How to add a signature to the bottom of your post

A little while ago I introduced you to MyLiveSignature.com where you can create your own signature to add to the bottom of your blog posts.

Today I'll share a little tutorial on how to add your signature to your blog posts. This tutorial is for Blogger blogs, since that's what I'm familiar with. If you use Wordpress, TypePad, or another platform, you may know of some resources for you to tweak the appearance of your blogs. I'm sorry I'm not able to help you here.

First, go to MyLiveSignature.com (open it in a new tab or window) and create a signature that you want to use. Continue to the end where you get the HTML code for your new signature. Select all the code and copy it. (You can click your mouse on the HTML then on the keyboard hold down CRTL while hitting the A to select all, then hold down CTRL while hitting the C to Copy.)

Next, open your blog ...again in a new tab or window, so you can keep your signature and this tutorial visible, just in case you need to refer back to either one.

In your blog, click Customize in the upper right hand corner, then click on the Settings tab.

Now click Formatting. (It should be under the three tabs, third link from the left.)

Scroll down until you see Post Template.

Paste the code from the My Live Signature into the Post Template box.
If you want a line of space between your blog post and the signature, add </br> in front of the code you just pasted in. For each extra line you want, add one more </br>.

Save settings, and you're done. Every post you make from this point forward will have your signature added to the bottom.

If you want to test it, go ahead and write a little blog post to show off your new signature to all your readers. And if you do that, leave a comment here with a link to your post so we canall swing by and check it out ...and leave you our congrats in your comments!

I still have to tell you how to find out where other bloggers get their neat widgets and gizmos from. Stay tuned for that little tidbit...

(And remember, all comments are do-follow, so your comment left here supports YOU.)

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Blog Bling: My Live Signature

Hey look at my name at the bottom of this post. That's fairly nice looking, isn't it?

I was bopping around the blogosphere this morning and when reading From Dates to Diapers and Beyond, I noticed Christine had a nice looking signature at the bottom of her post. My first thought was "I want one."

Since I learn more about blogging (and blog bling) by casually visiting other bloggers than by looking for stuff and/or reading about little widgets and gizmos, I looked at her code to see where she got it from and visited the site: MyLiveSignature.com And yes, I put a link to this in my sidebar under "Blog Bling" so you can find it later.

Neat. You can use their wizard to make a signature that looks similar to yours, which is what I did. (It's free, so of course I took the free option.) You can also use your mouse to write your own signature or scan in an actual signature and their artists will render it into a graphic you can use.

Next week I'll tell you how to add your new signature to the bottom of your posts, and I'll also tell you how to look into blog code to find out where bloggers get their blog bling. Of course, you can always check out other blog bling from the list in my sidebar.

So now... if you like this and decide you want a signature at the bottom of your posts, (and you know how to add the code to your blog) go do it! Then leave a comment here with a link to your blog so we can all check it out.

(And remember, all comments are do-follow, so your comment left here supports YOU.)

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Embed your comment form

My Pass It On Plates Blog recently switched to using an embedded comment form, like WordPress blogs have. I didn't think much of the change until I logged into my Pass It On Plates Blog and saw a comment from my funny friend Laurie B., who asked:

Laurie B. said...

Hey, how did you get this comment format? I love it....much better than what I've got...oh wise one, can you share your wisdom with this grasshopper?

Pam Hawk said...

Ohh...I have to think about that. What did I do?

As usual, I was fiddling around and saw something intriguing, so I clicked it to see what happened.

Hmmm, let me look into it and I'll let you know.
-Pam December 7, 2008 10:08 AM

A minute later the lightbulb came on and I remembered. It's so easy.

For those of you who have Blogger blogs, you'll love this.

1. Go to your Blogger dashboard. In the address bar on your browser, replace the www with the word draft. Or open this link in a new window/tab: http://draft.blogger.com/home

You'll see the little orange B in the upper left corner switch to a blue B. This will let you know which version of Blogger you're using. Blogger in Draft is just where Blogger adds and tests new features before they add them to regular (orange B) Blogger.

2. From your Dashboard, click Settings on the blog where you want to change the comments form. Now click on Comments.

3. Look for "Comment Form Placement" and click "Embedded below post" then save.

That's it. This will change the format for all the comments on your blog, not just starting with today's date.

Bonus: If you like this, then you have to see what else Blogger is working on. (I love those guys...) Click your Layout tab then click Add A Gadget. This is where they test out new gadgets. Some new ones you may have seen, others may be totally new to you. IOne of their new ones here that they don't yet have (as of today) in their regular Blogger (orange B) gadgets is the "Search your blog" button.

How do I know about all of this? I cheat.
I'm one of the 792+ followers of http://bloggerindraft.blogspot.com/2008/06/new-feature-embedded-comment-form.html and I keep tabs on new stuff in my Google Reader. They tell me when they have something new; I'm not out there searching for it.

Speaking of "Followers," do you have a Follow Me gadget on your blog? It's a Web 2.0 gem, baby. You can see who reads you and get to know them... and if you follow someone's blog you can read the blogs of their other followers and get to know them as well. I love that gadget. But that's another Blog Bling post here. Maybe next week...

If you change your comment form, leave a comment here so we can all swing by and leave you a comment as well.

Cheers!

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I "Do Follow" you

Have you seen this? Did you know that making this simple change is a huge win-win for both you and your readers?
In a nutshell, most blogs are set up as "No Follow," meaning Google won't consider your link when you leave it in a comment on someone else's blog. This was done to prevent comment spam.

Blog Contest Station recently asked how to remove the "No-Follow," so I figured this may be something more of you are interested in.

It is really easy to change the code in your blog to make it "Do Follow," which means that when someone leaves a comment, Google includes your link when it does its thing. When you leave a comment on a "Do Follow" blog, you are ultimately helping yourself and your Google rank.


You may have seen this badge here and there and heard bloggers mention their blog is "Do Follow." I love blogs that are "Do Follow" blogs and jump at the chance to leave a comment.


For more info and to learn how to change your blog to a "Do Follow" blog, check out Randa Clay Design. She also made the icon shown above.


And yes, this blog is "Do Follow." Help your blog's rank by leaving me a comment.
Thanks!

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