How to Schedule Blog Posts in Blogger in 2022 to a Specific Future Date

When posting on the Blogspot platform it is possible to set a future date for a blog post. In this Blogger tutorial I show you how to schedule your blog post ahead of time so that posts will be published on an advance date and time of your choosing. The Blogger tutorial is targeted at beginners who are maybe new to Blogspot and want to learn how to schedule blog posts the easy way so they can concentrate on creating great blog content.

Benefits of Scheduling Blogger Posts for a Future Date

Scheduling posts for publication ahead of time provides the flexibility for Blogspot bloggers on a busy schedule to create blog posts at a time that suits them. This is a great feature if you want to write a bunch of posts before you go on vacation but without disrupting the consistency of your blog posting. Blogger allows you to schedule posts so that you can stagger their release daily or every couple of days or weekly whatever. The choice is totally up to you.

The facility to schedule blog posts ahead of time to be published on a specific day makes it possible for bloggers in business to coordinate a whole marketing strategy where social media releases coincide with blog post publication. Not only does it afford streamlining of you blogging operation it will save time and reduce stress to keep ahead with your blog posting. It also offers a welcome cushion if some adverse event or unforseen circumstance disrupts your publication schedule.

Steps to Schedule a Blog Post in Advance in Blogger

1. Log in to Blogger.com


2. From the Dashboard navigate to New Post as usual to create a new blog post or select draft post to continue working on an unfinished article.





3. In the Blogger Post Editor that opens up go ahead and write your blog post as usual. Either Compose View or Edit HTML view is fine.


4. When ready to publish click on Published on: (formerly Schedule) which is in the menu on the right-hand side of the compose box.





5. Click Set Time and Date from the choice of two radio buttons: Automatic and Set Time and Date.





6. Using the calendar click on a date that you want your blog post to appear on.


7. Now select the time you want to publish by clicking on the date and then selecting a time from the dropdown menu that appears. You could also skip this step if you are happy with the original time set.





8. Click on Save.





9. Click on Publish but check first that you have included some appropriate labels and that you have set up a suitable permalink



10. A confirmation popup window will appear. Check you publication date and time before clicking on Confirm





11. To find your scheduled blog post click on Posts in the Dashboard and then Published to find and view your schedule post.
    
    Scheduled posts are denoted by the word "Scheduled" which appears in green under the post title. If you change your mind about the date and time to publish simply click on the chevron arrow to revert the article from published back to draft status and then go ahead and make your changes as usual.

In today's Blogger Tutorial you learned about how to schedule blog posts for a specific future date. The main advantages of setting a date in the future is if you want to stagger your posts either because you are going on vacation or you are planning your blog publishing schedule in advance of the creation date. If you enjoyed this post and found it helpful consider following me here on Blogger or on other social media such as Pinterest and Instagram.

#bloggertutorial #blogspottutorial #blogposts #postschedule

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How to Add a Copyright Notice to a Blogger Blogspot Blog in 2022

In this Blogger tutorial you will learn how to add a copyright notice to your Blogspot blog (Blogger blog) to protect your blog content and deter content lifting. With Blogger copyrighting your blog is an easy 2 minute task that requires no change to coding. Follow the simple steps below to have a copyright notice displaying in the footer of your Blogger blog in no time.

The most obvious advantage of putting a copyright notice on Blogger is it will act as a deterrent to would-be blog scrapers. Duplicating content from others blogs is a common practice all over the internet and it is important to safeguard your content and images.

It is worth checking periodically if any of your content has been duplicated elsewhere on the net. If it has been scraped there are some steps you can take to claim the content and I will write about these in another article. One way to check the level of duplication of your content is to take a look at Copyscape a site devoted to identifying duplicate content and plagerism on the web.

Steps to Add a Copyright Notice to a Blogger Blog

Step 1
Login to Blogger

Step 2
From the Blogger dashboard click Layout in the menu on the left-hand side

Step 3
Scroll to the bottom of the Layout Menu

Step 4
Open the Attribution Gadget by clicking on the Pencil Icon.

For Default Blogger Themes
By default Blogger adds an attribution widget to the footer of your blog when you first create it. Whether you choose to fill it in is optional. Occasionally the Attribution Gadget can be appear the sidebar if your blog was created some years ago.

For Third Party Themes
If the Attribution Gadget is not already installed you may need to use Add a Gadget and then select the Attribution Gadget from the menu of gadgets. If you can not add a gadget to the footer at all then you will need to navigate to Theme >> Customize >> Edit HTML. Search using CTRL + F to find the footer widget in your blog and then change from showaddelement='no' to showaddelement='yes'

Step 5
Enter a copyright notice.
eg Copyright © yourblogname.blogspot.com 2022
or Copyright © Your Blog Name yourblogname.blogspot.com 2022

Step 6
Click Save

Step 7
Use the Preview Button on the bottom left to view your copyright notice at the bottom of your blog.

Step 8
Navigate back to the Layout Menu by clicking on the back arrow in your browser.

Step 9
If you are happy with your copyright notice then make sure you click on Save icon in the bottom left to update the Blogger Theme.

Step 10
Remember to periodically update your copyright notice. I suggest you do it every year and that you span the copyright over the years your have been publishing articles.

In this article you have learned how to add a copyright notice to the Blogger footer to deter content lifting. If you found this article helpful please consider following me here or on social media so you can stay up-to-date with any future articles.

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Blogger vs Wordpress - Benefits of Blogging on Blogspot Platform

This article compares Blogger vs Wordpress. It covers the main features of the Blogspot blogging platform at blogger.com and gives a short summary of the advantages and disadvantages of Blogger over Wordpress as a blogging platform.

Blogger vs Wordpress- Which is the Better Blogging Platform?

Creating your Blogspot blog at Blogger.com is a good choice for beginner bloggers because it is a free blogging platform with an easy interface and good features. More advanced bloggers may find the lack of some advanced features annoying but Blogger is definitely worth considering as a blogging platform to try out blogging at no cost.

At Blogger.com you don't need a custom domain so there is no cost involved in purchasing a domain name if you don't want to.  However, should you wish to dispense with the subdomain name Blogger assigns by default, Blogger.com offers the facility to add a custom domain name to your Blogger blog for free.

Blogspot (blogger.com) is a powerful blogging platform
but still suited to beginner bloggers

Main Blogger / Blogspot Features

• Blogger is a completely free blogging platform


• Blogger is fast to set up. It only takes about 10 minutes to create a blog, configure the settings and add some gadgets.


• Regardless of your level of  technical expertise Blogger is an easy and intuitive interface to use. Widgets that add functionality to a blog are inserted easily using drag and drop and buttons and links make navigation easy.


• Bandwidth is unlimited with Blogger so there are no bandwidth issues with video and pictures


• It is easy to integrate Google Adsense ad units into your blog once you meet the criteria for an Adsense account.  

• Advertising banners and scripts can easily be incorporated into a Blogspot blog.


• Google Analytics can be added to track blog performance


• It is possible to use your own custom domain rather than the default. For instance yoursite.com instead of yoursite.blogspot.com


• Blogger supports blogging from mobile locations


• Blogger comes with ready made templates. Default Blogger templates can be tweaked with the addition of HMTL and CSS to achieve a unique look.  It is also possible to add a custom template for a more professional look. There are thousands of Blogger templates (both free and paid) to use with different types of blogs depending on purpose eg portfolio, magazine, video etc.
  
  The advantage of uploading a custom premium Blogger theme is that most of the hard work is done for you. You may also consider buying a Blogger theme that offers support for any problems that arise.  Most premium Blogger themes are around $20 at websites like Theme Forest.

Benefits of Blogger over Wordpress

Comparison of the Blogger Platform over Wordpress

There are two different versions of the Wordpress blogging platform.

Wordpress.com  offers a straight forward no nonsense hosted blogging platform which is a rival to Google's Blogger platform. 

Wordpress.org offers a more flexible self-hosted option that requires paid hosting and a custom domain name out of the box.

Interface

The Wordpress.com interface is clunkier than that of Blogger.com.  There is a learning curve to using either of these blogging platforms.  If you don't want a full blog or the headache consider Tumblr a mini blog or even Twitter a micro blog.

Advertising

Wordpress adds its own advertising to your blog and derives revenue from those ads.  Blogger on the other hand puts no advertising on your blog.  With Blogger any revenue a blog derives from advertising is entirely the users.

Storage Space

While Blogger.com allows fairly good storage for photos with Picasa, Wordpress.com caps site storage at 3 GBs.  Running out of storage space is likely to be a problem with Wordpress.com as your blog grows and needs more and more space.

Cost

Blogger is entirely free as is Wordpress.com.  However Wordpress.com only offers limited features.  To access a full range of premium features with Wordpress.com there is a cost depending on what level of account you choose.

Bandwidth

Another issue with Wordpress.com is that once your blog grows and the number of visitors increases you may be required to swap over from the free option to a paid option.

Wordpress.com offers both free and paid options

Blogger vs Wordpress.org

Don't confuse Wordpress.com with Wordpress.org which is an entirely different option.  The strength of Wordpress.org lies in the flexibility and options for plugins to the basic Wordpress program. In order to access Wordpress.org you will need paid hosting for your blog and a custom domain name.

Learning Curve

With added functionality and features comes a steep learning curve to start blogging with the Wordpress.org blogging platform.  If you are not technically minded this can be a headache and detract from the fun of creating a blog.

Functionality

Wordpress.org definitely has the advantage when it comes to features.  There are many templates and plugins available and in the process of development. There are some great professional looking Wordpress themes that will really make your blog stand out.  If you intend to integrate a shopping cart down the track it will be easier to start with Wordpress which has modules and plugins for ecommerce.

Cost

Wordpress needs to be hosted somewhere like Blue Hosting or Hostgator.  To start blogging with Wordpress you will also need a custom domain name available from domain name sites like GoDaddy.  As your traffic increases expect to need to upgrade to a more comprehensive hosting plan with greater bandwidth which will increase annual running costs.

One of the advantages of Blogger is that as a Google product it is a very stable blogging platform.  In selecting Wordpress your website is subject to the vagaries of the host.  Lots of server down time and slow speeds will negatively impact on your blog traffic.  As someone who has personally had problems with too much server down time I would recommend that if you go with Wordpress.org you choose your web hosting carefully. The cheaper the hosting the more likely this will be a problem.

Problems

Whatever blogging platform you choose expect to have some technical problems.  Wordpress is more bug ridden and problematic than Blogger however this is purely my point of view. Wordpress is a very popular blogging platform with many loyal followers and it rightly deserves its praise having cornered a third of the blogging market.

Wordpress.org is constantly being updated to improve the interface and eliminate security risks and bugs. Blogspot, on the otherhand, is only being updated periodically these days. However, there are lots of third party hacks and scripts for both blogging platforms so it is usually possible to find a work around for most problems.

How to Decide Whether to Blog with Blogger or Wordpress

How to Decide Between Blogger vs Wordpress.org

I am not an advocate of Wordpress.com because of the advertising and the limited features.  Deciding between Blogger and Wordpress.org takes more thought however.  With both platforms there is the facility to build a viable blog that will attract visitors from around the world.

For the less technically minded Blogger is the better choice as much of the hard work is taken out of the process of adding information and gadgets to a blog.  Blogger is entirely free making it a good option to have a bit of a dabble in the blogging arena at no cost.

As a self-hosted option Wordpress.org costs from the outset so it is more of a commitment whereas Blogger is a platform you can grow into. If you want to future proof your blog in case you want to add ecommerce and other advanced features then Wordpress.org wins over Blogger.com.

At the end of the day Blogger is a powerful blogging platform that can be modified to suit individual taste and needs. I prefer it because I find it faster to use than Wordpress and I encounter fewer problems. The lack of SEO is one of Blogger's main drawbacks but with a bit of tweaking this can be overcome too.

If you are starting out as a beginner blogger I recommend that before you lay out your hard earned money you at least have a play with Google Blogger before you even consider Wordpress.org. When Blogger vs Wordpress are compared side-by-side Blogger as a free blogging platform has a lot going for it.

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Why Blogger is a Better Blogging Platform than Wordpress for Beginner Bloggers

This article covers the main features of Blogger and compares some of the advantages and disadvantages of the Blogger platform versus other blogging platforms such as Wordpress.

Creating your Blogspot blog at Blogger is a good choice for beginner bloggers as it is a free blogging platform with an easy interface and good features. More advanced webmasters may find the lack of some advanced features irritating but Blogger is definitely worth considering as a place to try out blogging at no expense as it is completely free.

Blogger.com offers the ability to add a custom domain name at a cost or to go with the default subdomain name that Blogger provides which is absolutely free. All templates on the Blogger platform itself are free too and this makes it possible to blog with the Blogger platform and not a pay cent for anything.

Blogger is Free and is a Good Choice for the Beginner Blogger

Main Blogger.com (Blogspot) Features

• Blogger is a free blogging platform


• Blogger is fast and easy to set up. It takes about 10 minutes to create a blog, configure the settings and add some gadgets.


• Blogger is easy to use regardless of your level of technical knowledge. The interface is user friendly and intuitive. Tabs and buttons make it easy to navigate.


• Bandwidth is unlimited with Blogger so there are no bandwidth issues with video and pictures


• As Blogger.com is owned by Google there is a high degree of integration with other services like Google Analytics and generous photo hosting/storage.


• It's easy to make money with Google Adsense and other banner advertising scripts which can easily be incorporated into your blog


• Easy access to Google's powerful Google Analytics to track blog performance


• It is possible to use your own custom domain rather than the default. For instance yoursite.com instead of yoursite.blogspot.com


• Blogger supports Mobile blogging access from smartphones


• Blogger offers the opportunity to try out blogging to see if it is for you at no cost





There are a huge number of free Blogger templates available



• Blogger gives users the option to tweak templates depending on their experience. Some knowledge of HTML, XML and CSS can be useful to fully customize a Blogger template. Alternatively you can upload your own custom template with built in features like advertising space, widgets, dropdown menus and other useful stuff.
  
  There are plenty of free templates for Blogger on the web that can be customized to suit individual requirements.  For a small amount of money as low as $10 and far less headache if you are not technically minded. Custom Blogger Themes can be purchased that offer full mobile responsiveness, built-in SEO, are aesthetically pleasing and come with support to add that professional touch to your Blogger blog. 

Comparison of the Blogger Platform with Wordpress

Blogger vs Wordpress.com

While other online platforms like Wordpress.com have greater functionality for a blogger and are more highly customizable there is also a much heftier learning curve. The Wordpress interface is clunkier to use than the Blogger one in my opinion.

The entirely free option from Wordpress.com has virtually no built-in tools and is capped at 3GBs of storage space. For greater flexibility you can pay $5 and start adding more personal features or $10 a month for premium benefits with greater storage space. Business options are $34 for advanced premium features or $61 to incorporate ecommerce as well. (Prices as June 2020)

Wordpress.com Pricing Plan as at June 2020

Wordpress.com offers a greater range of flexibility to the blogger compared to Blogger.com depending on your plan of course. A number of customizations such as themes and plug-ins come at a premium and need to be purchased separately.

Also the free version of Wordpress places a small amount of advertising on free version blogs. The main drawback of the online version apart from the ads is the cost of hosting which increases as your blog grows so you may find that storage space runs out quickly necessitating the need to turn the free option into a paid one.

Blogger wins hands down as it offers virtually unlimited storage space. Blogger is also an entirely free platform with no cost to the user. Blogger never puts its own ads on your blog.

Blogger vs Wordpress.org

If you choose a self-hosted option like Wordpress.org then the options to customize are significant with a wide range of plugins and themes to choose from. Along with choice however comes higher maintenance and a steeper learning curve.

I have a self hosted Wordpress site which needs a lot more maintenance than any of the other sites I run on Blogger (Blogspot). Plus it is time consuming to find, download and customize plugins to extend Wordpress functionality for self hosted sites. Then there are the obvious disadvantages of uploads rather than making changes online as you do with Blogger.

My experience with hosting is that there can be a lot of server downtime which can affect your return traffic whereas Blogger in contrast is a very reliable service. Plus hosting costs such as provided by Blue Hosting or Hostgator increase the more traffic a Wordpress.org blog attracts. Expect to pay around $100 minimum for hosting and then an annual domain name fee on top to match the features that come with Blogger for free.

Wordpress has costs like hosting attached

Another disadvantage of Wordpress that the user has to take a more active role in updating and backing up the blog whereas Blogger takes care of the main updates meaning more time is available for creating posts.

While Wordpress.org is constantly being updated to improve the interface and eliminate security risks and bugs, Google is no longer developing Blogger. However Blogger is stable, there are plenty of third-party scripts available and it now has the added benefit of mobile responsiveness.

Verdict Blogger versus Wordpress

Blogger.com

Blogger once had a few really annoying glitches in the interface which have largely been ironed out in recent years making it a breeze to use once you become familiar with the interface. I have found Wordpress.org to be equally, if not more bug ridden, so don't let a few minor interface issues put you off. Nothing is ever perfect right?

One of my main frustrations with Blogger is that it is not particularly search engine friendly. Wordpress.org provides a much greater degree of SEO. To achieve the same with Blogger tweaking is needed to provide search engine optimization. If you use a custom Blogger theme then you will be able to take advantage of the built-in SEO that most modern custom Blogger template themes offer.

Choose a Blogging Platform Based on Your Needs

If you are using the paid version of Wordpress you will have a choice of widgets and plugins. Blogger, in contrast, has some very handy widgets missing from the default configuration. Widgets such as related posts are useful as is a slider to display images or videos. It would be nice to have these features integrated as part of the Blogger.com interface. On the other hand there are a lot of third-party scripts for Blogger that can be inserted into Blogger using a gadget.

To get the most out of Blogger as a blogging platform, you might want to consider installing a custom template for a more professional and unique look. If you use your own domain name many would be hard pressed to know what blogging platform is being used. However, you would need to dispense with the Nav Bar completely otherwise it would be apparent to visitors that your blogging platform is Blogger. An overall investment of around $30 including a custom domain name would set you up blogging with Blogger.com for a year.

To get the same flexibility and results with Wordpress you would need to outlay around $120 annually which will not break the bank if you only have one blog. Add a couple more blogs into the mix though and it is clear that Blogger offers a lot of features for virutally no cost.

The Bottom Line Wordpress vs Blogger

In summing up then Blogger.com is a great choice for a beginner blogger not wanting to outlay any money. Blogger is also a good choice if you want to make a little bit of extra money through Adsense revenue without needing to be technically minded as ads are easy to install on your blog.

Wordpress.com is a reasonable blogging platform if you don't mind paying for hosting of $10 a month or $34 for a business. If you can stand having Wordpress.com ads on your blog and limited features you can get away with a free version but you get a lot more from Blogger for the same thing.

Wordpress.org is a better choice than Blogger if you want to build an extensive business website with a variety of advanced plugins and ultimately to integrate a shopping cart.

This article has covered the main features of a Blogger.com. It has also discussed in detail Blogger in contrast to other blogging platforms: Wordpress.com and Wordpress.org.

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Add a Print Friendly Button to Blogger to Print Out Blog Posts

Attention Blogspot bloggers I have found a really easy way to allow visitors to my Blogger blogs to print out my articles. Today I am going to share with you this very easy trick which is absolutely free. It only takes a few minutes to install a printer friendly button at the foot of your Blogger posts or in the Sidebar and you will be adding a lot of functionality to your blog. (Updated as at 18 February 2022).

Advantages of Adding a Print Friendly Button to Blogger

• The Print Friendly button is absolutely free
• It creates an attractive print friendly version of your blog article that is print optimized.
• There is an option to print in PDF format or save in PDF format
• Removes unwanted content such as Google ads
• Provides flexibility to remove unwanted text and only print out what is important to the reader
• All images can be removed leaving only the text thus saving paper and ink
• Minimizes the risk of readers copying and pasting your material because they don't know how to print out

The PrintFriendly button is a very handy gadget. When a visitor clicks on the button it will take them to an article preview screen and offers some printing and sharing options. There is the option to print out the article directly with or without images. Alternatively the article can be downloaded as a PDF file or a link to the article emailed. PrintFriendly even lets you share the article via a Twitter Tweet button.

How To Add a Print Friendly Button to your Blogger blog

There are two ways to add a Print Friendly Button to Blogger.

1. The first and by far the easiest way is to add a Print Friendly button to the sidebar or below your Blogger posts using an HTML / Javascript widget.
2. The second is to hard code the Print Friendly button directly into your blog which will give you much greater flexibility in terms of placement.

Method 1 - To Add a Print Friendly Button to Allow Readers to Print Your Blog Posts

1. Sign in to Blogger and select the blog you want to add the printer friendly button to.
2. From the Blogger dashboard go to the Layout menu
3. Decide where you want your gadget. The sidebar is an easy choice. Scroll down until your find the Sidebar section of your template
4. Click on the Add a Gadget link in the sidebar
   
5. Choose the HTML/JavaScript gadget





6. Open a new window in your browser and navigate to the PrintFriendly website.
7. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on the Blogger icon
8. Select the HTML radio button at the top left of the page
   
   
   
   
9. Choose a PrintFriendly button by selecting the radio button beside it. Print Friendly offer at least 12 different buttons.
10. Select the features you want from the Features Menu or go with the default settings displayed. You may decide to turn off email as a way to have more control of how your article is shared on the internet.
11. Once you are happy with all the features settings copy the code that is displayed below the features.
12. Now return to the HTML gadget and paste the code into the gadget
13. Select Save
14. Scroll to the bottom of the Layout Menu and click on the Preview Button
15. You will now see your PrintFriendly Button as it will appear on your live blog.
16. Click the back button of your browser to return to the Layout Menu
17. If you are satisfied with the location of the button click Save at the bottom right-hand corner. If not you may need to play around with the positioning to get the optimal place in the sidebar.
    
    

Method 2 - To Add a Print Friendly Button to Allow Readeers to Print Your Articles

(Note: Before you attempt this make sure you have backed up your Blogger Template)

1. Log in to Blogger and select the blog you want to add the printer friendly button to.
2. From the Blogger dashboard click Theme from the side menu
3. Select EDIT HTML from the drop down menu





4. Click in the code box and then use CTRL + F to find the following code:
   

   <div class='post-footer'>

5. Open a new browser window go to the PrintFriendly website
6. Scroll down the home page until you see the Blogger icon, then click on it.
7. Make sure the HTML radio button is selected at the top of the Button page
8. Select the radio button for the PrintFriendly Button that you think will integrate best with your Blogger blog. (There are at least 12 to choose from).


9. In the Features menu select the features that you want your PrintFriendly button to have or go with the default. I suggest you think about whether you want readers to be able to email your posts.
10. Copy the code snippet for your chosen button
11. Then go back to your open Blogger window and find the code you identified in Step 4 of these instructions.
12. Paste the code directly after the <div class='post-footer'> tag
13. Save your changes to the Blogger template
14. From the Dashboard click View Blog to see your PrintFriendly button beneath each post.

Summary

Today I introduced you to the PrintFriendly button - a completely free button that print optimizes your Blogger posts and allows readers to print directly from the post. I discussed some of the main advantages of adding the printer friendly button to Blogger and I provided you with comprehensive instructions to add the button to your Blogger template by either using an HTML/ Javascript gadget or by hard coding it into your Blogger HTML code.

If you found this article helpful please let me know by commenting below. I would be interested in your experience.

Related Links

How to Add a Welcome Message to a Blogger Homepage
How to Change the Color of the Blogger Navbar or Remove It in Layout
How to Unlock or Delete Locked Blogger Widgets
How to Put a Twitter Icon on Blogger Next to Blog Post Title
How to Delete a Google Blogger Blogspot Blog in 2022
How to Add a Copyright Notice to a Blogger Blog

Easy Way to Put Banner Ads on a Blogger Blog

Beginner bloggers who want to make money from their blog often ask me how to put affiliate banners on a Blogger blog (Blogspot blog). In this Blogspot tutorial I outline the steps to help you put banners on Blogger the easy way in three different positions: the sidebar, the footer and above blog posts. Follow these instructions and you will have your affiliate banners up and running in no time and start earning money from your blog.

Sign Up for Some Affiliate Marketing Programs

In order to make money online and place affiliate banners on Blogger you first need to sign up as an affiliate with at least one referral program. What affiliate market program you choose will be dictated by your blog topic and your niche within the topic.

If the world of affiliate marketing is all completely new to you I suggest you start with becoming an affiliate to services you might already belong to like Amazon and Ebay.

Another good place to dip your toe in the water of affiliate marketing is Clickbank which boasts a huge range of advertisers. If you make a search you are bound to find a product on there that would integrate well into your blog.

Steps to Put Affiliate Banners on Blogger the Easy Way

Once you have signed up with an affiliate program which fits with your blog topic and niche and will pay you referral fees you can start earning money by placing an affiliate banner on your Blogger blog.

Placment of an Affiliate Banner

Before you start the process of putting a banner on Blogger you will need to decide where you want to place your banner on your blog for best effect.

Here are 3 very easy options:

1. Place Banner in Blogger Sidebar

Adding an affiliate banner to the Blogger sidebar is an easy placement option and likely to afford the best benefit. Follow these steps to put a banner in the side bar on your Blogspot blog:

1. Login to Blogger


2. From the Dashboard choose Layout from the left-side menu


3. In Layout scroll until you find the sidebar





4. Click on Add a Gadget in the Blogger sidebar


5. Choose the HTML/Javascript gadget from the list


6. Choose a name for your banner if you wish and type it into the title box (optional)


7. Paste the affiliate banner code provided by the affiliate service into the content box of the pop up window


8. Click on the Save button


9. Move your banner around in sidebar using drag and drop until it is positioned where you want it


10. Check that your banner is displaying and in the correct position by clicking on the Preview (eye icon) in the lower right corner


11. Click the Save icon (next to the eye lower right corner) to confirm the new layout of the sidebar.

If you want to center the banner enclose it in a center HTML tag like this:
<center>YOUR AFFILIATE CODE</center>

2. Place Banner in Blogger Footer

Adding an affiliate banner to the Blogger footer can be effective especially if you have other gadgets like random posts and recent posts there. For third-party and some default Blogger themes there may be three columns in the footer so you will need to check the bottom of your template and decide in which column to put your banner.

Follow these steps for easy placement of a banner in the footer of your blog:

1. Login to Blogger


2. From the Dashboard choose Layout from the left-side menu


3. Click on Add a Gadget in the column of a footer where you want to put your banner if your Blogger theme has more than one footer


4. Choose the HTML/Javascript gadget from the drop down list of options


5. When the pop up window appears paste the affiliate banner code as supplied by the affiliate marketing service into the content box


6. Choose a name to give your banner a title. A title is optional


7. Click on the Save button


8. Place the banner in the optimal position in the footer by using Blogger's drag and drop feature


9. When satisfied check that your banner is displaying correctly by clicking on the Preview (eye icon) in the lower right corner


10. Click the Save icon (next to the eye lower right corner) to confirm the changes to the Blogger footer.

If you want to center the banner enclose it in a center HTML tag like this:
<center>YOUR AFFILIATE CODE</center>

3. Place an Affiliate Banner Above the Blogger Posts

Another excellent place for a banner is to position it so that it appears in the very central position above the blog posts. To add a banner to the main section or page body area of Blogger involves putting the code in an HTML/Javascript gadget and placing it above the blog posts gadget.

Follow these steps to add your banner code above the posts on the home page and every other post page:

1. Login to your blog on Blogspot


2. From the menu on the left-hand side of the Dashboard select Layout


3. Scroll down until you find the Section labelled either Main Section or Page Body Section. Look for the blog Posts gadget to confirm you are in the right section


4. Click on Add a Gadget (if you find there is no Add a Gadget link you will need to open up the section. Take a look at my step-by-step post about how to add a gadget above blog posts including detailed instructions about how to unlock the Main Section / Page Body Section of Blogger to add more widgets.


5. Assuming you can the Add a Gadget link in the main blog post section / page body section click on it.





6. Choose the HTML/Javascript gadget from the menu of gadgets that appears


7. A pop up window will open. Paste your banner code into the content box and add a title if you wish (optional)


8. Select Save to save the changes


9. Make sure the new gadget is the first widget in the section and is above blog posts. If not use the drag and drop feature to position the gadget in first position.


10. Click on the Preview button (eye icon) found in the bottom right corner. Check that the banner is displaying how you would like it displayed.


11. Click the Save button to apply your changes

If you want to center the banner enclose it in a center HTML tag like this:
<center>YOUR AFFILIATE CODE</center>

Today I have shown you the easy way to add affiliate marketing banners to your Blogger blog (Blogspot blog) in three different positions: in the sidebar, in the footer and above the blog posts. Affiliate marketing banners can generate extra money but do need to be placed strategically. Remember affiliate programs are free to join so it costs you nothing to experiment with positioning your banner to find the best spot.





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How to Start a Blog for Free on Google Blogger at Blogger.com

It's easy to start a free blog at Blogger.com and the cost is zero. That's right at Google Blogger it's absolutely free to create and use a blog for as long as you decide you want it. This Blogger tutorial for beginner bloggers will help you create a Blogspot blog using the Blogger Platform which is a powerful blogging platform owned by Google since 2003.

Why Choose Google Blogger over Other Blogging Platforms

If you have been wanting to start a blog but not sure where to start I would suggest Google Blogger as a good option. Lots of bloggers will recommend Wordpress to you which is the gold standard in blogging platforms but is an option that you pay for (the free version has limited functionality). If you haven't tried blogging before and you're not sure if you will even like it then I encourage you to start with Blogger as a no cost way to trial blogging.

If you find that you really like blogging then you can convert your Blogger blog into Wordpress if you choose to further down the track but there is absolutely no reason why you cannot build a successful blog with Google Blogger. Don't spend you valuable hours wading through random articles comparing blogging platforms and website builders when you can get started on your Blogger blog while reading this blog post.

Check out: Blogger vs Wordpress comparison.

Walkthrough of the Steps to Create a Blogger Blog

Blogspot Blogger Guide walks you through the process of creating a blog:

• Getting a Google account
• Using a new versus an existing Google account
• Tips for naming a blog
• Steps for signing up to Blogger.com for a new blog
• How to sign in to your new blog on Google Blogger
• How to select a Blogger theme from the default themes

Sign up to Blogger.com and start enjoying the world of blogging confident in the knowledge that this Blogger Tutorial will help you with the initial learning curve and provide ongoing support in the form of Blogger tutorials on how to make the most of the amazing, free blogging platform at Blogger.com. Start a blog today and begin laying the foundations for a profitable and successful blog.
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Follow this Guide to Get a Blogger.com Blog

Main Features of Blogspot Blogging Platform at Blogger.com

• Completely Free - Zero Cost
• Simple user-friendly interface
• Easy to post photos, text and videos
• Choice of using a blogspot subdomain or your own domain name
• No restrictions on bandwidth
• Unlimited video storage using YouTube
• Photo storage virtually unlimited
• Support for Mobile blogging
• Facility to add third-party templates and widgets

Getting a Blogspot Blog at Blogger.com is a 3 step process:

1. Create a free Google Account if you don't already have one at Blogger.com or use an existing Google Account
2. Name Your Blog
3. Choose a Template

Tips Before Creating a Google Account for Your Free Blogger Blog at Blogger.com

Anyone can sign up for a free account at Blogger.com. You can use an existing Google account eg (gmail account) or you can create a new account.

Setting up a New Account versus Using an Existing Account

Personal Blog
If you are using Google Blogger for a personal blog that you want your family and friends to read then it makes sense to probably use your existing gmail account. This will allow you direct access to photos you have saved on Google Photos and Google Drive. It will also make it easy to use other Google Services like Google Docs and Google Maps and import files into your blog.

Business Blog
If on the other hand you are setting up a business blog then it is probably better to set up a new account as it will enable you to separate your business from your personal. It will mean you will need to log out of your personal account to switch to your business account but on the plus side it will help you to keep all social media accounts and so on that you might set up in the future to promote your blog content separate from your personal social media and email account.

Once you have created an account at Blogger.com you will be free to create as many blogs as you wish up to 100 blogs on the same account.

Tips for Naming Your Blog on Blogger

If you are setting up a business it is best to choose a name that clearly explains the general topic of your blog. If you are starting a personal blog then you have a lot of flexibility about the blog name. The only limitation is whether it is available on Blogger and social media platforms.

Check Name is Available on Social Media
There are millions of Blogspot blogs on the Blogger platform so you may need to get creative to find a blog name that works in your particular niche. You can use a free blog name generator to help you get ideas. One thing I have found helpful before setting up a new blog is to check the availability of the name I want to use on other platforms as well. Tools like namecheckr.com can be useful to check whether your chosen name is available on Facebook, YouTube, Pinterest, Reddit, Instagram and other major social media services.

Check Domain Name is Available if Creating a Business Blog
Also important if you are creating a business blog is to check whether the domain name for your proposed blog name is available. If you are intending to use a custom domain name rather than the Blogspot subdomain (Blogger gives by default) then you will need to make sure it is available. To check whether the domain name can be used simply do a search in your browser using a search term like domain name search. There are lots of sites that offer free domain name search in the hope of selling you a domain name in the process.

• Naming your blog requires some thought as this is the URL address visitors will use to access your site.
• Long names are difficult to remember and are therefore best avoided.
• Choose a name that is short, memorable and is associated with your blog topic or blog niche.
• Try to choose a name (title) that has at least one of your keywords in it. For instance I chose Blogspot Blogger Guide because it described the purpose of my site and also covered two critical keywords: Blogspot and Blogger.

Create a Blogger Blog with a Google Account or Create One

If you already have a Google Account Sign In and Navigate to Blogger

You can use your existing Google gmail account to create a blog in Blogger provided you are signed in. Simply navigate to Blogger.com. As mentioned previously you will be able to directly access lots of other Google services from within Blogger that you may already be using like Google Photos, Google Drive, Gmail, YouTube and so on.

If you don't already have a Google Account Create One at Blogger.com

If you don't have a Google Account or you want another one for Blogger you will need to create an account. Simply direct your browser to Blogger.com and click on Create Your Blog from the main page and then click Create Account in the window that opens up. Follow the prompts to add a name for a new gmail account and a password. When set up you will be returned to the main Blogger screen and prompted to enter your blog name.

Steps to Create a Free Blog at Blogger.com

Once you have a Google account follow the steps below to start your free Blogger blog and get blogging.

1. Create a New Blog
   Click on the orange Create Your Blog button on the Blogger.com home page.






2. Name Your Blog
   In the next window enter the chosen name of your blog as you want it to display to your readers. This is the name that will appear in the header of your blog. Include spacing and title case for clarity for example Blogspot Blogger Guide. Click Next.





3. Subdomain vs Custom Domain
   In the next popup window enter your desired blog name into the box provided. Assuming you are using the default Blogspot subdomain (yourblogname.blogspot.com) rather than your own domain name (yourblogname.com). Click Next.
   
   Blogger checks the availability of the URL and will inform you that the subdomain is available. Go ahead and click continue to complete sign up but first make sure that you have entered the correct name and without any spelling mistakes.
   
   
   
   If your chosen blog name is not available you will have to come up with an alternative. With so many blogs on the Blogger platform now some of your desired names may be already allocated but if you persevere you will find something that closely matches the title you are after.
   
   Note: If you have to enter multiple names then it is worth clicking the back button to change the blog name that will appear in the your blog's header before completing signup.



4. Confirm Display Name
   On this screen you will be asked to confirm the display name you want to show to your readers. Enter the name you want displayed and then click Finish.


5. Complete Sign Up and Go to Dashboard
   When Blogger.com has confirmed your blog address or URL eg yourblogname.blogspot.com and you have completed the sign up process you will be taken to the area of Blogger known as the Dashboard. You will see a menu on the left-hand side from which you access everything you need to customize your blog to you own specifications.
   
   
   
   
6. Default Blogger Theme
   The next step involves choosing a Blogger Theme. By default your blog will have the Contempo Light Theme. To view your blog and its theme click on View Blog link which appears at the bottom of the left-side menu.
   
   If you want to change this template to another Blogger theme go back to the dashboard by scrolling to the bottom of the page and clicking on the Powered by Blogger link. Or you can get there by clicking on your profile and then the big Blogger icon.


7. How to Choose a Different Blogger Theme
   To choose a different Blogger Theme go to Theme in the left-hand menu. Scroll down and you will see all the default themes Blogger has available. Bear in mind that only the newer Blogger themes are responsive so it is probably better to select one of these such as Contempo (other color options), Soho, Emporio, Notable.


8. View New Blogger Theme
   When you see a theme you like click on it once. You can now see how it will look by clicking on the Preview. If you like the Theme click on the back arrow and then Apply to change themes.











9. Create Your First Post
   To create your first post click on the new Post button on the left-hand menu in the Dashboard. The blog post editor will pop open and you can draft your first blog post. It is advisable to set a few settings on your blog before beginning your posts. These are discussed in my next article: How to Set Up a Blogspot Blog at Blogger.com.
   
   
   
   
   

In this Blogger tutorial for beginners I discussed how to start a Blogspot blog at Blogger.com including tips on creating a Google Account for Blogger, naming your Blogspot blog, walking you through the sign up and sign process and choosing a Blogger theme.

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