New Look for the Indiepublic Blog Ring

New Year, New Look! Just wanted to give the Indiepublic Blog Ring blog.

Don't forget to visit the our wonderful member blogs to check out what they have going on!

Hello from the New Ringmaster

Thanks Brandi for entrusting me with continuing the keep this blog ring alive. I know that we will continue to grow.

Good News!

Good news, Bloggers! M.H. of Haute Innovations (http://www.hauteinnovation.com, Indiepublic profile: http://www.indiepublic.com/profile/HauteLady) has offered to take over the Blog Ring. A few others have offered to help as well, so if you're interested in volunteering your time, go ahead and contact her.

Thank you!
Brandi

Welcome to the Indiepublic Blog Ring!

About the Ring:

This blog ring was created so that members of indiepublic could show support for the site and each other while we network and promote our love of indie art and design.



How a Blog Ring Works:

A blog ring is a (hopefully!) continually growing circle, with a small banner or code connecting each individual blog to the next in the line. The great thing about blog rings is that they are easy - you sign up for one, become approved, and paste the code on your blog. Then you are instantly hooked into a community that shares your interests and allows you to network. It also helps to give your blog, and essentially you, more exposure online.

Our blog ring is powered by Ring Surf, and you are connected to two blogs via the code - one through the "previous" link and one through the "next" link. Your blog is also listed on the Ring Surf homepage for our blog ring, and right here in our blogroll.



Join the Ring:

Want to join? Here are a few guidelines to go by:

1.) First, please make sure that you're a member of indiepublic.com. It's a free networking site devoted to independent art and design... and it's growing exponentially every day.

2.) Have a blog that you use for your business, your art, or artsy lifestyle. The blog doesn't have to be on indiepublic, nor does it have to be completely devoted to indiepublic, just as long as it relates to art and design in some way (such as your Etsy business).

3.) Click here to join.

4.) A page with the ring's code will appear after your submission is completed. Go ahead and post the code right away. Paste the it in a visible spot on your sidebar menu - make sure it's somewhere static. This is for two reasons: We want the code to be visible to your visitors at all times, regardless of which page of your blog they are on; and I found out that the ring won't let me approve you if it can't find the code on your blog. Bottom line: if it's not visible, I literally cannot approve your submission.



Etc:

Please give me up to a few days to approve your submission. I don't intend for it to take that long, but I'm wearing many hats (like so many other people out there!) and do need to sleep every so often. :) Plus, sometimes life intervenes into my best laid plans, and I can't help it when that happens.

Even though the code pops up right after you submit your blog, it isn't active right away. I manually have to approve every submission before the code on your blog will work, so it's really important to make sure that code is on your blog. I try to get as many done at one time, but my computer likes to throw tantrums and Ring Surf tends to run slow, so if there's a gap in time between your submission and it being approved, that's why. I've been posting a comment on each blog to let you know that the code is active and you're now fully linked into the ring.

Any questions? Just let me know! Welcome aboard!

Adding the Code

Having problems adding the code? No problem.


For WordPress:

1) Once you're signed into your blog, click the Presentation tab, then choose the Widgets option.

2) Drag the Text box up to your sidebar, then paste the code into it. If you'd like the code centered, then put <.center.> (without the periods) right before the code.

3) Move the new Text box wherever you'd like it on the sidebar, then click Save.



For Blogger:

1) Once you're signed into Blogger, go to the Template Tab. Make sure you're under the Page Elements subcategory.

2) Click Add a Page Element and choose the HTML/Javascript Option.

3) A window will pop up. Paste the code into the box. If you'd like it centered, type in <.center.> (without the periods) before the code.

4) Move the HTML box wherever you want it on your sidebar, then click Save.



I applied a while ago, but I still don't seem to be a member:

As soon as your submission is accepted, the blog roll on the right is updated, too. If you don't see your blog there, your submission is still pending because your blog doesn't have the code. I've either tried emailing you or leaving a comment on your blog about it, but it's an easy fix. Just add the code (let me know if you need it again or if you need help adding it), and I can approve you.