Tuesday, January 11, 2011

BLOG BUTTONS ... and Other Free Stuff for Your Blog!



Felted Wool Button Brooch by Nimblejacks on Etsy
 
Looking for ways to make your Blog more efficient and user-friendly?  Or just want to get it looking a bit more spiffy?  Having spent a lot of time on the internet hunting for various buttons, badgets and widgets to add to my own blog, I've put together this list hoping that it will make your quest to improve your blog just a little sweeter ...


#1  Provide blog button code for your readers to use
      See the little 'jQ jewelry designs' button near the bottom on the right side of the page?
      It's for my blog readers or featured sellers to use. The code to add the buttons is
      underneath, and people can easily copy the code and paste it into an html blogger widget
      for their sidebar so that they can share your blog with a link to your site.  Learn how to
      set up your own blog button code here.


#2  Share this blog post on twitter, facebook, stumbleupon etc
       This button is available  at addthis and easily allows your readers to share blog blog
        posts they like.  You can see examples at the bottom of this blog post.



#3  Free 'Follow Me' Twitter Buttons
      You will find choices of Twitter buttons available to add to your blog at TwitterButtons.
      There are additional choices available here.



#4  Etsy Buttons and Badges
      You can get Etsy buttons and badges on the Community pages. There is also a good
      selection on the site of pre-made avatars and banners for you to choose from.

     Adding  a graphic to your blog showing a selection of the items you're selling on Etsy is
     simple.  Make sure you're logged in and go to 'your etsy'.  Click on the 'promote' section
     on your left side panel, and there are intructions for adding an etsy mini. 

     You can also add a scrolling etsy gallery that allows people to add your items to their cart
     directly from your blog. The directions are available on craftcult, and another version at
     cr8tivity - type in your Etsy username. Then go to 'helpers' then 'widgets'. Copy and paste
     the longer code into your blog side bar in an html widget.  There are examples of both at
     the top and bottom of the right sidebar on my blog.



#5  RSS feed buttons, subscription counters and email subscription forms
       These buttons can be found at feedburner.



#6 Add a Facebook 'Like'  Business Page Box to your blog
     It's simple to add a 'Like' button that allows your readers to add themselves to your FB
     business page without leaving your blog!  To get this button go here, and be sure to log in.

#7  Your readers might be interested in other blog posts you've written
      Be sure to take advantage of the traffic that your older posts can bring to your blog.
      LinkWithin suggests previous blog posts that readers might like by presenting thumbnail
      pictures at the bottom of each blog post. See examples at the end of each of my posts.


#8  Spiff up your blog by adding a likeness of your latest Etsy Treasury
       Show off your Treasury skills!  Use the Treasury Widget on Craftcult to post live, clickable
       versions of your Etsy Treasury lists on your blog or website. 

Moody Girl by jQ jewelry designs 


#9  Request suggestions for blog topics etc from your readers
      You can have a box on your blog that will allow people to post questions on your blog.
      To add this option, visit Skribit.




#10  Allow readers to submit their links - for social networking, giveaway lists etc
        You can add a widget through MrLinky so that readers can add a link and details.


#11  Add the Following feature to your blog
         Find out how here.


#12  Assorted free stuff for your blog - buttons, gadgets, widgets, etc
         Here are some of the zillion sites with lots of cool goodies for your blog ...
         Blogger Widgets - Gadgets
         April Showers
         WidgetsForFree
         Mashable


Vintage Czech Glass Button by Galla15 on Etsy



        

22 comments:

asdesigns said...

Jill, this is a great post. I'm definitely bookmarking it.

Sea Flower Studios said...

Great information! The RSS Feed button is exactly what I need for mine!

petitehermine said...

This is great! Nice button, are you interested in a button exchange by chance? :) My link exchange buttons are on the left side of my blog. Yeah? :D

Unknown said...

Great info -- I'll need to come back later when I have more time and check some of these buttons out.

bountyofbeads said...

What a great post. So full of great information that I will be using. thanks so much for taking the time to post all these links!!!

Cool Kid Designs said...

Really helpful! Thank you!

Dee said...

I've been wondering how to do these things, I will find some time to experiment with it. Thanks!

Unknown said...

Great post! Thank you for all of this useful information.

BijiBijoux said...

Great information! Thank you so much!

bagsofblessing said...

great information JQ! Thanks for sharing all the information!

Linda B said...

Jill, there's so much information here. I have a blog button and many things on my blog, but will explore more.

Dell Cove Spice said...

This was such a ridiculously great post! Thank you, thank you for the info!!

Crystal said...

Lots of free stuff....I just don't like to over clutter my blog. Like it clean and crisp looking!

Lbtoyos said...

This is really useful, I don´t think I´m ready to all of these by now, but keep in mind to future.
Thanks.

Unknown said...

This has been incredibly helpful. thanks so much for all the info!

theMayflower said...

great! thanks for sharing!

Giftbearer said...

Packed full of great information! I definitely need to add that one that allows selling directly on the blog when I have a chance.

Also, please let me know if you find out how I can fix the Paypal button I have on my blog for Carmella's donations. I have been needing to fix that for awhile but have not been able to find out how. Right now there's an X where the button should be. It works, but would look much better if that showed.

Unknown said...

Filled with TONS Of wonderful information!! Thanks so much for including my ring at the bottom :)

CalliopeCreations said...

Wonderful info. I was looking for a way to share a Treasury on my blog and, presto, there it was.

Thanks.

Charlene said...

What a lot of information. Thanks so much.

Denise Therese said...

great info!

Prodigy Crafts said...

Thank you for sharing all this!!! It's really helpful!!!

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