Monday, October 20, 2008

How To Create A Test Blog On Blogger Platform

Millions of bloggers use the Google's blogger platform for blogging. If you have a typical personal blog, on which you occasionally post your musings, there is no need for any test blog. However, if you are more inclined towards professional blogging, a test blog should be made. But why a test blog? Is there any need for it? Let's try to understand why we need it and how to create it correctly on blogger platform.


Blogger needs test blog
Image Credit: William A. Franklin

Why Do I Need a Test Blog?


A novice blogger may ask, "Why do I need it?". Well, the answer is very simple. You cannot afford to change the template with several modifications directly on your main blog. If something went wrong, the incoming traffic will get a garbled home page, and you may loose your potential subscribers, as well as your hard earned reputation.

How To Create It?


Creating a fresh blog on blogger is very simple. Once you have made that, converting it into a test blog is very simple. You may ask, how the test blog will be different from the main blog, or what extra configuration I need to do? To understand that, you may ask few questions to yourself. First of all, you will never want that your test blog is listed in public listing of blogger. You may never want that your test blog is spidered by search engine. You may never want that anybody else can view it except you. You may also want that your test blog does not appear in your blogger profile page. To configure all these settings follow these simple steps.

Hiding Blog From Search Engine and Blogger Public Listing

Hide Blog from search engine

1. Go to Settings tab.
2. Go to Basic sub-tab.
3. Set 'No' for Add your blog to our listings? option.
4. Set 'No' for Let search engines find your blog? option.

After configuring these settings, neither your test blog will be indexed by search engines, nor it will be displayed in public search listings of blogger blogs.

Restricting Readers From Viewing the Test Blog

Restrict Blog viewing Permissions

1. Go to Settings tab.
2. Go to Permissions sub-tab.
3. In Blog Readers section, check the Only blog authors option.

After configuring this option, no one can view your blog except you.

Removing Test Blog From Blogger Profile Page


Restrict Blog Visibility In Blogger Profile

By default, all blogs created by you are visible in your blogger profile page. You may not want that people know about your test blogs from your profile page. For hiding your test blog in profile page, follow this procedure.

1. Click Dashboard to go to your blogger main area.
2. Click Edit Profile in left side menu.
3. Click Select blogs to display.
4. Uncheck your test blog from the listing.
5. Save your blogger profile. Done.

Over To You


Do you think a test blog is needed? If not, how do you manage the modifications done on your blog?

Related Posts with Thumbnails
Want to make sure you always get the latest updates on MintBlogger.com? It's totally free! Sign up, and we'll send the articles straight to your inbox. No spam, ever. Period.

Free Updates by Email Free updates by RSS (What is RSS?)

How smart is your Theme?  How good is your support? Check out ThesisTheme for WordPress.

The Ultimate Premium Wordpress Theme

Building a website was never the same with new Thesis 1.6. The Thesis Theme for WordPress is a high-quality template system that you can use to improve your site immediately.
  • Strong SEO - Expertly-coded HTML + CSS + PHP framework makes Thesis the strongest engine to power on-site SEO. The core SEO settings are activated automatically, the moment you install thesis on your website. Just set it and forget it. Check out Thesis SEO features now!

  • Flexible Design Options - With Thesis in your hand, you don't need to hire a web-developer to design your website or blog. Thesis killer design options gives you complete control over every aspect of appearance, layout, color and typography. See Thesis Design Options now!

  • Strongest Support Community - Thesis is supported by thousands of talented users ready to help you in forums. Stack of excellent video tutorials makes it easy to understand every concept in no time. Grab Thesis 1.6 Now!
blog comments powered by Disqus