FaceBook

FaceBook is actually easier to use than Blogger. It is a lean site set up only for social networking and not designed after the diary. It is very easy to use because of this. If you want to pimp up your site, you will find it more difficult to do. You will notice that other sites are usually "plain Jane."

A note about a quirk in FaceBook is that to get to your wall (where public messages are displayed) you need to click on your name on the top right side of the page. After all the setup is done the wall will come up each time you enter FaceBook.  Also note that they are sending you email that you should read. (If you do not know how to get your email, try Mail2Web. You will need your address and password.)

You will begin to receive emails asking you to be a friend. My suggestion is to decline them, unless you know them. ( The teenager love to have hundreds of "friends")

If you belong to a group, be sure you friend them. 

FaceBook Help is very complete so we will not spend so much time in class on building our page, Rather, we will network with each other since this is what FaceBook is all about.

For those who desire to fancy up their page, I can make suggestions or you can Google your questions. Information about FaceBook is plentiful.

FaceBook Worm Warning

This will not effect us now. It could as you enter feeds on your FaceBook and should serve as a warning.
http://mashable.com/2009/09/25/warning-facebook-worm-spreading-via-news-feed/

FaceBook Widget and Applications

http://www.facebook.com/facebook-widgets/ is like Blogger widgets. There are only Two.

Some very interesting applications and other things to create interest. Fun.
http://www.fbkit.com/

Creating Events

Blog on using Events. Invite people to participate in your event.

Try Causes to Help a Cause or Create a New One

Causes is a way of contributing to or starting a new cause.
 

Getting help on FaceBook for Causes.

Inroduction to FaceBook

FaceBook has become a phenomenon. Please read the Atlantic article.
FaceBook article on FaceBook.
NYT article on FaceBook.

Make the Title of Your Blog Look More Interesting!

You can put a picture into the title rectangle of your blog.

Go to customize, then the Page Elements page.   Click on the small Edit in the lower right hand corner of the Header box.   When the next screen comes up, you have the choice of selecting an image from the web or from your computer.   From your computer, you can just browse and click on the location of the image, but it appears that you have to type in the URL if you're using an image from the web.  I couldn't get a copy and paste to work....   The image should show up on the page.

Be sure to click on the instruction to put the picture behind the title, so  you can still read the title, and also click on Shrink to Fit, so the picture squeezes into the space of the header.

Voila!  You have a personalized header!

Photo Buffs Try Splashr and Photoshow

Splashr takes the photos you have on Flikr and makes a great presentation.

You may like Photoshow better. Why not check them both out?

I will have more on this later, if anyone requests it. You can follow the instructions yourself if you are a photo buff or are considering a commercial or a site for a cause.

This could be a class or group project by making a show about Senior College.

Sidewiki

Sidewiki is valuable if you wish to interact with certain websites, wish to cut/paste material from the web, and/or have multiple blogs.

"Google Sidewiki is a browser sidebar that enables you to contribute and read helpful information alongside any web page. It is available as a feature in Google Toolbar.
To get started, simply download the latest version of Google Toolbar and enable the Sidewiki button in the Toolbar Options menu. Learn more about enabling Sidewiki. "

Some Thoughts

Have you looked at the suggested list of SN sites for ones that serve your purposes?

Have you tried Yahoo groups(e.g. Portland groups), Grandparents groups, or Craigslist forums to find people with similar interests?

Do you think the class should undertake a class project?

I would like to do a video of the class doing a skit or something. Any ideas?

If you have suggestions for the class please lets hear them. Our purposes are to become familiar with social networking and create our personal space on the web.

Checking Backlinks

Wanto know who linked to your blog? Use Back Links: Back links help

Monetize or Add Ads

Personally, I do not like these. If you only have a few people viewing you blog it is not worth it. If your blog gets hundreds of viwers you might want to consider it. Monetize is one of the tabs and more info is in MONETIZE.

Using Labels

You can indes you posts by topic using LABELS. For instance, if you want to find all of your
posts about Maine you will be able to if you put Maine in the Label box of each post. For more information: LABELS.

Souping up Your Blog

Here are some more advanced things you might want to add to your blog. They require a bit more work and use other sites.

Tagboards, Guest Books, Smilies and Emoticon, Recieve Voice messages via your blog and Post Messages via your blog.

Putting Sound on Blogger

Blogger does not offer sound and getting it is not easy, but it can be done. Follow this HELP.

Publish your Book

Check out Blurb if you want to compile your image materials into a book inexpensively.

On-Line Editor Pixlr

Pixlr can be used as a free Photoshop substitute. Plus it is free, fast, and online. There are add-ons for Firefox if you use a lot of images.

Adding an Image Using New Editor

Adding an image from your computer:

Follow same steps as in old Editor except be sure to click on the picture that appears in the window.

Adding an image from the web:

For now, it is easier to to go to settings and select the old Editor and then upload the image.

If you do need an image from the web, work around it by uploading the image to your computer:
Right click on selected image.
Select Save Image as...
Type in a meaningful file name.
Save.
Go to New Post.
Click on image and download the image from your computer

GOOGLE-411

I know this is not a Blogger item, but it is rather neat.
GOOGLE-411 is a free service to get information about local businesses using your phone.

What is BlogThis!

What is BlogThis! ? - Blogger Help

Go to site and add this to your toolbar so you can blog without getting your blog.
Obviously, if you want this feature, you will need to do it on your own computer.

Adding a Video to Your Blog

Sample video from computer.

Sample film: Star

First make sure toolbar has film icon.
If it is not there, you have selected the new editor. For this class go to Settings and under Global Settings select old editor.

Click on film icon.
For uploading your own videos, browse to where I you have filed your videos.
Add a title.
Agree to terms.
Click on Upload Video.
Wait!
Publish Post.

For getting films from Youtube or other websites, use this url: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcMeXCpRIUA

Adding a Picture (old Editor)

Most times you will add picture from your "My Pictures" on you computer or from a photo site you have subscribed to such as Picassa or Flikr.

To add a picture from your computer:
Go to New Post.
Click on the picture icon in the toolbar.
Go to Brouse.
Select your picture.
Choosea Lout and Image Size.
Click Upload.
Your image should appear.
Click Done


To Add a Picture from the Web.
We will get a picture from my Picassa Web Album.
Select a picture
Copy its url by right clicking on the image.
Click Properties.
Copy the URL
Return to Blogger Post
Paste the url into the box.
Select the Location and Size
Click Done.
The picture should show.

Pictures added to your blog should be fairly small or else they will take forever to load and in some cases be rejected if too large. Irfanview will resize pictures and make sure they are in JPG or TIFF format as will Picasa and some other programs.

Graphics and photos can be edit using the free program GIMP.

The New Post Tool Bar

Note that this is a fairly complete word processor. Try it out with a post.
WOW !!!!! GOOD www.google.com

Blogger Mobile

If you have a cell phone with a built-in camera, you can post pictures and text using Blogger Mobile. (I do not have a camera phone.) First send a picture from your cell phone to: go@blogger.com. They will text message you back a claim token. Then, on your computer go to: http://www.blogger.com/mobile-start.g  Enter your claim token. You will have the choice of a complete new "Moblog" or making entries in your blog.

I suggest you read the instructions carefully and then sign up at home.

Using Mail-to-Blogger

I am posting an entry using my mail program. It will post the entry and send me an email message that it has posted successfully.The directions are on Mail-to-Blogger.

Again, this is best done on your own computer at home.

Getting a Gadget

Go to new Posts
Go to Layout
Click Add a Gadget
Find gadget and click
Follow instructions
Preview