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Module 2: Website Structure and Layout
This module focuses on the fundamental aspects of structuring and designing a blog on the Blogger platform. It covers selecting an effective blog title and domain, choosing an appropriate template, and customizing the layout of the blog. The goal is to ensure that students not only understand how to structure their website but also how to make it visually appealing and user-friendly.
Lesson 2.1: Choosing a Blog Title and Domain Name
Importance of a Good Blog Name
The blog title is one of the most critical elements of your website because it creates the first impression for your readers and significantly impacts your blog's identity, branding, and search engine visibility. A strong blog name should reflect your blog’s content, niche, or purpose while being memorable and easy to spell.
- Relevance: The title should be closely related to the blog's main theme or niche. This helps potential readers understand what your blog is about at first glance. For instance, a blog about travel photography should have a title that conveys both travel and photography.
- Branding: A well-thought-out blog name can enhance your branding. It should be unique and catchy enough to stick in the reader’s mind. This is important for creating a lasting brand that people can easily recognize.
- SEO Benefits: Choosing a blog name that includes keywords related to your niche can help with search engine optimization (SEO). For example, if your blog is about fitness tips, including words like “fitness” or “health” in your blog title can help it rank better in search engines.
- Memorability: The simpler and more memorable the blog name, the easier it is for readers to share and return to your blog. Avoid overly complex or long names that could confuse readers.
Setting Up a Free Blogger Subdomain (yourname.blogspot.com)
Blogger offers a free subdomain option, allowing users to have a basic web address like yourname.blogspot.com. This is ideal for beginners or hobby bloggers who want a quick and easy setup without purchasing a custom domain.
- Step-by-Step Process:
1. When creating your blog on Blogger, you’ll be prompted to choose a name for your blog.
2. After selecting a blog name, Blogger will automatically assign the free subdomain yourname.blogspot.com if the name is available.
3. This subdomain is hosted by Google, which handles all the hosting and technical backend, ensuring your blog remains live without any extra cost.
This free option provides you with an immediate online presence, though it is not as professional as a custom domain. For users who intend to grow their blog into a business or larger project, opting for a custom domain (see below) is preferable.
Linking Custom Domains (Optional)
For bloggers who want more control over their branding or who wish to make their blog appear more professional, linking a custom domain is a valuable step. A custom domain can be purchased from domain registrars like Google Domains, GoDaddy, or Namecheap, and connected to your Blogger account. Instead of using a blogspot.com subdomain, your blog will have a personalized address like yourname.com.
- Benefits of Custom Domains:
- Professionalism: Custom domains give your blog a more professional look, which can help build trust with your audience.
- SEO Advantages: Custom domains can perform better in search engines since they are often seen as more authoritative.
- Brand Consistency: A custom domain can help maintain consistency across your digital presence, particularly if you are using the blog for business purposes.
- Steps to Link a Custom Domain:
1. Purchase a domain from a domain registrar.
2. In the Blogger dashboard, go to Settings > Custom Domain and enter the domain you’ve purchased.
3. Follow the instructions to configure DNS settings on your domain registrar’s website to point your domain to Blogger’s servers.
4. Once the setup is complete, your blog will be accessible via the custom domain.
Lesson 2.2: Choosing a Template
Default Templates in Blogger
Blogger provides a variety of default templates that cater to different blog types, whether it's personal, professional, or niche-focused. These templates serve as a foundation for your blog’s design, layout, and structure, offering pre-designed themes that can be customized according to your needs.
- Types of Templates:
- Simple: Clean, minimalist design suitable for text-heavy blogs.
- Picture Window: Best for visual blogs like photography or art blogs where images are the focal point.
- Awesome Inc.: Vibrant and dynamic, often used for more creative, artistic blogs.
- Emporio: A grid-based template that's perfect for blogs with a lot of visual content, like a portfolio or fashion blog.
The advantage of using Blogger’s default templates is their simplicity and ease of use. These templates are also mobile-responsive, which ensures that your blog looks good across devices.
Previewing and Installing Templates
Before committing to a template, Blogger allows you to preview how your blog will look with each template. This is important for ensuring the visual appeal of your site aligns with your content and audience expectations.
- Steps to Preview and Install a Template:
1. Go to the Theme section of the Blogger dashboard.
2. Browse through the available templates.
3. Click on “Preview” to see how the template would look on your blog.
4. Once you’ve decided, click “Apply” to install the template.
Templates can be changed at any time, so even after applying a template, you can switch it later if you find a design that suits your blog better.
Understanding Responsive Design
Responsive design is critical in modern web design as it ensures that your blog looks and functions well on a variety of devices (desktops, tablets, and smartphones). Blogger’s default templates are designed to be responsive, meaning they automatically adjust the layout and size based on the screen being used.
- Benefits of Responsive Design
- Improved User Experience: Visitors can easily navigate your blog no matter what device they are using.
- SEO Boost: Search engines like Google favor responsive websites, which can improve your blog’s ranking in search results.
- Accessibility: A responsive design makes your blog more accessible to a broader audience.
Testing how your blog appears on different devices is essential to ensure it's delivering the optimal user experience. Blogger’s template preview lets you check how your blog looks on mobile, tablet, and desktop views before publishing.
Lesson 2.3: Customizing Layouts
Adding and Arranging Gadgets (Widgets)
Blogger provides a simple way to add functionality to your blog through gadgets, also known as widgets. These small, customizable blocks of content can be used to display features like recent posts, a search bar, social media buttons, or an archive of your blog’s content.
Common Gadgets in Blogger
- Search Box: Allows users to search for specific content on your blog.
- Popular Posts: Displays a list of your most viewed posts, encouraging users to explore more of your content.
- Labels: Helps categorize and organize your blog posts, improving navigation.
- Blog Archive: Provides a chronological list of your posts, allowing visitors to explore your older content.
- Pages: Links to your blog’s static pages (e.g., About, Contact).
- Steps to Add and Arrange Gadgets
1. Go to the Layout section in the Blogger dashboard.
2. Click “Add a Gadget” in any section (header, sidebar, footer).
3. Select the gadget you wish to add from the list.
4. Once added, you can drag and drop gadgets to arrange them in the desired order.
Gadgets can enhance the functionality of your blog and improve user experience by making it easier for visitors to explore and interact with your content.
Modifying the Header, Sidebar, and Footer
The header, sidebar, and footer are critical components of your blog’s layout, contributing to its visual balance and navigational flow.
- Header: This is where you place your blog title and tagline. You can also upload a custom logo or header image to give your blog a professional look.
- The header typically includes links to your social media profiles or key pages (such as About or Contact).
- Sidebar: The sidebar runs along the side of your blog, either on the left or right, and can hold gadgets like an archive, recent posts, and external links. It’s ideal for showcasing additional content without distracting from the main blog posts.
- Footer: This section appears at the bottom of your blog. You can use it for copyright information, additional navigation links, or an email subscription gadget.
Each section can be customized by adding, removing, or rearranging gadgets to suit your blog’s layout preferences. For example, if you run a blog heavy on images, you may opt for a minimal sidebar to allow more space for your visuals.
Managing Post Layouts
Blogger also gives you the ability to customize how your blog posts appear on the homepage or in archive pages. By modifying the post layout, you can control elements such as:
- Excerpts: Display a summary of your post on the homepage with a “Read More” link that directs readers to the full post. This can make your homepage more organized and visually appealing.
- Post Thumbnails: Displaying post thumbnails alongside excerpts can make your blog look more professional and visually engaging.
- Metadata: Choose which metadata (author name, date, labels, etc