creating a publication widget

There are plenty of sites out there that help you build your own widgets. In this tutorial, we'll teach you how to build one for free using a site called Widgetbox.

Like most widget-building sites, Widgetbox can help you build a widget that can then be installed on Facebook or in a Blogger blog, or a handful of other applications. For a full list, check out this webpage. Before doing this tutorial you'll have to decide what content your want your widget to feature, and where you want to install it. For this tutorial, we'll take content from a blog set up on Blogger and embed it into a Facebook account.

To do that, go to the Widgetbox 'Make a New Widget' page, and click on the fourth tab from the left called 'Blog/Feed.'

Enter your blog address, the site where you want to get content from, and click 'Continue.' You'll get a 'Processing Widget...' window.

Then you should get this screen which allows you to customize your widget. Here, you can choose how you want your widget, or feed, to appear. If you have images in your post, you can choose whether or not you want to include them in your widget by clicking or unclicking the 'include images' button. If you want to pay $3.99, you can also 'Try Pro,' which is a souped up version of Widgetbox that allows you to add tabs to your widget with content from YouTube, Flickr or Twitter.

As you decide what you want your widget to look like, you'll see it changing on the right side of the screen.

Next, choose the look and color scheme you want for your widget.

Next, name your widget so you can access it at Widgetbox later. You can add tags and a description for the widget here. If you like, upload an image of yourself, or the image you want to appear to identify your widget.

If you want to pay that $3.99, you can get 'extras.' Otherwise, you're just about finished with your widget, and ready to install it into an application.

Click 'Save Blidget' in the bottom left-hand corner of the screen. You'll have to read Widgetbox's terms and accept them, too.

You'll have to register for a Widgetbox account. Click 'Sign in,' say 'No, Thanks' to any Blidgetbox Pro screens that might pop up. Your completed widget should show up in the Widgetbox gallery.