Google

Q: Do I need permission to use the word Google as part of my blog name?
A: This link has some details: http://www.google.com/permissions/

source: http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/blogger/thread?tid=5b8f6d97e1a01a1d&hl=en

Layout tab

Q:  I have lost my layout tab and i cant seem to get it back even after I have put up a new template.
A: There are two [layout] tabs:

The old [layout] tab has been replaced by the [design] tab:

template (2004)>customize>layout>design (2010)

The new [layout] tab is here:

Design>template designer>template,background, adjust widths, layout, advanced

source: http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/blogger/thread?tid=1f6471854f0f981e&hl=en&fid=1f6471854f0f981e0004a92e32299484

[Show all], [hide] and [always show] buttons

Q: How do I use the [show all], [hide] and [always show] buttons on my dashboard?
A: You may have a large number of blogs. To find a particular blog, you may need to scroll down a long way on your dashboard. It is possible to create a shorter list to show on your dashboard. You hide those blogs which you do not visit often.

The [show all] button:
You use this button to view all your blogs, including hidden and deleted blogs.

Storage space

Q: How do I find out how much memory space do I have available? Is it possible to add (buy?) memory?
A: The blog is free; but any photos or videos that you upload to your blog will automatically create a Picasa web album on the internet. The first 1Gb for Picasa is free. You can buy more Gb if needed

http://picasa.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=39567

When you have used up 80% of your allocated free allowance you will receive an email alert from Google. On your Gmail screen, near the bottom click on [manage] to see how much storage space you have left.


Some useful links:
http://picasa.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?answer=43879
http://picasa.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?answer=39567

source: http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/blogger/thread?tid=47bf36e6ab89e6bc&hl=en

Page Rank

Q: How do I check my blog's page rank?
A: Here is a link: http://www.prchecker.info/check_page_rank.php

Convert WordPress blog to Blogger

Q: How do I convert my WordPress Blog to Blogger?
a: Here is a link: http://wordpress2blogger.appspot.com/

Quick edit icon

Q: Quick editing icon disappeared!
A: Two solutions are provided on this thread: 
http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/blogger/thread?fid=0496f506b360c2980004a8a45fdb70f0&hl=en

Is blogger and blogspot the same thing?

Q: I did the "start the blogger thing", but it came out "Blogspot". What do I do now?
A: There is nothing to worry about. It is just the terminology used by Google. When you open a Blogger account, you use your Google account for doing that. The blog you create will have an address (URL) like this: http://xxx dot blogspot dot com (never dot blogger dot com). A blog can have many posts. Some are just text. Others are just photos. You can also have a combination of both (text with images)

When is a blog not a blog?

Unlike other blogging platforms (word press, my space, typepad, livejournal, multiply, facebook, orkut, friendster, hi5), on Blogger, we do not call a blog, a blog. We call it a post. This has caused a lot of confusion with new bloggers. When you wish to make a new blog, you should click on "new post". Other wise you would be creating blog after blog, unintentionally. This is terrible. No one will read your blogs arranged that way, all over the internet.

1. Sign on to your blog using your ID and password here: www.blogger.com

2. On your dashboard click on "new post"

3. Type inside the post editor (large box) or upload a photo

4. Publish post.

Your blogging area will be filled by your posts as you add more posts (no limit). The side bars are meant for adding gadgets: About me, archives, labels list, link list etc. Continue to add posts to your blog. One blog is usually enough for a new blogger. Please do not create too many blogs today. What you need to do is add more posts to the blog that you have now. 

I do not recommend that you delete any blog for whatever reason. Very often I find that deleting anything in Blogger, merely puts the item out of your own reach and does not give the desired results (peace of mind). Quite often you will have to back track, in order to solve the original problem. Some times this will involve the Google team and help from them is not so easy to get (no email address and no tel No:)

If you like, you can make unwanted blogs into a stub blog or a test blog. You may take a peek at mine to get some idea:

stub blog: http://davidchin88.blogspot.com

test blog: http://davidchin8888.blogspot.com

Blogging is really a personal journey of discovery. If we only have the help forum, then blogging will become too slow. We will be spending too much time asking questions and waiting for answers. This is a slow way of learning. A quicker method is by using a test blog which is expendable. Do not use your main blog for testing.

source: http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/blogger/thread?fid=46a7b180eed95a5e0004a822f08573ee&hl=en

Find bloggers with same interests

Q: Why Can't I Search All Blogs and Bloggers, e.g. by Subject or Location? I Want to Find Like Minds!
A: Update your own profile interest list in [About me]. Each word becomes a link which allows other bloggers with similar interests to find your blog and for you to find theirs. You do this by clicking on words in your own interest list on your profile e.g. writing, fashion, cooking, golf, photography...

Similarly, you should also indicate your location on your profile. It is also a link to other bloggers near you.

source: http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/blogger/thread?fid=1c45fe8369534a580004a81c7de997ec&hl=en

Comments problems

Q:  It seems impossible to make a comment to my articles; some readers have already complained.
A: Apparently the problem can be solved by not using embedded comment box. Instead use a pop up window as suggested by Katney here:
http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/blogger/thread?fid=0dc59b3876e0449d0004a7e92602beb7&hl=en

Here is a full explanation from Chuck:
http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/blogger/thread?tid=03f8bf8ff0b491d3&hl=en

A blog with 53,000 followers!

Today I came across a blog with over 53,000 followers!
http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/

source:http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/blogger/thread?tid=760ba80bbbadaee8&hl=en&fid=760ba80bbbadaee80004a7e81f056afb

How to find my blog?

Q:  I set up my blog, posted it and now I can't find it nor do I know how to tell my friends how to find it. Please help me.
A: There is no need for any one to search around to find your blog when they know the address. They can go straight to your blog by pasting your blog address (URL) inside the address bar on a computer and press refresh.

However, if you wish to do more than just view your blog, you can because you are the owner (admin). If you wish to work on your blog, to change (edit) something or add a new post, photo or gadget, you will need to sign on here every time: www.blogger.com

The different text colour indicates that it is an active link. If you click on a link here now with your mouse, you are taken instantly to that web address. Book mark this last one or add it to your favourite list. You will need this link to go to your control centre (dashboard).

To see your blog, click [view blog]. Your blog address will be displayed in the address bar, near the top. You can also see it here: settings>publishing>blogspot*address

http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/blogger/thread?tid=0817bc27104f7a29&hl=en

source: 

My posts disappeared

Q: Every time I create a new post I alter the date and time so that it will appear in chronological order, but everytime I do that the page disappears entirely and I can't access it from my homepage, how do I fix this?
A: It is possible that you are creating a scheduled post, unknowingly. The post will not appear until the scheduled date. To fix this error, always hit [publish post] after you have finished composing your new post. Then immediately edit the post to change the date as required.Do not use a future date because that is the way to create a sticky post!

Post dates

1. Hit [publish post] after finished composing. The post will appear on top (normal post).

2. Compose a new post. Change date to a future date, then hit [publish post]. A scheduled post is created. The post will appear automatically when the date arrives. This feature is used by busy people who still wish to post regularly at fixed intervals. Whenever they are free, they create a few posts, each one scheduled to appear at a fixed date in the future.

3. Hit [publish post] then edit the date to a future date (e.g. 2012). A sticky post is created. It will stick to the top of your home page until next year!

4. I think you may have done this which is none of the above:  

Compose a new post. Change date to a past date, then hit [publish post]. The post appears today but it will be slotted in chronological sequence on the blog.

source: http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/blogger/thread?tid=0eaced157666c6ac&hl=en&fid=0eaced157666c6ac0004a7e5fd35ba5f

Formatting problem

Q: No matter what I do, blogger always posts my blog post with too many spaces in between paragraphs. Suggestions?
A: Edit your post. In the post editor select all your text (highlight). Hit the Tx icon on your tool bar (2nd last from the right). This will remove all formatting. 

Re-format manually. Publish post.

source: http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/blogger/thread?fid=42034000eba67e270004a7c18f0ddbfb&hl=en

Any appeal possible?

Q: I received this reply from Adsense. Is there any possibility of appeal?
Thank you for your interest in Google AdSense. After reviewing your application, our specialists have found that it does not meet our program criteria. Therefore, we are unable to accept you into our program.

We have certain policies in place that we believe will help ensure the effectiveness of Google ads for our publishers as well as for our advertisers. We review all publishers, and we reserve the right to decline any application. As we grow, we may find that we are able to expand our program to more web publishers with a wider variety of web content.

Please note that we may not be able to respond to inquiries regarding the specific reasons for our decision. Thank you for your understanding.

Sincerely,

The Google AdSense Team


A: I think you just have to accept the decision made by the Adsense team which is final. A blog may be many things. It is definitely not a short cut to obtain easy money from the internet at all. Your motives are very questionable and the assumptions you have made are completely wrong.


On further investigation I found this: http://adsense.blogspot.com/2007/09/before-you-apply-to-adsense.html

source: http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/blogger/thread?tid=464426b5786ece08&hl=en

When is a blog not a blog?

Q: Is there a difference between blogger and blogspot?
A:
There is nothing to worry about. It is just the terminology used by Google. When you open a Blogger account, you use your Google account for doing that. The blog you create will have an address (URL) like this: http://xxx dot blogspot dot com (never dot blogger dot com). A blog can have many posts. Some are just text. Others are just photos. You can also have a combination of both (text illustrated by images)

When is a blog not a blog?

Unlike other blogging platforms (word press, my space, typepad, livejournal, multiply, facebook, orkut, friendster, hi5), on Blogger, we do not call a blog, a blog. We call it a post. This has caused a lot of confusion with new bloggers. When you wish to make a new blog, you should click on "new post". Other wise you would be creating blog after blog, unintentionally. This is terrible. No one will read your blogs arranged that way, all over the internet. Your readers prefer to read posts all placed conveniently together in one place, with the latest post stacked on top. 

1. Sign on to your blog using your ID and password here: www.blogger.com

2. On your dashboard click on "new post"

3. Type inside the post editor (large box) or upload a photo

4. Publish post.

Your blogging area will be filled by your posts as you add more posts (no limit). The side bars are meant for adding gadgets: About me, archives, labels list, link list etc. Continue to add posts to your blog. One blog is usually enough for a new blogger. Please do not create too many blogs today. What you need to do is add more posts to the blog that you have now.

A blog does not have pages, just posts arranged in chronological sequence, with the latest post on top. Pages in Blogger, refer to static pages. These have very limited uses. They can be arranged as links in the side bar or tabs under the header: [About me] [contact me] [photo galleries] etc.

Delete blog

I do not recommend that you delete any blog for whatever reason. Very often I find that deleting anything in Blogger, merely puts the item out of your own reach and does not give the desired results (peace of mind). Quite often you will have to back track, in order to solve the original problem. Some times this will involve the Google team and help from them is not so easy to get (no email address and no telephone number available)

If you like, you can make unwanted blogs into a stub blog or a test blog. You may take a peek at mine to get some idea:

stub blog: http://davidchin88.blogspot.com

test blog: http://davidchin8888.blogspot.com

Blogging is really a personal journey of discovery. If we only have the help forum, this learning process will become too slow. We will be spending too much time asking questions and waiting for answers. This is a slow way of learning. A quicker method is by using a test blog to try out ideas for ourselves. This is especially useful when we go into the the design tab to change the template in 1001 ways and we do not wish to screw up our main blog permanently. A test blog is very expendable. Please try using one to see whether you like it.

source: http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/blogger/thread?tid=46a7b180eed95a5e&hl=en&fid=46a7b180eed95a5e0004a7ad183b4767

Asking for help

Q: How do I ask for help on the help forum?
A:Chuck has written a very comprehensive post about what to do and what not to do: http://blogging.nitecruzr.net/2006/03/asking-for-help.html

Some more tips here:
http://networking.nitecruzr.net/2005/05/how-to-post-on-usenet-and-encourage.html

Embedded comment form issues

Here is a thread with a work around:
http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/blogger/thread?tid=12a42809166b40d3&hl=en

The reasons why we have the problem:
http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/blogger/thread?tid=03f8bf8ff0b491d3&hl=en

What is my IP address?

Q: What is my IP address?
A: Please click here: http://whatismyipaddress.com/

You will see your IP address, instantly.

source: http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/blogger/thread?tid=2a733e9bc007a852&hl=en&fid=2a733e9bc007a8520004a73629076920

WordPress vs Blogger

Here are 10 videos from WordPress:
http://www.becomeablogger.com/

Here is Blogger's video, just one:  http://www.youtube.com/BloggerHelp

I am still not convinced that WordPress is more user friendly than Blogger.

Imagine that you are completely new to blogging. I would think that you would be blogging happily within 10 minutes after watching one Blogger video; whereas over on WordPress you would be still watching videos trying to figure out what is a web host, domain, FTP, RSS and plug-ins. Go figure!

source: http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/blogger/thread?tid=7cc8badbb838ec5b&hl=en&fid=7cc8badbb838ec5b0004a72188db35a4

Delete my unwanted blog.

Q: I cannot log in to delete my blog because I forgot the ID and password. Please delete it for me.
A: Yours is not a new problem. Daily, we have numerous requests to delete blogs. Google does not delete unwanted blogs. In fact they do not provide a contact email address or telephone number for this reason. Volunteer helpers, like me, are bloggers just like you. We have no access or authority to do it for you. 

I am afraid that you seem to have got it all wrong. Things don't work this way on the internet at all. You create the mess, somebody else, or Google will not follow behind you to clear it all up. You have to clear up your own mess. Always.
If you wanted something fixed, you will have to fix it yourself. You cannot do this if you don't know the ID and password. We are here merely to show you how, assuming you have access to your blog. If you do not...

Every blogger has to realize that they are responsible for their own blogs. To manage your blog as an admin, the minimum requirement is for you to maintain an active email account and record down your password somewhere safe. That's all.

Deleting any thing Google is a sure way of putting things out of your own reach. Experienced bloggers always retain control by converting unwanted blogs to stub blogs or even test blogs. They delete nothing.

source: http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/blogger/thread?tid=3d2a4c20007aeae0&hl=en&fid=3d2a4c20007aeae00004a70dab76c08e

http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/blogger/thread?tid=57b266c8bdfe167f&hl=en