Let's Talk About Blogger and Pinterest Questions and Issues

     I have a few questions/problems that I haven't been able to answer with Google. When it doubt...ask other bloggers if they can help. If you have a question or problem, feel free to post it in the comments and maybe someone can help you.

1. I am no longer able to copy and paste HTML codes into my blog design. I can copy from another site, but when I open the Add Gadget-HTML in blogger, when I try to paste the code, it won't paste. It doesn't matter if I'm trying to change my background or trying to add a "follow me on Pinterest" link, it doesn't work. What's up with that??

2. I keep seeing discussion about changes coming to way we have or get followers in the near future. I can't find a good explanation of what is actually happening. Are we going to still be able to click the follow button on a blog to follow it? Will we still have the followers we have now? Do we have to link our blogs to our Facebook accounts? If so, why? I don't want to lose the list of blogs that I follow...so, I'm trying to decide if we need to make a written list of the blog websites we follow.

3. Is there a way to find out how many times our most read posts have been read since we posted them. I have a counter that tells me daily, weekly etc. view numbers...but, I'm curious as to how many views a couple posts have gotten over time and I don't know where to look for the info.

4. I am new to Pinterest. Many of my fellow bloggers have been using it for a while. I evidently joined through Facebook and when I go to my Pinterest settings and try to upload a different picture than my Facebook image...I am unable to do so. The only way I can change my Pinterest photo seems to be by changing my photo on Facebook...that seems very strange to me. I would prefer to have my blog photo on Pinterest and my personal photo on Facebook...help?

5. If we want to give someone a link to our Pinterest page so they can follow us...is that link simply http://www.pinterest.com/whatever our user name is/

6. I like being able to support other bloggers by "pinning" things I love from their blogs to Pinterest. I would think this would bring more traffic to their blogs or our own blogs. I have yet to figure out how to get people to follow me on Pinterest or if it is even important to have followers there...thoughts?

A Winner, A Question and A Prayer Request

     I want to thank everyone who entered my CSN giveaway. The winner of the $55 gift code was Sharon, who doesn't appear to have a blog or any info listed except her email. Therefore I can't tell you a thing about her or send you to her blog. Congrats to Sharon.

     I noticed during this giveaway that several people said they were new followers by Google Friend Connect. What I also noticed was that my list of followers did not go up at the same rate that people said they were following. Several of those people do not appear in my list of followers. So...the question is, if someone follows by Google Friend Connect, should they show up in you followers list or are they following and we have no way to tell?

     Prayer request: While we were in Florida, we got a  phone call that my mother-in-law had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Now we all know that this isn't good and considering that my mother has only been gone a few months...this has shocked our family. Once again it was a very unexpected diagnosis. She will be starting chemo soon. Surgery was an option, one that we hoped she would consider, but she opted not to do it. A combination of chemo and possible radiation seem to be the decision she felt comfortable with. My father-in-law isn't able to live alone and she has been taking care of him in many ways...so this is a real concern on how to help them through this time. Prayers for both of them would be greatly appreciated.

     My dad just left. I am behind in every possible way around here. We all got through Christmas and actually enjoyed it. My dad did a great job shopping even without my mom...she would be so proud of him. It is time to regroup and get things organized around here. I also look forward to getting back to reading all of your wonderful blogs. I've missed you!

Let's Talk Blogging...Q & A

     I started my blog the end of August. I had no idea what I was doing, or the best way to do it. The one thing I decided that would be the most important to me was to actually build friendships and create my own little space in Blogland. I've been truly blessed to have that happen and I found myself really missing my blog community over the holidays.

     I still find myself with questions about blogging and no one to ask. I realize there is a help forum, but that isn't always effective as some questions just aren't "the norm". So, I thought I'd try an experiment today. I'll start with a few questions I have, if you have answers...please share them in the comments. If you have questions...leave those in the comments as well and maybe someone will be able to help answer your question.

1. I use the updated blogger editor and I can't find spellcheck. Is there one?

2. How do I add my email address to my blog page (not just on my profile page)?

3. Just how much higher is shipping out of the U.S. I'm getting very close to my 100th post giveaway. I notice many people limit shipping to the states only. Some of my favorite people live in Australia, England, Canada...is it really going to cost me a fortune to send them something?

4. I've seen a few people offer discount codes for candles and other products. How does that happen? Do companies approach some of the more successful blogs and ask to be sponsors...or do bloggers approach companies? What about the giveaways from other companies. I've seen blogs where someone will say they are giving away something from "whatever" website...did the website approach them or vice versa?

5. Blogging for fun or profit? I am blogging for fun, but I notice there are many blogs with ads on them. I had Google Ads for the first few weeks, but they closed my account. Upon appeal I was told my account "poses a significant risk to our advertisers". How that is possible considering my blog is about cooking, decorating and basic living is beyond me. Anyway, there is nothing I can do about it...so, the question is, what now? I've tried another ad company and the ads aren't interesting at all. I tried Amazon Associates, which I thought was fun and looked great on the blog page...but no one was inspired to shop. While I certainly don't plan on making money blogging, it would be great to make enough to pay for some of those dishes I've been buying for Tablescape Thursday! However, I don't want anything on my blog that would clutter it up or turn off readers...because the visits from all of you are the most important thing about blogging.

Let's Discuss!