Wednesday 25 January 2012

New Year, new blog features: let me explain them!

Hello Lovelies! I'm so ticked to have found some fellow cartophiles among you ☺. I'm really looking forward to making 'Mad about maps' an ongoing series of posts. I have so many pretties and ideas stashed away to share with you! Anyway, back to some little changes I've made here which I intended to explain to you before life got in the way. With the new year dawning, I had the urge to *freshen things up here* a little. Isn't it funny how the turning over of a calendar page incites us to all sorts of action?! Okay, let's go!

I've changed my pages tabs up the top 
  • After a suggestion from my blogging buddy, sweet Felicity, I deleted the 'PB Housekeeping' page and added the information to my 'Planet Baby 101' page. Now that can be your 'go to' page when you're first reading the blog. 
    • I've updated my 'More about me' page - do have a peek! My aim for 2012 is to write more of the posts which have been rattling around in my brain for ages - especially the ones about my other interests and passions. By the end of the year, I'd love to have hyperlinks to posts on everything I've listed there under 'What makes my heart sing'. I really want this space to truly represent many more facets of me and also discover even more of you who are like-minded!
    • I've kept the 'Blogging tips' page which I update with links to any such posts I write. Tell me - do any of you read them or use them? I'm wondering whether it's still serving a useful purpose.
    When I have some time, headspace and money (to employ Planet Baby's Honorary Magician, Katrina, to work her wonders), I hope to add further pages.

    I've spruced up my sidebar

    'Let's connect!'
    Under 'Let's connect!', you now have four options for contacting me and following the blog. Now you can click on:
    • the envelope icon to email me;
    • the RSS icon to subscribe to follow the blog via a reader;
    • the Feedburner icon to have my posts emailed to you instead of following them in a reader; and 
    • the Pinterest icon to see my pretty pins (yes, I know - I'm a sucker for alliteration ☺).
    At this stage, I haven't connected my Facebook and Twitter accounts to my blog as I'm deciding whether that's what I really want. I'm going to post on the issue of my *digital identity* soon so you can read my thoughts.

    'Planet Baby topics'

    Under 'Planet Baby topics', I've reduced the number of labels in the 'word cloud' as I thought there were too many and it was cluttered. I may eventually reorder all my labels under a handful of broader topic areas.

    Let me know what you think about this. Do any of you use these labels to find any of my posts? Or do you just ignore this box? I'm all ears - please let me know. I want to make this little spot in Blogland easily navigable.

    I've deleted the 'Older Planet Baby tales' archive widget as I thought it was doubling up on the 'Planet Baby topics' widget.

    'Read my daily PB newsletter!'

    I've added the 'Read my daily PB newsletter!' widget. This is a flash idea I discovered other blogging friends like A-M publishing on Twitter and thought I'd give it a try.

    The paper.li website is so easy to use and collates blog posts from my favourite blogs into a daily newspaper, 'The Life on Planet Baby Daily' for you to flick through if it takes your fancy. Then you can see what blogs fire up my grey matter and give me pleasure. Do let me know if any of you have clicked onto it and read it. I'd love to hear any feedback.

    I've changed my commenting system

    This is the most important change which so many of you have noticed. I've switched over from Blogger to Commentluv which I am really enjoying using. However, I'm aware some of you are having trouble even seeing it, let alone using it.

    When I have some spare time, I'll try to troubleshoot your issues and then post on how it works. If it's causing too many of you problems commenting on my posts, then I'll revert back to Old Boy Blogger. I want all you Planetarians to be able to join in as much as you'd like and not feel shut out by a commenting system. We're all in this together - okay?

    So, there you have it. I'm also mulling over whether to change my blog banner to freshen things up a bit but I am rather attached to those gumboots. Your thoughts? Do share - I'd love to hear!
    Photobucket
    PS Ah, the irony! Just as I was trumpeting the fabulousness of CommentLuv, somehow overnight, its comment box has vanished from my blog as some of you have seen. I've emailed their Help Desk so hopefully will get it back up and running ASAP. Until then, at least you have Old Boy Blogger's assistance!

    16 comments:

    1. Jane, you are all over it! I'm so lazy and don't have any if these features, too tricky for my brain and my computer! I'm happy to see a comment box now, not sure what changed that, in fact it looks like blogger? Must chat to you about linking my email. In fact we must catch up! Soon? X
      Ps loved the maps :)

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    2. Hi Jane great info as usual. A suggestion, if you change the banner keep the boots in some way. I really like them and they represent the pixies do well.

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    3. I've been looking at the comment luv system. I'm contemplating it for my blog because it would be so much easier to reply to questions...Your blog looks much more streamlined. Looking good! xx

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    4. Lookin good :)

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    5. Yay, there's a comment box :)
      Looking good Jane. Please keep the blogging tips as I have used them a few times now and know I'll have to refer to them in the future too.
      If there is something on a blog I want to refer back to I will often use the word cloud labels, just makes it easier than scrolling through all pages.
      xx

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    6. congrats on the new look- I do love a good organise!

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    7. Thank goodness, I thought I may have been the only one not able to comment! :) Your ideas are all great Jane and I for one like your blogging tips. As for labels, I don't tend to go to them all that often on blogs I read regularly but if I stumble upon a new blog, I will often click on the labels I'm interested in to get a feel for a blog. I'm hoping to give my blog a bit of a spruce up some time soon when I get a chance too :)

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    8. Good on you! I want to do some updating on my blog so I will be looking with interest! I also have another really cool vintage map project I did last year to share, I just love them too! X

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    9. I'm looking forward to hearing more about your social media identity! x

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    10. [Emailed by Julienne]

      Jane, I loved your changes. I'm an old Mum and my babes have flown the nest but I still find a great deal to enjoy on your blog and am indeed an avid reader!

      Did you mean to disable comments from the new post?!!!!!

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    11. Jane, I'm here and I can see you!!! Please keep the Tips, I find it very useful.
      Your new home looks gorgeous, and now I can tell you.
      Lisa xx

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    12. Thanks so much for your feedback, ladies - most appreciated!

      @Sarah Sure - give me a call.

      @Deb Thanks for that idea. I'm working on it, although the pixies are very attached to the current banner!

      @Anita Thanks, Lovely. CommentLuv is fabulous. The Help Desk man has hopefully fixed my problem so it should work on my next post - fingers crossed!

      @Tammi I'm pleased you're finding them useful - it's great to know they are serving a purpose.

      @Jen and @FF Thanks, Lovelies - too kind!

      @Amanda Pace yourself, Sweetie - you have a lot on your plate at the moment ☺.

      @Tiff Ooh, I can't wait to see it!

      @Bron I bet you are, given your last post, my friend.

      @Julienne Thanks and no, I hadn't intended to disable CommentLuv on this post. Apparently Blogger did that...

      @Lisa You are a darling - thankyou. J x

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    13. Typical, as i tell you i'm having issues, it's all gone back to Blogger & likes me again, sigh, love Posie

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    14. @Jennie Oh Sweetheart, I'm working on it! J x

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    15. Yes, Jane, PLEASE keep your blogging tips going! I love that you use simple and easy (and common sense) language!

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    16. @Belinda Thanks for the encouragement, Gorgeous! J x

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    Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts, you gorgeous soul. You've just made my day! J x

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