14 DAY TRIAL // Bloggers are constantly looking to attract more readers. Of course, content is almost always everything, but spicing up texts or images with some interesting gadgets can definitely increase the popularity of the majority of weblogs. After a testing period, Google has finally launched the Google Gadgets for blogs. All the fun applications that have ever been built by Google engineers or third party developers, and which are in Google's database, are available for all bloggers.
People can choose whatever application they like from the Gadgets Directory, integrated in the layout of blogs. Users who have an older version of the dashboard, which displays the "templates" button, have to update it to the "layout" button. From there, in a few easy steps, everyone can upload various applications to make their blog more interesting and useful to readers. Gadgets automatically adjust to the width of the sidebar. Their height, measured in pixels, can be adjusted to make the applications more or less prominent on the webpage, according to personal preferences.
The most imaginative users can build their own gadgets. The Google Code website has a list of tutorials especially made to teach end-users how to become "little developers." After designing a new gadget, bloggers can upload it to the iGoogle Gadget Directory and make it available to the whole blogger community.
"I'm going to start working on gadgets formatted more for blogs... and for the blogging community. Anyone have any interesting ideas you want me to help out with? Just leave comments on my blog and we'll see what develops!" comments one excited user who had already created a gadget for his webpage.
Although users have had the possibility to upload some gadgets on their blogs before, the number and diversity of these applications were rather limited. With blogging already being an interactive web 2.0 experience, the possibility to make weblogs even more appealing will probably lead to both more engaged bloggers and readers.