~ All about Link Parties ~
Part 2 - How to link up to a party - this entry
Today I'm going to help remove the mystery that comes with linking up to a party. You'll learn how to enter your post at a host's party, and how to link back to the party within your post via text or a button.
For the record? It's way harder to read this post than to actually do it. It's very easy, I promise. Here we go!
_______________________________________
~ How to link your post to a party ~
#1. Create a url for your post.
A url or post address is the special code attributed to your post after it's published. You will need this url in order to link up to a party.
How to:
Draft up your post, then hit publish. View that specific post (not your home page) and the address shown is your new url you will need to take along with you to the party.
Sample:
(wrong) http://funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com/
(right) http://funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com/2011/04/would-you-live-in-this-barn.html
Note: If you're on a .com, wordpress, or blogger domain, your end extensions will be different. For Blogger, all posts end with html.
_______________________________________
#2. Copy and paste your url into the host's party link widget in his/her blog.
1. Copy YOUR url:
Select the text by clicking on it, and when it's highlighted, edit/copy or use the keyboard shortcut:
mac: hold command/select C
pc: hold ctrl/select C
2. Visit the link party desired and select the Add your link button.
(I use Inlinkz. Other blogs may use different but similar link features)
_______________________________________
3.
URL: paste in your blog post's url
To paste your url info, click in the URL space, then edit/paste, or hold command/ctrl, select V
Name: describe your post (it really should read as Describe, not Name imo!)
Email: add your email
_______________________________________
4. Click NEXT STEP
_______________________________________
5. Pick a picture.
6. Choose 'select' or 'crop'.
_______________________________________
7. If you chose crop, select 'Crop the selected area'.
_______________________________________
And you're done!
8. RED X
If you see a little red x beside your thumbnail, your host has allowed you to delete your own link.
_______________________________________
~ How to link back to the party ~
Linking back to the host blog is good party etiquette. Your link will alert your readers to the party, which is the ultimate thank-you back to the party host. Some hosts want you to link back, while others don't mind if you don't. The majority of hosts prefer that you do though. So here's how!
How to link with HMTL buttons
1. Funky Junk's buttons are located under the main header above. Select BUTTONS.
_______________________________________
2. Choose the button of choice, and copy the url inside the scroll box.
3. Once you've composed your post, select Edit HTML.
4. Scroll down to the bottom of your post, and paste the button html into your html posting area.
(tip) scroll down to the bottom and enter it there so you don't break your posts's html - crucial! Unless you understand html of course.
_______________________________________
5. Select COMPOSE to view the button to make sure it works.
You can now move the button anywhere in your post as desired. I like to cut and paste myself but you can try moving it manually too.
tip: if you did the html wrong, your post will not save in draft mode. If that's the case, undo (ctrl or command Z) and try again.
If done wrong, you'll be able to publish your post but the button won't work so always test after you publish.
Just remember, if your post is already published and you select draft afterwards, you've removed it off the net, so make sure you republish!
_______________________________________
~ How to link to another blog with text or pictures ~
1.
Text: type it in.
Pic: load the pic.
2.
Text: Highlight by clicking and dragging, then select LINK.
Pic: select the pic, then select LINK. (this may require 2 tries... just make sure the pic has a highlight over it otherwise it did not catch)
_______________________________________
3.
In the 'To What URL Should this link go?'
Text: Add the party post url or the blog home page url.
Your call. I always use the direct blog post urls myself however either will work fine.
Pic: Add the party post url or the blog home page url.
Only diff is, you'll see a blank where it says Text to display.
4. Select OK.
_______________________________________
Text: Your linked text will now be in purple. You are linked up!
Tip: I like to also select BOLD ITALIC and UNDERLINE to the linked up text so you can actually SEE the link. On many blogs, a link looks the same as the rest of the text and is impossible to pick out unless you hover your arrow over it. And who does that?!? :)
Pic: your pic won't look any different so it's best to test the picture after publishing to ensure it works.
Tip: SNS buttons all automatically link back to Funky Junk's home page. You can change this by selecting the button / LINK / add your chosen url / OK. You may have to do it twice for it to work, it's a bit glitchy.
_______________________________________
~ Summary ~
Build your post.
Add link back to host blog.
Publish your post for designated url.
Copy your url.
Paste your url into host blog.
Part 3 - When should a blog start hosting their own link party?
How do you get the link widget installed?
Coming up next!
No comments:
Post a Comment