Tonight, thanks to your input, we're launching some new FOX Sports blogs features (and we've got more coming soon).
Specifically, here's what's new:
New Blog Directory. We've changed the blog directory around a bit. We've added a Tag Cloud, so you can see which topics are so hot right now, and you can easily access posts about teams you want to read about. If you prefer the old blog directory, you'll still be able to access the old-school page by clicking the "Browse All Recent Posts" links under the...
Search Box. You can now search posts by category using the new search box on the blog directory page. You can't (yet) do a full-text search, but that's in the works.
Avatars. You can now upload a picture as a virtual representative of yourself. It will show up on your blog and whenever you comment on somebody else's blog. Please keep 'em clean!
Official FOXBlog box. We're going to use the FOXBlog to provide you with updates, get more good feedback from you, and point out interesting posts in the FOX blogs world. So we thought it would make sense to devote a place for the FOX Blog on the blog directory page.
Category pages. We listened to you, and got rid of the full posts on the category pages (to see an example of a category page, here's here's the MLB page). This means that it will be easier to find good posts quicker.
That's it! Here's an example of what the page will look like (click for full-size):
Please let us know what you think, and know that there's much more on the way!
A tag cloud is a visual depiction of content categories used on FOX Sports blogs.
Categories that are more frequently used appear more orangey and in a larger font than ones that are used less frequently. The teams in each section on FOX Sports are displayed in alphabetical order, which means that you can find teams alphabetically and by popularity.
Here's what a FOX Sports tagcloud looks like:
In the above tag cloud, the Kings have been written about a ton, and the Suns, well, not so much.
This "More NFL Buzz" page shows you all the posts that have been categorized as "NFL" by every single FOX Sports blogger (currently 113 pages and counting--y'all are fanatics! Keep up the great work!)
The beauty of this is that you can find all the posts on any subject you want. Just replace "NFL" in this address...
...with "NBA", or "Tony_Parker", or "Philadelphia_Eagles", and you'll see the FOX Sports bloggers' oeuvre for that category. It makes finding stuff you are interested in much easier. Cool.
The second feature we're launching (it's a sneak peak--we're actually launching it tomorrow night) is on the FOX Sports story pages (for example, this one). In the top right part of the page, in the story tools section, there will be a link that says "Blog This". Clicking it will take you to your blog, with the FOX story you were reading all linked up, ready for your brilliant analysis. It's an easy way to join the conversation about stories you read here on FOX Sports.
With talk radio, you have to wait for the DJ to answer your call before you can share your well-reasoned opinions about what coaches have their heads way up their behinds.
With a blog, you can tell the world -- instantly.
On FOXSports.com, your blog is your space. You can voice your thoughts on anything and everything. And when you share your blog with your friends, they'll be able to read what you have to say, and even to comment back to you.
And, of course, once you start reading other blogs from other guys here at FOX Sports, you'll probably want to blog about their blogs, and share your thoughts on the teams and players that they're discussing.
If you're a registered member of Fox Sports Blogs, when you browse through other users' blogs, you'll come across an "Add to Favorites" button in the sidebar for each one. In fact, even our blog has one, over there on the right.
When you click "Add to Favorites," you'll add the blog you're reading to the list of favorite blogs that's displayed on your own Fox Sports Blog. That way, it's easy for you to find your favorite blogs again -- and you can show your readers which blogs you frequent.
RSS stands for "Really Simple Syndication." Instead of having to come back to your favorite blog every day to see whether new content has been posted for you to read, you can subscribe to a site's "RSS feed." Then, using an RSS feed reader, like FeedDemon (for Windows) or NetNewsWire (for Mac), you can find out whenever a blog has been updated, without needing to check it yourself.
Still not sure what that means? Think of a microwave. When you stick dinner in the microwave, you could come back and check the microwave every twenty seconds to see if you're food's done - but that would be ridiculous! Instead, of course, the microwave beeps to let you know when the mac and cheese is warm.
In the same way, an RSS feed reader saves you from having to constantly check your favorite blogs. Rather, your feed reader tells you when there's new content to read -- and all you do is tell it which blogs to keep track of!
Your FOX Sports blog offers an RSS feed with summaries by default, which you can change in your Blog Settings.
Categories are used to "tag" your blog posts. That way, your readers can quickly find everything you've ever said about the Philadelphia Eagles or NASCAR or Kobe Bryant. You can attach as many categories to a blog post as you'd like!
If you'd rather not tag your posts, of course, you don't have to. Categories are completely optional.
To add a category to your post, just start typing in the "Category" field. Some suggestions for what category you're after may appear as you type; you can use our predefined categories, or create new categories of your own.
