Splitcoaststampers.com - the world's #1 papercrafting community
You're currently viewing Splitcoaststampers as a GUEST. We pride ourselves on being great hosts, but guests have limited access to some of our incredible artwork, our lively forums and other super cool features of the site! You can join our incredible papercrafting community at NO COST. So what are you waiting for?
Hi All - One of my New Year's Resolutions is to start a blog. Finally got a good digital camera for Christmas, so I'm itching to start! Can anyone offer basic background information such as pros/cons of Blogger/Typepad, etc. Also, I know SCS has blogging - is that available to anyone? I'm also interested in learning about watermarks - how to make them and what photo editing software you can use to insert them into your photo image. Any and all help is greatly appreciated. If there's already a thread, just point me to it - didn't want to search for "blog" - I'd probably crash the site! Thanks, and Happy New Year!
I'm on Blogger, after starting a while back on another site (www.villageblogger.com). I liked VillageBlogger, but, it was more difficult to personalize, and it's more steps for someone to leave comments, which lessens the amount of comments you get.
Blogger is very easy to set up, and there are lots of sites where you can find free custom templates if you don't like the free options Blogger provides. Blogger is also user-friendly-- you don't need to know HTML codes for things like uploading photos, making sidebar links, etc. I also like the comment feature on blogger-- anyone who is signed into blogger can comment easily, but people on other platforms can also comment and leave their link.
If I can answer any questions, let me know. I don't have any experience with other platforms, so I can't really compare them to Blogger.
Hi All - One of my New Year's Resolutions is to start a blog. Finally got a good digital camera for Christmas, so I'm itching to start! Can anyone offer basic background information such as pros/cons of Blogger/Typepad, etc. Also, I know SCS has blogging - is that available to anyone? I'm also interested in learning about watermarks - how to make them and what photo editing software you can use to insert them into your photo image. Any and all help is greatly appreciated. If there's already a thread, just point me to it - didn't want to search for "blog" - I'd probably crash the site! Thanks, and Happy New Year!
Good for you! You are going to love having a blog! I use Blogger - it is FREE and also very easy to use. SCS blogging is only available to mods/dirty dozen, etc. I haven't a clue as to how to make the watermarks - I have my good friend Beth Silaika make mine she is a genius lol Beth also designed the banner on my blog. I hope some of this info. helps you out. Happy New Year!
Hi there! I also use blogger....VERY SIMPLE to use...it basically walks you through the process of setting up your template and then when you post everything is arranged in the color scheme you selected.
As far as a watermark....I have a few that friends have made me but since I dont have photoshop installed yet (!), I actually just add the words with the text tool in the photo editing package that came with my scanner/printer. Works fine for me (until I am motivated to install the extra software!).
Hope this helps..blogger is very easy and yes-i think the SCS blog is just for the important people (lol!)
Blogger and Wordpress are great free services. Typepad is a paid service. I have used all three of them and find them all to be very good. I've been using Blogger the longest and do find it to be the least confusing (when first starting out). As for watermarks, you can use pretty much any photo editing software to do it. I found out how to make one by googling the name of my photo editing software and the word "watermark". Good luck!
Hi there! I also use blogger....VERY SIMPLE to use...it basically walks you through the process of setting up your template and then when you post everything is arranged in the color scheme you selected.
As far as a watermark....I have a few that friends have made me but since I dont have photoshop installed yet (!), I actually just add the words with the text tool in the photo editing package that came with my scanner/printer. Works fine for me (until I am motivated to install the extra software!).
Hope this helps..blogger is very easy and yes-i think the SCS blog is just for the important people (lol!)
It was only opened up in a limited fashion to our site support staff (Mods, DD, Admin). They have been learning the nuances of the system pretty much on their own, or with help from Kurtis, when he has the spare time, bless his heart!
Splitcoast currently does not have the financial resources to cover the manpower it would require to provide sufficient tech support and customer service in the arena of blogs, and, to a large number of bloggers.
__________________ Julie Ebersole (JulieHRR once upon a time . . . )julieebersole.com"So shines a good deed in a weary world." -Willy Wonka
Typepad is not free, but it isn't hugely expensive (relative to the rest of the $$ we all seem to spend). I think I spend $89 a year and am running 2 blogs with that. I think I can run another but I'm not sure.
I recommend it for a couple of reasons. I can't vouch for the other blog servers but typepad lets you:
select the time and date of your post. for example, I have a post already written with a set time in the future to post on the blog.
ban certain IP addresses from commenting at all on the blog. this keeps away certain folks and "is a good thing."
require commenters to leave their email address with you (only the blogger sees it). again, this cuts down comments from certain folks and is a good thing.
contact them for help and they respond fairly quickly.
Hope this helps!
__________________ Dear Paperlicious is my blog...with a series on how I'm learning to improve my cardmaking by studying others.
Typepad is not free, but it isn't hugely expensive (relative to the rest of the $$ we all seem to spend). I think I spend $89 a year and am running 2 blogs with that. I think I can run another but I'm not sure.
I really like Typepad--I pay for the Pro level and feel it's worth every penny. Love the capabilities, options, etc.!
Quote:
I recommend it for a couple of reasons. I can't vouch for the other blog servers but typepad lets you:
select the time and date of your post. for example, I have a post already written with a set time in the future to post on the blog.
ban certain IP addresses from commenting at all on the blog. this keeps away certain folks and "is a good thing."
require commenters to leave their email address with you (only the blogger sees it). again, this cuts down comments from certain folks and is a good thing.
contact them for help and they respond fairly quickly.
Hope this helps!
Yup! All cool features! And, ITA, Joan: they have great support, both online, and personal via their ticket system. Definitely worth paying for that kind of service and support, IMHO!
With Typepad:
You can also have photo albums--like a gallery
You can have different pages
You can also password protect your entire blog, some or all of your blogs (if you pay for the higher levels that gives you the option for more blogs), or just different areas, like certain photo albums or pages
To me, it actually seems far more than a blog--it's like a website! You can even turn it into a store with PayPal buttons and shopping cart function, etc.
__________________ Julie Ebersole (JulieHRR once upon a time . . . )julieebersole.com"So shines a good deed in a weary world." -Willy Wonka
It was only opened up in a limited fashion to our site support staff (Mods, DD, Admin). They have been learning the nuances of the system pretty much on their own, or with help from Kurtis, when he has the spare time, bless his heart!
Splitcoast currently does not have the financial resources to cover the manpower it would require to provide sufficient tech support and customer service in the arena of blogs, and, to a large number of bloggers.
Sorry...I was just answering the original question that it was my understanding that it was not open to the general public. My response was not:oops: meant to be read as a bashing of SCS and sorry if you took it as such.:oops:
Sorry...I was just answering the original question that it was my understanding that it was not open to the general public. My response was not:oops: meant to be read as a bashing of SCS and sorry if you took it as such.:oops:
Oh my goodness, no, Cammie-- not at all! {{{{{{{{{Cammie}}}}}}}}}}}
I was only trying to explainwhy SCS couldn't open it to the general public, at least, not at this time--I have a tendency to get very wordy, and blather on and on (and on, and on, and on, ROTFL!)
Julie =
I just wanted to interject a quick/brief explanation without boring everybody, because I could see where there might be confusion or curiosity.
__________________ Julie Ebersole (JulieHRR once upon a time . . . )julieebersole.com"So shines a good deed in a weary world." -Willy Wonka
Oh my goodness, no, Cammie-- not at all! {{{{{{{{{Cammie}}}}}}}}}}}
I was only trying to explainwhy SCS couldn't open it to the general public, at least, not at this time--I have a tendency to get very wordy, and blather on and on (and on, and on, and on, ROTFL!)
Julie =
I just wanted to interject a quick/brief explanation without boring everybody, because I could see where there might be confusion or curiosity.
oh good ...I just didnt want my response to be taken the wrong way...sometimes I type out a response to something on here and then go back and reread it and then think that the response is totally not reading the way it was intended to be read when it was being thunked up?!?!
I think I confused myself there.
Well, it is a good thing I am NEVER wordy. (snort!):twisted:
I'm a typepad user too and I really like it--for the reasons Joan and Julie stated. But whatever you choose, I think you'll love blogging. For me, it's a business, but I stamp so much more just so I have something to post--and that, I love!
Just wanted to let you all know that I went ahead and just started a blog on blogger. It was super easy and I had my first post up in just about 30 minutes, from logging on to the site to actually typing and editing. No big deal. Now, I just need to keep it updated!! Thanks for the push, ladies!!
Unbelievable Jen - good for you. I'll drag my feet and gather info for a while longer before taking the plunge. I feel like it will be a big time commitment, but that it will also force me to be creative on a more consistent basis. Thanks so much everyone, especially Joan and Julie, for your specific input. Typepad might be more than I need now, but maybe it's better for something that you can grow into, and as a new SU demo, the PayPal buttons might be great for class signups and kit bundles, etc.. Thanks again, and Happy New Year!
My question is how long does it take to create many of these awesome blogs? I'm curious, because it seems I'm spending hours looking for tutorials and info, then several more hours trying to figure it all out....as a busy mom, I'm wondering realistically how much time I can expect in front of the computer! It takes me a little longer then most to figure stuff out, so hiring someone to create one for me is looking more appealing!
Blogging - Startup Info
