Link didn't work and worse, caused computer to go all fluky on me with flashing error messages. Would like to read article!
For some reason, it's the Mashable site itself that is causing me grief. I went and did a search, found the link on Mashable, clicked and got the same 'URL is invalid, cannot load' error and the flashing tool bar.
I just checked the link again, and it worked still, brought up the page with article. This is the same link: http://mashable.com/2010/01/28/build-beautiful-blog/ There is nothing wrong with the site or the link. There are 2.3 million following this website.
Yes, as I found out earlier. It was something, as yet unknown, with my internet connection. I could email and get my website and my booking site, but I stopped being able to even get this site to come up.
Seriously, it all started after I looked at the 'Dirtiest hotels' on TA.
I had to shut down the computer, shut down the WiFi router, do a full system scan and then voila! it all works again. I read a lot of stuff on Mashable and don't usually have a problem. I tried using some of the links they posted and nada.
I'm going to try again now that things seem to have settled down again.
Try turning your ad blocker off ... since it is covered with ads they may be intentionally botching downloads with ad blockers (just a guess).
Either that or your isp is restricting them .. happens sometimes for a variety of intentional or accidental reasons.
So, has anyone gone off and redesigned a Blogger template? Or downloaded a free template to use with Blogger? I'm really liking some of the ones I'm finding, but would like to know pitfalls before I jump as I have 3-4 years of blogs and don't want to lose them.
I use a blogger template. They've got a whole bunch of choices these days and it's easy to customize them as much as you want.
I use a blogger template. They've got a whole bunch of choices these days and it's easy to customize them as much as you want.
Do you use a 'after market' template from a template designer? Did you have your blog up and running with months of blog posts before you switched? See where I'm going? I don't want to lose it all just to make it pretty.
I haven't switched to what they're calling the aftermarket designs. But I have switched templates in the past, from the basic templates to the upgraded templates.
Didn't lose any posts, comments, or anything at all. Had to resize some photos that no longer fit, had to move a few gadgets around and create a few new gadgets to get the design to work. That sounds like way more work than it was. It was pretty easy.
Morticia, how's this for an idea. Why don't you start a new blog. Make up a few posts. And switch it to one of the new templates to see how it goes. Then when you're ready to change your real blog out, you'll know how to do it. And you'll know whether or not it's going to be a lot of trouble.
I'm really liking some of the ones I'm finding, but would like to know pitfalls before I jump as I have 3-4 years of blogs and don't want to lose them.
There is really nothing to worry about in that regard. The template system is like a skin. It is separate from the post data and comment data. Like Innkeeper2go said, the only hassle is if you choose a layout that is narrower or somehow more restrictive than your current layout, so you end up having to resize photos or something like that. Minimal risk... you only risk losing the time you put into it.
I haven't modified any blogger templates but I have modified quite a few wordpress templates. The idea is similar.
OK, wanting to make a more beautiful blog! My blog right now does not look a thing like my website. I'm not necessarily looking for something that replicates my site, but wanting something that doesn't look 'too something else.' I like to use the blog for fun stuff, so it can be different in that way. (ie-not 'serious')
A question and then I'd like some opinions...if I move the blog so it 'resides' on my web site instead of Blogger (something I have on my list of things to do) will the new skin still work out? I'm thinking there should be no reason why not because, like Swirt said, it's a skin and not the content.
OK, here are my choices. I like all of these but they are all different. What do you think, as a guest and as an innkeeper? What do these choices say to you about us? (Right now I use the 'lighthouse' template on Blogger, pale, pale blues with a faded lighthouse and rocks in the backgorund. So any of these is a big change.)
I like the Classico. I think it's most consistent with the look of both your inn and website.
OK, just downloaded one of them to test out on a kind of dead blog I have. Ouch. There will be a lot of fixing up that I have to do to get everything centered again.But, Blogger did ask if I wanted to keep features I had added that the new template did not have, so that was good.
I agree - Classico
I like the look, too, but I have to test it. It's an old one and it doesn't look like it has everything I need.
Edited to add that I tried it out and it looks good. Have to figure out how to edit it, tho as the headings are all in Spanish.
Have to figure out how to edit it, tho as the headings are all in Spanish.
Oops. I think that's in the Settings section. In settings, there's a formatting tab and within that section there's a place to choose the language.
At least the regular blogger templates work that way.
I think I can just find where those words are in the html and edit them there. Why? Because even if they're in English, they're not what I want for titles. This website seems to have the programmers available to answer questions. So far, they have very nicely answered almost every question with 'Please read the directions.' (har, har, we all know about THAT problem. So, I read the directions. Very helpful.)
BTW, who knew I didn't have an unzip program loaded on my computer! Could explain why I still have unzipped files laying around! Found WinZip hiding in the background and got that started. Second time I tried to use it I got a message- WinZip is not a free program. Yeesh, how about telling me that to start? (Which they probably did in the EULA, but who reads?)