Creating your own blog...

[Jamie Stokes]

Hi all,
there was a thread on not so long ago about creating your own blog, a search generates too many results.

I am thinking of looking at this
https://www.google.com/accounts/New...er.com/loginz?d=%2Fhome&a=SERVICE_ONLY&naui=8

as a start point.
Some use this here, so hoping that others who use it (or can suggest an alternative) can offer some feedback

Things like restrictions, ease of use (or otherwise).... any frustrations or pleasures to be found with this site (or others..)

Cheers

 

[Brent Fordham]

I've been looking into this myself and Blogger seems to be used often by other figure hobbyists for their personal sites. Haven't tried it myself yet, so I can't give any feedback.

www.blogger.com

 

[Jamie Stokes]

Hi Brent,
I decided (in robust Aussie accent)

'...bugger it, lets run with it...'

so I've started the process of creating a blog.

My approach here is to continue to post here, for Works in Progress and feedback,
and post pictures and comments of completed/ near completed works on the blog.

Dave Maddox aka Figure Mad (amongst others on here) has a blog using the above format

http://www.planetfigure.com/forums/member.php?u=2725

From his public profile, click on his signature, and it will take you to his blog.

* Dave, hope you're ok with being an example - let me know if otherwise

A Google mail address is needed, as it runs off a Google frame. Pretty much point and click interface, fairly simple stuff.....so far

Any questions, feel free to ask (from a limited experience span though)

Cheers

 

[Jamie Stokes]

Brent
well, have got my own tiny ego centric blog started.

Still nutting things out, getting there though.

http://jnsminiaturemoments.blogspot.com/

Nothing like what others here have as blogs, so I am treating mine as a duplication of my efforts from the vBench.

Cheers

 

[Brent Fordham]

Jamie,

Very nice! That's what I was thinking of for myself. Just something for friends and others who might enjoy following along. People sometimes ask what I've been up to and this is a good way to fill them in beyond what can be conveyed in casual conversation, if they are interested.

Brent

 

[Jamie Stokes]

Cheers Brent,
it got easier to commit to a blog once I decided on why I was doing it.

Yes, some ego is involved.

But primarily, its a record of where I have come from as a figure painter

Friends and family can check in from time to time, so like you, its easier if my work is in one spot then amongst others here on the planet.

I hope you'll share your blog spot details when you start it.

Cheers

PS, my brother has already said good work, tighten up on the focus though.....

 

[Figure Mad]

Hi Guys

its works for me......

Jamie, glad to be of assistance ....... interestingly Calvin Tan’s blogspot is at full screen width, may be he has paid the extra to get the view area or has played with the HTML, either way, it can be as complex or as simple as you want .......... time to play

http://zyclyon.blogspot.com/

Dave

 

[Jamie Stokes]

Dave,
thanks.
I checked other out, Like Gary Dombrowski, Hardy, Dan Morton, others on here, just had a brain blank when I posted, and I remembered yours first.

A big thanks to the others whose blogs I checked. Sorry if I didnt mention you by name!


Cheers

 

[garyjd]

Blogs are a lot of fun to do. That is if you post on a fairly regular basis, which I have not lately. Aside from the header that I designed the template is pretty basic. So if you want yours to have a different look at tutroials or how-to type things to make yours unique. ~Gary

 

[Brent Fordham]

Jamie,

I was just looking at these blogs today and thought of your thread here. Siara Siarzewski, has three that are quite good in layout (not to mention some absolutely jaw-dropping modeling work as well).

http://u-552.blogspot.com/

http://bmwr75.blogspot.com/

http://vw82.blogspot.com/


- Brent

 

[Jamie Stokes]

Hi Brent,
thanks for sharing.

Yes, some nice lay outs (and eye boggling work too!) with those blogs.

About the only thing I have done to mine is add a stat counter and feedjit, the first counts how many visitors/ hits the blog has had, the second gives an idea of where in the World people are looking at it.

I don't want to bog the thing down with gadget after gadget after gadget, so I am adopting a 'less is more' approach for now.
The less pop ups there are, the less distraction for viewers
The simpler I keep it (for now) the easier it is to upload for viewers

And I just keep in mind that if I monetize it, Google will stream ads which I will have no control over.....

so just keep it simple for now, and grow into it..

Hope to see your blog one day soon,
Cheers

 

[Joe Hudson]

Hey guys,

I have finally decided to try my hand. Still not sure what i am doing but here is where I am at now.

http://joesworldofminiaturefigures.blogspot.com/

Joe

 

[garyjd]

Joe, Welcome to the blogging world. I'd like to suggest that you display more than one posting at a time. Because for each post someone has to click on it to view it. So if you had like 200 posts it would be quite a workout to look at each. Here's what to do. ~Gary

Go to the top right and click on CUSTOM or CUSTOMIZE whihever one it is.

Then click on the SETTINGS tab.

Then click on FORMATTING.

At the top of the page where it says SHOW just enter the number of posts that you want to be able to view in the box. I have 8 entered on mine. I think 5 or 6 would be okay.

 

[Figure Mad]

Hi Joe

Great to see you have joined the blog spot ranks, I hope you don’t mind I have added yours as a friend to mine.... just let me know if its a problem.

Dave

 

[Jamie Stokes]

Very nice Joe.

While it's good that we all come together and share, it's also a good option to be able to see one posters work all in one place.

Set up looks goods, and I like how you have kept it clean so far

Thanks for sharing

cheers

 

[Brent Fordham]

Looks good, Joe. Interesting to see different layouts and ideas.

Also, thanks for the advice, Gary. This is getting me stoked to get my own started. Once the Calgary RMMC show is over at the end of the month I'll have time to get going on something.

Brent

 

[Joe Hudson]

Thanks guys. Gary I did that but have tons of questions about what to do on it.

Dave,

Thanks my friend. I would love to add you and Jamie and Gary to my friends but have no idea how to do it.

Thanks again Jamie and Brent

 

[Jamie Stokes]

Hi Joe,
one way of adding friends is to 'Customise' blog, then in the gadgets list, add a gadget.

From the Gadget list, I selected 'Link List' and added it to my blog.

You can add your own label to that gadget (Friends Blogs, blogs of nice helpful people, blogs of some people that may be nice, what ever title you wish)

and then you cut and paste the addresses in to the automatic update process. The links then become an automatic hotlink in that gadget box.

Most of the updating and labeling is pretty step by step, with the first one or two, I clicked on the links and kept playing until I got the links to work.

Another thing that can be done is, when you're signed in, is to click on someone else's blog, and at the top, left of centre, there is a button marked "Follow Blog"

You're getting there.

cheers

 

[megroot]

Well,
I'm also finished mine yesterday evening. Hope you like them, this is how far i made it.
www.marcvmegroot.com


Marc