So you’ve decided to start a blog. You’ve got something to say, people who will listen and the web as your slate. All of the initial work is out the way: you’ve chosen and registered a domain name, you’ve found a hosting company with a reasonably priced plan and, ideally, secure shell access. The research on AdSense is complete; you’ve eagerly signed up so you can not only say what you want to say but make some extra cash while saying it. The chair is comfortable, the coffee is hot and you are ready to go!

Your browser of choice is Firefox. When I started using Firefox a few years ago, I wasn’t sure it was going to work for me. Granted, it was fast, but I’d been running Internet Explorer and was spoiled by the inclusive functionality of the browser. But once I discovered the myriads of Firefox extensions I was able to create a multi-functional and versatile platform more personalized than I ever had with IE. Extensions can add a variety of different features to your browser, customizing it for your specific needs. It’s a few simple steps to add them to Firefox; go to the Tools / Extensions / Get More Extensions menu. The question is: which extensions to install? Which extensions will make your job easier? Which extensions will be most beneficial to you, the new Blogger?

There are some Firefox add-ons that are beneficial, perhaps even essential, for any user, Blogger or not. One such crucial extension is Adblock Plus. It’s a must for any web user easily annoyed by ads, (a group which includes me and pretty much everyone I know). It’s simple to add new terms, wildcards, and URL’s to Adblock Plus. Users can also specify regular expressions and types of files as well as using a handy right click function to make ads vanish. The same easily annoyed users would also benefit from installing Download Status bar. If you’ve ever used Firefox you’ve probably had the unwieldy download manager window get in your way when you’re working.

This extension relegates the download status to the Firefox status bar so it’s no longer in your way.If you’re into shortcuts a nice little time saving extension is Mouse Gestures. While it’s not an optimal extension for people who have the nervous habit of moving the mouse while browsing it’s a nice tool that will execute common commands using mouse gestures instead of the keyboard. It’s customizable (you can create and store your own unique gestures), has a bookmark function and a sidebar with drawings showing you how to make each gesture.

In discussing time-saving tools, I’d be remiss in not mentioning the Ook? Video Ook! extension. Worth using for its name alone, Ook? Video Ook! permits you, with one click, to download embedded video from sites such as YouTube, Google Video and Metacafe. It will save the video in its native format and you can control the download location and application visibility. Best of all the file is saved under its site given name or one of your choosing.