How to add UNEASYsilence to your blog

What you’ll need:
A weblog. This tutorial will work for all Blogger, WordPress, and Moveable Type users. (If you have access to the html template for you weblog, it will also work for you.)

The RSS feed for the weblog/site you wish to syndicate. Since we’re using UNEASYsilence the RSS feed is: http://www.uneasysilence.com/blog.xml

What you need to do:

The build page will consist of a simple web-based form for you to complete. Remember those cut ‘n paste requirements? Paste the UNEASYsilence feed where is says ‘Enter the web address of the RSS Feed’. The rest of parameters are pretty easy to understand. Use the comments here to ask for additional help filling out the form. To keep the tutorial short I’ll post a screenshot of the settings used for the example weblog hosted on Blogger.

In the screenshot above I specified that the full UNEASYsilence title with description be displayed; that the 5 most recent posts be limited to 100 characters; that posts remain text-based without the original posting date; and that a new window be opened if readers were to follow a link.

For a quick preview use the ‘Preview the Feed’ button or click ‘Generate Javascript’. The following screen will present you with a text box. The text box contains the Javascript that you will want to copy and paste into your weblog template.

The next step is pasting the Javascript into you HTML template. Depending on how your blog is hosted, you will need to access your template via FTP or through a web interface. For Blogger users, login to your account and navigate to the ‘Template’ tab.

A blogroll is generally located in the sidebar of a weblog. Blogger does a great job of keeping it’s interface simple and easy to understand. WordPress and Moveable Type users will find an equally simple template to navigate as well. In the HTML template, navigate towards the bottom of the page. You’ll usually see notation signifiying what each section of the template corresponds to on the weblog. Look for tags similar to these:

Blogger users look for this:

WordPress & Moveable Type users look for:

Where you decide to paste the Javascript will depend on your own personal preferences. In the example weblog, I decided to place the blogroll directly underneath the ‘Links’ section. Before saving the changes, I made sure to keep the template consistent.

Once you’re pleased with the the blogroll location, ‘Save Template Changes’ and check your weblog for it’s new addition. If you’re unhappy with its location in your sidebar, cut ‘n paste the code into a different area of your template until you’re content.

To see the the whole Blogger page complete with blogroll, click here.