Add Google +1 Button to Blogger

How to add Google +1 Button to Blogger

After the introduction of Google +1 button (Plus One), it has become a trend for the publishers to add it to their websites and blogs, whether it is hosted on Blogger or WordPress. So the general question that will pop up in our minds is what is so popular about this +1 button?
Well, the answer is, when you finds a web content to be useful and click Google +1 button to share it on Google+, it will not only help your friends and contacts on Google+ Circle to get to know about the interesting content but will also help them to find more relevant search results on Google.
Google +1 button
Now let us start the discussion about why you are here, that is, to add Google +1 button to Blogger posts. It can be done by two ways, first is a very simple way where you have to only enable some settings and you are ready to use it and next is the advance way where you have to edit Blogger template to include Google Plus One button.

Easy Way

If you want an easy way then Blogger has already enabled it for us, all you need is to turn on the official share buttons which includes Google +1 button. It can be found under Layout tab; click the “Edit” link under “Blog Posts” gadget, select “Show Share Buttons” and save it; but I must say that you cannot customize or can choose any other sizes.

Blogger official share buttons

Advance way

It comes handy when you are thinking to add Google +1 button within Blogger posts with a different size and/or type on your desired position manually.
Step 1: Login to Blogger and go to your blog’s Template tab.
Step 2: Click “Edit Html” and check “Expand Widget Templates”.
Step 3: Configure the the below options to generate Google +1 button code for Blogger and copy it.

Button options

Size:
Annotation:
pixels (?)
Language:

Float:
Show on:

Preview and code

<b:if cond='data:blog.pageType != &quot;static_page&quot;'>
<div style='float: none;'> <div class='g-plusone' data-size='tall' data-annotation='bubble' expr:data-href='data:post.canonicalUrl'></div> </div>
</b:if>
Step 4: Find <data:post.body/> and before or after it (or if you want you can add it in both places to show Google +1 button above and below Blogger posts) add the above code.
Step 5: Find </body> and immediately before it add the below script.
<script type="text/javascript">
  window.___gcfg = {lang: '<data:language/>', parsetags: 'onload'};

  (function() {
    var po = document.createElement('script'); po.type = 'text/javascript'; po.async = true;
    po.src = 'https://apis.google.com/js/plusone.js';
    var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(po, s);
  })();
</script>
Step 6: Save your template.

Attributions

  • Size - Google +1 button is available in four sizes.
  • Annotation - If you select ‘inline’ you will get to set the width. The default width is ‘450’ pixels while the minimum recommended is ‘120’. Only your friends’ faces will be seen if they have +1ed the post.
  • Language - It will get to your blog’s default language but you can always set it to your locale language.
Points to note:
  • I have gone with the asynchronous script in step 5. I have found out that sometime it fails to load if it’s not placed immediately above the closing body tag. If you are facing such problems then add the simple onload version instead.
    <script type="text/javascript" src="https://apis.google.com/js/plusone.js">
      {lang: '<data:language/>'}
    </script>
  • For more information, visit Google +1 button documentation page.
  • Create Google Plus page for you blog to gain more exposure.

Add Google Website Translator to Blogger


How To Add Google Website Translator to Blogger

Why use any other translate widgets with or without images of country flags when Google translator widget can translate texts of any webpage and is capable of translating to 64 different languages (and increasing) automatically and instantly to readers speaking language.
Google translator for websites can be added to any website or CMS, like WordPress, Blogger, Tumblr, etc. with ease. While the steps of adding this widget is all same but here I will mainly write about how it can be added to Blogger blogs.
Blogger has this widget, you just need to go to your blog’s Layout tab and click “Add a Gadget” link. A popup page will open, scroll down below and you will find the Google Translate gadget.
Blogger Translate Gadget
But there aren’t much options to select from to customize it, that’s why let’s add it in a different way.
Step 1: First of all you need to have a Google account. If you blog on Blogger then you already have it, all you need to do is sign in and go to Translator sign up page.
Step 2: After clicking “Add to your website now” you will be redirected to Website Info where you have to add your blog’s URL and then select that language that you primarily use to write your articles.
Translate widget settings - Website Info
Step 3: On clicking “Next” you will be redirected to Plugin Settings page where you can change the options for your translate widget.
Translate widget settings
  • Translation languages – Here you can choose to translate your page to specific languages but it’s best to select “All languages”.
  • Display mode – You can choose how you want your widget to be and look like.
  • Advanced – You can find there what are each options for and select it accordingly. “Automatically display translation banner” option is selected by default. It’s very interesting to know that Google translation API can detect the readers speaking language and according to this it will translate the texts of the webpage automatically!
Step 4: After clicking “Get code” button you will be redirected to the page where you will be provided the codes that you have to add to your blog.
Translate widget settings - Get code
So if you are with Blogger then go to Template tab of your blog, click “Edit HTML” button and find </head> snippet. Above this add the Meta tag (see the image above, it’s marked with red tick) and Save your template.
Now to display the Google translator widget you can add the snippets (marked with green tick) anywhere you want within your Blogger template. The best way is by adding a “HTML/JavaScript” Gadget on your sidebar which can be found under the Layout tab > “Add a Gadget” link.

Other Translation Widgets

Google is not the only one to provide this but there is Bing Translator for websites too. Adding it to Blogger is almost the same and easy. But you have to choose which widget you want to have for your blog.

Add Description Meta tag to Blogger

How to add Description Meta tag to Blogger

Adding Description Meta tag is one of the good SEO practices. These tags are HTML attributes which tell the search engines about the content of the page and describes it. Description tags don’t helps in ranking high within search result pages but helps in good clickthrough rates.
Many years back, search engines used to show the result snippets of these Description Meta tags but recently some search engines, like Google, shows preview snippets depending on user searches.
Google description snippet
Just like any other top CMS, like WordPress.org, blogs powered by Blogger also have the feature to add Description Meta tags to every page, you just need to enable some settings, in this tutorial let us see how.

Check for the required codes

First and foremost thing that you should do is to check for the required code which will actually add the Description Meta tags within your Blogger templates. So go to “Template” tab of your blog from the dashboard and then click “Edit HTML” button. Now find the the below code:
<b:include data='blog' name='all-head-content'/>
If the above code is there then you don’t have to add any other codes. But if you have edited and customized your templates where the above cannot be found then only add the below codes after <head>.

<b:if cond='data:blog.metaDescription != &quot;&quot;'>
  <meta expr:content='data:blog.metaDescription' name='description'/>
</b:if>

Turning the feature On

From your blog’s dashboard go to Settings > “Search Preferences” tab > Meta tags > Description > click “Edit” and select “Yes” for “Enable search description?”. Within the textarea write a brief description about your blog. This will add description Meta tag to the homepage.

Blogger SEO settings
Blogger description settings
Note: Whether you write something on the textarea or not, don’t forget to click the “Save” button, otherwise you will not be able add Meta tags to your posts.

Adding Description Meta tag to Posts and Static Pages

While writing a new post from Blogger Post Editor, find for “Search description” on right-hand side panel under Post Settings. Click it and a box will open where you can write a very brief description about your post, click Done and then if you think that your article is ready to get published, click the “Publish” button. This will add description Meta tag to your post. The same way, you can also add Meta description tags to your older posts by editing them.

Blogger posts description

How many words?

Description Meta tags should not be too long or too short. The best is if you keep it under 160 characters but above 85 characters, including spaces of course.

Invite Contributors to your Blogger Blog

How to Invite Contributors to your Blogger Blog

Blogger has added security measures to keep people from hacking into your account by detecting remote log ins. These extra steps don't occur all the time, but they do make it tougher to me to log-into your account to install your blog design. Therefore, I am asking that you invite me to be a contributor on your blog. This is a 2-step process.

1. Under your settings you will see a place to add authors. Click that and put in the email address of the person you want to invite to be a contributor on your blog. Once they accept they can post, but not edit anything on the blog. For a blog design installation, I need access to everything so please see step 2.
2. Once the person has accepted the invitation you can make them an admin by pulling down and clicking admin to the right of their email address. This gives them full access to your blog & template.

Help! My Button Copy Box Changed!


Blogger has made some recent changes to their templates & coding and it has messed up people's button copy & paste box. If you leave the widget/gadget that contains the button code alone it seems to be fine, but if you touch that widget at all (even if you open and hit cancel) the coding changes and it looks like this~
 
Code it Pretty has come up with an updated coding that works with the Blogger updates. You can find that tutorial HERE. When you open the widget/gadget make sure you copy what is there because it contains the direct link to the button.

Blogger Template Installation Guide

This tutorial will show you the way to install a blogger template for your blog.

1. Download your  template using the "Download Now" link (as a zip file).
Download Blogger Theme
2.Now unzip this zip file using a software like Winzip, WinRAR,...
Unzipped Theme Folder
3. Login to Blogger account (http://www.blogger.com/home) and click on your blog name. Click on "Template".
Click on Template
4. Now click on "Backup / Restore" button.
Click on Backup Restore Button
5. Download your current template using the "Download full template" button.  Save it to your hard drive and keep it in a safe place. Because if you face any problem with new template installation, you can upload your old template again.
Download full template
6. Now use "Choose File" button to select your new blogger template (you can find it as a .xml file inside unzipped folder in step 2). After that click on "Upload" button. Wait few seconds until upload is completed.
Browse and Select Your New Blogger Template
Now you have successfully installed your new blogger template.
7. Go to "Layout" and arrange your widgets as you like.