Blogging With Yola

1. Creating a Blog............................................................................... 11.1. Adding a Blog to an Existing Site ................................................. 21.2. Creating a New Blog .................................................................. 41.3. Selecting a Style ....................................................................... 4

2. Writing Your First Blogpost Click on the "New Post" button. .................. 52.1 Blogpost basics .......................................................................... 62.2 Editing your blogpost text............................................................ 72.3 Creating Links............................................................................ 72.4 Inserting Images........................................................................ 82.5 Creating Categories .................................................................... 92.6 Assigning Tags........................................................................... 92.7 The Blog Manager .....................................................................102.8 Publishing Your Blog ..................................................................102.9 Enabling Comments...................................................................12

3. Managing the Widgets on your Blog page ..........................................123.1 The "About Me" widget...............................................................133.2 Categories widget......................................................................143.3 Tags widget..............................................................................153.4 Recent Posts widget ..................................................................163.6 Blog Archives widget..................................................................163.7 Blogroll widget..........................................................................17

4. Blogging tips and hints ...................................................................18

1. Creating a Blog

Yola allows you to create two types of pages:• A website page (a blank template for you to populate with the widgets of your

choice)• A blog page (pre-populated with blogging widgets which you can edit to suit your

requirements)You can choose whether you want to create a site that consists entirely of blog pages,entirely of website pages or a combination of the two types of pages.

You have an opportunity to select between a blog page or a website page whenever you:• Create a new site• Create a new page on an existing site

Using the blogging tool is very similar to building your Yola website. Although some of thewidgets are different, a lot of the same principles apply.

1.1. Adding a Blog to an Existing Site

If you already have a website with Yola you can add a blog to it by following these steps:

Click on the "New Page" button on the top toolbar.

The "New Page" dialog will open up:1. Click on the "Blog Page" option and type in the name of your page2. Choose whether you would like a link to be added to your menu navigation3. When you are happy with your selection, click on "OK"

A dialogue box will open where you can add your first blog post immediately.

Hint: You can also click cancel to create the page without posts if you don't want to writeone straight away.

1.2. Creating a New Blog

If you would like to create a blog that is separate to your website, you need to Create a newsite:

• In the new site dialog you will be given two options: "Website" and "Blog".• Click on "Blog". You will be asked to give your blog a name, then click on "OK".

1.3. Selecting a Style

When you create a new site you will have an opportunity to select a style. Browse throughthe styles available and choose one that you like. Click on any of the style thumbnails onthe left to open up a larger preview of the style. If you are happy with that style, click on"OK".

Hint: If the style you selected isn't working out for you, you can always change it byclicking on the "Change Style" button.

It is important to think carefully about the style you select for your blog. You should select a"blog-friendly" style before you begin. Here are some pointers:

• Choose a style that has a horizontal navigation (menu). The menu tabs should runalong the top or bottom of the page. This will avoid confusion and a clash with thedesign of the page and the blog widgets.

• Avoid styles with a narrow editable area (eg. "The Spring", "Verticals", "Tropical","Essence") The layout of the blogging widgets will look better in styles with a widereditable area (eg "BlogSmith", "Redplanet", "FrozenAge").

• For a list of blog friendly styles, see the Yola Style Guide

2. Writing Your First Blogpost

Click on the "New Post" button.

2.1 Blogpost basics

A dialog box will open up that will allow you to:• Give your post a title• Write your post in the "Post Body" box• Define the category of your post• Assign tags to your post

2.2 Editing your blogpost text

Use the text editing toolbar to format your text by editing the:• Size• Font Style• Alignment• Lists

2.3 Creating Links

At some point in your post, you may wish to add a link to another blog, or external website- for example. To do this, type in your link text and highlight it with our mouse. Then clickon the "Insert Link" button.

The Link Editor will open up, and you will be able to choose to link to:• A page on your own blog, or website• An external website ('external URL')• An email address• A file

Select the desired option and click "OK". You will then have a link on your blog page.

2.4 Inserting Images

Many blog posts have pictures that relate to the post. To add an image to your site click onthe "Insert Image" button.

The File Manager will open up. You will be able to select an image that is already in your filemanager, or upload one from your computer. Select the picture you would like to add to youpost by clicking on it. Then click "OK" in the bottom right hand corner of the File Manager.The picture will then be added to your page.

Hint: You can make the picture larger or smaller by clicking on it and then dragging thelittle boxes that appear.

2.5 Creating Categories

Click on the "New Category" link to add a category. Each category you create will becomepart of a list of categories that you can select from and assign to future posts. You can onlychoose one category per post.

2.6 Assigning Tags

Next, add some tags. These are more specific and you can add as many tags as you like.For example, if your category is "Quilting," then your tags may be: applique, Mum's quilt,binding, work in progress, or if the category is "Model-T Ford Restoration," the tags may be:engine replacement, second-hand engines, vintage cars etc.

2.7 The Blog Manager

When you have written your post and added your categories and tags, click on "OK". Yourpost will then be embedded in your page. You will see two yellow buttons above your post:

• New Post• Blog Manager

Click on the "Blog Manager" button. The Blog Manager dialog box will open up. This allowsyou to:

• See a complete list of your posts• Manage your categories• Enable comments

2.8 Publishing Your Blog

You can preview your page, to see what it will look like when published.

If you wish to make changes after previewing your blog, simply click on the title of the postand the post editor dialog will open up so that you can edit your post.

When you are satisfied with the post, click on the big yellow "Publish My Site" button (if thisis the first time you are publishing with Yola), or the big yellow "Update My Site" button.

For more information about your publishing options with Yola please see this tutorial:Publishing Your Site.

Your blog will then be live on the internet.

2.9 Enabling Comments

Right now Yola does not have it's own comments widget, but we have integrated with athird party service, Disqus (pronounced "discuss"). You can use this service if you want toenable comments on your blog.

1. To get the comment code, your site needs to be published.2. Click on the "Blog Manager" button.3. Click on the "Settings" tab.4. Click on the "Disqus" logo to visit www.disqus.com and register for an account by

clicking on "Sign up, free".5. Register your site in the blue box. Enter your site URL, site name and site short

name.6. Create your Disqus Profile in the green box. Enter your username, password, and

email address.7. Click on continue.8. Choose your language and any other optional features you'd like to include with

your commenting platform. Then click on continue.9. In the "Choose Install Instructions" box, click on Yola/Synthasite.

10. Copy the code in the #2 box.11. Go back to your blog manager settings, then paste the code into the box. Then click

on Done.12. When you preview your site and click on the blog title, you may see this message:

"This page could not be reached by Disqus. If you are testing locally or on apassword-protected page, please use the disqus_developer parameter as detailedhere.." - please don't worry about that. You just need to update your site and youwill see the comment box working on your published site.

You only need to add the code to your site once, and the comment feature will be enabledfor all of your posts. You can then log in to your Disqus account to moderate any comments.

Please note that the comment box will only show up on your published site when you clickon one of your post titles and scroll to the bottom of the post.

3. Managing the Widgets on your Blog page

Besides the post widget you will see a number of other widgets on your page related to yourblog. These are located in the right hand column on your page. You can:

• Edit widgets by double clicking on them or clicking the "Edit" button on the widgetstoolbar

• Rearrange the widgets by clicking on the widget toolbar to drag and drop the widgetto a new location on your page

• Delete a widget by clicking on the cross in the left hand corner of the widget toolbarYou can also add blogging widgets by dragging and dropping them from the Contentssidebar onto your page.

3.1 The "About Me" widget

Double click on the "About Me" widget in order to activate it. A dialog box will open up thatwill allow you to:

1. Add a picture. This can be of yourself, or of an image that you feel reflects you andyour blog. Click on "Set Picture" to activate the File Manager - you will be able toupload a picture from your computer, or select one that you have already uploadedto your file manager.

2. Write your name, or pseudonym, in the "Name" field. You might want to use yourfirst name only.

3. In the field for "City" write your location. Keep this general - for example New York,London, Melbourne. It is not wise to list your address on a public website!

4. "Description" is a place for you to talk about yourself or your blog. For example ifyour blog is about your hobby of restoring vintage cars you might write somethinglike: "I'm a car enthusiast with a passion for restoring Model-T Fords"

When you have filled in all of the fields that you want to fill in click on "OK".

Hint: If you wish, you can:• Leave the "About Me" widget entirely blank• Delete it altogether by clicking the cross in the top left hand corner of the green

widget toolbar• Change the location of the "About Me" widget by clicking on the widget toolbar and

dragging it to a new location on your page

3.2 Categories widget

You will create the categories themselves when you write your first post. Categories areused to sort your blog posts and to make it easier for people to search your blog for poststhat are about things that interest them.

Double click on the "Categories" widget. A dialogue box will open up that will allow you toselect the:

• Category view• Category order

You can choose to have all of your categories displayed, or just a few. You can also chooseto list them in alphabetical order, or the most frequently used.

3.3 Tags widget

Tags provide further details of the content of your post. You can choose to show all of yourtags, or just the most frequently used. You can also choose how you wish to display yourtags, in a straight line, or row, or as a very cool tag cloud. Simply make your choices andclick on "OK".

3.4 Recent Posts widget

This widget allows you to select the number of posts wish to display on your blog page.Make your selection and click on "OK"

3.5 Blog Archives widget

This widget allows you to choose how to display the links to your old posts. Make yourchoices and click on "OK".

3.6 Blogroll widget

You will find over time, that you have a number of blogs that you subscribe to, and that youwish to link to on your site. You do this by using the Blogroll widget.

To edit the Blogroll widget, click on "edit" on the top left of the widget. A dialogue box willopen where you can add or remove links on your blogroll. You can also choose to notdisplay a link on your blogroll by unticking the Display box next to the link.

If you would like to change the position of the widget, click on the Properties tab on thesidebar on the right.

4. Blogging tips and hints

Here are some tips for creating a successful blog:

Plan Your Blog: The best blogs are those that are arranged around a theme, it may be ahobby, or a journal of your life, a place to show your crafts, or to share your tips for savingmoney. This doesn't mean that every post has to be directly related to the theme, but mostof them should be in line with the theme of the blog.

Keep it Fresh! Update your blog frequently, your readers will build a relationship with youand come back to hear what you have to say.

Edit Your Work: Write as well as you can. You don't have to be a gifted author, but youshould read your work over carefully for obvious spelling errors and other grammaticalissues. Keep your sentences short and simple. Break your post up into paragraphs. Readinglarge portions of unbroken text on a screen is hard on the eyes. Make it easy for yourreaders and break it down into small chunks. If you are unsure when to make a newparagraph stick with the "New idea/topic, New Paragraph" rule.

Say it With Pictures: People like to see pictures. It's true that a picture can speak athousand words, add pictures to your blog. You'll be surprised at the things you'll find inyour every day life that you can blog about.

Keep the Conversation Going: People will comment on your blog. It is polite toacknowledge those comments in some way. How you do that is up to you.

Some bloggers email each commenter privately in response. This has advantages as itallows a private conversation to happen and friendships can form. A downside is that if yourblog becomes popular, it is very difficult to find time to email everyone who leaves a

comment.

Other bloggers prefer to respond to comments by leaving a comment in the comment boxon their own site in response.

Be Sociable: It is common courtesy to pay a return visit to fellow bloggers who have leftcomments on your blog. You don't have to add them to your list of favorite sites, but youshould visit at least once. Who knows, you may discover a very interesting blog!