Write For Spice Up Your Blog

Spice Up Your Blog is now one of the leading blogs is the Blog Tips, Help, Design And Gadgets Category.With a loyal following and over 200,000 monthly impressions we are still growing and publishing quality helpful content.Among the over 300 posts we have published a number of guest posts on a variety of subjects.Going forward i want to add even more voices to Spice Up Your Blog and publish more Guest submissions.

As a guest author you already get to speak to a new audience, build your online credentials and of course get quality links and traffic to your Blogs and Websites.

Post And Get Traffic & Backlinks

There will be 2 links to your blog, website or anywhere you choose (With some exceptions) added to the post so you really are reaching a new audience and as the primary readership of this Blog is people who keep their own Blogs you are connecting with like minded readers.The links are added as do-follow in an about the author section below post.

What Type Of Posts We Are Looking For ?

Anything that is useful for our readers is good content for a guest post here. It can be related to:

Blogging
Bloggers
Design
Social Networking / Bookmarking Tips
Tools or Gadgets for Blogging
Tips and tricks on writing
How to write posts effectively
Topics and niches
Blog Promotion

Not An Expert ?  I want this opportunity to be available to everyone so if your not 'Tech Savy' why not write about your experience blogging.

I think you get the idea - if it can help a Blogger in any way i would love to have you write a post or posts.It can also be derived from your own personal experiences within Blogging. There is no minimum length for your post, but usually the guest posts have over 400 words.

Examples - List Of Published Guest Posts.

Guidelines

* Your post must be original and must have never been published before on the Internet.
* You agree to not publish the post anywhere else (i.e., in your own blog or as a guest post in other blogs).
* Links are Do-follow to give your blog or website full 'link juice'.
* You must enjoy writing the post and not feel any pressure - Only kidding just don't mind the rules and get writing I'm sure your post will rock !

Submit Your Post, Idea or Ask For More Info

OK To Get Started You Can Contact Me By Email.

If you have a post ready Great, send it in the format you are most comfortable with (Text, Document, Zip, etc) and i will get back to you.If you have an idea or title you want to run past me let me know.If you want more info on the process just ask.

paul@spiceupyourblog.com

Thanks again for your interest and i look forward to hearing from you.

Paul Crowe - Founder Of Spice Up Your Blog.

Add Different Color Falling Snow Flakes To Blogger

A comment on the post Christmas Snow Fall Effect For Blogger by 'ம.தி.சுதா' asked "how to change the snow color because my template background color is a white" so i got to work to see if i could make the snow effect with different colors.The result is awesome and i have a new code that will allow you to add any color snow fall to your blog.When you add this code you can simply add the color you would like and that's it.So lets look at the live demo then add colored snow fall to your blog.

Live Demo - Click Here To See The Demo with red snow - Color Snow Fall Effect

Add Color Snow Fall To Blogger

Step 1. In your dashboard Click Design > Add A Gadget > Choose Html/Javascript








Step 2. Copy And Paste The Code Below Into The Html/Javascript Gadget :

<a href='http://www.spiceupyourblog.com'><img alt='Best Blogger Tips' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaYqm6xBxp5E1rd4O1aT12fj-dLN-q80OAJ6XqEuhA3xy8Z9sq5bB5SLPNsaP6BSHYZWCHG3fizpfJbCqFftz-1evmQcUCbupu_I-TekVKuOM7HEggqFjkT97zU6gkD78Cm0OcDAJuLX6K/s1600/best+blogger+tips.png'/></a><script type='text/javascript'>
//Snow - http://www.btinternet.com/~kurt.grigg/javascript

if ((document.getElementById) &&
window.addEventListener || window.attachEvent){

(function(){

//Configure here.

var num = 40; //Number of flakes
var timer = 30; //setTimeout speed. Varies on different comps
var enableinNS6 = 1 //Enable script in NS6/Mozilla? Snow animation could be slow in those browsers. (1=yes, 0=no).

//End.

var y = [];
var x = [];
var fall = [];
var theFlakes = [];
var sfs = [];
var step = [];
var currStep = [];
var h,w,r;
var d = document;
var pix = "px";
var domWw = (typeof window.innerWidth == "number");
var domSy = (typeof window.pageYOffset == "number");
var idx = d.getElementsByTagName('div').length;

if (d.documentElement.style &&
typeof d.documentElement.style.MozOpacity == "string")
num = 12;

for (i = 0; i < num; i++){
sfs[i] = Math.round(1 + Math.random() * 1);

document.write('<div id="flake'+(idx+i)+'" style="position:absolute;top:0px;left:0px;width:'
+sfs[i]+'px;height:'+sfs[2]+'px;background-color:red;font-size:'+sfs[2]+'px"><\/div>');

currStep[i] = 0;
fall[i] = (sfs[i] == 1)?
Math.round(2 + Math.random() * 2): Math.round(3 + Math.random() * 2);
step[i] = (sfs[i] == 1)?
0.05 + Math.random() * 0.1 : 0.05 + Math.random() * 0.05 ;
}


if (domWw) r = window;
else{
if (d.documentElement &&
typeof d.documentElement.clientWidth == "number" &&
d.documentElement.clientWidth != 0)
r = d.documentElement;
else{
if (d.body &&
typeof d.body.clientWidth == "number")
r = d.body;
}
}


function winsize(){
var oh,sy,ow,sx,rh,rw;
if (domWw){
if (d.documentElement && d.defaultView &&
typeof d.defaultView.scrollMaxY == "number"){
oh = d.documentElement.offsetHeight;
sy = d.defaultView.scrollMaxY;
ow = d.documentElement.offsetWidth;
sx = d.defaultView.scrollMaxX;
rh = oh-sy;
rw = ow-sx;
}
else{
rh = r.innerHeight;
rw = r.innerWidth;
}
h = rh - 2;
w = rw - 2;
}
else{
h = r.clientHeight - 2;
w = r.clientWidth - 2;
}
}


function scrl(yx){
var y,x;
if (domSy){
y = r.pageYOffset;
x = r.pageXOffset;
}
else{
y = r.scrollTop;
x = r.scrollLeft;
}
return (yx == 0)?y:x;
}


function snow(){
var dy,dx;

for (i = 0; i < num; i++){
dy = fall[i];
dx = fall[i] * Math.cos(currStep[i]);

y[i]+=dy;
x[i]+=dx;

if (x[i] >= w || y[i] >= h){
y[i] = -10;
x[i] = Math.round(Math.random() * w);
fall[i] = (sfs[i] == 1)?
Math.round(2 + Math.random() * 2): Math.round(3 + Math.random() * 2);
step[i] = (sfs[i] == 1)?
0.05 + Math.random() * 0.1 : 0.05 + Math.random() * 0.05 ;
}

theFlakes[i].top = y[i] + scrl(0) + pix;
theFlakes[i].left = x[i] + scrl(1) + pix;

currStep[i]+=step[i];
}
setTimeout(snow,timer);
}


function init(){
winsize();
for (i = 0; i < num; i++){
theFlakes[i] = document.getElementById("flake"+(idx+i)).style;
y[i] = Math.round(Math.random()*h);
x[i] = Math.round(Math.random()*w);
}
snow();
}


if (window.addEventListener){
window.addEventListener("resize",winsize,false);
window.addEventListener("load",init,false);
}
else if (window.attachEvent){
window.attachEvent("onresize",winsize);
window.attachEvent("onload",init);
}

})();
}//End.
</script><a href="http://www.spiceupyourblog.com" target="_blank">Snow Fall Blog Gadget</a>

Note - To change the color of the snow fall just edit the color highlighted in red within the code.You can change it to basic colors (blue, green, black etc) or Html hex colors.

That's it save the gadget and your color snow effect is on your blog for a great Christmas feel. More Christmas design for your blog ? We have a transparent Christmas Corner Banner and 10 Spectacular Falling Christmas Objects For Blogger.

Drop Your Comments, views And Questions Below.

New - Use Read More Summary's In Blogger Rss Feed

Blogger today added a very interesting new feature to the Rss Feed settings on all blogs.Since the Blogger team added the Read More Jump Break in September 2009 many blogs has used the option to display the latest posts as a summary on the home page with a read more link.Now you can also add a summary and read more link to your Blogs Rss Feed.Until now you could display a full or short version of your posts in your feed but you had no control over the size of the short feed.With this new setting you can choose to display exactly the same summary in the feed as on the home page with the read more link.

"...The challenge with feeds is that it’s never been possible to control exactly how much content is delivered. Up until now, the options have been “Short” and “Full”. Short produces a feed that contains around the first 400 characters of the post, with HTML and images removed. Full produces a feed that contains everything in the post, including HTML and images. But what about those instances where you want to give your users a taste—an image or two with some introductory text—and then have them visit your blog to see the full post? Well today we’ve launched a third option that lets you do just that using Jump Breaks..."

You can enable this feature via your blogs Feed Settings.

Read More Rss Feeds On Blogger

1. In your Blogger Dashboard Click > Settings > Site Feed > Allow Blog Feeds Drop Down.


2. Choose 'Until Jump Break' and save.

Your Blogs Rss Feed will now only display a summary and any images used until the jump break.If your thinking "Paul Whats A Jump Break ?" you can get all the details here - Blogger Jump Break Read More.

A very interesting option and as far as i know Totally unique to Blogger, you can see the official post by Blogger here - Take Control of Your Site Feed.Check out more Of  The Latest Blogger News And Rss Feed Tips Here On Spice Up Your Blog.

Drop Your Comments Views And Questions Below.

Awesome New Blogger Numbered Page Navigation Gadget

Back in July i published a popular post showing you how to add a numbered page navigation gadget below your posts on Blogger.The Numbered page navigation is a must have gadget, making you blog much easier for readers to navigate and keeping them on your blog longer looking at more of your content.I'm sure you have seen page nav on many blogs, basically it's below all posts with 'Next Page' Previous Page' and numbered pages for the reader to choose from.

The script for the page navigation i published in July has since caused a lot of trouble often only working some of the time and in some cases not working at all.So i have worked at getting a new script with a much easier format that will work on all blogs all the time.I have also hosted this script myself to guarantee it wont let you down.

Adding the navigation gadget to your blog is also easier with this new script as you don't need to add a huge chunk of Css to your Blogger template.Just a small piece of code added to a html/javascript gadget and your done.So lets look at the screenshot and demo then add this great new gadget to your blog.

Screenshot



Live Demo - You can see The New Page Nav On Our Blogger Templates Site : Blogger Page Navigation Gadget

Add The New Blogger Page Navigation To Your Blog

Step 1. In your Blogger Dashboard Click > Design > Add A Gadget > Choose 'Html/Javascript' From The Pop Up Menu :







Step 2. Copy The Code Below And Paste It Into The Html/Javascript Gadget :

<a href='http://www.spiceupyourblog.com'><img alt='Best Blogger Tips' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaYqm6xBxp5E1rd4O1aT12fj-dLN-q80OAJ6XqEuhA3xy8Z9sq5bB5SLPNsaP6BSHYZWCHG3fizpfJbCqFftz-1evmQcUCbupu_I-TekVKuOM7HEggqFjkT97zU6gkD78Cm0OcDAJuLX6K/s1600/best+blogger+tips.png'/></a><style type='text/css'>.showpageArea a {text-decoration:underline;}.showpageNum a {text-decoration:none;border: 1px solid #cccccc;margin:0 3px;padding:3px;}.showpageNum a:hover {border: 1px solid #cccccc;background-color:#cccccc;}.showpagePoint {color:#333;text-decoration:none;border: 1px solid #cccccc;background: #cccccc;margin:0 3px;padding:3px;}.showpageOf {text-decoration:none;padding:3px;margin: 0 3px 0 0;}.showpage a {text-decoration:none;border: 1px solid #cccccc;padding:3px;}.showpage a:hover {text-decoration:none;}.showpageNum a:link,.showpage a:link {text-decoration:none;color:#333333;}</style><script style='text/javascript'>var pageCount=10;var displayPageNum=5;var upPageWord="Previous";var downPageWord="Next";</script><script style='text/javascript' src='http://spiceupyourblogextras.googlecode.com/files/newbloggerpagenav.js'></script>

Important - I have set the posts per page at 10 (In Red Above), you can increase or decrease this however you must match this in your Blogger settings.So once you save the gadget go to your Blogger settings > Formatting > Set the posts per page to the same as the number in your page navigation code (See Image Below).Basically if you leave the number at 10 make sure your posts per page setting is 10, if you change to 8 make sure your posts per page is 8 and so on..



Step 3. OK just to keep your design page in proper order i recommend you drag and drop the gadget below the posts section.

That's your new numbered page navigation widget in place below your posts, if your comfortable with changing the code you can change the colors used.We have lots more Blogger Widgets and Blog Design Posts for you to check out.

Drop Your Comments, Views And Questions Below.

Fixed Merry Christmas Corner Banner For Blogger

We are nicely into December now and it's time for another gadget to add some Christmas Cheer to your blog.In this post i have a stylish Merry Christmas Banner you can fix in the top right corner of your blog to greet your readers.The banner is transparent so it wont block your content and as the reader scrolls the banner followers them.A great simple way to wish your readers a Happy Christmas lets look at the demo and then add it to your blog.

Live Demo - Click to see the demo (Scroll The Page): Fixed Christmas Banner Demo

The tutorial is simple and as you just add the code to a gadget you can easily remove it after Christmas.

Add Christmas Banner To Your Blog

Step 1. In your Blogger dashboard click > Design > Add A Gadget > Choose 'Html/Javascript' :

Step 2. Copy and paste the following code into the Html/Javascript gadget :

<div style='position: fixed; top: 0%; right: 0%;'/>
<a href="http://www.spiceupyourblog.com" target="_blank"><img alt="Blog Tips" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp8kE9ex627JIJfysbt8S-LBR3pDVRY60hIh0WUGBlHtjEt4nGkMdH9nBLDyvf9adUHmlPFT-6yxhSErhMzapANL6Qu2bi5Ea5AUX92k2BYpncPBmOleABu32Mn_ouoWxrhzn3mFVdLbwm/s1600/merry+christmas+blogger+banner.gif"/></a>
</div>

Step 3. Save the gadget and you gadget is in place, Easy.

Check out our Original Blogger Snow Effect, Our Falling Christmas Objects and More Blog Gadgets.

Drop Your Comments, Views, And Questions Below.

Add Facebook Like Button To Blogger Comments

One of the features i have seen added to comments on Wordpress blogs recently is the Facebook like button.This is a quiet clever addition to the comments as the like button only takes a second to click and if a reader is leaving a comment they obviously do like or have an opinion on the post making them more likely to share your post with their facebook friends.So in this post i will show you how to add a Facebook like icon to the Comments on your Blogger Blog.Adding the Like Button to let readers Share On Facebook is easy and it actually fits perfectly above the comment form.So lets look at the Screenshot and Live demo.

Screenshot :



Live Demo - Click To See The Live Demo : Facebook Like In Comments

OK lets add this cool feature to your blog.

Add Facebook Like Button To Blogger Comments

Step 1. In your Blogger Dashboard click > Design > Edit Html > Expand Widget Templates :







Step 2. Find the following piece of code in your blogs Html : (Click Ctrl and F for a search bar to help find the code - More Info)

<data:postCommentMsg/>

Important - This code will be in your template more than once, you need to find the code wrapped in heading tags (Example - h2, h3, h4).So it will look similar to this :

<h4 id='comment-post-message'><data:postCommentMsg/></h4>

Step 3. Copy And Paste The Code Below Directly After <data:postCommentMsg/>

<a href='http://www.spiceupyourblog.com'><img alt='Best Blogger Tips' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaYqm6xBxp5E1rd4O1aT12fj-dLN-q80OAJ6XqEuhA3xy8Z9sq5bB5SLPNsaP6BSHYZWCHG3fizpfJbCqFftz-1evmQcUCbupu_I-TekVKuOM7HEggqFjkT97zU6gkD78Cm0OcDAJuLX6K/s1600/best+blogger+tips.png'/></a><br/><iframe allowTransparency='true' expr:src='&quot;http://www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?href=&quot; + data:post.url + &quot;&amp;layout=standard&amp;show_faces=false&amp;width=100&amp;action=like&amp;font=arial&amp;colorscheme=light&quot;' frameborder='0' scrolling='no' style='border:none; overflow:hidden; width:450px; height:40px;'/>

It will now look like this :

<h4 id='comment-post-message'><data:postCommentMsg/></h4><br/><a href='http://www.spiceupyourblog.com'><img alt='Best Blogger Tips' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaYqm6xBxp5E1rd4O1aT12fj-dLN-q80OAJ6XqEuhA3xy8Z9sq5bB5SLPNsaP6BSHYZWCHG3fizpfJbCqFftz-1evmQcUCbupu_I-TekVKuOM7HEggqFjkT97zU6gkD78Cm0OcDAJuLX6K/s1600/best+blogger+tips.png'/></a><iframe allowTransparency='true' expr:src='&quot;http://www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?href=&quot; + data:post.url + &quot;&amp;layout=standard&amp;show_faces=false&amp;width=100&amp;action=like&amp;font=arial&amp;colorscheme=light&quot;' frameborder='0' scrolling='no' style='border:none; overflow:hidden; width:450px; height:40px;'/>

Step 4. OK with the code in place you can save your Blogger Template and check out your comments with Facebook Like Icon Button.

You can also add a nice image in that section instead of the post a comment test - Replace post a comment with an image.Make sure to check out more of our Social Media Tips and Blog Design Posts.

Drop Your Comments, Views And Questions Below.

4 Tips for Designing A Killer Logo

Guest Post By : Sarah Wallace

When you’re starting blog, like a business there are a few foundational bricks which are vital. A niche, product or service, a name, a business model, and a plan are only a few of the many steps in the entrepreneurial marathon. But with each stride forward, there should be an eye toward long-term branding. And one of the most important aspects of building a brand is the creation of a logo. While it may not seem as though creating a tiny little image is one of the building blocks of a great blog or business, it is a small but crucial brick. When it comes to making a logo everyone’s ultimate goals will be different. But for anyone, a logo needs to be a memorable, visual encapsulation of your business. It’s a tall order for a little picture. But it’s not impossible, here are a few tips for making it happen.

Research 

The first thing you want to do is look at other logos. You wouldn’t make a pie for the first time without looking at recipes, and you shouldn’t design a logo without taking a good hard look at what you like and hate about other people’s logos. Start by reviewing the logos of some of the world’s most famous brands. What makes them so successful? Why do you think they’ve stood the test of time and helped these businesses rise to the top of their industry? Search your own market, find your future competitors and scope out their logos. Taking stock of what others have done can help you figure out what aspects you really want to incorporate and what mistakes you want to avoid. Once you have your list the fun part begins.

Use Font and Color Wisely

Selecting your colors and font styles is a crucial part of designing a logo. There are both practical and theoretical reasons to examine every choice carefully. As human beings our psyches are predisposed to respond in different ways to the various shapes and colors on the spectrum. Certain colors evoke specific emotions triggering different instincts on a primal level, and cultural and social conventions have created numerous color related cognitive connotations.

We can harness all of the powers of colors and use them to help re-enforce our messages. Red, for example can help create a sense of urgency and green is associated strongly with both money and the environment. Some colors like purple are representative of opulence but are also popular among children. This multi-faceted personality makes it a great color for both luxury items and products geared toward kids. The point is, selecting your color palate should take into account our most basic reactions to color, and capitalize on them in a way which supports our goals rather than contradicting them.

Font choice is another important decision because typeface can say as much about a company, website or blog as the words it illustrates. With an ever broadening buffet of font types available there are some distinct decisions to be made. Is the company very buttoned-up and traditionally corporate? Then the font should convey professionalism. Is the company more free-spirited and artistic? Then the typeface can be more creative and unusual. In any case, the choice of font styling should be in line with the overall essence of the company. But most importantly, it must be readable. If the font is so artistic that it becomes difficult to read it becomes counterproductive. For small companies with limited resources, sticking to something more traditional and simple to reproduce may be in their best interest.

Versatility is Key

No matter what colors and fonts you wind up choosing, the logo it self must be versatile. A logo will appear in numerous places related to your business, which means it needs to adapt to each situation seamlessly. An image should be equally effective on large and small scales. The same logo must be able to fit a 30-foot banner and a 3-inch business card. Color wise, a logo should work aesthetically with your marketing materials. But many colors don’t represent well on a website or on paper. Multi-colored logos should also work as monochromatically, for situations that call for one color or black and white. A logo should be recognizable in any form or color and should work well on paper, online or on logo products. Versatility is served well by simplicity. A design which is uncluttered will translate better across multiple channels than something which is highly detailed. It’s important to experiment and view the logo in different sizes and formats to ensure that it will look clean and memorable under any circumstances.

It Doesn’t Take an Expert…But It May not hurt.

If you are creative and have a basic understanding of any graphic design program, you can probably bang something out. Even without Adobe, there are numerous free logo creators on the web. But with only basic skills or generic free tools, you do sacrifice some degree of character and complexity. Essentially if you use the same basic elements that everyone has access too you will not wind up with the most unique of icons. Granted it’s totally possible to create something distinct, functional and even good with limited resources, but if you want something outstanding or borderline ingenious, it could be worth looking for a designer. It doesn’t have to take hundreds or thousands of dollars to have someone create a brand new logo. What it does take is someone with graphic design skills and a thorough understanding of exactly who your business is and what you want your logo to accomplish.

Not every logo will reach the iconic status of McDonalds or Nike. But not every logo needs to. What it needs to be is a well thought out, well researched and carefully designed representation of your blog. It should be something which is instantly recognizable and compelling. But above all, it should be something that speaks to the heart of who you are and what you represent.

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Author - Sarah is a writer for Quality Logo Products website offering promotional products and branded items. She has been a blogger and marketer for several years. She specializes in brand and website consulting when she is not freelance writing.

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