2. Click “Get Started”
1. This allows you to view your blog as others see it
2. You can create a new post, edit one you have already started, or add new pages to your blog
3. If you want to add a usable website to your blog, click Link to add it in
4. Click here to add a photo to your post
5. Click here to add a video to your post
6. This is called a jump break. If you want your readers to only see a preview of you post and then have to click to read the rest, use a jump break. Add it in where you want the preview to end.
7. Edit HTML is for advanced blogging. I wouldn’t recommend touching this unless you know how to code.
8. Use labels to add tags that your readers can click on to see other similar posts. For example, this post is labeled Simple Tech Series. You can click that label and see any posts that are under that label as well.
9. If you want to schedule your post to publish at a later date, click Post Options. Then, click Schedule and type in when you want your post to be published.
The Dashboard is where you control most of your blog. Follow the numbers below to decode how each function works.
2. When you save a post, go to Edit Posts to edit it or publish it when you are ready. To view your actual blog how readers see it, click View Blog.
3. Click here to moderate your comments. You can delete comments, block commentors or just read what people have to say. You can also read comments under each post on your actual blog.
4. In the Settings tab, you can change how readers view your blog, how people leave comments, how people view your blog from a mobile phone, and many other options. If you leave your blog as is when published, it will work just fine, but if you are looking to modify things, go to Settings.
5. Design allows you to change your template or add custom HTML code. Unless you are advanced in computer language, don’t worry about custom HTML. Hire a professional or email me and I’ll see what I can help you with.
6. Monetize allows you to add advertisements to your blog through Google AdSense. Each time someone click on the add on your blog, you make money (we’re talking fractions of a penny). After a certain amount has been accumulated, you receive a check. Unless you get thousands of views a day, this option might not be all that lucrative.
7. Stats is one of my favorite features of Blogger. In Stats, you can see how many people are reading your posts, where they are reading from, what type of device and browser they are using, your most popular posts and trends over the life of your blog. These stats are fun to look at when trying to grow your blog, but they become even more important when you analyze them in order to create more meaningful content for your readers. Don’t worry about this too much if you are just writing a blog for you and close friends.
8. Click the Help option for a variety of questions. It will lead you to a forum of other Blogger users. I almost always find someone who has the same problem as me, and most of the time I find an answer as well.
Gadgets are tools that you can add to the sidebars of your blog to enhance a reader’s experience. I have a poll, Google Friend Connect, options for following me on various social media sites and other ads and things. To add a gadget:
1. Click Design on your Dashboard
2. Click Add a Gadget on the sidebar
3. A window will pop up where you can search for different gadgets
4. Some of the most popular are:
Follow By Email: Allow readers to get your blog posts by email
Followers: Allow people to follow via an RSS readers (we will go over that next week)
Slideshow: Add photos to your blog’s homepage
Finally, when you start your own blog, let me know. I would love to follow you. Next week, I will show you all about following your favorite blogs with Google Reader.

This was such a good tutorial! Very clearly written and easy to understand. I’m terrible with blogger, and I can always use any help I can get. By the way, you have really got your blog looking great!
Thanks, Brit! I’ve been putting some work into it :) Also, I tried that Italian Beef you posted, and I will be making it again :) If you ever have any questions about Blogger, let me know!
thank you for the valuable info. I started up my blog almost 3 months ago and I am having a lot of fun. I am having troubles with adding a slideshow. Could you help me please..how do we do it in details. I am having problems when I link it to my PICASA account. It is saying that my account doesnt have a public album but I am sure that I changed the album to public…would you be kind to post a detailed tutorial about this feature? many thanks in advance