Would you like to add images to articles you post at BlogHer? Or in your own blog? If it seems like a big technical stumbling block to you, I'm going to suggest some ways you can make it easier.

There are several options.

- Use the blog posting icon for uploading images, but insert the URL of the image from some other location. You can't store images at BlogHer.
- Other locations might include your own web site or a site where you've uploaded an image.

- Post the photo on a photo sharing site like Flickr or Snapfish. Use the sharing tools on that site to gather the information to add the image to your BlogHer post.

Which is easiest? I think putting the image on a photo sharing site is. Here's why.

Once the image is posted at Flickr (or some other photosharing site) you can link to it from anywhere—your own blog, BlogHer, or your own domain. Let's go through it step by step, so you can see what you have to do on BlogHer to make the magic happen. I'll use Flickr in these examples, because that's where I keep my photos. The process for other photo sharing sites will be a little different, but you should be able to find a URL or some HTML code that you'll use on BlogHer.

I'm going to skip over the signing up with Flickr and using their upload tools to get your photos online. Let's just say that's done. Find the photo you want to use in your post at BlogHer. Above your photo you see a small "all sizes" button. Click it.

Pick the size you want. For BlogHer, small or medium will work.

Scroll down below the image in the size you've chosen. Flickr gives you two ways to link to your own photos. Both involve HTML that you just copy off the web page. The first method is the image with a link. The second is just the URL. On Flickr, you only see these options for your own photos. You can't do this with just anybody's photos unless they have licensed their photos for anyone to use.

I like the first method best, because it contains a link back to Flickr. But it involves a few extra steps on BlogHer. I'll explain more complicated way first, then I'll explain the simpler system using just the URL. I'm saving the best for last.

Here are the steps if you choose to copy the HTML in the top box, which includes a link back to Flickr. You have the copied code on your clipboard, so you're ready to move to BlogHer.

This code has to be entered at BlogHer using an option that accepts HTML. On BlogHer, you'll need to disable rich text to enter the code properly. Just under the big form field where you enter the body of your post, there's a link that says "disable rich text" (or "enable rich text" if it's disabled). To get BlogHer to accept the code and show the image, you need to disable rich text.

Paste the code you copied into the appropriate spot in your post. Finish writing the post. Preview it to make sure it worked the way you want. Then submit.

Are you used to Wordpress? On Wordpress, you can switch back and forth between Visual and HTML as you write. You can switch over to HTML, paste in the image code, and then switch back to visual to keep writing. You can't do that with BlogHer, you have to stick with disabled rich text for the whole post. That may change the way the links back to your own blog work. If you enter a URL in a post using disabled rich text on BlogHer, the URL will automatically be a link. Without rich text editing, the link icon and other tools normally above the body form field will be gone. Instead of typing the blog name, selecting the link icon, and inserting the URL to make a link with a clickable word, you use actual URLs. If you know how to write a link in HTML, great. Do it that way.

Working with rich text disabled may cause you a major migraine. If you really want those icons that help you create links and do other tricks that you can do when rich text is enabled, you can use rich text and still add images. You are limited to adding images with only the URL. So, it's easier, but limits you a bit.

Earlier, I mentioned putting the image on your own domain and linking to it there. Get the image URL. Check to be sure you have the right URL by pasting it in the browsers location bar. You shouldn't see anything but the image. For example, this URL is to an image at my domain: http://vdebolt.com/blogher/iTunesCoverFlow.jpg. Or you can use the second method shown for Flickr (Grab the photo's URL). Another option is to get the photo URL on Snapfish, Shutterfly or some other photo sharing site. No matter where the image is, get the URL and head for BlogHer with that information.

Work with rich text enabled when you enter the blog post.

With rich text enabled, as you are entering your blog post you see an icon of a tree above the form field box where the post is entered. Click the tree icon to enter an image in a post. In the box that opens, paste in the URL of the image. Put some text in the image description box, too, to explain what the image is in case it doesn't show up.

You've got image.

More Resources:

- How the hell do I add a background image?
- Adding visual images to your wordpress.com blog
- Blogging Tips
- Blog Coach
- An Introduction to Using Images on Blogs

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Virginia DeBolt
BlogHer Technology Contributing Editor
Web Teacher
First 50 Words