Now that most of you have become somewhat comfortable creating a blog post here, I’ll share some helpful hints and tips every once in a while so you get the most bang for the buck in blogging. The posts will be shared here and also on the “How to Update Blog” page.
Aaawww! Just how doggone cute was Seamus as a puppy???
When I first started blogging on ArtFire, a majority of people still used their PCs to read online articles / buy items. But now, as most of you know, there is a huge uptick of cell phone and tablet use to browse / buy on the internet. I don’t know about you, but when I browse on my phone, the print and pictures are pretty small, even when I enlarge it. Plus I oftentimes have “fumble fingers” when trying to click on a link. That’s where having clickable pictures on your blog post is very important. I’ve read several articles that say a majority of people would rather click on an item photo than on a link, even when they are on a PC. I know I do! I always include both a clickable link and a clickable photo on my posts. And . . . I do sometimes get annoyed when an item photo isn’t clickable and have to go searching for a link. One of my mottos is to try to make it easy as I can for potential customers to find their way into my shop.
Some of you have clickable photos back to the item in your shop. And some of you don’t. So I want to share how to make your photos clickable on Blogger if you decide you want to do that.
After adding your item photo(s) when working on your blog:
1. Copy the item URL in your shop.
2. Click on the photo in the blog. It will look shaded.
3. Look at the blog dashboard. The link icon will be shaded. Click on it to "unshade" it.
4. Click on the photo again to shade it.
5. Click on the link icon again and a dialog box will show up. Paste the item URL and click "OK"
The photo should be clickable when you share the post.
I hope this helps.
By the way, the pic of Seamus as a puppy isn’t clickable (I just wanted to share how adorable he was as a puppy - besides, he's NOT for sale) but the item photo is clickable.
Thank you for this helpful information Catherine. I can never decide if I should make my photos clickable or not. I was afraid it would somehow either be annoying to the customer or be too much "technology" for the post (for lack of a better way to say that), so this is good information indeed!
ReplyDeleteSeamus was adorable as a pup!
Glad you found the information helpful, Sharon!
DeleteThank you, Catherine. I use the HTML tab not the compose tab to link my photos. Seamus was a cute puppy. How old was he there.
ReplyDeleteCathy, I don't see in your posts how your photos click back to your shop . . . Might be something I'm missing? Seamus was about 10 weeks old in that photo. That is one of the first pics I took of him on the day we brought him home from the Humane Society.
DeleteThanks for the info. I think I got it.
ReplyDeleteClicked your photos and they took me to your pendant, Jo (:
DeleteThanks, Catherine. The "link button" directions worked for the first image in my last post (chaplet), but completely threw off the layout of the second photo. So I added the link via html instead, and had no layout problems.
ReplyDeleteIf anyone is interested, here's a link to directions for the html method.
http://www.cliveeaton.com/linkimagesinblogger.html
Seamus was such a cutie ... and still is! That little face is sublimely beautiful.
Thanks for the link, Mary. I went cross eyed reading it since I hardly ever mess with html - and am scared every time I do (so try not to). But others might understand it / use it (:
DeleteYeah, Seamus is such a cutie - then and now! Thanks!
Oops, sorry. I've no idea how to make the link active in comments. lol.
ReplyDeleteAlso, the "link button" method threw off the second photo because Blogger kept wanting to insert the new URL as a visible link as well as connect it to the photo. It was the visible link, inserted after the photo, that threw off the layout.
The option for a visible link is given in the pop-up box. I kept clearing that option, but Blogger simply ignored my actions. Why it did that goes in the big bin of Blogger mysteries I've encountered over the years. :)
Maybe because the photo was smaller with blog text to the side? Have never had problems with Blogger doing just a simple post: photo, text, photo, text, etc. Boring, maybe, but it has always worked for me. Might try something like yours and see if the Blogger gods like it. LOL!
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI think it was one of Blogger's "disconnects." It wasn't following directions. What would have happened had the photo been in the center was likely the visable URL popping up under the photo.
ReplyDeleteHaving a photo flush left with a text wrap is not a complex thing. You just insert and size the photo smaller and position it to the left (using the options you get when you click on the photo in compose; or you can use html if you want.) The text will flow through the space to the right. Of course, who knows? Maybe to Blogger that's complex.
I think blogger likes you because you post pictures of Seamus and he's so cute. :)
Yeah, think the Blogger gods really like the Moose Dog so they give me a break - LOL!
DeleteThank you very much Catherine. I am so hoping I will get to posting soon.
ReplyDeleteI hope so too, Kathy!
DeleteSweet Seamus! Also, I know this is picky, but when you do the link, there is a way to go to an advanced screen where you can make the link open in a new window. It makes it easy for folks to keep their place here and go there at the same time.
ReplyDeleteGood point, Julie. Will leave that for another day.
DeleteI mentioned this at some point in one of the comment threads.
DeleteBecause most members don't set up the "open new window" command, I've been using my keyboard's control button when opening links, to pop a new window. For me, sharing is much faster that way.
However, the person who posts can select this option (for a link to open in a new window) when creating the live link. You simply check off the box for it. So it's pretty easy.
When I do the links for social media, I'll type the name of the site - for instance, Pinterest. Then I highlight the name, choose the button to add a link, and in the pop-up window (where you add the URL for linking), check-mark the box for directing the link to open a new window. Once you check-mark that box, it should stay checked. (At least mine does.)
That way, the next time you do a link, the box will already be checked, and the link will open a new window.
Hope that helps, Julie!
Thanks, Mary. Since you posted all that here maybe you can do a blog post about it? Not sure that many people check back. A post would be more visual. Or I'll be glad to do it giving you and Julie credit for bringing this up.
DeleteThis is a busy weekend for me, Catherine, so I'm not sure I'll get to it. And Monday, John has his surgical procedure. But I'd be happy to do a post sometime next week if that's okay. Treats to Sir Moose! :)
ReplyDeleteNo hurry, Mary! I know it's busy for you. Just whenever you get around to it.
Delete