Blogs By Heather "What You Need to Know" Webinars!Coming Soon 2011!

Since forming my Blogs By Heather blog, many customers have asked for some Photoshop or Photoshop Elements lessons or lessons on HTML or CSS, and more.

I'm listening and delivering! I will soon be starting my "What you need to know" series of seminars focused on blogging. Coming soon, 2011 will be here before you know it!

 A little about me and my expertise:

I have a Master's in Computer Information Systems, started my own business, Premier Computer Solutions, in 1995, which was focused on Database Development, VBA programming, web development and computer training. I have worked at NYU for over 8 years as a Database Programmer, Web Developer, and Applications Trainer. I taught  individuals regularly on MS Office, VBA Programming, and the Destop Publishing/Graphic Design applications like Photoshop, Illustrator and Quark. I want to use this experience and bring my training and computer expertise to you via the web!

A little about this exciting new venture:

• These courses are being designed specifically for the Blogger in mind, whether you use Typepad, Blogger or WordPress.
• They are not full-blown courses on a particular subject, such as Photoshop, but an emphesis on certain functions and concepts:
  • Example, the Photoshop for Bloggers course.  It is not about learning all aspects of Photoshop, but more specific to what you need to know in regards to getting your images edited (such as adding filters, borders, color and level adjustments or adding a watermark) before uploading to your blog.  In addition, how to create images for your blog and more importantly how to then install them on your blog or how to change them later on (such as animated buttons, post signatures, banners, post headers and footers, sidebar headers and more). 

My "What you need to know" seminars are not like any other type of courses you'll find online or in-house training institutions as they combine applications and are focused around blogging and what a blogger needs to know.

Many more details will be coming soon, however

• they will be delivered in one or two hour modules (TBD).
• will be recorded so you can listen at your leisure!
• once per week.
• for many weeks (I will try to keep them to 4-5 wks).
• for all bloggers (Blogger, Typepad, and WordPress).

These webinars are different from Stamping Business Boot Camps that you may be familiar with, haven taken, or currently part of.

• They are NOT about how to run or build a stamping business.
• They are NOT just for Stampin' Up! demonstrators (although all are welcome!)...anyone in any profession are welcome to take these webinars.
• They ARE how-to courses focused around blogging and blog-related concepts, provide step-by-step instruction, and based on my personal and professional experience in the computer field (going on 20 years).

I am excited to bring these new webinars to you and trying best to serve as many of you as possible!  I know you are from all over the world and I want to try and accomodate as many time zones as possible. Your input is welcomed and much appreciated.

Please post a comment or click to take this survey:

- What courses you'd like most (to start with)?

- What time slots are best for you?

Course Survey

• Photoshop for Bloggers
• Photoshop Elements for Bloggers
• HTML Basics for Bloggers
• CSS Basics for Bloggers
• Beginning Google Blogger (designed around my book)
• Beginning Typepad (same outline as my book on Blogger but for Typepad users)
• Constant Contact Newsletter Template Design
• Facebook and Twitter Integration
• All About Blogging (designed around my 2nd book to be published in Spring 2011, this book is broad and covers all concepts of blogging and includes working with images, videos, blog stores, and more, as well as for Blogger, Typepad and WordPress bloggers).

Time Slot Survey

• Wednesday night, 10 PM EST
• Wednesday night, 9 PM EST
• Tuesday afternoon, 3:30 PM EST
• Tuesday mid-day, 12 Noon EST
• Saturday morning, 10 AM EST
• Sunday night, 8 pm EST

Please note: When I use the word "Bloggers" in Photoshop for Bloggers or HTML for Bloggers topics, that this means all people who blog (bloggers), not just those that use Blogger (Google Blogger) as their blogging platform.

As I continue developing the courses, I can then provide you with course descriptions, outline, more details, schedule and pricing (which will be very affordable).  For now I just wanted to do a survey to see what you, my followers, friends and customers are most interested in.

Remember, you can click here to take an online survey that has additional questions as well.

Thank you for your feedback!

Heather Wright-Porto
www.BlogsByHeather.com

Clickable Banners in Constant Contact, MailChimp....in your Newsletters!

I don't know why I had never tried this before, but when doing Catherine Pooler's newsletter recently, I saw the banner on her blog, www.catherinepooler.com, and absolutely loved it and wanted to make it work in her newsletter.

And it worked!!!! I'm very excited to bring this new feature to you!  Have a banner and just want to make it "clickable", that's okay!  Creating clickable banners is just $25.

Need an entire newsletter designed, click here for more details.

Here's a snapshot of Catherine's newsletter template which coordinates beautifully with her blog design (there is even a floral background, but MS Outlook doesn't display it):

Inserting a YouTube Video into your posts

Whether you are a Stampin' Up! demonstrator or not, you still may like to know how to insert YouTube into your blog posts.  It is now even easier than in the past!

Find your video or a video you would like to feature (from YouTube), like the one I have below where it is featuring Stampin' Up!'s new Letterpress Plates.  Tomorrow is October 1st and new updates will be coming, and I wanted to share with fellow demonstrators who may wish to have this video posted on their blogs.

In this example, I went to www.YouTube.com/stampinupvideo and then from the right, selected (clicked) the Big Shot Letterpress Plates.  That video is then loaded into the center, view and begins to play.

How to Insert/Embed YouTube Video

• RIGHT-CLICK on the video and select "Copy Embed HTML".
• Go to your blog and compose a new post.
• Write what you would like, and when you're ready to insert the video, swith to HTML or Edit HTML view. Scroll to your last sentence (for example for placement), and paste.
• You will see something like this:
  
  
  Please note for BLOGGER users, you have to add the </embed> (which is called a close tag) before the </object> in order for it to work (at least I had to)!
  
  

Adjusting the Width

As you may notice that my blog has a thinner middle (main posting area) than most, so many of my images have to be resized to fit. Anyway, you can adjust the size of this video to better fit your posting area.  NOTE: 400px wide is a good standard and will fit most blogs.

• At this point, you've pasted in the HTML code from YouTube as shown in the image above. Notice the width is 640. 
• I manually changed the 640 to 400 (in both places). 
• So how to you determine how to shrink the height proportionally?  I divided 640/400 and got 1.6.  Then I divided 390 by 1.6 and resulted in 243.75 (which I rounded to 244). So, my YouTube video is now 400(W) x 244(H) and fits nicely in my blog.
• Then you can switch back to Compose or Rich Text view and continue your post. 
• You will NOT see the video running or may not see anything in Preview. This is OK.  It will appear once posted and live.
• When finished, publish your post and you're done!

 

NOTE: Stampin' Up! Demonstrators!

It's the first of the month and time for your updates. If you haven't already, then you should sign up for my monthly maintenance program where it is all done for you - swapping out the old promotions, catalogs, and such and replacing them with current information.

Keep your sidebars up to date for just $12.50 a month!

Happy Blogging!

Heather Wright-Porto
www.BlogsByHeather.com

For SU Demos with DBWS Stamping Blog: Twitter / Facebook Connection

For those SU Demonstrators using the DBWS Stampin Blog and want to also have their posts go to their Twitter and Facebook accounts automatically here are the instructions.

Connecting Facebook

• Go to DBWS, then Blog Manager.
• Click on Preferences.
• Under Facebook Settings to the right of "Auto Post blog entries to Faceobook",  check Add a Facebook account.
• Login to facebook
• click Allow.
• On the next prompt, click Allow (to post to my wall).
• Then you will see "Connected to facebook as <your name>"
• Click on Update Blog Settings or continue with Twitter settings first.

Connecting Twitter

• Under Twitter Settings, to the right of "Auto post blog entries to twitter", click in Add a Twitter Account.
• You will be prompted to login to twitter.
• Then after you click Ok you are connected to twitter as <your name>.
• Click on Update Blog Settings.

Happy Blogging!

Heather Wright-Porto
www.BlogsByHeather.com

Featuring: Patty Bennett (www.PattyStamps.com) - Creat Your Own Blog Banner

Many of you are Stampin' Up! demonstrators but many of you are not. In either case, Stampin' Up! sells My Digital Studio (MDS) where you can create Digital Cards, Scrapbook Pages, but also your own custom banner!!!

One, fabulous Demonstrator, Patty Bennett of Patty Stamps, created this wonderful FREE tutorial for everyone! Patty is a well-know Stampin' Up! Demonstrator and is very generous with her time, help and all that she shares on her stamping blog (www.PattyStamps.com). Plase be sure to check out her blog!

 

Adding the Facebook Like Box to your Blog's Sidebar

• Login in to Facebook.
• First, you will need the URL address of your business "page"
  • Go to the Account dropdown (upper right) and click Manage Pages.
  • Then when you see the page you want, cick on Go To Page.
  • Then notice the URL/address bar and copy that URL address.
• Or if creating for personal use, your main Facebook URL address. Copy the address in the address bar.
• Next, Click on the Profile tab (top right).
• Then go to the bottom left of your screen and click on Create a Profile Badge.
• Click on Badges Home.
• Then click on bottom link: "get our social plugins...."
• 2nd box on the right, Like Box.
  
  
  
  
• Then for Facebook URL, Paste in the address you copied previously and the preview on the right should update.
• Then change the width to 180px to fit in your sidebar area.
• Then change connections to 3 (or any number you'd like).
• Then click on Get Code.
• Copy the code in iframe (larger text box).
• You will now be pasting this code into a Gadget/Widget on your blog.

BLOGGER
-    From the Dashboard go to Design.
-    Page Elements.
-    On the right sidebar, Add  a Gadget.
-    Choose HTML/JavaScript.
-    Copy and paste the code.
-    Click Save.
-    It should be the first item now on the right.
-    Click Save.
-    View Blog to be sure it’s ok.
-    You’re done.

TYPEPAD
-    From the Dashboard, go to Design.
-    Then Content or Organize Content.
-    Then you will see a graphical view of the blog’s layout.
-    From the top, center box, choose Embed Custom HTML and then on the right click Add Module.
-    Leave the title blank.
-    Then in the large text box area,copy and paste the code.
-    Click Save (or OK).
-    Then it is normally added to the top left by default in Typepad.
-    Drag and drop to the top Right side.
-    Save Changes.
-    View Blog to be sure it’s ok.
-    You’re done.

WORDPRESS
-    From the Dashboard, go to Appearance, then under that Widgets.
-    Drag one of the TEXT widgets to the sidebar area (right sidebar).
-    In the box that pops-up leave the Title blank.
-    Then in the large text box area, copy and paste the code.
-    Click Save.
-    Click Close.
-    View Site to be sure it’s ok.
-    You’re done.

• When you are finished, go back to FAcebook and click Done.

NEW BLOG SETUP PACKAGES

I am in the process of setting up new Blog Setup packages, those with or without Facebook/Twitter integration.

This page will be updated soon: http://www.blogsbyheather.com/blog-setup-service.html

FACEBOOK/TWITTER INTEGRATION

However, if you need help getting your blog integrated with your Twitter and FAcebook accounts where your blog posts get posted automatically to your Twitter and FAcebook (page), then I can do it for you! Just $25!

Don't forget to sign up for my Newsletter, next week I will be sending out the tutorial about how to have your blog posts automatically post to your Facebook page (for business) or Wall (if personal blog).

Happy Blogging and Socializing!

Heather Wright-Porto
www.BlogsByHeather.com

The Holiday Helper is Back!

Every year Stampin' Up! demonstrator Debbie McNeill of CraftyPerson Production, along with many featured artists, put together this wonderful service for us, as Stampin' Up! demonstrators to share with our customers.  It is 12 newsletters to be delivered 12 days before Christmas (one each day) and filled with beautiful, holiday fun-filled projects and ideas.  Truly a great product and I look forward to it each year, as do my customers.

Sign-up for this great holiday helper newsletter service!

And if you need help with delivering this wonderful service to your customers and use Constant Contact or MailChimp, I'd be more than happy to assist you. 

Holiday Helper Help from Blogs By Heather

All I would need is your Constant Contact or MailChimp login information.  I will then go into your account, create all 12 newsletters (using the HTML code Debbie McNeill provides you) and schedule them to be delivered (one each day for 12 days).  I can provide this service for just $15!

If you also need help putting the animated button on your blog's sidebar (which will link to your Constant Contact newsletter sign up form) to promote the Holiday Helper, as well as create a new Contact List in Constant Contact or MailChimp (so you will have a separate, new list to send the newsletter to), there is an additional $10 charge (and I would need your blog's login information as well).

Contact me for more information or use the PayPal button below to sign-up for my Holiday Helper Help program.

Please select which option:

Create and Schedule 12 CC Newsletters $15.00 Add Blog Sidebar Button and Create CC Contact List $10.00 Both $25.00

Your Name:

Your Email:

 

Happy Holidays!

Typepad: Adding a Sidebar Header w/o Using a Typelist

There may be times that you want to quickly add HTML to your Typepad blog's sidebar and don't want to go through the steps in setting up and publishing a new Typelist. This may be HTML code a sponsor sends you to put their badge on your site, or maybe you did a "Grab This Button" from someone's blog you like and want to promote on your site.

For example, you want to add one of Michelle Laycock's Stampin' Up! promotional buttons to your sidebar. You would go to her site and find the promotional button you want to add to your blog's sidebar. Copy the HTML she provides under the button.

For those Non-Stampin' Up! followers, continue here.

• Next, go to Typepad, login, then from the Dashboard, click on Design.
• Then click on Content. At this point you see a visual layout of your blog adn its columns.
• At the top, there are three sections (see snapshot below), go to the middle box (Categories) and scroll to find "Embed your own HTML."
• Then on the right, click Add This Module.
• In the window that pops-up you can enter a Title (but it won't be seen in the sidebar), and then Paste in the HTML code you previously copied.
• Then click Save. It is now added to the top of your sidebar. 
• Drag and where you want it on your sidebar.
• Click Save Changes button.
• You're done!

 

Happy Blogging!

Heather Wright-Porto
www.BlogsByHeather.com

 

Editing Constant Contact Newsletter Template

I have had the pleasure of designing Constant Contact newsletter templates for many of you, many of which are Stampin' Up! demonstrators. However, after I design a template for you, many have asked "How do I edit it?" so I wanted to address that here.  But if you get stuck don't hesitate to ask.  These instructions apply to any of my customers, non-Stampin' Up! demonstrators as well.

• Login to Constant Contact.
• Then click the little link that says “View all emails”.
• Then you will see the Newsletter Template I designed.
• Click on the button to the left (which is COPY).
• Then give the newsletter a name, such as “Customer Monthly Newsletter” or whatever naming convention you use (this is NOT the title your customers see, but just how you name your newsletters).
• Then click Save or OK.
• Then the newsletter will open in editing mode.
• In any section, click on the 1^st icon above it (pencil/square) – this is to open that section for editing.
• Such at the Title Block where you now see Month/Year (such as August 2010). You will need to edit that each month and change the Month and Year.
• Then click on Save (which will appear once you are in “edit” mode) when finished with changes to  that section.
• Then continue clicking the “edit” button in each “section” you want to edit (one at a time).
• Such as for an Article Block, click on Edit and then modify the Article Header, such as announcing a promotion.
• Then you can delete or enter an Article Subheader.
• Then simply replace the text there and write your own.
• For the picture, right-click on the image placeholder and click on Change.
• Then, you have to enter the image URL (if you use images from Michelle Laycock for example, www.laycockdesigns.com, in the HTML code she provides for demonstrators you will see <img src=”……..”>  it is that path (in between the quotation marks) which is the Image URL.  Copy it from her site and paste it in.  Then enter in the URL to go to when the image is clicked – such as a Stampin’ Up! PDF or your store page on your DBWS or wherever you want them to be directed.  Then click on Insert Image.
• If you are not a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator, you can store images for FREE on Photobucket (www.photobucket.com).
  • Use are using Image URL so you don’t have to upload a bunch of images to Constant Contact…since you only have 5 as a default and will have to pay an extra $5 a month (or more) for additional image storage.
  • Or you can open a free Photobucket account, www.photobucket.com, and upload images that you create for each promotion there. Then after you upload an image, click the Save. Then you can get the Direct Link to the image and use that as the Image URL.
• When you are done with the Article section, click on Save.
• When you are done editing “everything” or even occasionally as you are developing your newsletter, click the orange SAVE button at the top.
• Then you may also click on Preview to see the newsletter as your customers will see it and send a test email to yourself.
• Then when you’re done, click on Next, and continuing clicking next and you’ll select which list to send it to and when to schedule it, etc.

If you get stuck, let me know - heather@blogsbyheather.com or blogsbyheather@att.net

If you'd like a custom newsletter designed using Constant Contact, the fee is $40 and you can find more information here.

In general:

• I create the Constant Contact banner and color scheme that coordinates with your existing blog or website.
• In a sidebar area,
  
  • Table of Contents
  • Contact Me section (with your pic or logo, email, phone or other contact info),
  • Quick Links section (with links to your blog, website, events, specials etc.)
  • Featured Project or Product area
  • Populare Services (links to them if that applies)
• Main Body area,
  • Introduction area
  • Specials/Article blocks set up
  • Monthly Tip area
  • Coupon area

If you're interested, please feel free to contact me.  Please note, it may a week or so for me to reply depending on my current work load. And right now coming off vacation it's a busy week (LOL). Thank you in advance for your patience.

Heather Wright-Porto
Blogs By Heather
www.BlogsByHeather.com

Two ways to win your FREE copy of my book (Beginning Google Blogger)

Here it the first....

Many of you have followed my for a while (thank you!) and know my work, my expertise, and what I write posts about, so with that in mind, what do you think my next book will be about?

Post your answer in a comment on this post only (one guess per person). Then I will randomly draw the winner on AUGUST 1st :)

Enjoy! And stay tuned for your 2nd chance to win......

Oh and those who subscribe to my newsletter.....don't worry....I'll have an extra drawing for you too!!!!

Heather Wright-Porto
Blogs By Heather
www.BlogsByHeather.com