Do Blog Theme/Template Really Make a Statement?

I remember some time before, a blogging buddy told me that a certain type of blog layout may also contribute to increasing your chance of gaining page relevance from the leading search engine. We were discussing about PR then and she came out with this idea although I actually have no clue how it may work... I just didn't bother to ask. I know not all but some of the essentials on how to qualify a blog for a page rank.

For me, there's only one thing that I consider the most important in choosing a layout...and that is its capacity to load fast. Now I'm not saying pick the driest layout you can get either. There are lots of theme designers out there who can create fast loading templates without sacrificing its look and elegance.

So now back to my template. Why did I ask if it really does make a statement because it happened to me before. As soon as I updated my blog layout, that little green button I used to place at the sidebar surprisingly flashes a digit that's no longer 0 but 3 ! Although I still refuse to believe that it's because of the new layout installed instead I want to think that it was granted to me because I was determined to gain it back... and with an added point during that time. I wonder when it will happen again. I am not even certain if Page Rank toolbar is still around.

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Content is King

The never ending PR (Page Rank) issue among bloggers are everywhere. I remember few months ago, I raised a question on one of the forum sites I joined about how a Page Rank is gained? When I last checked the site, I got over 50 responses from different people whom I actually don't know but are generous enough to share their intelligent opinions. But among those responses, the phrase"content is king" was what strikes me the most. Yesterday as I was visiting websites, I came across with it again. This made me ponder for a little while.

I have been blogging for years now... but I wonder if the entries I have posted in my blogs are all of good quality. Granting that PR is basically acquired through quality content then I must say I at least have it otherwise, my other pages won't be ranked by Google... although such figures has their high and off season" too (LOL). I guess you know what I mean by that. However, now that Google is repossessing my PRs, does it literally implies low quality content too? What therefore comprises a quality content, you ask?

One blogger says: "Good content will show the writers own personality and flavor in it. It will be interesting and very informative, if it's not what's the point of putting it online in the first place, nobody will benefit from it and it won't help you get more repeat visitors."

 True enough! Pretty simple opinion but is rich and is worth contemplating!

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New Blog on the Block

Today marks the 113th celebration of the Philippine Independence. HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY to every Filipino around the world! Also to go with this historical event celebration today is an important announcement from yours truly. :D Yea, I told myself I really have to make it TODAY!

 

click image to view full size

Just to those who don't know yet, I won katsboxanddice.info from PMC 's .info domain giveaway last month along with 9 other lucky winners. Many thanks to Mommy Ruby for awarding it to me last Monday and because I know I can only do so much when it comes to Wordpress layout editing, I gave it the entire week to do what needs done for this page.

A free domain comes with a free lifetime hosting service too courtesy of Pinay Mommy Online hosting services. How cool is that? ;) I have few blogs under Blogger too so I picked Wordpress this time for me to get to accustom with the platform better. Oh and with the advent of this new page, my used to be alone WP blog here will sure get lonely no more.

As this is getting longer, I will just make a separate post explaining what this blog will be all about and why Kat's Box and Dice when most of you know obviously my name is not Kat, LOL!

Well that's up next but for now I would like to WELCOME you all and please guys and to my fellow mommies of PMC I would love to hear what you think if you could please take some time to write them down at the comment section and thank you very much. :D

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Quick Steps on How to Add Custom Favicon to your Blogger Blog

Here's another something you guys may find interesting to learn about! I just found out how to do it myself recently. It's adding a custom favicon to our blog and I'm telling you aside from the fact that using a custom favicon separates us from the rest, it was really fun doing it. I've seen so many blogs around are not wearing it yet so I thought of sharing some tips below on how you can do it yourself. :D

click image to view full size

Here we go... Step 1 Using your preferred image, create your own favicon file. It should be as small as 16x16 pixels file and preferably with ".ico" extension although I use .png file for some of mine and it should work just as fine. Or if you want there are also free services out there where you can create your own unique favicon. Step 2 Upload the file to your image hosting account to get it coded. I use Photobucket, by the way. Love it free, lol! Step 3 Finally, add the following script to your blog: To do that, go to your BLOGGER PROFILE - LAYOUT and then click EDIT HTML. Scroll it down to where you can see the head tag then insert the script above. Make sure to replace the Your Icon URL with the newly generated URL of your favicon, click save template and you're DONE! :D Oh, but before you leave, how bout dropping me a few lines at the comment box if you find this tutorial any helpful? Ayt! ;)

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Free Blog Headers

Thanks to the internet interruption we've had the other day... I had to say hello to boredom and became an instant blog header designer, :D If interested you may simply grab it (although I would appreciate a little comment) and upload it to your own image hosting account to get it properly coded. The reason why I refuse to host it is to avoid accidental deletion that may cause dysfunction should any one grab and use it to their site.

 

 size: 920 x 235

Your title goes to the blank frame

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Akismet it is

I've been wondering why I got lots of comments going through my spam folder since I let this blog up a week ago. Some were from people I know and many were from unknown addresses leaving malicious links within their comments and then I realized I didn't have spam-blocker plugin installed. Shame... shame... Thought I had it all done but I was wrong, LOL! This brought me back to the time when I first use Wordpress. I went through the same thing until I was told about Akismet. I used to get hundreds of spams during the first few days of my first WP blog, I blog today! I was surprised how they build up so fast but thanks I found this amazing plugin the second time around. It really did wonders to my blog and now it is up to save me again from counting spam comments that are yet to come in to my new page too. Related Posts: Found it! Akismet's Spams and Ham
 

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Before and After

Hi there! Just so you know I've added few pages here that you can browse at any time - that's to complete the whole concept of this blog. Now I can finally tell that the setting up phase is done and that I can just concentrate on adding posts here from time to time.

And so for this weekend, I thought of sharing a little idea about the theme of this blog and the tweaking I did to come up with a modified version. Here's how it is... [Click image to view full size]

BEFORE

The theme is called SEASHORE from Wordpress Theme Shop. It took me days to find what I've been looking for a Wordpress theme. I wanted something simple and neat looking with very minimal footer links and this was it. And then this is how it came out after 5 strenuous days of tweaking.

AFTER

All of whatever I have become now when it comes to blogging, I owe it to my good friend, Evelyn and to the very first blog page she created for me back in 2007 just so I will give blogging a try. That page I am talking about is called Just the way it is... and is what I consider my MOTHER blog. :) Have a pleasant Sunday everyone! ;)

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How to add Google Friend Connect (GFC) gadget on Wordpress?

New to Wordpress? Here's a one quick tutorial on how to install Google Friend Connect (GFC) widget to your Wordpress blog. I also have gone through the same worries you have to deal with figuring out how to make your friends follow your blog now that you're with Wordpress. So now it's my turn to share after I finally puzzled it out just about some hours ago. Thanks to fellow PMC member, Kerslyn. Back in our community we call it "noob" question. But don't you think it really pays to ask? Now, here's how you do it: Step 1: Go to http://www.google.com/friendconnect/ Note: You must be a member and have at least one site or two registered at Blogger. Step 2: Click: Add the members gadget. A new window should pop open allowing you to customize the gadget.

click images to view full size

 

STEP 3: Generate Code

Now under Widgets on your dashboard, drag TEXT widget to your sidebar, copy/paste the entire code, click save and you're DONE!

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About Kat's Box and Dice

GREAT! Thanks to those who graced the launching of my newest page with their warm comments, praises and compliments. To the gorgeous mommies of PMC especially, thank you so much for your friendship and support. This time, I'd like to answer few questions I believe you might want answered as well and so here we go... WHY KAT'S BOX AND DICE? It was just out of some great impulse when I thought of creating a new blogger account some time last year and added 2 new blogs under it. The original Kat's Box and Dice is one of them. Sadly I just ended up neglecting the page for some reasons. :( Every now and then I get bunch of email notifications from PMC/FB back then and that's how I've learned about Mommy Ruby's .info domain giveaway last month. Things happened pretty fast. Thought I would love to win one of those domains but can't think of any good suggestion for a possibly available domain name other than katsboxanddice,info. Now that I can say is was real luck. That really made my day when Ruby confirmed it was available and made it to the first 10. :D WHO IS KAT? My name is Nancy so obviously it isn't me. LOL! KAT is short for KATE, my oldest daughter's name. She's 10 and I believe she got the same passion as I do and that inspired me to use her name for a screen name or whatever is the techie version of the word, LOL!

Even before I created the original Kat's Box and Dice page, I already thought of buying it its own domain along its way however, when I checked it at godaddy.com Katesboxanddice.info has already been taken so I ended up using Kat instead of Kate.

WHAT THE NEW KAT'S BOX AND DICE IS ALL ABOUT?

Initially I've given niche blogging a thought but then again my very limited resources is keeping me from pursuing that idea for now so more likely this will become yet another personal/general blog of mine. And I guess that should cover about anything that come to Kat's mind that she thinks is worth
braggingif not talking about, LOL!

So, that's about it for now. Will catch you guys around next time. ;)

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