TypePad® for Dummies®

Chapter 8. Using TypeLists and Widgets

In This Chapter

• Defining TypeLists

• Using TypeLists as navigation

• Understanding widget functions

Most blogs have sidebars (the vertical columns on the sides of your main content column), and you'll display some important information there. What you choose to put in your sidebars has an effect on your blog's readability and usefulness. Many bloggers use their sidebars as navigation — they include links to different parts of their own blog or to other Web sites or showcase extra information (maybe what they're reading for next month's book club). As you find out in this chapter, TypeLists and widgets are easy ways to populate your sidebar.

Note

As you consider whether to use TypeLists or widgets on your sidebar, it's important to note that there is a key difference in how TypePad archives them. If you remove a TypeList from your sidebar, the TypeList is still in your Library, so you can republish it to your sidebar later. If you remove a widget, it is deleted. If you decide you want to republish that widget to your sidebar, you have to reinstall it from the host site (we show you how to do that later in this chapter).

This chapter is closely related to the information in Chapter 11, which is all about using TypePad themes. The way you organize and present information in your sidebars visually affects any design you ultimately choose to implement. As you find out how to apply TypeLists and widgets, keep in mind that their ultimate aim is to make your ...