How to number comments in Blogger/BlogSpot

This Blogger hack will show you how to add comment count inside a speech bubble, so that you & your readers can use the numbers to mention or point to a particular comment on any of your posts and besides this, it could as well improve the look and feel of your blog.

Note: This works with the previous blogger commenting system, so if you want to add this hack, you should remove first the Blogger threaded comments. Learn here How to remove Blogger threaded comments

UPDATE! Now you can add comment bubble in your threaded comments too. Read this tutorial:
How to Add Numbered Comments In Threaded Comments

How to add numbered comments on our Blogger/Blogspot blog

Step 1. Go to Dashboard - Template - Edit HTML (click on Proceed button, if needed)

 Step 2. Select "Expand Widget Template" (make a backup)

Step 3. Now find (CTRL+F) the following code in your template:

<b:loop values='data:post.comments' var='comment'>

Step 4. Immediately above/before it, paste this code:

<script type='text/javascript'>var CommentsCounter=0;</script>

Step 5. Find this code:

<data:commentPostedByMsg/>

Step 6. And immediately below/after it, copy and paste this:

<!--comments-count-starts-->
<span class='comments-number'>
<a expr:href='data:comment.url' title='Comment Link'>
<script type='text/javascript'>
CommentsCounter=CommentsCounter+1;
document.write(CommentsCounter)
</script>
</a>
</span>
<!--comments-count-stops-->

Step 7. Find (CTRL+F) this tag in the template:

</head>

Step 8. Paste this code just above/before it:

<!-- comments-count-starts-->
<style type="text/css">
.comments-number a:link, .comments-number a:visited {
color: black !important;
text-decoration: none !important;
background: url(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRv8eMwRLlh15co5yiCDD-LieX2XLcQHxb1gvYpDMfhRbqyGE3ZETXtGUtnwSWZKwBJF0aJ4fGAEnJb44SFMQdNfclmYkA05TUn0nljz6b4M6ND1K5ZV9nKPeAonkFvEU_oQM__iKT_zJX/s1600/comment+bubble+1.png) no-repeat;
width: 50px; /*image-width size*/
height: 48px; /*image-height size*/
float: right;
display: block;
margin-right: 5px;
margin-top: -15px; /*comments-counter position*/
text-align: center;
font-family: 'Century Gothic','Lucida Grande',Arial,Helvetica,Sans-Serif;
font-size: 15px;
font-weight: normal;
}
.comments-number a:hover, .comments-number a:active {
color: #1BA0E1 !important;
text-decoration: none !important;
}
</style>
<!-- comments-count-stops-http://fe-blogger.blogspot.com-->

Note:

• To change the comment bubble, replace the red text from above with your own address
• To change the color of the numbers, replace the blue text with the hex value of your color

Comment Bubbles 

To choose a comment bubble, right-click on the image and select "Copy Image Address/Location":





IMPORTANT: You could use any image instead of the one linked in the code above (STEP 8) but after that, you should modify the size values (width and height), so that the numbers inside the bubble to be correctly adjusted.

Step 9. Save the template... and enjoy your comments :]

You might also be interested in this tutorial from the same category:
How to Add a Comment Bubble to Blogger Post Titles.

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How to Add A Comment Count Bubble To Blogger Post Titles

A comment bubble with current number of comments displayed to each blogger post titles could make your blog more attractive. This improves not only your comments count but also allows your visitors to see what are the most popular posts on your blog. When a post has many comments, then the comment bubble will show the popularity of your posts to readers and visitors so that they might be more interested in reading them.

So let's start adding it:

Step 1. Go to Dashboard - Template - Edit HTML (click on Proceed button, if needed)

Step 2. Select "Expand Widget Template" (make a backup)

Step 3. Find - using CTRL + F - the following piece of code in your template:

]]></b:skin>

Step 4. Add the below code just above ]]></b:skin>:

.comment-bubble {
float : right;
width : 48px;
height : 48px;
background : url(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1s8kaejPeoOajnQLxFD3oxc_vr-oZF6aLBEYu02Tff-9fIixtn12PHNSC3z9HvQBtdCqzYKWaoEN-bhVEOhZZQMm9W_oHcgj5YPrISIxl_JEtlfSVWupNEn_FFIeWtBq7-N-lAhN-aT2T/s1600/speech+bubble+green.png);
background-repeat: no-repeat;
font-size : 18px;
margin-top : -15px;
margin-right : 2px;
text-align : center;
}

Step 5. Now find this code:

<b:if cond='data:post.title'>
<h3 class='post-title entry-title'>

Note: If you can't find it, search this code instead:

<b:if cond='data:post.title'>
      <h3 class='post-title entry-title' itemprop='name'>

Step 6. And add this code immediately after it:

<b:if cond='data:post.allowComments'>
<a class='comment-bubble' expr:href='data:post.addCommentUrl' expr:onclick='data:post.addCommentOnclick' style='color: #ffffff; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold;'><data:post.numComments/></a>
</b:if>

Note:

• to change the color of the comments number, replace #ffffff with the hex value of your color;
• to change the font size, increase/decrease the 18px value;

Step 7. Preview your template and if everything is ok, click on Save Template.

Comment Bubbles 

You can choose one of the images below - right click on the desired image and select "Copy Image Address/Location", then replace the red code from step 3 with the address you just copied.




That's it! Enjoy (:

You might also be interested in reading this tutorial:

Display post author, date, labels and comments with icons below post titles

More about → How to Add A Comment Count Bubble To Blogger Post Titles

How to Add Different Backgrounds In Blogger Pages

In the last tutorial, you learnt How to Add Different Backgrounds in Blogger Posts. Now this tutorial, will show you how you can have a different background for each of your page, thus giving your pages their own unique look. 

DEMO HERE

How to Add Different Background In Blogger Posts/Pages

Step 1. Log in to your Blogger Dashboard, then go to Template > Edit HTML.

Step 2. Select "Expand Widget Templates"

Step 3. Search (CTRL + F) for this tag:

</head>

Step 4. Just above the </head> tag, paste this code:

<b:if cond='data:blog.url == &quot;http://POST-OR-PAGE-URL.html&quot;'>
<style>
body {
background-image: url(http://DIRECT_LINK_TO_BACKGROUND_IMAGE.com/IMAGE.JPG);background-position: center; background-repeat:repeat; background-attachment: fixed;
}
</style>
</b:if>

Note:

• Change: http://POST-OR-PAGE-URL.html with the URL address of your blogger post or page where you want the custom background to appear.
• Change: http://DIRECT_LINK_TO_BACKGROUND_IMAGE.com/IMAGE.JPG with the direct link of your background image.

Step 5. Click on SAVE TEMPLATE and you're done.

More about → How to Add Different Backgrounds In Blogger Pages

How to Add Different Background Color or Image in Each Blogger Post

When you have multiple authors on a blog and want to make a specific post stand-out, then you can change your posts background color or place a background image behind them, each time is needed. Therefore, this tutorial will show you how to style each post differently by adding some codes in your Blogger posts. (this won't take effect if you have the read more function enabled on your blog)

 Demo

How to Change the Color of the Post Background

When you create a post, switch to HTML, near the Compose tab and add the following code just at the beginning and at the end of your post content.

<div style="background-color: #DCC368; padding: 5px 8px 5px 8px;">
Your text goes here...

</div>

• add the red line at the BEGINNING of your post.
• add the div tag in blue at the END of your post.
• replace the part in green with your own color (search for color's hex value)
• "Your text here...." is where the Post content goes

It's done by wrapping your Post content into a "div" element. You can apply this setting anytime to your already published posts as well or you can change/remove it later.

Here's the example of the placed code in the Post Edit box:

How to Add a Background Image in a Blogger Post

Add the following code just at the beginning and end of your post content.

<div style="background-image: url(IMAGE-URL-HERE); background-repeat: no-repeat; ">
Your text goes here...

</div>

• in green, you need to paste the URL address of your hosted picture (use Photobucket, Tinypic etc.)
• the red line has to be added at the beginning of your post.
• the blue part has to be added where your post ends.
• "Your text here...." is where your Post content should be

Now click Publish and you are done.

More about → How to Add Different Background Color or Image in Each Blogger Post

How to Create Static Pages in Blogger

What are Blogger static pages? 

Blogger Static Pages allows you to create specific pages like About Me, Contact page, Privacy Policy etc. on stand-alone pages that are linked from your blog. The static pages basically are the same as post pages, but there are several things that make them different. One of the differences is that static pages don't appear in the home page, don't have a label, and are not indexed as archive pages.

How to Create Static Pages in Blogger.

Step 1. Log in to your Blogger Dashboard

Step 2. Click on Pages

Step 3. Click on New Page - Blank Page

Step 4. Type the title and write the page's content.

Step 5. Before publishing it, click on Preview to see how it will appear on your blog.

Step 6. When you have finished the editing, click on Publish button.

Step 7. Now you have 3 options:

1. Keep it as nav menu below header - Top tabs
2. Display the page in your blog's sidebar - Side Links
3. Add the page's link manually to your template - Don't Show

Step 8. After you have chosen where the page will appear, click on the Save arrangement button

And now you're done!
Now you have owned the static page. If you want another static page, just repeat the steps above.

Note: if you have opted for Don't show option: go to Pages again and right click on the page's title and select Copy link location (in firefox). You can add the link manually to your sidebar via Link widget or add the link in your template, via Edit HTML.

If you need more help, leave a comment below.

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Tips To Avoid Your Google Adsense Account From Getting Banned

As many of you already know, Google Adsense is the most popular and generous advertisment service from Google that gives you recurring income. However, some people don't bother to read the Adsense policies and they usually violate AdSense Terms and conditions without knowing and as a result, later to find out that their accounts have been disabled. Many times, fraud clicks are the main cause. But there could be many other reasons for an Adsense account to be disabled.

So, if you want to keep your Google Adsense account safe, please read and keep in mind the following rules:

1. Never use adult, violent or advocating racial intolerance content on your site.
2. Never copy paste any article from any other website. Google can easily find out which one is original.
3. Never click on your own ads. Google can analyze all the clicks made on your ad units.
4. Never place above your Adsense ad units texts like "Click on ad below", "Please click below" etc. instead you can use label headings as "sponsored links" or "advertisements".
5. Never say your friends to click on your ads on social networking websites like Facebook
6. Don't put unwanted links, pop-ups on your website. Keep interface quite neat and clean with proper navigation and all. Google also looks for the quality standard of websites.
7. You must have a privacy policy page which must contain a description about the use of Google AdSense on your website. This is the latest policy introduced by Google. Many webmasters don't know about it which results in their account getting banned.
8. Hide Adsense ad units from Contact and Privacy Policy page (read here to see how you can do that) Place ads only on Content Pages. Advertisers pay only for content based ads.
9. Never display Adsense ads in floating boxes with images or texts that could overlap or cover the ads. However, you can use floating text, images on your website under the condition they don't play with your Adsense ads.
10. Never place more than 3 ad units and 3 ad links or 2 adsense search boxes on any web page.
11. Do not confuse with adjacent images - It was a common policy to increase CTR by placing same number of images as the number of text ads, which falsely gave the impression that the text ads represented an explanation to these images. Inserting a small space or a line between the images and ads is not allowed. Make sure that the ads and images are not arranged in a way that could easily mislead or confuse your visitors. Read more about this here
12. Do not send your Google adsense ads code to anyone.
13. Never place your Google ads any unit under any drop down menu, if you do so you are Violate Google Adsense TOS.
14. Never place Adsense ads on empty pages (pages with no content), pop-up pages, error pages, contact forms or registration pages.

These rules are the minimum requirements for maintaining an AdSense account in a proper way.
Whenever needed, it is better to ask for adsense help from the learned staff of Google Adsense. At least, you'll get authorized and very helpful tips from them! Good luck and be wise :)

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Ways To Increase Page Impressions and Traffic on Your Blog

What is a Google AdSense "Page Impression"?

The page impressions or page views - how much time a user stays on your website and how many pages are visited. This is one of the most important things when talking about advertising. Page impressions are the result of good high quality traffic which is mostly based on the quality of the content available on your blog/website. If you build high quality content then people will enjoy navigating through your site and therefore, create page views.

In general, AdSense reports show the following fields of information:

• Page Impression: how many times the page or pages containing the AdSense advertisement was shown to your blog/website visitors
• Clicks: the number of times visitors clicked on an advertisement from your site
• Page CTR: The clickthrough rate of an advertisement is defined as the number of clicks on an ad divided by the number of times the ad is shown (impressions), expressed as a percentage. (1) In most cases, a 2% click-through rate would be considered very successful, though the exact number is hotly debated.
• CPC: is Cost Per Click. That is what Google pay you per click.
• Estimated earnings: Your account balance for the time period selected. This amount is an estimate that is subject to change when your earnings are verified for accuracy at the end of every month.(2)

Below are some ways that could help you to increase the page impressions:

1. Navigation Menu

Create a navigation structure that is clear and easy to follow. You want to make sure that once you have a visitor, they can easily make it to other parts of your blog. Creating links within your blog pages is one of the best ways to increase the number of impressions for your website.


2. Posts Summary on Homepage

A very good method to increase your page views is to have a summary of your posts on your blog/website homepage. That will force visitors of your blog to click on posts link / read more button in order to see the full article. To show only a part (excerpt) of Blogger posts, read this tutorial:
Automatic Posts Summaries for Blogger with Thumbnails

3. Improve Blog/Website Load Time

If a blog’s pages load very slowly, then visitors will eventually lose patience and stop visiting more pages, sometimes sooner rather than later. A blog that has quick loading pages is a pleasure to browse and it encourages more clicks.

4. Add a Popular Posts widget

Another great way to engage your readers to stay more on your site/blog and to browse through your content and make more pageviews is to add a Popular Posts Widget where you share some of the best posts on your blog.

Here are some nice Popular Posts widgets for your Blogger blog:

Popular Posts widget above Blogger Posts
Multi-Colored Popular Posts widget

5. Add a Random Posts Widget

If you have loyal visitors who come to your blog on a daily basis, a popular article widget will become boring just because they see it every day, with same posts. A random posts widget will mix the articles so that the probability for a post to repeat will be very low.

Want to add a Random Posts Widget for your Blogger blog? Then take a look at this tutorial:
Random Posts widget with thumbnails

6. Link to Related Posts at the End of a Post

Displaying a related posts is a smart way for keeping your site visitors around. The widget links to stories that are relevant and interesting to readers of a particular post, keeping them engaged with your blog, and increasing your traffic.

If you don't have it on your blog yet, see this Related Posts Widget tutorial for Blogger blogs: Add the Related Posts Widget with Thumbnails to Blogger


7. Add internal links to your content using related anchor text

Include a link in a new post to related information in a previous post. When you link to a previous post that you've written you should consider doing it so with descriptive words of the post, rather than generic words. (don't use simple words like "click here for more"). Adding links to previous articles will determine your visitors to view articles and automatically will be converted into page impressions.

8. Provide links into your social networks profiles or forums

Share your blog links on Facebook, Twitter or any other websites or popular forums. Answer to questions on the web. But be careful to not be too intrusive and always try to give pertinent info.
You wouldn't want to support or to be considered as a spammer, don't you?

9. Add a search box

A lot of websites does not have a search box. As a result, the visitor will leave the site if he didn't find anything further relevant. For best results, you should be using the Google custom search widget. You can embed the Google search box directly in your blog. The search results will be more relevant than those that are provided by your default search box.



10. Add Social media buttons 

Give your visitors multiple options to tweet, bookmark and share your posts via Facebook as well as save your whole blog. Put social icons below your post and in the sidebar, make them visible and let them be found easily.

11. Use a clean background for your posts and readable fonts

Avoid dark backgrounds, tiny and sophisticated fonts, and make written content the visually most distinct part of your blog. If your main objective is to deliver a message and get the visitors reading your stuff, then you should make this process comfortable for them.

12. Advertising

And finally, getting people to your site may just be a matter of getting the word out. By using pay-per-click advertising, you can create an inexpensive advertising campaign to get more people to your site.

Following these tips will surely increase your blog's page views, which will make your blog traffic high in the future. Good luck!

More about → Ways To Increase Page Impressions and Traffic on Your Blog

How to Replace Older Posts and Newer Posts Links with Blogger Post Titles

If you have ever visited a WordPress blog, you might have noticed that the blog pager on these blogs displays the actual post titles, not just links to the older and newer posts that you find at the bottom of your Blogger blog. This links are parts of the so-called blog pager which helps readers navigate between pages and posts.

If you want to increase your page impressions, one of the ways is to replace the older/newer posts links with the Blogger post titles.

How To Add Post Titles Instead of Older Post/Newer Post Link

Step 1. Log in to Blogger, go to Layout and click on "Add A Gadget" link

Step 2. From the pop-up window, choose "HTML/JavaScript"

 Step 3. Paste the following code into the empty field of the HTML/JavaScript gadget:

<script type="text/javascript" src="http://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/1.4.2/jquery.min.js"></script>
<script type="text/javascript">
var olderLink = $("a.blog-pager-older-link").attr("href");
$("a.blog-pager-older-link").load(olderLink+" h3:first", function() {
var olderLinkTitle = $("a.blog-pager-older-link:first").text();
$("a.blog-pager-older-link").text(olderLinkTitle);
});
var newerLink = $("a.blog-pager-newer-link").attr("href");
$("a.blog-pager-newer-link").load(newerLink+" h3:first", function() {
var newerLinkTitle = $("a.blog-pager-newer-link:first").text();
$("a.blog-pager-newer-link").text(newerLinkTitle);
});
</script>

Note: The line in red is for acquiring jQuery framework. If you have acquired jQuery in your template, then you can just delete this part.

Step 4. Now Save the Widget and drag it under the Blog Posts section.

Step 5. Click on Save arrangement.

Now view your blog and see the older/newer posts link, replaced with your post titles.

For any questions, leave a comment below.

More about → How to Replace Older Posts and Newer Posts Links with Blogger Post Titles

How To Disable or Turn Off Lightbox View For Blogger Images

When you click on your images or photos, a wide black iframe window opens without leaving the page and shows you the image in foreground. This Lightbox (also called as Greybox or thickbox) view effect is enabled for all Blogger blogs by default, and it can be found also on Facebook and Google +. However, for some people this effect has turned into a headache and some may prefer to turn it off.

How to disable Lightbox view?

• Log in to your Blogger Dashboard 
• Go to Settings > Posts and comments  
• Look for the "Showcase images with Lightbox" and select "No".

Save your Settings and you're done!

More about → How To Disable or Turn Off Lightbox View For Blogger Images