I wonder if anyone else has had this problem?

I have a blog site under the blogger format and want to exchange links with other sites. the problem lies in the fact that the blogger system does not allow link code into the html template format it is smothered in widgets int he code. this basically restricts me to one way links on the site.

I have seen other blogger based sites with customized link banner on the side bar and wonder how they get to do this.

Any answers there? Thanks (ps go easy on me I'm a relative novice)