Adding print functionality to a Blogger blog enhances user experience, particularly for readers interested in free printable content such as recipes, craft patterns, educational worksheets, or organizational planners. When bloggers offer freebies, providing an easy way for visitors to print these resources without wasting paper or ink on irrelevant website elements is essential. The provided documentation outlines several methods to achieve this, ranging from using third-party tools like PrintFriendly to manual coding adjustments within the Blogger platform. These methods allow bloggers to cater to readers who value physical copies of digital freebies, ensuring the content remains accessible and user-friendly.
Understanding the Need for Print-Friendly Freebies
Many bloggers create and distribute free printable content to engage their audience. Whether the content is a holiday gift tag, a weekly meal planner, or a sewing pattern, the end goal is often for the reader to print the document. Standard browser printing commands often include the blog header, sidebars, footer widgets, and advertisements. This results in wasted resources and a cluttered final product.
By implementing specific print tools or buttons, bloggers can isolate the main content area. This ensures that when a reader clicks to print, they receive only the relevant freebie or the specific article text. This functionality is particularly valuable for blogs in niches such as parenting (printable chore charts), crafting (sewing templates), and education (worksheets).
Method 1: Using PrintFriendly
PrintFriendly is a third-party service that allows bloggers to add a print button to their posts. According to the documentation, this tool is compatible with Blogger, though it functions best on Classic Blogger templates and may have limitations on newer Dynamic View templates.
Installation Process
The process for adding PrintFriendly is designed to be straightforward, utilizing a widget installation tool: 1. Access the Button Page: Users navigate to the PrintFriendly button page. 2. Select Platform: The user selects "Blogger/Blogspot" as the platform. 3. Choose Style: A preferred button style is selected from available options. 4. Install Widget: Clicking the "Install Blogger Widget" button initiates the process. 5. Configure Placement: The user selects the specific blog where the button should appear. It is recommended to leave the "Title" blank to keep the interface clean. 6. Finalize: Clicking "Add Widget" places the button at the bottom of posts.
Limitations
The documentation notes that PrintFriendly may not function correctly on all Blogger templates, specifically mentioning issues with Dynamic View templates. Users are advised to check their template compatibility if the button does not appear immediately.
Method 2: Manual Coding for Custom Print Links
For bloggers who prefer greater control over the appearance and placement of the print option, manual coding is a viable alternative. This method involves editing the Blogger template HTML to insert a print link immediately following the post body.
Adding the Code
To implement this, the user must access the Edit HTML page of their Blogger dashboard. It is essential to check the box labeled "Expand Widget Templates" to locate the specific code segment responsible for displaying post content.
The target code to find is:
<p><data:post.body/></p>
Immediately after this line, the user can paste one of three code variations provided in the documentation to create a print link: 1. Simple Text Link: A basic hyperlink that triggers the browser's print dialog. 2. Button Link: A stylized button that looks clickable. 3. Icon Link: A link accompanied by a printer icon for visual emphasis.
Visibility and Functionality
Once the template is saved, these links will only appear on individual post pages (permalinks), not on the main index or archive pages. This is the desired behavior, as it limits printing to specific articles or freebies rather than entire category lists.
Method 3: External Print Services
Some bloggers may prefer to offer freebies not as embedded content but as downloadable files hosted on their media library. The documentation suggests that for WordPress users, uploading a PDF and linking to it is a standard practice. While the provided sources focus on WordPress for this specific step, the concept applies generally to Blogger as well.
Hosting the Freebie
- Create the Content: The free printable is created in a program like Photoshop or Word and saved as a PDF.
- Upload to Media: The file is uploaded to the blog's media library.
- Linking: The URL of the file is copied and added to the post content as a download link.
Using External Tools
Additionally, the documentation mentions the use of PrintFriendly as a tool for visitors to paste a URL and print the content without the blogger installing a widget. This is useful for readers who wish to print content from blogs that do not have built-in print functionality. The process involves: 1. Copying the URL of the blog post. 2. Pasting it into the PrintFriendly website. 3. The service generates a clean, print-ready version of the page.
This method relies on the reader taking initiative but serves as a backup solution for content consumption.
Best Practices for Offering Freebies
When structuring a blog to offer free printables, clarity is key. The documentation highlights the importance of notifying readers that posts are printable. By adding a clear "Print this post" link or button, bloggers set the expectation that the content is designed for physical use.
Furthermore, ensuring that the print function only captures the necessary content prevents frustration. The manual coding method specifically targets the post body, stripping away sidebars and headers. This is superior to the standard browser print command, which often requires the user to manually deselect headers and footers in the print preview settings.
For those utilizing third-party plugins (as mentioned in the WordPress context), the ability to customize print buttons via shortcodes or blocks allows for strategic placement—such as placing a print button immediately above a recipe card or a pattern diagram.
Conclusion
Implementing print functionality on a Blogger blog is a strategic move for content creators offering freebies. It bridges the gap between digital content and the user's desire for physical copies. The available methods range from simple third-party widgets like PrintFriendly to more technical manual HTML edits. Each method aims to streamline the printing process, ensuring that readers can easily obtain clean, waste-free copies of valuable free printable content. By selecting the appropriate method based on technical skill and template compatibility, bloggers can significantly enhance the utility of their free offerings.