Following a great competition over on Barry Wells’ blog I have decided to enter my very first video blog post!
In this short video I will show you how to add an opt in box with a graphic to your sidebar on your WordPress blog using a text widget. I walk you through the steps to create the code for the widget and then position it on your blog.
So, I hope you like the video and learn something useful from it! Please leave me a comment.
Enjoy the journey.
54 Comments
Ian Ieba
August 23, 2011Twitter: IanIebablog
Hi Mandy
How are things with you?
Great post and video, The video was very clear and easy to follow, well done. 🙂
I have always wanted to know how to do this, and the tip about the html code is definitely a time saver!
Mandy could we apply these settings so that the optin box shows up after each post?
Thanks for sharing this information Mandy…
Take care, catch up soon
Ian 🙂
mandy
August 23, 2011Thanks, Ian. I don’t know about after the posts, someone’s blog I’ve read recently had a tool for that, a plugin I think. It may have been Randy Smith’s blog and there was a video showing you how to use it. I might be wrong there though. I imagine if you use the html code you can place it after a post, but you would have to do it manually each time, although I’ve never tried it so it will be trial and error. Glad you liked the video. I have a YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/learntoblog1?feature=mhee with other information videos available.
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
Adrienne
August 23, 2011Twitter: adriennesmith40
Hey Mandy,
So this is your first video blog post but I have a feeling this isn’t your first video. Very well done and very clear too Mandy. Very impressive I must say.
I love the types of videos that walk us how to do something, especially when done simply like yours. Appreciate you doing that, I enjoy learning this way.
Congrats on the post and great information.
Adrienne
mandy
August 24, 2011You’re right, Adrienne, not my first video. I have a YouTube channel with a few more on. I’ve been practising for a while, but have found I have been quite confident doing them, although some I have to re-start a couple of times, like this one. Kompozer froze completely on me and I couldn’t unfreeze it. So I switched everything off and started again. I have become adept at editing though! So glad you liked the walkthrough.
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
mandy
October 1, 2011You’re right, Adrienne, not my first video. I have a YouTube channel with a few more on. I’ve been practising for a while, but have found I have been quite confident doing them, although some I have to re-start a couple of times, like this one. Kompozer froze completely on me and I couldn’t unfreeze it. So I switched everything off and started again. I have become adept at editing though! So glad you liked the walkthrough.
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
Barry Wells
August 23, 2011Twitter: barry_wells
Hi Mandy, Fantastic post and video.
I know that many people are going to benefit from your video as you’ve given more lessons than one here.
You should create more Mandy, you’re really good at creating them and i love your voice 😉
I’ve just been over to YouTube and subscribed to your channel so I’ll know when you upload now 😉
Great work Mandy, thanks for taking part in the challenge
Respect and regards, Barry
mandy
August 24, 2011Hi Barry, thanks so much for that. I do try to add in anything else that’s relevant but I recognise that you have to know where to stop. A lot of videos I’ve watched are full of waffle and I find myself thinking ‘get to the point!’ Great challenge, I was glad to be able to enter even if it was literally the twelfth hour!
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
Dawn Kay
August 23, 2011Twitter: Dawn_Kay
Hi Mandy
And you always say your not techy, you little fibber lol.
Really enjoyed your video, your a natural and should do more of them on here.
Like the tip to put insert code here, as it saves a heck of a time looking around for it lol.
I have a request for another video plzzzzz
Can you put one of your alpacas in it?????
Fab job Mandy and I’ll see you at Randy’s meet up.
Dawn
p.s Whats the add video comment about, never seen that before
mandy
August 24, 2011Hi Dawn, thanks for visiting. The video comment – it’s a plugin that allows you to leave a video comment instead of a written one. I saw it on Brandon Connell’s blog and installed it here. And I’m really not techie, honestly! The little tip about inserting text where you want to put your code is a great timesaver. I often cannot find the exact place to stick it and the cursor doesn’t always appear to show you where. It’s a great tip, isn’t it. Ok, an Alpaca video, I’ll see about that. I’ve never uploaded a video from my camera or phone before. I’ve got a four hour trek today so might have time to do something with my phone. Watch this space!
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
Dawn Kay
August 27, 2011Twitter: Dawn_Kay
I’ll hold you to that Alpaca video and will definitely be back to see if you’ve done it lol
Take care
Dawn
p.s 4 hour walk, rather you than me
mandy
August 29, 2011Hi Dawn, it will probably be on mandyallen.com as I don’t think it fits in with the blogging theme! Ha ha ha. I’ve been videoing on my Blackberry so I’ll have to look into transfering it to the computer and making it appear! Oh no, another techie job!
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
mandy
October 1, 2011Hi Dawn, it will probably be on mandyallen.com as I don’t think it fits in with the blogging theme! Ha ha ha. I’ve been videoing on my Blackberry so I’ll have to look into transfering it to the computer and making it appear! Oh no, another techie job!
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
Jacinta D
August 24, 2011Hi Mandy,
Great video and I agree with Ian regarding the javascript tip. I have been using the raw html and yes I have had to edit it every time!
A big oops on that one!
Looking forward to more videos.
See you back here soon! 😎
Cheers
JAcinta 😀
mandy
August 24, 2011Hi Jacinta, thanks for visiting. To be honest it was your walkthrough you did for me about the payment buttons that inspired me to create walkthrough videos. It as so clear and easy to follow and I thought it was a really good way of teaching. Glad to have been of help with the code tip. It’s such a time saver.
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
Rob Corrigan
August 24, 2011Hi Mandy, a very clear and easy to follow video, you should create more of these short instruction videos
Take Care
Rob
mandy
August 25, 2011Hi Rob, thanks for visiting. Really nice of you to say that, I do hope to do more videos as time goes on, I really enjoy this part of IM.
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
Stuart Turnbull
August 24, 2011You’ve done a great job with your video, Mandy!
Very easy to follow and listen to
You’d make a great teacher!
Stuart
mandy
August 25, 2011Hi Stuart, thanks for visiting. And thanks for those comments! I guess part of me has always aspired to teaching; youth work is the closest I got to it, but I guess that was teaching in a way too. Now I’ll transfer those skills to IM.
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
Mouh
August 26, 2011Great job, Mandy! I too don’t think this is your first video. 🙂
I like the little trick “insert code here”. I often have problems when I switch back to the source in Kompozer. I use a similar trick to locate the right place. I just write my name or something else before going to the source.
Thanks again for this great video. I learned some useful things today. 🙂
Mouh
🙂
mandy
August 26, 2011It’s a great trick, isn’t it, Mouh. I was just going through all the other videos in the series and there are some really great tips on them. Sadly my headset has just packed up so I’ll have to do the rest later in the week when I’ve sorted it out. How frustrating!
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
mandy
October 1, 2011It’s a great trick, isn’t it, Mouh. I was just going through all the other videos in the series and there are some really great tips on them. Sadly my headset has just packed up so I’ll have to do the rest later in the week when I’ve sorted it out. How frustrating!
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
Julie
August 26, 2011Twitter: jmd164
Hello Mandy,
Great video, you’ve clearly explained everything very well. 😉
The scripts, java vs html – top tip. I put an opt in box on my site, decided to change it, went back to my blog with the script in copy and what do you know, it was already updated. Now I know what happened. I’d obviously copied the java script over in the first place and will do so from now on thanks to you explaining that.
Nice one Mandy and thank you.
Cheers
Julie
mandy
August 26, 2011Hi Julie, thanks for visiting. I remember being shown how to do something on a course once and the tutor never said why we had to do this action. It wasn;t until two years later that I finally grasped the reason and was able to use the teaching more effectively. Thanks for your kind comments.
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
mandy
October 1, 2011Hi Julie, thanks for visiting. I remember being shown how to do something on a course once and the tutor never said why we had to do this action. It wasn;t until two years later that I finally grasped the reason and was able to use the teaching more effectively. Thanks for your kind comments.
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
Sarah Knight
August 26, 2011I really love coming to these sort of posts I learn soooo much. Great 1st video blog and super info…..I will be back for more…
Regards
Sarah
mandy
August 26, 2011Hi Sarah, thanks for visiting. I believe in being short and succinct, that way people don’t sit and think ‘I haven’t got time for that right now’ because they never come back.
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
mandy
October 1, 2011Hi Sarah, thanks for visiting. I believe in being short and succinct, that way people don’t sit and think ‘I haven’t got time for that right now’ because they never come back.
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
Ed
August 27, 2011Hey Mandy…
Seriously good video and no disrepect to all the other contributors in Barrys video campaign but you in my opinion take the crown on the sheer quality on presentation…really the other video as well that stood out for me was Jacinta’s and Kathy’s…
I’m being deadly serious when I say if you do not start creating products with video tutorials involved then you really are crazy, people compliment me on my videos…but in all honesty they don’t come close to your delivery…excellent job Mandy…I mean that….Ed
mandy
August 29, 2011Hi Ed, great to see you here, thanks for visiting. I’m bowled over by your kind words, Ed, thanks so much for that. I really do enjoy making videos and love Camtasia for editing afterwards, it’s a brilliant package to use. My next product that I am currently working on is actually going to be mainly video tutorials, incidentally. I think there were some super info videos in the challenge, a lot of stuff I didn’t know. Helped me no end.
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
mandy
October 1, 2011Hi Ed, great to see you here, thanks for visiting. I’m bowled over by your kind words, Ed, thanks so much for that. I really do enjoy making videos and love Camtasia for editing afterwards, it’s a brilliant package to use. My next product that I am currently working on is actually going to be mainly video tutorials, incidentally. I think there were some super info videos in the challenge, a lot of stuff I didn’t know. Helped me no end.
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
Nick Lawless
August 27, 2011Hi Mandy,
I loved your video… It was concise, to the point, educational and easy to follow.
I am having trouble with my optin box so I might have to give your thing a go!
Thanks a lot
Nick
mandy
August 29, 2011Hi Nick, thanks for visiting. Glad it might be of help, give it a go and see what happens.
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
mandy
October 1, 2011Hi Nick, thanks for visiting. Glad it might be of help, give it a go and see what happens.
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
Michelle
August 28, 2011Hi Mandy,
I agree with ED the quality of the video is excellent.
I’ve yet to add my sign up form so the information couldn’t of come at a more appropriate time for me, so thank you.
Congratulations and I look forward to seeing more.
To your success
Talk soon
Michelle xxx
mandy
August 29, 2011Hi Michelle, thanks for visiting and thanks for the kind words. I do hope the tutorial helps you with your opt in.
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
mandy
October 1, 2011Hi Michelle, thanks for visiting and thanks for the kind words. I do hope the tutorial helps you with your opt in.
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
mike
August 29, 2011Hi Mandy ….
For a 1st video, Ed is right, the quality of presentation is superb…clarity, explanation, everything……..BRILLIANT…..
It a great tutorial and I`ve leant something new, especially the tip about the javascript…
Many thanks for share this with everyone…
Hopefully there are more to come…….
all the best ….
Cheers …. Mike…. 😎
mandy
August 29, 2011Hi Mike, thanks for visiting. As I said earlier I have done a few for YouTube, but never posted one on my blog before. Glad you found it helpful.
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
mandy
October 1, 2011Hi Mike, thanks for visiting. As I said earlier I have done a few for YouTube, but never posted one on my blog before. Glad you found it helpful.
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
igor Griffiths
August 29, 2011Mandy, great video
Even though we use WordPress for our blogs and sites, the basic understanding of html and java that you illustrate will allow you to create unique additions to your sites, whilst reducing your workload.
igor Griffiths
mandy
August 30, 2011Hi Igor, thanks for visiting. I hope everyone will learn something from the video.
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
mandy
October 1, 2011Hi Igor, thanks for visiting. I hope everyone will learn something from the video.
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
Craig Sowerby
August 31, 2011Hey Mandy,
Really cool clear video! Nick will like your video as he asked me to do a video to produce a quick squeeze page using Komposer.
I have another quick tip for you to add graphics to your optin forms. When you create your form using Aweber.
Click on the advanced options and add your URL of the image. Of course you need to have your image uploaded to your site.
But a nice cool way to do it using Komposer, also the java script tip was something I never knew, as would always be going back and getting the html code when making changes!
Craig
Craig
mandy
September 1, 2011Hi Craig, thanks for visiting. I didn’t know that about Aweber, thanks for sharing. Glad you learned something too.
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
Dee Ann Rice
September 1, 2011Twitter: deeannrice
Mandy,
Can’t believe that is you first video. It is great.
I have put up a lot of boxes on blogs but never did it quite that way. I like how you use the table.
I have also used tables a lot before also but not for this use.
I love watching how other people do things and make it so simple. Love getting new ideas.
Thanks
Dee Ann Rice
mandy
September 1, 2011Hi DeeAnn, thanks for visiting. It’s my first video blog post, but I have a few videos on YouTube that I practices with. Glad it was helpful.
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
mandy
October 1, 2011Hi DeeAnn, thanks for visiting. It’s my first video blog post, but I have a few videos on YouTube that I practices with. Glad it was helpful.
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
Kathy Dobson
September 9, 2011Twitter: kathydobson
Mandy…
I am still trying to catch up after returning home from vaca and I must say this is an excellent video!
I actually learned alot…I didn’t know how to use that Java script…that is brilliant!
Thank you so much for the info and keep up the great work Mandy…you are so easy to understand, follow and your voice is perfect!
Kathy
mandy
September 9, 2011Hi Kathy, thanks for visiting. Hope you had a great holiday and have returned rested and raring to go! Thanks for the kind words about the video, I was pleased to discover the Java code bit too.
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
mandy
September 13, 2011Hi Cass, thanks for visiting. Glad you found the tutorial easy to follow!
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
Sergio Felix
November 29, 2011Twitter: ITSergioFelix
Wow Mandy,
Your FIRST VIDEO ???
I thought I had started great with video creation but man… you’re SO much more advanced and talented! haha
The video was amazingly clear, super nice voice and sound and I loved that you even possibly took the time to do it at a paced time so everyone else could follow without any problems.
I think you could create some videos on how to ACTUALLY create videos, sounds fun?
Anyway, great job and looking forward to connect, will check out the rest of your videos on your YT channel.
Take care and have an amazing day! 😉
Sergio
mandy
December 2, 2011Hi Sergio, thanks for visiting. Actually it was my first blog video, I have practised a bit with YouTube videos. I like your idea about creating a video on how to create a video! Thanks for the tip.
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
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