July 24, 2008

Blogs, widgets, feeds, webcasts. With all of the new features cropping up on sites all over the Internet, we understand that it can all get a tad confusing. To make it easier for you (and ourselves!) to take advantage of the VK blog, we thought it might be helpful to take a step back and break down the basics. Here we go.

What is a blog?
Simply put, a blog (derived from “web log”) is a website with regular entries whose content can range anywhere from news commentaries to online diaries. Here at VK, we use our blog as both a messageboard to let our users know what’s new on the site and as a platform for our editors to post pattern clarifications, personal knitting progress reports, new product and yarn reviews and anything else we think you’ll find read-worthy. Every entry allows online readers like you to post comments—read on to find out how.

What is a blog reader?
You can use a blog reader (also known as an aggregator or feed reader) to subscribe to blogs or any RSS-enabled content. Some popular readers are Google Reader, My Yahoo! and Bloglines. Essentially, these applications display all of your subscribed content in one window, and as your favorite sites are updated, so is your blog reader—saving you the hassle of constantly logging on to each site to see what’s new.

How do I subscribe to the VK blog?
It’s easy! First, you need a blog reader as explained above. Most varieties are free of charge—google one, download it and install it. Then, visit the VK blog here and click on the RSS icon at the bottom of the page. When prompted to choose an application, select your blog reader and then click “Subscribe now.” Done! Now, you will receive a notification in your reader every time the VK blog has been updated.

How can I add a comment?
All of our cyber-yapping just isn’t as much fun without your participation. Here’s how to comment on a blog entry:
At the bottom of each post, you’ll see a prompt to either “log in” or “register” to post comments. Unless you have already created an account, click “register” and fill in the required information (don’t worry, there are only a couple of fields that need to be completed). Once you are logged in, go back to the blog entry to which you would like to post a comment, and you will now see “Add a new comment” at the bottom of the post. Click it and comment away!

I still don’t get it. What can I do?
Any time you have a question about the site, you can email us using our contact form. Just select “Webmaster” from the drop-down menu, and we’ll be happy to help.

Now get reading, get subscribed and get commenting, blog mavens!