after getting many more hits and more traffic to your blog.

Your task for this week? Create a post about anything related to your theme. Then, in the labels section to the right of your new post screen (directly to the right under "post settings"), add a label or labels for this post. You may also want to go back through your past posts and add labels to those too (as I have done). If you want these labels to appear on the side of your blog's screen, you need to go into your "Layout" menu, and add a Gadget on the  side of your blog page. Then scroll down to "Labels" and click on the plus sign.

Your first blog post!

Welcome students! As you envision the creation of your new blog, remember that you must have a focused THEME. It can be about places you've traveled, things that annoy you, or maybe family. In the past, students have written about fitness, fashion, music or even simply the ridiculousness of life. Or, you can make it about something more meaningful to you, such as a ministry in which you volunteer or your philosophy about changing the world. (If you haven't figured it out yet, the clickable links in the previous sentences lead you to some of my favorite "A" blogs from past semesters.)

Also, remember to take the tour on blogger before you begin. It will give you a quick frame-by-frame intro to the world of the blog. Then, remember to visit the Help Center, where you can search for assistance on adding cool things to your blog. In particular, the Getting Started Guide will walk you through the basics: writing a post, adding pictures, adding videos, changing your layout, etc. Play around with these different options. Have fun!

Your first post should give an introduction to your blog, as well as an example of what you'll be pursuing this semester. Think of it as both an introduction and a first entry.

Post your link on Brightspace, so I can add you to my blogroll. Please make sure to include your full name when you do so. (That way, I can be sure to give you credit for your blog!)

How to change your font:

Step 1: On your overview page select template on the left column like the picture below. 

Step 2: Select customize under "Live on Blog" section. See below.

Step 4: Select advanced on the left column. See the picture below.

  
Step 5: Scroll down and select what font you want to change. The example below changes the font of my Blog Title, but you can change anything you want on the list.