Mishmash Monday: Contact Button and a Contest!!

Changing up the schedule this week. Since I have my blog chain post on Wednesday, I won't be doing my regular WTW post. So today I thought I'd do kind of a combo post. Writing and techie stuff--two of my favorite things. Aren't you excited? ;) I'll try to keep it short.

And I guess, technically, this isn't directly related to writing, but if you're looking to get published someday, it's something to think about.

After this post from Meredith Barnes, assistant to the sharkly--and possible mind reader--Janet Reid, I realized that since I changed my layout, I no longer had a contact button on my blog. Sure, you can get to my email through my Blogger profile, but according to Meredith,

"IT SHOULD BE PROMINENTLY DISPLAYED ON YOUR WEBSITE!!!!!"

Now, I don't expect to be contacted anytime soon (or ever) but it couldn't hurt. And if my email is accessible, you all can email me about WTW stuff if you have questions or features you want covered. Or whatever you want to email me about. :)

These directions are for Blogger, since that's what I'm familiar with.

Adding a contact button is pretty simple. First, upload the image you want to use to the image hosting site of your choice--Photobucket.com, Flickr.com, etc.--and copy the direct link code for the image.

Under the Design tab then Page Elements in Blogger, click on Add a Gadget and select HTML/JavaScript. Copy and paste this code into the box.

<a href=mailto:youremail@youremail.com>
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4LhWVsfv2Uw8GgASuHIWK6ohdwWNApfrrtOWIvcSu7cEyyW_IspfsmDlfrHJz1SgYFN_psSyNrM4JraI2mjhFuPOrjBDoIENcFNUACkNae0Fl-dPqLcf9VluIN3kQ6hyGU0OCXaz9YRc/s1600/contact-me-2.png"/></a>

Make sure you update the links to show your email address and your image. Also, you have the option to add a title to the gadget, if you want, but it's not necessary. Then, just click SAVE, move the gadget to where you want it in your layout, and you're done. Easy, right?

The code above is for this image, which I'm happy to share. :)

But, since you guys are so awesome, I'm having a little contest.

The prize: A custom made button for your blog!

I can tailor it to match your blog, use an image or font of your choice, or whatever you want. I am limited by my Photoshop, since I don't have a full program (PS Elements 7--I want CS5 so bad), and everything I know is self-taught from years of fiddling with the program, but if you're the winner, I'll do my best to give you exactly what you want.

To enter, you must be a follower:

• +1 Leave a comment on this post
• +2 Current follower
• +1 New follower
• +5 Blog about it
• +2 Tweet @abbyannis Win a custom-made contact button for your blog! http://bit.ly/dOo9wd
• +2 Facebook
• +2 Sidebar
• +1 for adding it all up for me :)

Open internationally. Contest ends Saturday, March 12th at midnight PST. Winner will be announced Monday, March 14th, at which time I will also be announcing the HUGE CONTEST (books, books, books) I've been planning for a while. Be sure to check back for that.

So, what do you all think? Is having an easily accessible email important?