Simple MySpace Layouts

What's happening with BlogRush?

2007-09-27T23:02:00.000-07:00

Since its launch about 10 days ago there has been a lot of discussion everywhere about this new service for bloggers.

We all like to get as many readers as possible and BlogRush promises more visitors for everyone.

Some think it is a scam and only a few people will benefit from it. I have noticed it has brought me a few new readers already. And since the blogs listed are similar to the one you were reading I think it is great for the reader as well.

There seem to be some start up problems (bugs) and apparently some people are trying to abuse the system for hard commercial reasons. But I have great confidence in the people like John Reese who are backing this project.

Have a look for yourself at www.blogrush.com,

Stan

Don't buy this book ...

2007-09-22T04:22:00.000-07:00

... just yet!

I bought this interesting book some time ago to find out what you can do with MySpace. Having a lot of screenshots makes it a lot easier to follow a tutorial. You don't have to think or try to imagine what it is they are writing about. In fact it's the next best thing to a friend showing you how to do it, or watching a video.

Now why not buy MySpace Visual Quick Tips just yet?

Well MySpace has been updating it's site layout since the book has been published so some of the menu's and actions have changed a bit. Not much fun if you try to follow along with the book and the screenshots don't match.

It's probably best to wait for the updated edition (2007) to come out first.

Hope you found this useful,

Stan

Install MySpace layout code

2007-09-10T12:52:00.001-07:00

I am going to login to MySpace and make sure I am on the home page. The layout code I have downloaded last time is sitting and waiting in my text editor. You can click the images to enlarge them.

Click Edit Profile and you arrive on the Profile Edit page.

In the About Me box there is a part with personal information and some old code I have been testing. I copy it and save it in a text file first! If the new layout fails, I will have a backup remember...

Then I delete the old code. Never mix different layouts unless you know what you are doing, like after having read the excellent book Hacking Myspace by John Pospisil, which is easier than the name suggests by the way.

Now I copy the code I have kept in my text editor.

I don't try the preview. It has been known to create errors. So I save straight away.

Just to confirm I'm human there is a security check.

So the profile is updated and it's time to have a look.

Looks good to me!

Now I better put some more information about myself in there. Even add some music and video's.

Good luck with your MySpace layouts,

Stan

Download MySpace layout code

2007-09-08T12:55:00.001-07:00

I have mentioned Iron Spider before (maybe I should start asking them for money...). This is the site where I will get a nice layout to install in my MySpace profile. You can click the images to enlarge them.

On the home page go to the ADVANCED button on the top left. This will change the left menu a bit. Scroll down until you see MySpace.

Hover above Free MySpace Layouts and the menu opens to the right. Select Free Original Myspace Layouts.

I like Original MySpace Layouts 01 (the one with the clouds) and I check the preview. Looks good to me.

I click in the code window to select the code and hey, a message box opens.

I have the option to buy the layout so there won't be any advertising tag in it (left top corner) but I will take the free layout for now.

So the code lights up in blue and I can copy it (Cmd-C on Mac / Ctl-C on PC).

Just to pretend I am smart I open my TextEdit (Mac) or Notepad(PC) and paste in the code (Cmd-V on Mac / Ctl-V on PC). I save it and keep my layout in a text file, ready to be installed as a simple MySpace Layout .

Finding simple MySpace layouts

2007-09-03T02:03:00.000-07:00

Problem

Have you tried Googling 'simple myspace layouts' too?

I did and I got about 2.2 million pages. So I started at the top hoping to find simple layouts and easy tutorials. Turned out most of the sites offer intimidating lists of categories mixed with spammy ads.

Solution

Hopefully not too far down the ranking you may have stumbled upon my blog. Great! I want to make it easier for everyone to find and install simple MySpace layouts. Maybe later we will learn how to tweak them ourselves.

I have spent hours browsing and searching and the bad news is, if you want a free layout you will have to wade through some ads. But there are some acceptable sites.

Suggestions (I have no affiliation with any of these sites)

Code My Layout
The home page shows thumbnails of the most popular layouts and the left sidebar has a good selection of categories to pick from.

Iron Spider
This is mostly an educational site but ... there are some great free layouts here! They come with a small tag which can be removed for a small fee.

Next time I will show you how to download these simple MySpace layouts and install them.

Don't miss it! Subscribe ...

Stan

Before we do anything else ...

2007-08-27T03:10:00.000-07:00

How many times has it happened to me? I work on a text file or a photo and after some time it's a mess. Better get the old version back.

What old version? There must be one hanging around somewhere on my harddrive right? I did make a backup of the originals, didn't I? Guess what, I am in trouble ...

The same could happen once we personalise our MySpace layout. The About Me box we will change contains private data and maybe some older layout code.

Before replacing it I would recommend selecting everything inside this box, copying it and pasting it in a text file you save somewhere on your harddrive.

If something goes wrong with the new layout we can put the old version back. No sweat!

Stan

Where to enter MySpace layout code?

2007-08-24T02:01:00.000-07:00

Before searching for new MySpace layouts I will quickly show you where you will enter the layout code into your profile.

I have logged in on MySpace and I am on the home page. Now I click Edit Profile.

Here you see the About Me box where you will enter the code, preferably after any text you have put in there about yourself.

Soon we will look for a simple MySpace layout to make my page look nice.

Stan

Three ways to change your MySpace layout

2007-08-21T23:15:00.000-07:00

The MySpace interface

I can assume you have already registered for a MyMpace account. As you have noticed when you first register it has a very simple layout with a set of fields that contains all your information. Not very nice ...

To make your profile stand out from the crowd there are different things you can change:

add images
change colors and text styles
change the position of fields

Three ways to 'pimp your profile'

You can build everything from the ground up, which requires some knowledge of HTML and CSS. Maybe that is not the first thing you are looking for in this blog about simple MySpace layouts. Really interesting information can be found in the book Hacking MySpace by John Pospisil.

The second method is using a MySpace layout generator. You select items and the program delivers the code. I will show you later on how and where to install this code in your MySpace profile.

Finally a lot of sites offer nice profiles to pick from. You can browse hundreds of themes that often have great pictures too. Some sites offer free profiles, others ask for payment.

Which way to start?

Prebuilt profiles are the easiest way to go and I will start with them. This is the quickest way to change your simple MySpace layout into something cooler !

Stan

Starting simple MySpace layouts

2007-08-19T03:44:00.000-07:00

Hi,

Welcome to my blog about simple MySpace layouts.

Some people do amazing things with their MySpace profiles. Support and tutorials for tweaking your profile are very limited on myspace.com and it is quite challenging for people who are not familiar with coding for the web.

I have been reading about it a lot lately and I would like to help everyone and show you how it is done. Keep an eye on this place!

Stan