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Marianne Little · 08-16-2009, 03:09 AM

Hi again. I am the slow type about most things.

I've been in SL 2 years, and I see some start a blog after 1-2 months. I tend to shy away from things that look like work in SL. I have my RL job that pays my bills and let me spend money in SL when I need new shoes. (Or skins or hair or....)

So you guess that I want to start a "My style" blog. The thing is, I don't know much about blogs. I searched and read, and found a lot of free templates. That's the best way to start, no need to invent the wheel again. But it's so much to choose from, so any tips will be a great help.

English isn't my #1 language, and I write this post without editing. I have to run a spellcheck on the blog posts so I don't have to embarrass myself verbally (too much).

First of all, shall I use Blogger, Blogspot ot what? What's best for hosting many pictures?

Uploading pictures: It's best to keep the Flickr and upload from Flickr to my blog?

Design: I've decided to find a 2-column blog, with one wide column where I can post pictures to fill the whole column, and text under. Links, disclaimers, "about me" and such stuff in a thin column on the side.

I should write some about that I mix new and old stuff? If someone get grumpy because the shop was closed or the item discontinued. Good idea?

How much work should I put into the blog? Keeping updated slurls looks like a big and boring job.

It should have a search tab, if I like this and the blog gets some months old. I really like this feature in other blogs.

What do you think about background color? Black, dark grey, white? Pattern?

Comments on this would be great. Also if you who have blogs, can you say what your personal preferences was. Please?

Last, but not least: What should I call the blog?

Chantal · 08-16-2009, 03:34 AM

Years back, I had a Live Journal, and liked it: it was pretty easy to set up.

Once I discovered SL, and then SL-centred blogs, most people seemed to use blogger or Wordpress. I opted for Blogger because it seemed easier but I now cross-post some stuff to a Wordpress account that is picked up by a feed. They seem fairly similar.

I'm not geeky enough to do bells and whistles but I did manage to add a blog roll and other stuff in the margin on Blogger and it really IS easy thanks to the pre-made templates and widgets. Sure I'd love to have something more stunning but it'll have to do for the time being. Photos, I upload from my HD, not flicker. They don't have to be web-based.

As for 'when to update', that depends on what you're trying to achieve. I update my SL 'business' blog fairly regularly if I can, to get the name of the builders / designers at my place (and my place itself) known. Names... tricky. I'm a bad example as I called my blog Ari K (which is not my full SL name), and my 'business' (the sub-title) is French, so minus points for not thinking that out better!

One idea that springs to mind from your name is to call your blog "A little fashion' or something, to use a play on words with your name.

The ONLY really useful advice I feel qualified to give, though, is based on my RL job as a writer / translator / editor:

1. Make it AIRY. No walls of text. Blog readers are often skimming. Also, people like pictures (preferably sharp ones, but I am a pretty crap SL photographer

) Also, avoid massively long posts showing EVERY possible colour / version. On feeds, people see this as being a little 'greedy'. There are cuts (click here to read more). One day I'll figure those out!

2. Avoid stuff like magenta writing on pale blue backgrounds. It's tiring.

3. The spellchecker helps, particularly as you're intending to use your blog as some sort of showcase. You're not an English speaker (although your English is great), so If I were you, I'd find a tame native speaker to run through posts (yell, please - I'm offering and if you would find that useful, PM me and I'll give you an e-mail address or you can contact me inworld - Ariadne Korda).

4. Last useful thing - try to get your blogs on various feeds. This means asking the people who run them. And swapping links with other bloggers.

Good luck!

Tess Whitcroft · 08-16-2009, 03:58 AM

I just started a blog as well. I bumped into a Blogger template I liked the look of so went with Blogger. Putting in the template knocked out the gadgets I wanted to keep so I need to figure out how to get them back and I would prefer to use a font not available standard on Blogger so I will have to figure that out too.

Like I do on my posts here I will break text up beyond what would be strictly called for as paragraphs so that it will be a very easy read. I will also keep the posts on the short side and titillate with cliffhanger endings.

Tess

Marianne Little · 08-16-2009, 04:03 AM

Thank you Chantal!

So Blogger and Wordpress is pretty much the same? I see that some templates was created for Blogger. This means I can't use it in Wordpress? (Gee, I really don't know much)

To use cuts will be a lifesaver. I can twist somebody's arm in RL until they learn me how to use it.

If I get into a Fashion feed, I will have the Post Title, a Teaser Picture, and start the text, then (click here to read more) after a few sentences.

I don't plan to have a wall of text, or if I want to write more, I will have it after the pictures.

I read that a blogger got a lot of nasty comments because a bug caused her blog to jump on the top of the feeds every time somene posted a reply. I was hoping to learn as much as I could before I start to post, so I can avoid some mistakes.

"A little fashion" sounds like a great name!

I like this template: Website Template: Natural Gloom (demo) | Arcsin Web Templates

It isn't totally dark. Solid black background is a bit harsh. White background is a very clean style, but maybe too minimalistic for me. No search tab, but I like the rest.

Tess Whitcroft · 08-16-2009, 04:11 AM

I went with this one from Allblogtools

vintage paper | Blogger Templates and Tricks

They have lots of lovely templates but I have been wanting to do something steampunkish so vintage paper seemed to fit the bill.

Tess

Marianne Little · 08-16-2009, 04:26 AM

That was a lot of great templates! Thank you Tess!

Oh, I love so many different styles and designs. I need to find a template that's not all white and simple, but not a typical fixed theme. I will mostly blog clothes for humans, but I can post fantasy outfits in between.

I never thought it was so many free templates to choose from....

Morgan Genna · 08-16-2009, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marianne Little

Last, but not least: What should I call the blog?

Little Did You Know...

Misty Harley · 08-16-2009, 09:04 PM

I don't fashion blog, lord knows when I try...I fail. Remember to add slurls to the stores that you blog whenever possible. We like that *nods*

And to keep in mind...a blog is sorta like your Slavatar...you'll change it a few times until it feels more like home for you.

**Mourna Biziou** · 08-16-2009, 09:15 PM

I really recommend Wordpress very strongly. You can get a free wordpress blog now and if you decide to get your own host with more options later it is REALLY easy to migrate. The Wordpress software is really great.

A bit about feeds. Fashionplanet feed is closed to new applicants. For all appearances, the owner doesn't wish to maintain it any longer but keeps it running. And it is still the number one feed. Baffling, I know. But there are a lot of great alternatives out there and I reccomend you get on every one of them. I think Allegory Malaprop has a pretty good list of them all on her personal blog.

Also, with the talk about cuts and such, I should warn you that the feed software doesn't recognize cutaways from your blog. I really wish it did. However, if you are using Wordpress you can choose to send "summaries" to feeds rather than complete posts, and with each post you can craft a custom summary including just one teaser pic and a little bit of text or whatever.

Wordpress gives you plenty of space to upload your pics there, which is what I do. Uploading to flickr might help to get you more hits from that community, but I'm lazy.

SLurls are boring, yes. But blog readers overwhelmingly are in support of them being there. Very vocally.

An alternative for you would be to look into Fashion Slurls. This is a community project that accepts volunteers. So you can add your slurls to this central location once (if its not already there. Chances are good that it is.) and link to it with every post. Less work for you, and it really is a valuable resource for everyone.

**Mourna Biziou** · 08-16-2009, 09:23 PM

Ps: I'm really happy to hear that you're considering this. You have everything it takes to make a fashion blog I'd love to read.

**Humps** · 08-16-2009, 09:34 PM

I also recommend Wordpress. I am in the process of setting up a blog/site for the new store and initially went with a free wordpress blog. It was simplicity itself to get up and running straight away.

I decided tho to go the hosting route and buy my own domain but I stuck with wordpress. I went with just host as they were cheap with unlimited bandwidth/ storage etc and have a one click wordpress setup that was just as simple to get running as the freebie version.

The ONLY thing that made me go to a private host is with teh freebie blog you cannot edit the css or the template you choose. Well you can if you buy an upgrade but if you are gonna do that then you might has well stump up a tiny bit more and get total control imho.

I have learned that I hate CSS and I hate editing my chosen template

**Mourna Biziou** · 08-16-2009, 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Humps

The ONLY thing that made me go to a private host is with teh freebie blog you cannot edit the css or the template you choose. Well you can if you buy an upgrade but if you are gonna do that then you might has well stump up a tiny bit more and get total control imho.

That's why I upgraded as well. It was a good decision, though. I am loving all the plugins and widgets and themes and such.

Camille Serpentine · 08-16-2009, 09:49 PM

I've been using Livejournal for the last 6 years and I find it very easy to use. There are quite a few Secondlife communities on it too.

Marianne Little · 08-17-2009, 02:24 AM

Mourna, I'm kind of terrified when you say such things. First time I read Strange Pixels it was like: "WOW.... I wish I had done that".

It looks like it's going to be some work, hehe. I am a slob. Well, truth is that my computer is really working against me, and the internet connection is really slacking. I spend so much time on SL waiting for stuff to rez that it's pathetic. Sometimes a part of me will stay grey or blurred while the rest is clear.
I clear cache every day, have the advanced menu activated and use that + appearance mode a lot of times without much help. I spend all my spare time on SL, I can't take any picture worth showing.

I don't have time to edit and blog even if I should get lucky and take some pictures in the end.

The good thing is that I will get new and shiny internet connection (this autumn... but when?) and that will help a lot. Going from 1,5 Mbit/s to 10 Mbit/s, and since it is fiberoptic, they promise that the quality will not drop when more users log into internet.

New harddisk with more storage. Maybe a new graphic card if my stationary can handle it. Things will get better, but just now I feel irritated and frustrated every time I try to run SL or go through some PS tutorials. Not a good time to start learning something new. Really bad timing to start talking about a blog, since I can't follow up.

I do think about making some style cards. I was wearing an outfit for 2 days now, and I can take a pic and save it for myself with all the information written down. Even if the picture isn't so well, I have all I need to pull it out and use it as a blog start. I can make a list of slurls, all that boring paperwork that's no fun.

Thank you, It was some great input from you all here. Good to have that link to the fashion slurls page! And Morgan.... "Little did you know" sounds so tempting to choose, but I will have a hard time living up to it!

Brenda Connolly · 08-17-2009, 11:12 AM

I love that title..."Little Did You Know".....I think you should go for it.

I just started a blog on blogspot. I have no idea what to do with it, or what to add to it, it's all very new to me, I never really read blogs before. I am going take a look at everyone's now, to see what you guys are doing. If you are so inclined, a link to my humble effort is in my signature. All comments and suggestions are welcome.

Marianne Little · 08-17-2009, 12:06 PM

Hi Brenda!

I read your blog a few day ago, and I was wondering how you came up with the "look". I spend way too much time trying to find a "Original" template.

I know I'm picky. And I read a lot of blogs, and I wouldn't like to get the finger pointed at me and someone yells: "U stole my style, u bitch!" I think style blogs authors are serious ppl, lol. Thank god they can't rip virtual clothes in pieces? They can't, can they?

Back to Brenda's blog: You have put up a warning. You mean to use the blog for bondage styled pictures? You aren't tempted to switch to another template that let you post bigger pictures? I am looking for templates with 2 columns. A wide column, and a narrow column for the links and other stuff. I am sure that it's possible to post pictures that fill out the whole column too. Is this important for you? Size of pictures?

Since I have many differnt styles, I look for colors that will not clash too much with the pictures. Most style blogs use white or black background color. To make it difficult for me, I will try to avoid just those looks, and I try to find a grey or brown color scheme.

Brenda Connolly · 08-17-2009, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marianne Little

Hi Brenda!

I read your blog a few day ago, and I was wondering how you came up with the "look". I spend way too much time trying to find a "Original" template.

I know I'm picky. And I read a lot of blogs, and I wouldn't like to get the finger pointed at me and someone yells: "U stole my style, u bitch!" I think style blogs authors are serious ppl, lol. Thank god they can't rip virtual clothes in pieces? They can't, can they?

Back to Brenda's blog: You have put up a warning. You mean to use the blog for bondage styled pictures? You aren't tempted to switch to another template that let you post bigger pictures? I am looking for templates with 2 columns. A wide column, and a narrow column for the links and other stuff. I am sure that it's possible to post pictures that fill out the whole column too. Is this important for you? Size of pictures?

Since I have many differnt styles, I look for colors that will not clash too much with the pictures. Most style blogs use white or black background color. To make it difficult for me, I will try to avoid just those looks, and I try to find a grey or brown color scheme.

I just used one of the default templates that blogspot offered to get started, I mean it when I say I am a total noob at this. I flagged it as Adult because yes I expect to post adult material from time to time, but also I want people to be able to comment however they wish, and perhaps contribute as things go along. This template does allow 3 different sizes of pics...I am using the smallest right now.

Winter Ventura · 08-17-2009, 12:51 PM

I use wordpress, and it's running the entire site at Eclectic Randomness .I used to run half a dozen livejournals at one point, but now it's all in one single Wordpress blog.

The template issue is a big one, because the template really does "define" the feeling of a site. A blog is just information, but the template you choose can make that information appear more fun and frivolous, or serious business.

I'd much prefer to roll my own template, but I just don't have the stamina to do it anymore. The best I can manage these days, is some minor tweaks here and there.

**Mourna Biziou** · 08-17-2009, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marianne Little

Since I have many differnt styles, I look for colors that will not clash too much with the pictures.

That's exactly why I went with a template that has very little actual styling of its own, not even a header image. And personally I think pics looks so so much better against a black background, but I'm sure a lot of folks will differ with me on that.

Marianne Little · 08-17-2009, 01:05 PM

It is HARD to find a dark template that isn't solid black. Strange Pixels has a dark, but not compact look. I am very tempted to use black, that's true.

Brenda Connolly · 08-18-2009, 04:30 PM

I have a Blogspot question. I see how to insert a picture at the top of a post, but how do you put pics in the body of the post, between paragraphs? Do I just use regular image tags?

Marianne Little · 08-19-2009, 03:30 AM

I hope someone knows this, because I wonder too. I am sure it's possible to fill the whole column, with pictures as wide as the text.

Brenda Connolly · 08-19-2009, 07:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marianne Little

I hope someone knows this, because I wonder too. I am sure it's possible to fill the whole column, with pictures as wide as the text.

That was simple, just use large size, centered photos. The photo insertion tool only puts photos at the top of the posts. One workaround I have learned is to use tags just as on any forum:

Quote:

Another suggestion given to me was just cut and paste. I opened a second editor, and uploaded the pics there one at a time, then cut and pasted them into the post where I wanted them.

Marianne Little · 08-20-2009, 02:19 PM

Title of the blog! There's already a blog named .a little odd about SL fashion. It is a damned good blog too, I wish I could claim credit for many of those outfits, hehe.

I already know that I was way to late, since it's so many blogs. Maybe I should call it: A little late? Nah. All blog titles starting with "A little" is going to be hard to use, since it will look too much like that blog.

I don't think I can back up Little did you know. I can name it Little did I know?

Little of all?

Or just forget to use "Little" in the title. What do you think about that? If I weren't so goddamned afraid to step on some toes, this would be easier.
Maybe I don't have thick enough skin be a blogger. I see that many blogs use the same template, and no one worry a thing about that.
Bloggers post much the same stuff, even if they write that they "just discovered" shops like Zaara and League. I think I'm overcritical and put too much into it.

I think that maybe blogging isn't going to be fun for me, if I shall have all the posts thought over a billion times so I might not accidentally copy something somebody wrote 6 months ago.

I just write this down, it often helps to put things on paper and maybe get some input.

Brenda Connolly · 08-20-2009, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marianne Little

Title of the blog! There's already a blog named .a little odd about SL fashion. It is a damned good blog too, I wish I could claim credit for many of those outfits, hehe.

I already know that I was way to late, since it's so many blogs. Maybe I should call it: A little late? Nah. All blog titles starting with "A little" is going to be hard to use, since it will look too much like that blog.

I don't think I can back up Little did you know. I can name it Little did I know?

Little of all?

Or just forget to use "Little" in the title. What do you think about that? If I weren't so goddamned afraid to step on some toes, this would be easier.
Maybe I don't have thick enough skin be a blogger. I see that many blogs use the same template, and no one worry a thing about that.
Bloggers post much the same stuff, even if they write that they "just discovered" shops like Zaara and League. I think I'm overcritical and put too much into it.

I think that maybe blogging isn't going to be fun for me, if I shall have all the posts thought over a billion times so I might not accidentally copy something somebody wrote 6 months ago.

I just write this down, it often helps to put things on paper and maybe get some input.

You keep procastinating and we can call it "Chicken Little".

How about "Little Things Mean a Lot"......or "A Lot of Little"?

08-16-2009, 03:09 AM	#1 (permalink)
Marianne Little Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 546 My Mood:	Tips about setting up a blog Hi again. I am the slow type about most things. I've been in SL 2 years, and I see some start a blog after 1-2 months. I tend to shy away from things that look like work in SL. I have my RL job that pays my bills and let me spend money in SL when I need new shoes. (Or skins or hair or....) So you guess that I want to start a "My style" blog. The thing is, I don't know much about blogs. I searched and read, and found a lot of free templates. That's the best way to start, no need to invent the wheel again. But it's so much to choose from, so any tips will be a great help. English isn't my #1 language, and I write this post without editing. I have to run a spellcheck on the blog posts so I don't have to embarrass myself verbally (too much). First of all, shall I use Blogger, Blogspot ot what? What's best for hosting many pictures? Uploading pictures: It's best to keep the Flickr and upload from Flickr to my blog? Design: I've decided to find a 2-column blog, with one wide column where I can post pictures to fill the whole column, and text under. Links, disclaimers, "about me" and such stuff in a thin column on the side. I should write some about that I mix new and old stuff? If someone get grumpy because the shop was closed or the item discontinued. Good idea? How much work should I put into the blog? Keeping updated slurls looks like a big and boring job. It should have a search tab, if I like this and the blog gets some months old. I really like this feature in other blogs. What do you think about background color? Black, dark grey, white? Pattern? Comments on this would be great. Also if you who have blogs, can you say what your personal preferences was. Please? Last, but not least: What should I call the blog? __________________ My Flickr Photos "Until otherwise notified, which is unlikely to ever happen, since I'm far to lazy to go around otherwise notifing people, you shall be known as The Duchess Grand Inquisitor, Condemnor of Innocence, Writer of Bad Checks, and Destroyer of Hope, She from Whom the Very Forces of Nature Hide in Abject Terror."

08-16-2009, 03:34 AM	#2 (permalink)
Chantal Laughter is a great thing Ariadne Korda Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: France Posts: 798 My Mood: Funny Bubbles Champion! Bookworm Champion! Big Money Champion! SLShopper Ads: 4 SL Join Date: January 2007 Business: Vent du sud Blog Entries: 26	Years back, I had a Live Journal, and liked it: it was pretty easy to set up. Once I discovered SL, and then SL-centred blogs, most people seemed to use blogger or Wordpress. I opted for Blogger because it seemed easier but I now cross-post some stuff to a Wordpress account that is picked up by a feed. They seem fairly similar. I'm not geeky enough to do bells and whistles but I did manage to add a blog roll and other stuff in the margin on Blogger and it really IS easy thanks to the pre-made templates and widgets. Sure I'd love to have something more stunning but it'll have to do for the time being. Photos, I upload from my HD, not flicker. They don't have to be web-based. As for 'when to update', that depends on what you're trying to achieve. I update my SL 'business' blog fairly regularly if I can, to get the name of the builders / designers at my place (and my place itself) known. Names... tricky. I'm a bad example as I called my blog Ari K (which is not my full SL name), and my 'business' (the sub-title) is French, so minus points for not thinking that out better! One idea that springs to mind from your name is to call your blog "A little fashion' or something, to use a play on words with your name. The ONLY really useful advice I feel qualified to give, though, is based on my RL job as a writer / translator / editor: 1. Make it AIRY. No walls of text. Blog readers are often skimming. Also, people like pictures (preferably sharp ones, but I am a pretty crap SL photographer ) Also, avoid massively long posts showing EVERY possible colour / version. On feeds, people see this as being a little 'greedy'. There are cuts (click here to read more). One day I'll figure those out! 2. Avoid stuff like magenta writing on pale blue backgrounds. It's tiring. 3. The spellchecker helps, particularly as you're intending to use your blog as some sort of showcase. You're not an English speaker (although your English is great), so If I were you, I'd find a tame native speaker to run through posts (yell, please - I'm offering and if you would find that useful, PM me and I'll give you an e-mail address or you can contact me inworld - Ariadne Korda). 4. Last useful thing - try to get your blogs on various feeds. This means asking the people who run them. And swapping links with other bloggers. Good luck! __________________ Decor with a difference A great new Mediterranean setting Original, beautiful things for your home Classy fashion Contact Ariadne Korda http://slurl.com/secondlife/Graces/128/198/22

08-16-2009, 03:58 AM	#3 (permalink)
Tess Whitcroft Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 3,341 Awards: 1	I just started a blog as well. I bumped into a Blogger template I liked the look of so went with Blogger. Putting in the template knocked out the gadgets I wanted to keep so I need to figure out how to get them back and I would prefer to use a font not available standard on Blogger so I will have to figure that out too. Like I do on my posts here I will break text up beyond what would be strictly called for as paragraphs so that it will be a very easy read. I will also keep the posts on the short side and titillate with cliffhanger endings. Tess __________________ Cum catapultae proscriptae erunt tum soli proscripti catapultas habebunt

08-16-2009, 04:03 AM	#4 (permalink)
Marianne Little Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 546 My Mood:	Thank you Chantal! So Blogger and Wordpress is pretty much the same? I see that some templates was created for Blogger. This means I can't use it in Wordpress? (Gee, I really don't know much) To use cuts will be a lifesaver. I can twist somebody's arm in RL until they learn me how to use it. If I get into a Fashion feed, I will have the Post Title, a Teaser Picture, and start the text, then (click here to read more) after a few sentences. I don't plan to have a wall of text, or if I want to write more, I will have it after the pictures. I read that a blogger got a lot of nasty comments because a bug caused her blog to jump on the top of the feeds every time somene posted a reply. I was hoping to learn as much as I could before I start to post, so I can avoid some mistakes. "A little fashion" sounds like a great name! I like this template: Website Template: Natural Gloom (demo) \| Arcsin Web Templates It isn't totally dark. Solid black background is a bit harsh. White background is a very clean style, but maybe too minimalistic for me. No search tab, but I like the rest. __________________ My Flickr Photos "Until otherwise notified, which is unlikely to ever happen, since I'm far to lazy to go around otherwise notifing people, you shall be known as The Duchess Grand Inquisitor, Condemnor of Innocence, Writer of Bad Checks, and Destroyer of Hope, She from Whom the Very Forces of Nature Hide in Abject Terror."

08-16-2009, 04:11 AM	#5 (permalink)
Tess Whitcroft Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 3,341 Awards: 1	I went with this one from Allblogtools vintage paper \| Blogger Templates and Tricks They have lots of lovely templates but I have been wanting to do something steampunkish so vintage paper seemed to fit the bill. Tess __________________ Cum catapultae proscriptae erunt tum soli proscripti catapultas habebunt

08-16-2009, 04:26 AM	#6 (permalink)
Marianne Little Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 546 My Mood:	That was a lot of great templates! Thank you Tess! Oh, I love so many different styles and designs. I need to find a template that's not all white and simple, but not a typical fixed theme. I will mostly blog clothes for humans, but I can post fantasy outfits in between. I never thought it was so many free templates to choose from.... __________________ My Flickr Photos "Until otherwise notified, which is unlikely to ever happen, since I'm far to lazy to go around otherwise notifing people, you shall be known as The Duchess Grand Inquisitor, Condemnor of Innocence, Writer of Bad Checks, and Destroyer of Hope, She from Whom the Very Forces of Nature Hide in Abject Terror."

08-16-2009, 09:04 PM	#8 (permalink)
Misty Harley MS: Main Landscaping always in need of coffee Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: US Posts: 419 SL Join Date: Septemper 06' Business: MS: Main Landscaping	I don't fashion blog, lord knows when I try...I fail. Remember to add slurls to the stores that you blog whenever possible. We like that nods And to keep in mind...a blog is sorta like your Slavatar...you'll change it a few times until it feels more like home for you.

08-16-2009, 09:15 PM	#9 (permalink)
Mourna Biziou Tincture of Evil SLU Supporter M is for Mourna, who died of ennui. Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,014 My Mood: SLShopper Ads: 2	I really recommend Wordpress very strongly. You can get a free wordpress blog now and if you decide to get your own host with more options later it is REALLY easy to migrate. The Wordpress software is really great. A bit about feeds. Fashionplanet feed is closed to new applicants. For all appearances, the owner doesn't wish to maintain it any longer but keeps it running. And it is still the number one feed. Baffling, I know. But there are a lot of great alternatives out there and I reccomend you get on every one of them. I think Allegory Malaprop has a pretty good list of them all on her personal blog. Also, with the talk about cuts and such, I should warn you that the feed software doesn't recognize cutaways from your blog. I really wish it did. However, if you are using Wordpress you can choose to send "summaries" to feeds rather than complete posts, and with each post you can craft a custom summary including just one teaser pic and a little bit of text or whatever. Wordpress gives you plenty of space to upload your pics there, which is what I do. Uploading to flickr might help to get you more hits from that community, but I'm lazy. SLurls are boring, yes. But blog readers overwhelmingly are in support of them being there. Very vocally. An alternative for you would be to look into Fashion Slurls. This is a community project that accepts volunteers. So you can add your slurls to this central location once (if its not already there. Chances are good that it is.) and link to it with every post. Less work for you, and it really is a valuable resource for everyone. __________________ Mah Flickah

08-16-2009, 09:23 PM	#10 (permalink)
Mourna Biziou Tincture of Evil SLU Supporter M is for Mourna, who died of ennui. Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,014 My Mood: SLShopper Ads: 2	Ps: I'm really happy to hear that you're considering this. You have everything it takes to make a fashion blog I'd love to read. __________________ Mah Flickah

08-16-2009, 09:34 PM	#11 (permalink)
Humps Senior Member SLU Supporter I refuse to edit my status Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: UK Posts: 2,353 My Mood: SL Join Date: 19th May 2006 XBOX Leaderboard: 31^st Awards: 1	I also recommend Wordpress. I am in the process of setting up a blog/site for the new store and initially went with a free wordpress blog. It was simplicity itself to get up and running straight away. I decided tho to go the hosting route and buy my own domain but I stuck with wordpress. I went with just host as they were cheap with unlimited bandwidth/ storage etc and have a one click wordpress setup that was just as simple to get running as the freebie version. The ONLY thing that made me go to a private host is with teh freebie blog you cannot edit the css or the template you choose. Well you can if you buy an upgrade but if you are gonna do that then you might has well stump up a tiny bit more and get total control imho. I have learned that I hate CSS and I hate editing my chosen template

08-16-2009, 09:49 PM	#13 (permalink)
Camille Serpentine Reaming your prims Screwing your scripts Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 579 My Mood: Farm Hustle Champion! Fast Food Fiasco Champion! SL Join Date: October 2003 Blog Entries: 1	I've been using Livejournal for the last 6 years and I find it very easy to use. There are quite a few Secondlife communities on it too.

08-17-2009, 02:24 AM	#14 (permalink)
Marianne Little Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 546 My Mood:	Mourna, I'm kind of terrified when you say such things. First time I read Strange Pixels it was like: "WOW.... I wish I had done that". It looks like it's going to be some work, hehe. I am a slob. Well, truth is that my computer is really working against me, and the internet connection is really slacking. I spend so much time on SL waiting for stuff to rez that it's pathetic. Sometimes a part of me will stay grey or blurred while the rest is clear. I clear cache every day, have the advanced menu activated and use that + appearance mode a lot of times without much help. I spend all my spare time on SL, I can't take any picture worth showing. I don't have time to edit and blog even if I should get lucky and take some pictures in the end. The good thing is that I will get new and shiny internet connection (this autumn... but when?) and that will help a lot. Going from 1,5 Mbit/s to 10 Mbit/s, and since it is fiberoptic, they promise that the quality will not drop when more users log into internet. New harddisk with more storage. Maybe a new graphic card if my stationary can handle it. Things will get better, but just now I feel irritated and frustrated every time I try to run SL or go through some PS tutorials. Not a good time to start learning something new. Really bad timing to start talking about a blog, since I can't follow up. I do think about making some style cards. I was wearing an outfit for 2 days now, and I can take a pic and save it for myself with all the information written down. Even if the picture isn't so well, I have all I need to pull it out and use it as a blog start. I can make a list of slurls, all that boring paperwork that's no fun. Thank you, It was some great input from you all here. Good to have that link to the fashion slurls page! And Morgan.... "Little did you know" sounds so tempting to choose, but I will have a hard time living up to it! __________________ My Flickr Photos "Until otherwise notified, which is unlikely to ever happen, since I'm far to lazy to go around otherwise notifing people, you shall be known as The Duchess Grand Inquisitor, Condemnor of Innocence, Writer of Bad Checks, and Destroyer of Hope, She from Whom the Very Forces of Nature Hide in Abject Terror."

08-17-2009, 11:12 AM	#15 (permalink)
Brenda Connolly Senior Member I am THAT crazy Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 7,260 SLShopper Ads: 2 SL Join Date: Jan 9,2007	I love that title..."Little Did You Know".....I think you should go for it. I just started a blog on blogspot. I have no idea what to do with it, or what to add to it, it's all very new to me, I never really read blogs before. I am going take a look at everyone's now, to see what you guys are doing. If you are so inclined, a link to my humble effort is in my signature. All comments and suggestions are welcome. __________________ http://brenda-connolly.blogspot.com

08-17-2009, 12:06 PM	#16 (permalink)
Marianne Little Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 546 My Mood:	Hi Brenda! I read your blog a few day ago, and I was wondering how you came up with the "look". I spend way too much time trying to find a "Original" template. I know I'm picky. And I read a lot of blogs, and I wouldn't like to get the finger pointed at me and someone yells: "U stole my style, u bitch!" I think style blogs authors are serious ppl, lol. Thank god they can't rip virtual clothes in pieces? They can't, can they? Back to Brenda's blog: You have put up a warning. You mean to use the blog for bondage styled pictures? You aren't tempted to switch to another template that let you post bigger pictures? I am looking for templates with 2 columns. A wide column, and a narrow column for the links and other stuff. I am sure that it's possible to post pictures that fill out the whole column too. Is this important for you? Size of pictures? Since I have many differnt styles, I look for colors that will not clash too much with the pictures. Most style blogs use white or black background color. To make it difficult for me, I will try to avoid just those looks, and I try to find a grey or brown color scheme. __________________ My Flickr Photos "Until otherwise notified, which is unlikely to ever happen, since I'm far to lazy to go around otherwise notifing people, you shall be known as The Duchess Grand Inquisitor, Condemnor of Innocence, Writer of Bad Checks, and Destroyer of Hope, She from Whom the Very Forces of Nature Hide in Abject Terror."

08-17-2009, 12:51 PM	#18 (permalink)
Winter Ventura Eclectic Randomness Predictable Experience Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Pod Six Posts: 1,200 My Mood: SLShopper Ads: 5 SL Join Date: 7/13/2006 Business: Eclectic Randomness	I use wordpress, and it's running the entire site at Eclectic Randomness .I used to run half a dozen livejournals at one point, but now it's all in one single Wordpress blog. The template issue is a big one, because the template really does "define" the feeling of a site. A blog is just information, but the template you choose can make that information appear more fun and frivolous, or serious business. I'd much prefer to roll my own template, but I just don't have the stamina to do it anymore. The best I can manage these days, is some minor tweaks here and there. __________________ Inworld Store: http://slurl.eclectic-randomness.com Website: http://www.eclectic-randomness.com Twitter: WinterVentura

08-17-2009, 01:05 PM	#20 (permalink)
Marianne Little Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 546 My Mood:	It is HARD to find a dark template that isn't solid black. Strange Pixels has a dark, but not compact look. I am very tempted to use black, that's true. __________________ My Flickr Photos "Until otherwise notified, which is unlikely to ever happen, since I'm far to lazy to go around otherwise notifing people, you shall be known as The Duchess Grand Inquisitor, Condemnor of Innocence, Writer of Bad Checks, and Destroyer of Hope, She from Whom the Very Forces of Nature Hide in Abject Terror."

08-18-2009, 04:30 PM	#21 (permalink)
Brenda Connolly Senior Member I am THAT crazy Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 7,260 SLShopper Ads: 2 SL Join Date: Jan 9,2007	I have a Blogspot question. I see how to insert a picture at the top of a post, but how do you put pics in the body of the post, between paragraphs? Do I just use regular image tags? __________________ http://brenda-connolly.blogspot.com Last edited by Brenda Connolly; 08-18-2009 at 04:37 PM.

08-19-2009, 03:30 AM	#22 (permalink)
Marianne Little Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 546 My Mood:	I hope someone knows this, because I wonder too. I am sure it's possible to fill the whole column, with pictures as wide as the text. __________________ My Flickr Photos "Until otherwise notified, which is unlikely to ever happen, since I'm far to lazy to go around otherwise notifing people, you shall be known as The Duchess Grand Inquisitor, Condemnor of Innocence, Writer of Bad Checks, and Destroyer of Hope, She from Whom the Very Forces of Nature Hide in Abject Terror."

08-20-2009, 02:19 PM	#24 (permalink)
Marianne Little Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 546 My Mood:	Title of the blog! There's already a blog named .a little odd about SL fashion. It is a damned good blog too, I wish I could claim credit for many of those outfits, hehe. I already know that I was way to late, since it's so many blogs. Maybe I should call it: A little late? Nah. All blog titles starting with "A little" is going to be hard to use, since it will look too much like that blog. I don't think I can back up Little did you know. I can name it Little did I know? Little of all? Or just forget to use "Little" in the title. What do you think about that? If I weren't so goddamned afraid to step on some toes, this would be easier. Maybe I don't have thick enough skin be a blogger. I see that many blogs use the same template, and no one worry a thing about that. Bloggers post much the same stuff, even if they write that they "just discovered" shops like Zaara and League. I think I'm overcritical and put too much into it. I think that maybe blogging isn't going to be fun for me, if I shall have all the posts thought over a billion times so I might not accidentally copy something somebody wrote 6 months ago. I just write this down, it often helps to put things on paper and maybe get some input. __________________ My Flickr Photos "Until otherwise notified, which is unlikely to ever happen, since I'm far to lazy to go around otherwise notifing people, you shall be known as The Duchess Grand Inquisitor, Condemnor of Innocence, Writer of Bad Checks, and Destroyer of Hope, She from Whom the Very Forces of Nature Hide in Abject Terror."

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