Linky Codes Disappearing in your Giveaway Hop posts?!! #Blogger Tips
If you couldn't tell, I have become extremely addicted to Giveaway Hops recently and am almost exclusively participating in Hops for all of my giveaways. They are so much fun, I get to meet tons of great bloggers, and from what I can tell my readers really enjoy them!!
When I first started participating in them I had so much to learn and now I am finding that I can actually share some of the knowledge that I have to help others who are starting out. I've cohosted a couple and now I'm getting ready to host my own!!
The way a Giveaway Hop works is each blogger hosts their own giveaway on their blog, runs a giveaway entry method (my fave right now is Rafflecopter) and then encourages readers to "hop" on to the next blog on the list using a linky list. There are a few different linky list sites, but my favorite by far is Linky Tools.
When a blogger sets up a Giveaway Hop post, the most common format goes something like this:
- Event button – image that represents the Giveaway Hop
- Some "required text" or explanation about the Giveaway Hop, usually linking to the host(s), maybe a blurb about a Grand Prize or the "theme" of the Hop.
- Individual giveaway explaining what that particular blogger has for the reader.
- Instructions on how to enter, i.e. comments, Rafflecopter, etc.
- Linky list for the other participating blogs.
That sounds simple enough, right?
Well, I can't speak for Blogger/Blogspot hosted blogs, or even free WordPress.com blogs, but if you are on a Self-Hosted WordPress blog, you are likely to have a small issue. If you're like me (try to be a perfectionist) you may go back into that post several times to get the wording right or the spacing right. You may get a last minute giveaway item that you want to add in or you may have forgotten something.
If you have to switch between HTML and Visual mode – or you go back into the post after it's scheduled or posted to make edits – YOUR LINKY CODE MAY DISAPPEAR!!
You may get messages from your host or other participants saying "your linky is not in your post" and you think "but it was there the last time I looked"!!
This started happening to me right away when I joined these Giveaway Hops. Of course, I thought I was doing something wrong. So, I started snooping around a little and found this explanation from Brent at Linky Tools.
Well, that's just great!! 
So, now I was stuck with having to reenter my linky code anytime I made a mistake or wanted to fix something in a post. How frustrating is that?!! I was "hanging out" in a blogging Facebook group one day and saw some other bloggers talking about this and explaining how you have to save and then not go back in and another blogger chimed in to install a specific plugin and all of these problems will go away. What, really?!!
Dean's FCKeditor for WordPress
(no, I didn't curse just now ;))
From the Dean's website:
Um…ok…so, what does this mean? What will I need to do? How is this different? Basically, for me, my Dashboard looks a little different and there are SO MANY COOL FEATURES ADDED!!
This is what my post dashboard looks like before Dean's FCKeditor:
This is HTML mode:
This is AFTER Dean's FCKeditor:
and HTML mode:
Do you really notice a big difference in how this will affect your way of writing a post?
I didn't…except I can now choose to change my font, make it bold and change the colors easier, change the size and style, add smileys (
) and frownies (
) and things like this 
with the click of a button rather than editing code and finding CSS for specific colors I wanted.
And of course
I NEVER LOSE MY LINKY CODES ANYMORE!!
Dean's FCKeditor also makes your comment box have these same features so that your readers can make fonts and sizes and smileys as well. I actually have had an issue with the comment editor and had to disable it. I should probably play with that a little bit and see if I can't find a fix for that as well. If you know one, let me know!!
So, what are you waiting for? Go install Dean's FCKeditor and give it a try!!
*Disclaimer: There are no affiliate links in this post. This is not a sponsored post and I am not being reimbursed in any way for this. I just thought my fellow bloggers could use this information!!
OMG Thank you! You have no idea how frustrated I have been. I have been searching for a plugin and was coming up with nothing. I am so glad that you pointed this out because it is exactly what I need for my posts. I like being creative and I couldn’t easily be creative with the editing tools that were readily available.
You are a god send!
Ashley, were you able to start using it?!
No, It still won’t work. I am trying to find something else. It makes me really sad.
This is so helpful! I kept seeing everyone write about this plugin but Im so worried everytime I add a new plugin that it’ll break my code somehow. I have a huge spacing issue, my html always wants to add double spacing to each line, Im definitely going to check this out, love all the screenshot pics!
Isra recently posted..Cheap Coffee is Always a Good Thing
You know, I have that spacing issue too!! Every now and then I can get single space, but usually have to play around with the spacing to get something to look right. I also have issue with pictures. Sometimes I want to write next to the pic and WP won’t let me and other times I don’t want to and it forces me to…I should learn more about HTML, I guess..
great tips.
stopping by from ABH
Maria @ Drugstore Divas recently posted..Yogurtland: I Went Eating
I usually don’t have too much of a problem, but I usually do my whole post in the HTML screen. If I want to see how the post is going to look I just hit the preview button. Other codes like Youtube, and Rafflecopter disappear when you change screens too, so I just quit flipping back and forth. This is a cool work around though for those that don’t want to do that:-)
Linette recently posted..Kid Friendly Appetizer~ Personal Mexican Pizza
I didn’t realize that YouTube, etc. did that as well…I’m sure this would help!!
Great post Janet! Thanks for the info
Denise recently posted..Juiceman Juice Extractor Reg $130 Now $35 Shipped!
Awesome info for WP bloggers, Janet. I stumbled and tweeted!
Melissa Lawler recently posted..Build-A-Bear Workshop #FriendsCount
Thank you so much!!
I’m used to writing in code so I’m usually fine but this is good info to share. You should add it to my doc in our group with examples of how to sticky a post, etc!
Darcy recently posted..Create Special Time with Your Partner With Syncrohearts!
I’ll do that tonight!!
OMG PIMP!!!! Thanks so much for sharing this!!! That’s really cool! I always have the same problem with the linky codes so I usually add them last but when you have to go back and edit something, it gets tricky! I’m totally going to try this – RIGHT NOW! I love all the extras!
Amy @ Marvelous Mommy recently posted..Are You Wearing the Right Bra?? #Bravado
Let me know if it works great for you too…it has “changed my life” in bloggy world, that is.
I am going to be switching to WordPress soon, so this will be coming in handy. Thanks!
Ashleigh Walls recently posted..#SharetheLove Hop: Win A Valentine’s Day Package From Hallmark
This is a great tutorial! Step by step: very useful!
Olfa recently posted..Dating is crucial for your relationships
This is so cool you did that – I have been having this problem for weeks when I post for someone else on WP
Lena – @elenka29 recently posted..Losing weight at home
It took me forever to remember how to do this. I am using Love Writer now and don’t have to think about it. Much easier for me.
Lori M recently posted..5Star Urgent Responder: Review
I would love to hear more about Love Writer. I’ve been thinking about a writing program, but I don’t know much about them..
Janet-I meant to say Live Writer. LOL! The i and the o are too close together. I use it for all of my blog posts. I tend to have problems uploading pictures when I make a post in my dashboard but with Live Writer, my pictures don’t give me problems.