Introducing - the NEW Blogger Interface

Have you switched to the new Blogger interface yet? If you're using this menu -

you're not. But never fear - the new one is easy once you walk through the features! Just above the Language icon, click Try the updated Blogger interface.


The welcome screen will pop up and look like this:

For now, let's skip Connecting to Google+ and we'll walk through that another day :) so click No Thanks. 

Let's look at the new menu:

This lists your blog and some basic info. Click on the title of the blog, and you'll pull up the Overview screen (called the Dashboard on the old interface).

You'll see a new menu in the left sidebar. In the center, you'll notice a graph. On the right there is some statistical information. You'll want to check this out from time to time, especially as you look to grow. There are some occasional news posts about Blogger features, so you might want to check those out sometime. (You can even subscribe and read them in your inbox.)

At the top of the screen you'll find a couple of shortcuts. Place your cursor over the gray pencil icon (also called "hovering") and you'll see Create New Post. Hover over the icon to the right of it (gray pages) and you'll see View Posts.

You can also view your posts and create new ones by clicking the Posts icon in the left sidebar.

The posting window is a little different. Instead of having the Post Settings at the bottom of the window, they're in a sidebar menu on the right.

Next, let's look at your Pages menu.

If you'd added pages, which I highly recommend you do, here is where you can edit their content and rearrange them. (If you haven't added pages, it's EASY. Click HERE to learn how!)

REMEMBER - anytime you make changes to your layout, look for the orange Save button on the page or your changes will be lost. FOREVER. And that's no fun.

Now click on the Comments tab. This gives you the entire texts of all the comments and replies on your blog. You can delete any inappropriate material here, and you can also click the Spam icon to see if there's anything in that folder..

Moving along, drop down and click Layout. (I'm not getting into Stats or Earnings for several weeks. It's not that important when you're starting out and I'd rather you learn more important design and content information!)

Thank goodness they've kept this exactly the same. Add Gadgets and maneuver as you normally would.

Now click Template.

In my opinion, this is a huge improvement. If you scroll down, you'll see every different template and color option listed. In a couple of weeks I plan to go over the different templates and show you some really cool design functions. Be sure to check back for more info.

Next, click Settings.

This is pretty much the same as they old Settings tab. If you've been blogging more than a month, you might want to double-check these to see if you want to change anything, particularly with Posts and Comments.

And that's the new interface!

My thoughts: as much as I don't like change (especially since I could have to post all new screenshots), I think the new interface is easy to navigate. I haven't given it a thorough scouring, but I've used it for a couple of months and it's growing on me.

Something I don't like: the light fonts on the light background. I can't tell you how much I don't like it, but I've given that as feedback.

I also don't like the tiny window for Posting and don't care for having the post options in the right sidebar. Here is a warning: your Post window may look like this:

See that little teeny tiny orange triangle? I drew a green circle around it. It's pointing to the post settings menu (circled in red), where you add labels and set the schedule. Unless you're looking for it, you'll totally miss it.

To open the menu, click the teeny tiny orange arrow and this will appear:

I preferred the Post Settings at the bottom of the posting window because it was a visual reminder to Schedule and Label before I hit Publish. But that's a personal preference and I'm sure I'll eventually get used to that too.

One day Blogger will "flip the switch" and permanently change to the new interface, so my advice is to go ahead and start using it. BUT, if you aren't ready to make the switch, you can scroll to the top of the screen and switch back by clicking the gear icon:

Just click "Old Blogger Interface" and you'll be back.

See -- It's not so hard, is it?

I appreciate your comments and feedback - please leave yours below!