Blog D.I.Y: Creating a Sponsor Section (on Blogger)

I recently added a sponsor section to my blog as I want to offer ad swaps to other bloggers. I figured it'd be a nice way for us all to help promote each others work. I spent most of yesterday afternoon trying to figure out how to add a decent looking sponsor section to my blog, reading tutorials and even faffing about with the CSS, but to no avail. This morning however, the solution dawned on me so I thought I'd share a very quick how to in case any of my readers have been trying to do this as well. Perhaps I can save you some time. Apologies if you are a blog whizz already, as I'm sure most of you are. I'm just learning!

How to add a sponsor / ad button section to your blog:


1. Create your ad buttons in photoshop or whatever photo editing software you have. Mine are approx 150 x 150 pixels as this is the width of my sidebar. Some blogs are different, but 150 pixels is a good starting point.


2. Upload your ad button image to photobucket. Once it's uploaded, view the image and copy the HTML code underneath the image.


3. In the page elements section of your dashboard, add the HTML/Javascript gadget to your sidebar where you want the sponsor section to appear. Label the page 'sponsors' or a relevant name of your choice.

4. Paste the html code of your ad button into the content box. Click the rich text button and you should see your image appear. Highlight the image with your mouse, then click the hyperlink button (the green circle with the chain) and paste in the url of the blog that corresponds to the ad button you have just uploaded.

5. To add additional ad buttons, repeat the process pasting the html code from Photobucket for each additional image underneath the previous one. Remember to hyperlink each button or you will just have an image that won't lead anywhere.

6. Save the gadget and position it in the desired place in your sidebar. Save your changes.

I hope this is clear, and that all my wasted time yesterday goes to some use to saving one of you some time! If you'd like to swap ads with me, just drop me an email with your ad button of no more than 150 x 150 pixels and I'll add it to my sidebar.

Oh, and one last thing...the lovely Michelle asked me to be a guest on her Great British Blogger series, you can read it on over her blog I Ripple, I Dance. Happy Friday for tomorrow!