Archive for Tech Tips, Tricks, & Tools
Greetings, Fellow Connection Marketers!
I was perusing my Facebook page this afternoon when I came across this post about how to get more Twitter followers using a “Follow Me” badge on one’s blog. While I currently have a link to my Twitter account along with some of my other social media profiles on my site, I found this information quite useful, as the badge appears to “float” or “slide” along the outer edge of the blog or website.
Here is the link to the original article: “Add Twitter Slide Badge to Your Blog/Site“
Now, what specifically does it do? Take a look to the left side of this post. You should see the “Follow Me” badge with the Twitter bird on it. On the right side, however, towards the top of the screen (most likely under the opt-in form), you’ll see the icons for all the social media sites I have profiles on. As you scroll down to read this post, you’ll notice that the icons on the right remain at the top of the screen, while the slider badge on the left slides down while you are reading. Using the old “out of sight, out of mind” motto, if you are continually reminded that I have a profile, then you are more inclined to click it and follow me on Twitter.
Steps to Get Your Own Badge:
- Visit this site (Gotoweb20), (they created the badge application).
- Fill in your Twitter username and enter your desired settings (colour, etc.) and click on “Update Code”. Don’t be afraid to play with the colours; you can always reset them.
- Note : Add the badge to the left-hand side, as readers start reading your posts from there and will notice your badge immediately.
- If you’re using Blogger as your blogging platform, go to “Layout” and click on “Edit HTML”. Then, put a check the box for “Expand Widget Templates” and search for </body> tag. It’s in the second-to-last line of the template code.
- Now, paste your code above </body> and click on Save Template.
- If you are using Wordpress as your blogging platform, go to “Editor” under “Appearance” tab, and select “Footer.php” file from the list. Here, search for </body> tag and paste the code above it.
Now you’re all set to go with a snazzy, shiny, sliding badge that goes everywhere your reader does….start blogging!
Gravatar Icons & Avatars – How to Use for Mainstream Comments
Posted by: Dawn | Comments (1)Gravatar Icons & Avatars
Gravatars. Don’t feel stupid if you don’t know what they are; I didn’t recognize gravatars for what they were or how to use a gravatar until a little more than a year ago. Gravatars have been with us since at least 2004 (or at least, that’s what most web archives show), but they have yet to go mainstream, even though the Gravatar service was acquired by Automattic back in October 2007.
What is a Gravatar?
The idea behind the Gravatar service was to host a globally-recognized avatar that is tied to an email address on one system to be recognized on most websites, blogs, message boards, and forums. Gravatar is as simple as using the same email address that you used to sign up with Gravatar.com on any site that supports Gravatars.
Great Idea?
If Gravatars are so great, why haven’t they caught on with the mainstream public? Because so many platforms have their own versions of avatars (sites like Twitter, Facebook, phpBB, .ning) and have their own way of handling them. Usually, it’s just “upload a profile photo”, which can vary from site to site, depending on the mood of the user at the time they sign up for these services.
Are we better off with each system managing avatars in their own ways? Will Gravatars go to the wayside while each system manages their own avatars, or will Gravatars take over the way systems manage profiles? Personally, I don’t think so; I think there needs to be a balance between the two. I don’t think developers should ax their own avatar management system, but at the very least, make their systems Gravatar-compatible. I think then, there will be more people willing to use this awesome shortcut when posting to sites.
How to Use Gravatars, and Why You Should
To create and use an avatar, simply go to the Gravatar site. Pick one of your email addresses, assign it a photo, and whenever you go onto a site that is Gravatar-enabled (like this blog) and use the email you signed up with, your avatar will automatically show up. It’s as simple as that!
Guess what? It’s F-R-E-E, and you can have more than one! I have two Gravatars; one for business use (my Dawn@DawnLambe.com addy) and one for personal (I keep that private). If you have more than one business, why not create a Gravatar for each business, with a separate photo for each? However, I would NOT use a trademarked or copyrighted image, like my favorite Star Trek Icon or my favorite beverage; those images are protected, and could also make you look untrustworthy if you’re ‘borrowing’ images.
Using Gravatars can help your business by helping to establish the “Know, Like, & Trust You” in your marketing efforts. For example, let’s say you’re selling insurance. You happen to notice an article on a national or your local news website about how many new parents are under-insured. You read the article and the comments others have made and you post a comment yourself on the article (without making it an advertisement for you!). On many sites, you will be asked for your email address before posting your comment. Some sites will also ask you for your website as well. Once you post your comment with your email address, your photo or avatar that you assigned to that email will show next to your comment, building recognition. You may even pick up a fair bit of traffic to your site as a result. You don’t have to comment only on topics related to your business, either; I’ve picked up traffic and clients by posting comments unrelated to my niche (when posting under my business email).
For examples of gravatars, take a look at some of my past posts and comments. Get out there, experiment a bit, and I’ll see you on the other side.