Pinterest: How to add the "Pin It" button to your WordPress self-hosted blog

This is my newest article in the Pinterest series. I originally wrote this article as a guest author of @ Home Take 2.

It is how to add the "Pin It" button in your WordPress blog. Don't worry if you have Blogger, TypePad, or WordPress.com (the free version), those tutorials you can find by clicking here. Also be sure to check out the "Related Pinterest Articles" at the very bottom of this post. Okay, let's get started!

 

Installing the Pinterest Pin It Plugin

First, you need to download the plugin.

• Go to: http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/pinterest-pin-it-button/
• Right-click on the orange Download Versions 1.3.1 button and select Download Linked File As (if using a Mac or Save Target As if using a PC) and leave the default name as pinterest-pin-it-button.zip. Click Save and it is saved to your computer in the specified location.

Next, login to your WordPress site.

• From the Dashboard
• Click on Plugins
• Add New

 

 

• From the next screen (Install Plugins), click on Upload.
• Then click Choose File to select the zip file you just downloaded (pinterest-pin-it-button.zip) and then click Install Now.

 

• You will then see messages and that it was installed successfully.

• Click Activate Plugin. (Takes a few moments (depends on internet speed as well)).

• Then a message appears "Ready to be Pinned?" and that you've installed the Pinterest "Pin It" button and now just have to configure the settings. You will also see the Pinterest "Pin It" Button in your Plugins list.

 

To view and configure settings: 

• Click the blue Pin It Button Settings.

 

• I kept the defaults.  However, if you change any settings, click Save Settings.

 

Take at a look at the final result.

The PinIt button will appear somewhere at the bottom of your post content area (along with any other share buttons you may have setup separately).

 

Related Pinterest Articles:

• Share buttons in Blogger.
• Share buttons in TypePad. "Pin It" button now in Post Footer settings!
• How to install the "Pin It" button in TypePad, Blogger, and WordPress.com
• Additional notes on adding the "Pin It" button and how it is used (pulls pictures).
• Pinterest: Ultimate Guide to Pinterest. 
• Installing the Follow Me on Pinterest sidebar button.

I hope you enjoyed this Pinterest article. You may find many other free, blog help articles at Blogs By Heather as well as a new series called 101 Blogging Tips.

Happy Blogging,

Heather Wright-Porto
www.BlogsByHeather.com 

New Video Tutorials: How to install Feedburner in your blog

Yea! The day has finally come where I am ready to begin delivering video tutorials!  This first one is dedicated to those WordPress users having trouble with the WP Feedburner plugin. It demonstrates how to install it manually.

Whether you have Blogger, TypePad, or WordPress, when I do a setup I always manually install Feedburner. I never have used the plugin option. And never have had a problem. 

This video uses my new WordPress blog, however don't worry if you have Blogger or TypePad. You can watch it all anyway as the majority of the video focuses on Feedburner, not on WordPress. 

You may also click here to watch it on YouTube! 

Now with some written instructions as well for WordPress, TypePad and Blogger. Enjoy!

If you are using WordPress (self-hosted WordPress blog):

• Follow the video instructions for Feedburner, activating the Email Subscriptions (in the Publicize tab), selecting and copying the code in the large text box.
• Go to Dashboard, Appearance, and then Widgets.
• Then drag a Text widget to one of your sidebars (wich should be towards the right of your screen).
• Enter "Subscribe to My Blog" as the Title and paste in the code in the larger text box.
• Go back to Feedburner, go to the Chicklet Chooser, choose an option (I use the small orange RSS button-subscribe in a reader), and then scroll down to the bottom to select and copy the code.
• Go back to WordPress, the Text widget already opened and then paste in the code at the bottom of the large text box.
• Save.
• Click Close.
• You're done :D

If you are using the FREE WordPress.com site, you can only install the Chicklet Chooser part as the free WordPress does not allow the use of JavaScript and other code in the sidebar.

If you are using Blogger:

• Follow the video instructions for Feedburner, activating the Email Subscriptions (in the Publicize tab), selecting and copying the code in the large text box.
• Go to Blogger, Dashboard and Page Elements if using the Old Blogger Interface or Layout if using the New Blogger Interface.
• Then click Add a Gadget.
• Choose the HTML/JavaScript gadget.
• Enter "Subscribe to My Blog" as the Title and paste in the code in the larger text box.
• Go back to Feedburner, go to the Chicklet Chooser, choose an option (I use the small orange RSS button-subscribe in a reader), and then scroll down to the bottom to select and copy the code.
• Go back to Blogger, to the Configure HTML/JavaScript already opened and then paste in the code at the bottom of the large text box.
• Save.
• Drag and drop the new gadget to the desired location in your blog layout.
• Save Changes.
• You're done :D

If you are using TypePad:

• Follow the video instructions for Feedburner, activating the Email Subscriptions (in the Publicize tab), selecting and copying the code in the large text box.
• Go to TypePad, then to Design and Content.
• Then at the top in the middle box, click Embed Your Own HTML.
• You can enter a title but it will not show in the sidebar. 
• You must then enter a title in larger text box and format if you'd like such as <h2>Subscribe To My Blog</h2>.
• Then paste in the code.
• Go back to Feedburner, go to the Chicklet Chooser, choose an option (I use the small orange RSS button-subscribe in a reader), and then scroll down to the bottom to select and copy the code.
• Go back to TypePad, paste in the code at the bottom of the large text box (you are already working on).
• Save.
• Drag and drop the new gadget to the desired location in your blog layout.
• Save Changes.
• You're done :D

I hope you enjoyed my first, live video! I am still mastering it all - recording, adding the front cover, back cover, annotaions, the works - and will now be sure I am in my office when recording...(LOL)...you'll see what I mean....but I think I am off to a great start and am learning alot :D

Happy blogging!

Heather :D
Heather Wright-Porto
www.BlogsByHeather.com 

 

6 WordPress Plug-ins to Help Build Traffic to Your Blog

Written by guest author, James Martell.

Blogging is not as easy as most people like to think. This is because in order for someone to call a blog successful, they need to have a considerable amount of traffic. 

When you setup your WordPress site, one way you can ensure its success is by making sure that you optimize the site by using various WordPress plugins. These additional plugins can help increase a site’s traffic by allowing visitors to share its content with their friends and followers. I have used most of these plugins, and as Oscar Wilde puts it 'experience is one thing that you can’t get for nothing'. Therefore, I personally use these plugins and find them to be great. I have also, on the other hand, tried out a number of which are not so great.

Nonetheless, if you really want to increase your site traffic, then I recommend adding social media Plugins. These plugins also help you to gather in traffic from various social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and Google Plus and redirect them to your site.

1. Socialize

Socialize is another social media plugin that enables the admin of a blog to put actionable bookmarks in a site’s posts. These bookmarks can be placed in various locations of the site. It does not require the use of Meta Keys so as a blog owner you can easily use it even if you do not have any knowledge about Meta Keys.

2. Facebook like Box

Facebook is known to have the second largest internet traffic. Does it already ring a bell in your ears? It should because if you have a plugin that can bookmark Facebook, you are guaranteed a share of their traffic. The Facebook Like Box is very easy to use. All that it takes is to just insert the code on your WordPress blog and you are done.

3. AddThis

AddThis, in my opinion this plugin is quite good. WordPress users can share posts or any other information from their site with various social sites. It uses a simple button to enable sharing, and as such, posts can be shared quickly.

AddThis plugin is the secret behind the huge social media traffic I have on my website. However, these are my top 2 selections for 2012. I personally find them to be great and quite useful:

4. GetSocial

This is a plugin that gives you the ability to add a light intelligent social media sharing box to your posts. It is a great plugin that should be used by any person who wants lots of traffic to their site. This plugin floats around a post, and it follows the reader when he or she scrolls down.

5. Social Media Tabs

Lastly, another top pick for 2012 is social media tabs. This is a plugin that enables a person to have social media tabs on the widget area of their site. Many widgets can be used at once, and it enables a person to view replies from various social media visitors.

Social media is a powerful tool once you learn how to harness it. Installing any one of these plugins on your site will surely get you more traffic to your site. And if you're reading this as research before you actually put together your very own site, I would suggest checking out the  DIY Thesis Theme Review, it is a great place to start if you're thinking of getting a small website or blog together.
 

Guest Author: Apart from trying out new WordPress themes, like the Genesis WordPress theme, Mike Kelley is always looking for new ways through which to increase traffic to his sites including ShopWPThemes. Today, he is an expert in creating podcasts on various topics and he can offer advice on how to increase traffic to your WordPress site.

 

Related Posts on Blogs By Heather:

• Tools to streamline and automatic your social media experience.
• Creating content your viewers will love!
• Optimize your site, SEO Tips for all bloggers :D

Google Webmaster Tools for WordPress.com

In WordPress.com (free site), you cannot install Google Analytics due to the JavaScript and security restrictions in the free version. But you CAN still TRACK TRAFFIC using Google Webmaster Tools. And that you CAN install!

Google Webmaster Tools is another great free tool whose purpose is to help you improve your site’s ranking in search results. It also offers detailed reports on your blog page’s visibility on Google. I discuss the various types of reports in my Creative Blogging book - such as the number of search queries that returned your site in search results over the last 30 days and how many clicks it received, or a list of external sites linking to yours, or a list of the most significant keywords found on your site.

In this tutorial I discuss it for WordPress.com sites, but it can be installed on Blogger and TypePad as well as explained and detailed in my book. However, the key difference is in the verification step and the method used, all other instructions are pretty much the same.

Set Up and Install Google Webmaster Tools for WordPress.com

• Visit www.google.com/webmasters/tools.
• You will need to login with a Google Account. You may already have a Google account if you use services like Feedburner, GMail, Google Calendar, Google Docs, Blogger.  Otherwise, you can create one.  

if you need to create one, click the red "Sign Up" button in the upper right area of the Google Webmaster Tools screen.

• When at the Google Webmaster Tools main page, click the Add Site (red button). 
  • If you have not setup a site yet, your screen will not yet shown your domain like mine snapshot below. Continue to Add Site.
  • If you have a site listed (maybe you tried setting it up in the past or already knows your google account site) and it is not verified, you will see it listed like below but have a black/white tag on the picture "Not Verified" and you will see a blue text link "Verify This Site". Skip the Add Site and go to the next step of verification.

• Then enter in your site's URL and click Continue.
  
  
• Then you will come to a verification type of page shown below.  Since it's a free WordPress site (and even those using Blogger or TypePad) you don't have access to your site's "server", so you need to click on Alternate Methods.
  
  
• Select the first option (Add a Meta Tag to your site's home page) even though you wil not be adding HTML code. Instead, select the characters in the content='.....' area, you will see where I have blurred mine below. Select those characters and Copy.
  
  
• Next, you need to go into your WordPress.com account, Dashboard, Tools.
• In Tools, you will see a box for Google WebMaster Tools.
   
• You will paste in the characters in that text box (highlighted area above).
• Click Save Changes.
• Then go back to Google Webmaster Tools and click on the red Verify button.
• After the site is verified, you will be brought to the Dashboard.
• You will see graphs that will begin to populate. Don't worry...they will begin to populate. You just installed the tool...give it some time but be sure to come back in soon to check out your stats.

• On the left is a menu, that is where you can gather more information. I would highly suggest you go to Traffic and Optimization and learn what people are searching on your site, the clicks, and how to improve your site.
   
• For more information on Webmaster Tools and how to use it for your site, purchase my book, Creative Blogging. Enjoy!

 

Remember you can always go back or login here: www.google.com/webmasters/tools. That would be the main screen (Home). Then you would click on your site's name to open t the Dashboard for that site and continue to analyze your data.

• Click here to learn more with Google Webmaster Tools. 
• Clich here to go to the Traffic help directly.
• Click here to go to the Optimization help area.

 

In addition to Google Analytics

It is an additional tool and different from Google Analytics and can be installed in addition to. However, WordPress.com users cannot use Google Analytics and the reason for this special tutorial.

I already wrote the tutorial on How to Install Google Analytics with Blogger. And this tutorial was for WordPress.com users. So I'm still working on the Google Analytics for TypePad users :D

Happy Blogging,

Heather :D

WordPress.com Domain Mapping: How to Setup a Free Email Account

While working with a customer using the FREE WordPress.com and domain mapping, she wanted an email address <her name>@<her domain>.com. This is a very popular option and desire people want, and normally when purchasing a name thru Go Daddy or Blogs By Heather Domains, as well as other domain companies, you get a free email account with that domain name purchase!

With purchasing a domain from WordPress, changing the nameservers to perform domain mapping, the instructions for setting up the free email account were quite complex. Therefore I wanted to share it with you!

Okay, so here we go. 

You can follow this article (Domain Mapping: Setting up an Email with Google Apps); it is what I started with, and then continued here with Getting Started with Google Apps.

• Go to Google Apps.
• Then click on the Getting Started button.
• Then you will come to this form where you need to enter your domain address and then submit to continue.
• The entire form must be completed before clicking at the bottom to Create an Account.

 

Click image to view it enlarged.

• Once your account is created you will be asked how you'd like to setup Google Apps. Click on Express!

 

 

 

Next, you will come to the Setup panel and be guided through the process, the most important being the Email for this tutorial.

 

This is the easiest setp of the entire process, click on to use Google Servers and click Next.

Now comes the tricky stuff.

• Go back to WordPress, then the Dashboard, then Store, then Domains.
• To the right of your domain name which is mapped, click on the blue text link Edit DNS.
• Then there is a large text box where you can edit DNS records -- see my code below (and note the highlighted line).
• As part of the next step, Google Apps will give you a set of MX records that need to be added. However, I had to manually add the highlighted TXT line of code you see below.
• For mine to work, I had to enter this format. Yours will be very similar if not the same.
• Enter it all in and then click to Save DNS Records.
• In WordPress you will see it saved.

MX 5 ALT1.ASPMX.L.GOOGLE.COM.
MX 5 ALT2.ASPMX.L.GOOGLE.COM.
MX 1 ASPMX.L.GOOGLE.COM.
MX 10 ASPMX2.GOOGLEMAIL.COM.
MX 10 ASPMX3.GOOGLEMAIL.COM.
TXT v=spf1 include:aspmx.googlemail.com ~all

 

• Then go back to Google Apps and when Google Apps finishes updating your MX records you will get this message. You may have to refresh your screen or go back a step and then click Next again for it to refresh and show you updated the DNS (MX) Records.

 

 

• That was the hardest part, so continue with clicking Next. You will then get your URL to check your email online.

 

 

• You can then click Next to continue the setup with Google Calendar and Google Docs and training and to get instructions on how to link up your email server/account with your Android, iPhone, Blackberry, etc. Cool!

Google Apps Verification - a MUST!

• However, in the end you will get an EMAIL telling you about verifying your Google Apps account. You CANNOT use your new email setup until you do the VERIFICATION!
• When you go to Verification it will want you to upload a file to your WordPress site, however click Alternate Method and you can modify a CNAME record or in my case a TXT line of code to add to the DNS Records.
• So I went back into WordPress, Dashboad, Store, Domains, Edit DNS, and added a line of text to the large text box under the other code previously added.

 TXT google-site-verification=<your key will be here>

• Then click on Save DNS Records button again.
• In Google Apps it will tell you your account is verified.

NOW you can use your new FREE email account associated with your domain (the one you have mapped currently to your WordPress.com site).

You will go to the URL Google Apps provided you to check your email online, and enter your email and password you did in the beginning of this exercise when setting up your Google Apps account.

Let me know if you get stuck! This wasn't an easy one (LOL).

Happy Blogging!
Heather Wright-Porto
www.BlogsByHeather.com 

 

What's Next

More Pinterest articles/tutorials coming up - How to invite, what to do when you're invited, how to setup pin boards, how to pin, how to follow people and more! Also, how to use the new TypePad Image Editor, Constant Contact's new Image Editor and new PayPal button option, and much more!  Need a tutorial on something...let me know!

 

 

How-To WordPress: If your dropdown menu is "behind" your banner image

 

 

Here's one for my WP bloggers out there!

I have the pleasure of working with my pal Jo Guerra from Your Marketing Gal in assisting her with setting up WP blogs for her customers. My work normally consists of fussing with the CSS code! LOL.  

So, we had an interesting problem come up lately where the WP navigation dropdown menu was appearing "behind" the banner image.  This problem really was only visible with IE 7.  We did not have the problem with IE 8, FireFox, Chrome or Safari.  And it is NOT a problem with all WP themes. 

 

So I searched the web for a solution and found that the CSS property z-index is what is used to set the "stacking" order (which is set to the front most and back).  The higher the z-index value the more towards the top it moves.  

So, since the dropdown was "behind" the banner image, it meant that the current z-index value was smaller than that of the banner's z-index value.

I clicked the "view original stylesheet" link (which is highligted in yellow below) and searched (using the CTRL + F to find) the occurances of z-index and wanted to find the greatest value.  Although the banner was set to 10, the page corner graphic in the banner as set to 100, so technically any value greater than 100 would have worked. But to play it safe, I set it to 99999 which was the greatest value I found in the original style sheet for a sub-sub-dropdown-menu item. That is what you see highlighted in the code below (in gray).

NOTE: In the help files I found it says the CSS position property also needs to be set as well for the z-index to work best.

 

 

So if you are experiencing this problem with your dropdown menu, give it a try. This was with experimenting with the FREE WordPress, Wordpress.com.  Where you have to pay the $30 Custom Design upgrade to mess with CSS code.  

I was able to replicate the problem in Safari and fix it. However, there may still be an issue with IE 7 viewing it properly.  So, another theme may be the solution or a reorganization of the menu and navigation layout.

Hope this helps!

Heather :D
www.BlogsByHeather.com

Up next is more on Pinterest (follow me gadget for the sidebar) but I wanted to throw this in there as something for others out there not using Pinterest. Enjoy!

Blog Cleanse: 3 "Must-do" House Cleaning Tips for a More Productive 2012

Let's face it, we all need to "clean up" and reorganize our blogs from time to time. And in doing so you will become more productive and improve your site's functionality and ease of use at the same time! This is not a bad thing, it is a good thing.

Become more focused and neat ===>
more productive and successful.

I am going through these house cleaning tips myself, so you will see some restructuring of my site over the next month..just a heads up :D

1. FOCUS AND REDIRECT

What is your most profitable service? Or What are your hottest topics?

Focus on those services that are most profitable or most popular amongst your customers and followers, and weed out those that are not, are too time consuming. Not that you can't offer them if someone asks, but don't promote them. Find those that are desired, most popular and profitable.

If you don't offer services but instead write on a bunch of topics, find those that are most popular. Listen to your customers and followers...what are they asking? Those are the ones your customers want and want to learn more about. That's where your time and effort should be directed to keep your popularity and continue to draw their interest.

2. BE AN EXPERT

Choose one or two services that you rock! Where you are superior in that field or service. Promote those services heavily.  

If writing about topics, offer expert advice or your personal experience or expertise on what you know best. Your readers will appreciate that and come to you as their "go to" person on that topic(s).

3. REORGANIZE YOUR BLOG.

Let's do some more house cleaning here. Clean up your sidebars and remove ads that are no long relevant, those promotions that have expired or are not profitable. 

Clean up your categories. Combine similar categories. Yes, this may mean that you need to go through some of your posts and assign a new category to them...but try cleaning up your list and make less categories.  If it is essential you have a long list, then create drop-down boxes for them. This will help users find what they need quickly.

Further clean up your sidebars by creating pages and using a dropdown navigation bar (menu bar).  I am in the process of doing this myself :D

 

In following these three blog cleansing, house cleaning tips you should be more driven to work, more focused, more productive, and hopefully therefore more successful.  Here's to a bright and successful 2012! Cheers! Get ready now...it will be here before you know it!

Heather :D
www.BlogsByHeather.com
Reorganize and clean up your blog, if not now, make it a New Year's resolution! 

 

Q&A: How do you change "Comments" to read "Testimonials"

Bloggers welcome comments and I'm sure as a blogger you leave comments on other blogs. Typically, you find the word "Comments" in the post footer area and click on it to then enter a comment form area.  In Typepad, in the Post Footer area you see "Comments(29)" for example; which means 29 people have commented on that given post.  So, can you change that word "Comments" to "Testimonials"?

NOTE: Although this is a TypePad question, in the resolution area of this post I will also discuss Blogger and WordPress solutions as well.

Question: 

Hi! In the comment link of a typepad blog, I would like to change the word 'comment' to 'testimonies'. Is that something you can do?

Answer: 

In TypePad:

If you go to Settings and then Comments you will find many settings regarding your comments, such as setting comment moderation. However, there is no place to change the label for leaving comments.  The only way you would be able to do this is if you converted you blog to use Advanced Templates. Click here to learn more about Advanced Templates.  I normally do not recommend people convert to Advanced Templates unless there is an absolute, real need for something with high importance and/or specific functionality, as it is heavily based on writing HTML and CSS code.

In Blogger:

Go to your blog, then Design, then Page Elements.  And click Edit in the middle or wherever your Blog Posts section is. If you are using the new Blogger Dashboard, then go to your blog, then Layout and click the Edit for the Blog Posts area.

Then, you will see this screen where you can change the word "Comments" to "Testimonials" if you wanted.

In WordPress:

You would go to your Dashboard, then Settings, then Discussion.  In there, go to the bottom and you can modify the text "Leave a Reply" to "I would love your testimonial" for example.

Hope this helps!

Up next...more great blogging fun and how to use a free program like Paint.net to resize photos and create your own watermark!

Heather Wright-Porto
www.BlogsByHeather.com 

 

Auto Post Signature in WordPress.com

After writing the recent article on how to do this in TypePad, I was asked how to do this in WordPress.  I do have a WordPress.com test blog that I used while writing my 2nd book, Creative Blogging, where there is an entire chapter in customizing CSS code in Blogger, TypePad and WordPress.com.

Last night I played around with the CSS code in the zBench template (code may differ depending on the template chosen) I used in WordPress.com. I can't say how to do it in a privately hosted WordPress blog.

However, you have to pay for the Custom Design Upgrade $30.00 (which used to be a CSS Upgrade for approx. $15). The new Custom Design Upgrade includes TypeKit in customizing your WordPress blog fonts!!!

Back the automatic signature in WordPress:

• From the Dashboard, go to Upgrades on the left sidebar, and then you will see Custom Design.
• Click the Buy Now to purchase the $30.00 Upgrade which will allow you to customize your fonts and CSS code.
• Then go to the Appearance area from the Dashboard and click Custom Design.
• Then the CSS tab.
• The CSS Stylesheet Editor will appear.

Here is the code I used to insert the auto signature you see here in my test blog (the signature is "Blogging should be fun, let me help you!" image:

.post-meta {background:url('http://heatherporto.typepad.com/.a/6a00e553a87d5588330154327c2582970c-320wi');background-repeat:no-repeat;padding:90px 200px 0 0;}

You will need to replace the URL path as well as possibly adjust the 90px and 200px depending on the height and width of your signature image.

Even without purchasing the Upgrade you can preview the changes by clicking the Preview button. 

Happy Blogging!!!

Heather Wright-Porto
www.BlogsByHeather.com 

Blogs By Heather Weekly Q&A

As promised, here is the Blogs By Heather Weekly Q&A. Every week to recap all the questions and answers as I feel many would benefit from the answers and appreciate the questions.

 

Discussion This Week: Domain Mapping

1. This week we'll discuss Domain Mapping and how to set it up in Blogger, TypePad and WordPress

You may purchase a domain from me at www.BlogsByHeatherDomains.com and you can complete your domain mapping immediately (in most cases…there has been one case I know of where it took over an hour; but most changes are immediate).  When going through Go Daddy directly, it may take up to 24 hours and I have had clients where it took several days to a week (but most changes update within 24 hours).  

Anyway…onward to Domain Mapping.

First, with Blogger and TypePad you change or update what is called a CNAME record.  In WordPress.com, you update the actual NameServers (and this may take up to 48 hours for WordPress.com to apply the changes). Additionally, with WordPress.com you have to pay $12 a year to keep the domain mapped to your WordPress blog.  With Blogger and TypePad there is no "domain mapping" related charge.

Blogger

Is the easiest out of all three platforms.

• First go to your domain.
• Go to www.BlogsByHeatherDomains.com for example and login.
• Click on your Domain name (say BlogsByHeather.com) or click to go directly to Domain Manager.
• When the Domain Manager is open, then go to the middle, bottom area and click Total DNS.
• On the next screen, towards the bottom, look for the www row.  It has a @ sign in it as a default. Replace the @ with ghs.google.com.  Yes, this is for all BLOGGER users (you use the same address).
• Click Save Zone File button.
• Click Ok on the next message about could take up to 24 hours.
• Now go to Blogger, then Settings.
• Then Publishing.
• Click to switch to Custom Domain.
• Click Advanced Settings (since you already have a domain from Blogs By Heather Domains for example).
• Enter the URL with the www in the address box; such as www.BlogsByHeather.com.
• Enter the Word Verification at the bottom and Save.
• Then again in the same area, check the box to redirect the non-www address.
• Then enter Word Verification again and Save (yes, this has to be done in two steps).
• And viola…you domain is now active!!!!

 

TypePad

• Login to TypePad and then from the top, click Account.
• Then click Domain Mapping.
• Begin domain mapping and enter the www address, such as www.BlogsByHeather.com.
• Then click to Map the Domain.
• It will then give you a Points To address such as heatherporto.typepad.com.  That is the address you need to select and copy.
• Then go to your domain, such as via Blogs By Heather Domains.
• Then go to Domain Manager, and then Total DNS.
• Where it lists www and the @ as the address, replace the @ with your Points To address (such as heatherporto.typepad.com).
• Click to Save Zone File and then click OK.
• Then go back to TypePad (Account, Domain Mapping) and click Activate next to the mapping you previously started.
• That's it…now your domain is live!!!!

 

WordPress

A little tricker and does not involve Total DNS as the Blogger and TypePad, but instead the changing of Nameservers.

• Login to your domain first, such as www.BlogsByHeatherDomains.com.
• Then go to the Domain Manager.
• Instead of Total DNS, go to the NameServers area and change the Nameservers to those of WordPress:
  
  NS1.WORDPRESS.COM
  NS2.WORDPRESS.COM
  NS3.WORDPRESS.COM 
• Save changes, click OK at any additional message (about it will take time for changes).
• Now, login to WordPress.com, and go to the Dashboard, then Upgrades.

• Click Add a Domain and "mapping" (it's $12 per year).
• Then enter path of the new domain without the "www" and click the "Add Domain to Blog" button.
• Then continue paying with PayPal or credit card and continue.
• You will get a message that the WordPress nameserver changes may take up to 48 hours.  After that, you're all set.

If you have any problems mapping a domain, just let me know.  In some instance when registering with other domain registrants there are some other things that need to be done; but I have assisted people with Go Daddy, Network Solutions, Yahoo! Small Business, NameSecure, Cheap Domains and more!  But for fast service, go to www.BlogsByHeatherDomains.com.

Until next week….

Happy Blogging!

Heather Wright-Porto
www.BlogsByHeather.com