Followers – drink the Kool-Aid

Blogger's pushing its social-networking widget Followers: possibly because the behemoth won't be happy until it controls every facet of our online lives. This device slots into the sidebar of every new blog, in fact. Graphics-heavy, it displays teeny profile shots of your publicly declared blogfans. Empty, it's but a pitiful thing: may I suggest that y'all follow each other to experiment with both sides of this equation (you can opt out later easily enough)?

Should followers have a Blogger account, it'll show them a Reading List on the dashboard, reminding 'em to check out your latest efforts. It'll also funnel a subscription into Google Reader, if they have an account. More details here on following and also "friending".

Google insists: "The Followers widget is a great tool to help you grow your blog's audience. Readers often visit a blog and enjoy it but fail to return. Additionally you should put your followers widget at the top of your sidebar so more readers will notice it."

I disagree, at least about its placement in the prime top-right real estate. Context seems far more crucial than a visual shout-out to readers. Plus, overemphasizing followers has a whiff of desperation: "I'm good enough, smart enough and, gosh darn it, people like me!" But, increasingly, Internet users want to see and be seen. So I'd advocate a Followers widget for any ambitious blogger – it's a community building device, after all. Then experiment with its position.

To add this widget, go to Layouts>Page Elements. Click "add a gadget," then scroll down to Followers. Hit save. To kick this popularity contest to the curb, go to Layouts>Page Elements. Click "edit" under "Followers" and delete. On Page Elements, you can also drag and drop the gadget into a spot that suits your style.

Another helpful device is a subscription widget, which allows readers to sign up for emails or a digest of your posts (this can also be a handy back-up for you ... or a way to print the class lectures easily, albeit, sans images). Again, go to Layout>Page Elements, hit "add a gadget". Search for "email subscription box" and install. Drag and drop to the desired placement in the sidebar. You may also want to add the subscription device found on the front "gadget" page: this allows readers to tap into posts or comments via various aggregators.

Dynamic sidebars

A powerful way to draw readers into your material is via the sidebar, i.e; the skinny column(s) beside the main post field (review Anatomy of a Blog, if need be). Elements that give context, build community, provide revenue and highlight original content include:

• About – as noted earlier, readers respond more strongly to bloggers with authority or character. Give your audience a chance to connect with you ... or, in some cases, with your nom de plume's persona. Either way, traction = good.
• Ads – we'll delve into this week nine.
• Archive – give readers a portal to your past material.
• Blogroll – reach out to similar writers ... and help your readers connect with them too. Such "link love" can have a powerful cumulative effect, boosting SEO and Google PageRank. But more on this week six...
• Greatest hits – a list of your favorite or most popular entries provides another "point of entry" for readers into your sea of original content. Insert your posts' permalinks into a blogroll-style gadget.
• Subscription box – more on this week six.
• Syndicated content via RSS feeds (headlines, tweets, and so on) – ditto on the week six thang.
• Widgets, aka "gadgets" (embedded programlets, often interactive, like clocks, calendars, Flickr slideshows, etc.) – read on...

Adding, deleting and repositioning sidebar elements

Design-wise, the skinnier column is called a sidebar – and generally houses elements like:

• About
• Ads
• Archive
• Blogroll
• Greatest hits
• Suscription box
• Syndicated content via RSS feeds (headlines, tweets, and so on)
• Widgets, aka "gadgets" (embedded programlets – often interactive – like clocks, calendars, Flickr slideshows, etc.)

Bloggers can manipulate these elements easily without knowing a scrap of code. We'll walk you through some basic options this week.

Archiving your blog

The bottom of each page contains an "older posts" link, but will people read in a backwards and linear fashion? Not necessarily. So you need a more nimble system. Enter the Blog Archive. Different formats exist. Under "Settings," click the central blue "Archiving" link. Determine the time intervals (whatever suits your style). Enable post pages: this gives each post a unique web page and that's how peeps link to you... Now click "save settings". The archive "box" appears on that Layout page, and can be dragged and dropped into various positions.

Matching design to content

While you're deep in the guts of your blog, take a moment to consider your layout. Some questions to guide your self-critique:

1. Is the design clear, directing the eye smoothly, as opposed to cluttered?

2. How readable is the content?

3. How useful are the sidebars?

4. How will readers discover your finest content? Would a "greatest hits" link box direct them to your best samples? To create one in the sidebar, go to Layout>Add Gadget>Link List, then insert the permalink URLs.

5. How is the quality of design compared to other blogs and sites in the niche?

6. Does the color scheme suit your subject? A whole psychology of hues exists out there (red, for example, conveys intensity, from passion to anger and excitement, while blue soothes). Also, remember that reversed out text (white on black) is challenging to read on-screen.

7. Is the theme unique? Should you consider customizing the template for more distinctive branding?

8. How quickly does the blog load?

9. Does it quickly communicate to new visitors?

10. How intrusive are any ads?