Tools for Blogger

Since installing and modifying my new template, I have a new-found confidence in my ability as a CSS programmer. So I started trolling the net for new ideas and sample scripts for improving my Blogger site. I found quite a few. As I play with these tools over the next while I'll offer more substantial reviews that might be useful to other Blogger-based bloggers out there - but until then, let me leave you with a few useful sites: 1. Blogger Templates. Not surprisingly, this is a site where you can find quite a few templates. Seems to be quite a popular little spot - there are over 500 delicious bookmarks on it. Mostly two-column templates, with prominent graphics. 2. NOIPO.ORG also has some elegant looking templates. I was quite taken with the British Museum template. Again, these are two column templates notable for their graphic design. 3. Freshblog is full of elaborate hacks for adding functionality to blogger - such as utilizing delicious tagging as a round about way to establishing categories in blogger - a sorely missed feature. Its a nice idea, and I'll probably try this one sometime soon. 4. BloggerHacks is has a couple great additions to blogger down as javaScript. Included are a replacement for the blogger comment system, complete with a form that allows the user to comment with name, email, and url without being logged into blogger, and a script for displaying recent comments in the sidebar. Very nicely done. The complete commented script is provided for inclusion into your templates. Let me know your results if you try using any of the tips or tools you find here - and I'll do the same. Tags: nptech, blogging, tools