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| Share buttons are an easy way to increase traffic. |
For today's challenge, add share buttons to your blog and/or website.
The easiest way to do this is to go to http://www.addthis.com/ and click on the Get AddThis button. It's big, bright, and orange. You can't miss it.
Basically, the site will give you button options, and you select the one you like best. The AddThis site will then provide you with HTML code that you can place into your site and/or blog posts. Plus, it provides analytics for bloggers who like to see how much the buttons are boosting traffic.
If you want customized buttons, you could enlist the help of a programmer friend or try playing with the code yourself. I recently learned that some really cool buttons on one friend's blog were created by her husband (yes, she married a programmer, though I don't think she had her blog in mind when she did so).
Plus, I'd totally love hear anyone else's advice on adding share buttons. Share in the comments below, and everyone (including me) will love you for it.
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Need to catch up or re-visit earlier challenge tasks? Here they are:
135 comments:
Done! It was actually a very easy process. I noticed that Blogger already has some "share" buttons below each post, but not as many options as "AddThis" offers. Plus the tracking option is great for getting a better idea of just how much any posts are getting out there! (Though it could be kind of disappointing to see a bunch of zeros, I suppose, ha!)
I just did this, and it is fantastic! I have been trying to figure out for a while how to get those little icons on my blog, so it's wonderful! Yay!
OK, Done. I see Wordpress also has built-in "share" buttons available.
I put "AddThis" buttons in my blog footer, which gives more options, more opportunities for readers to 'press a button,' ha.
As soon as I figure it out, I'll get back to you!
Done (because you posted about this earlier on your blog - thanks!) I was glad to have something easy today b/c my household is busy as well - spring break w/ 4 kids is not quiet! Please also add my Twitter handle @juliatomiak to your list and thanks so much for this challenge! I'm spreading the word!
Cool. I did it! What a helpful platform challenge! I’ll play with this over time to see what the best location, style and combo is.
Let’s take those shares for a test drive! I’ll click on your comment name and see if I can share your sites. I, of course, would love for you to do the same on my site.
I was just interviewed for something called “The Badass Project” and having you share that interview would be a true gift to me. If you visit the BLOG page on my site, it’s the first post.
Wow - I actually did this. When you mentioned html code I started to breathe heavily - but it was easy!
I have sent out a few tweets. I find it amazing that I get to interact with other writers from all over the world although it is a bit nerve-wracking trying to say something interesting in so few words. Good practice, I guess.
Question: I just tried to tweet Ramona and Kris’s posts. When I clicked on the icon for twitter the post title didn’t come up in the tweet just the site address and the via @AddThis went into the tweet.
How do you make it so the tweet is complete and easy for people to just send?
Done. Also finding the challenge very helpful and spreading the word.
Again, a reminder that I'm a better writer than I am a computer tech, but I managed to complete the task. Realizing that Blogger might be more friendly than Wordpress, but I can get on Wordpress at work while Blogger is blocked.
Thanks, Robert, for forcing me to figure this stuff out!
Having trouble adding these to my Posterous Blog. Anyone know Posterous? Should have gone Blogger or Wordpress...
The share buttons are already on all my blogs.
Oh.
My.
I'm a bit overwhelmed this morning. For whatever reason God had in mind, I was the last to wake up this morning (never happens) and I came downstairs to my housefull of 16 people and 6 dogs and 4 cats and xbox and TV and I sit down with my coffee and open up today's challenge and you go and mention html.
Screw you, not-Bob, screw you!
You are an evil man and I do not like you very much this morning.
Nonetheless, I consider myself a team player and I am off to click your link and see what I can figure out about "shares".
The things I do for you.....
Already done. Thanks!
Done, thanks, and "Happy Easter" everybody!
Done. Thanks, Robert!
Done. Blogger had them but I like the colored buttons better...oooh. I wanted the Follow Me button too but haven't figured that out yet. Ah well, another day.
Very frustrated. I thought I was a little tech savvy, but I tried adding the widget, tried pasting in html from the AddThis site so it would go under each blog post, and nothing has changed on my blogger page.
I'm going to go do something else and try again this evening.
If anybody has the same trouble adding it to blogger and you figure it out, please let me know!
Well, I can't do this because wordpress actually says it does not allow plugins for security reasons unless you have a custom blog. But I do have a subscription box for email signups and I do have my blog linked to auto share posts on Facebook. And I have RSS feeds as well. Hope all that counts. Maybe someone can post on my blog to tell me how to add addthis...as the only thing I saw was suggesting to add code to every post!
Carol A. Stephen
http://www.quillfyre.wordpress.com
I've had these on my wordpress.org blog for quite some time -- I haven't seen evidence that anyone has used them yet.
I wonder if my copyright notice is scaring people off from clicking on the share buttons under my posts? (Or perhaps I just don't post things that are share-worthy. That's a possibility as well.)
Did it. I think. And sort of. It's a little different on Wordpress. It's called "Follow this Blog," and it's sort of subtle on the right sidebar. But I used the big orange button ;) and followed all of the steps, and now it looks like my blog can be shared on Facebook or Twitter. Not sure about individual poems...but it's a start.
Already have these on my blog.
Again, thanks for breaking down platform building into easy bites. Kinda fun!
ok I went to my inactive Blogger blog and added it to that one. May start that one up again too.
http://http.quillfyre.blogspot.com
Hi, I've set up my blog to let people share via the main social nets. For the moment I've used the Drupal functionality on my platform since it's automatic and tracks all page reads, but I may come back and use the AddThis features mentioned here.
Hey Nicole here. I'm having trouble with the add this to my blog. It's not word press or blogspot. I'm on moviefilmreview.com but I have seen other authors on the site with the add this. Can anyone help me?
I can get Add This script to load/function on Wordpress. Wordpress doesn't allow javascript for free accts, so I'm not sure how some others managed this. I added the code but it doesn't appear. Wordpress does offer all sorts of share buttons, so I guess I've fulfilled the requirements by default. If anyone knows how to make this script work, please shout! :D
~Misky
I just managed it. The code needed is on this page. https://www.addthis.com/get/sharing?where=wordpress
I will practice putting button(s) on my blog site. I have been making my own simple website buttons for a while. http://www.tincupnomore.com/
I noticed that blogger has share buttons of their own listed at the bottom of each post.It's quick and easy. Here's how:
1) Click on "Design" on the top right hand of the page. It'll bring you to "page elements."
2)Go to the blog post square and click on "edit"
3)You'll see "post page options." Check the box that says, "show share buttons."
4) Save. And it's automatically placed after each post.
However, this feature is not as bright and noticeable as the one you recommended. See my blog and you will see the difference. I placed both the blogger share button and the one offered by SHARE THIS. (I copied your tagline, Robert.)
www.romellebroas.blogspot.com
I already have "share" buttons on my blogs. Day 7 is done.
Figured it out - Yay!! I had one of the old templates on Blogger and it was not compatible with AddThis. So if you have a new blog, I suppose it's "quick and easy." But if you haven't changed anything in a few years, try one of the newer templates (Design, then the Template Designer) tab.
I ended up with 4 rows of share buttons because I'd been trying so many times. And my blog looks a little funny right now, but I can tweak it later.
Just wasted an hour First, trying to find "add new" on a Plugin screen on my Wordpress, Next, trying to update my Wordpress, since there didn't seem to be a Plugin screen, Third, trying to find what version I currently have, Fourth, trying to backup my database and site. All steps led to dead ends. Finally learned at http://tentblogger.com/wordpress-com-org/ that the free Wordpress hosted by Wordpress does not allow you to download third party plugins. Wish the AddThis instructions had said that.
Now I'm going to a Peep Roast. Baa Humbug.
This was a good reminder - I had one share button already on my blog, but this challenge has prompted me to add more.
Luckily, the "technical" stuff has gotten easier over the years, otherwise I'd never do it!
Done! Love when sites like Blogger and WordPress already have them built in. I've never been able to get HTML code to work for me. I guess I just don't have the touch (or common sense) ;)
P.S. I just checked, and I use Shareaholic.
http://www.shareaholic.com/?src=pub
Another one already done!
Hi, an easy Wordpress plugin to do this is Jetpack, which gives you other features, including site stats. If you have a self hosted site, you need a wordpress.com login to set up the plugin. The plugin gives you most of the standard social media buttons. Once installed there is some configuration to determine which buttons to show. Hope this helps.
I love when IE fights me. I made the Jetpack comment.
Got them!!
I thought I was done until I read that Bloggers share buttons didn't have as many options as "AddThis' offers. Thanks for the advice!
Feels good to accomplish the challenges.
Done! Wow that took me a while but when I was done I jazzed up the look of my blog so thanks for that. Now I'm off to write a new post!
Flying today, so will have to get to this tomorrow. Happy Easter!
I use WordPress, so I just checked out a couple of plugins before choosing one that didn't obstruct my writing.
Social Share Buttons for Wordpress what the one I settled with. You have to go in and change a few things because it's in Russian otherwise. :-)
I already have share buttons, but I'm going to check out the link. I'm always looking for new and shiny! (That's why my husband hates it when I go to the store alone!)
Blogger had the share buttons for me, but I added them anyway because Blogger's buttons were small and could easily be overlooked.
I also added it to my website, but since it's undergoing renovations at this time, I have no proof at this moment.
I did it but the share button doesn't work on my blog I'm not sure why. But I did it, which on blogger it has some share button.
Ha! I did this challenge on the day it said to make a blog, which I already had. So I buffed it up a bit and read some of the articles you linked to and ALREADY DID today's task! Yay me!! Now I need to go bake pie and cinnamon rolls for the holiday! TTFN!!
Thank you so much. I did this yesterday and found the ugliest buttons ever. AddThis is much nicer!
Done! I also added a "Pin It" button from the Pinterest site. I am not really a Pinterest person myself, but it can;t hurt to put one on for visitors who use it!
Love this challenge and the connections I am making!
I have share buttons at the bottom of my post, but I just added the 'AddThis' buttons to my sidebar. Does anyone have any thoughts about where they should be located? Sidebar? Below each post?
Oh, and I caught up on the last 3 days in 1 day: http://myquirkycity.wordpress.com/2012/04/07/april-platform-challenge-days-5-6-and-7-catching-up/
Yay! I have share buttons on my blog. I've been wanting those. I ended up with a WordPress plug-in called Shareaholic -- I wrote all about it in today's post. April Platform Challenge — Share Buttons.
Done, I actually found a good plugin for WordPress called Slick Social Share Buttons. Well rated and it's worked well for me so far.
I tried to be good and get this done early morning before my son's track meet, but it wasn't showing up on my Blogger blog. An empty box kept appearing instead - and then I ran out of time. Off to see if I can figure it out... :-)
I do have to add that I DO already have a Facebook and Twitter button on my pages. It would be nice to have the whole "kit" though! ;-)
Done: This actually turned out to be a little bit harder than I thought it would, probably because blogger has adopted a new look that makes it harder to follow the installation instructions at AddThis...
...but I did manage to get the code and paste it into the right place, so I have added the AddThis buttons to the end of each post, in addition to the buttons that were already there, thanks to blogger.
I just used what came with WordPress. Works just fine for me :)
OK, tried doing it with "AddThis" and couldn't figure it out. So went to the Word Press "Zero-Hero" info and found I could do it right in Word Press from setting. Di that then played around a bit. Learned alot, but realize how much I still need to learn before really feeling comfortable with this stuff. So, I am done through Day 7.
Got it covered. For many of us -- like me using Wordpress -- share buttons come from your blogging platform. I have all the ones I need, except G+, because I don't have a G+ account or the time to start one till Monday. I'll add it them. (Also, working on the Goodreads shelf, which is kind of a button, too, but it doesn't work yet.
Okay, I got it. If any of you are still having trouble in Blogger, from the Design/Page Elements page, click on "Add a Gadget" and then click on "Featured" in the pop-up window. Scroll down near the end and "Add This" has a button there. (The "Install Blogger Widget" from the Add This site wasn't working for me.)
Done. Finally, I couldn't get the blogger automatic share buttons to work for me, so I used addthis. Just in case anyone is having trouble with it, here's how to do it:
1. Create addthis account (give them your email addy)
2. Click Get Add This button
3. Go to "Get Add This for" field and click the Blogger option
4. Choose your Style (or keep default one)
5. Click "Install Blogger Widget" button
6. If a new page appears, click on "Install Blogger Widget" button again
7. A new page will take you to blogger. Select your blog from the drop down menu
8. Don't fill in Title
9. Click "Add Widget" Button
10. You'll be redirected to the 'old' Blogger interface. Click "Save" to save your progress.
11. Double check your work, and check out your new AddThis sponsored share buttons.
Did it, for both my web page and my blog - looks good. Thanks for the suggestion, and for pointing us to AddThis!
Done... Had share buttons on my blog.. but now have these additional options... Of course I added them twice so I have two rows of share options at the bottom of each post... From famine to feast...! Thanks for the push of the challenge to get this done... I am now caught up but for posting my 'twitter account'
Can't wait to see the blog posts with URLS! I'd love to grab a few guest posts from those involved in this challenge! Guesting posting is a great way to push traffic to one another's sites, not to mention it is just great to have new voices involved in your blog's dialogue every now and then!
If you are interested, check out my site at http://www.unscriptedlife.com to see if you cancontribute to e unscripted mentality Ihave onn my site, and then email me at ivyunscripted (at) gmail (dot) com.
My Blogs are on Typepad.
I spent the afternoon updating the buttons in ways I didn't know I could, and moving the sidebar collection to a more visible spot.
For non-advanced templates there's an add this widget for the sidebar, but not for under the posts...
For that typepad lets your add 8 buttons it offers...obviously the most popular ones.
As an Add This member, I could add full functionality, like the sidebar, but I'd have to swith my 2blogs to an Advanced Template, and I'm not sure I want to go that far.
For now, I'm happy with what's on display, now.
Intersting that Typepad offers a button for Pintrest, and the sidebar badge from add this doesn't automatically have it. Not sure how to add it there so won't sinc the sidebar badge is for the blog as a whole, or my special pages.
Done. I use the button feature in wordpress. If anyone is looking for this, you can add buttons to follow the entire site by adding a widget feature in the sidebar or footer. In my sidebar, I include the option to follow the site using email or as a wordpress follower, I have widget buttons to follow via facebook or twitter, and I have a pinterest follow button -- all in the sidebar. But you can also add buttons to the bottom of every article - which is how you give readers the ability to share an individual post via twitter or facebook, for example. I have this set up with buttons for twitter, facebook, google+, tumblr and recently added a pinterest button. To do this, while in "Dashboard," go to the features at the bottom left - you are looking for "Sharing - Settings." There, adding sharing buttons is as easy as dragging the button into a box. Select buttons for any of several forums.
I'm enjoying connecting with many of you via twitter (@elissafield), wordpress (click my name to link through), and facebook!
Thanks again, Robert - great challenge!
Setting up share buttons was one of the first things I did when I set up my site. :D
http://www.sbarclay.com
Done! Not sure how to put everything to the best use, but it's a start.
Done -- though I used a share option within blogger... no messing with html for this blogger bimbo! :-]
Done. don't forget to test it and have someone else test it, just in case.
Super simple. My share links have been on marybrotherton.com since I created it. I feel as if I am cheating in school.
I opted to use Blogger's built-in share buttons. I've been sick all day, and I'm afraid to permanantly damage my carefully and ignorantly crafted HTML by fiddling with it in my current state.
Done. I stumbled into getting FB and Twitter buttons on my site when I created it. I'm saving your process for when I change my site out of MobileMe and have to do it all over again.
Thanks to the people I've met through here, a new blog reader informed me that one of my share buttons wasn't working. It is currently "under construction" and shall be repaired promptly. Though it might just be faster to go to Addthis, eh? ;)
Nichole L. Reber
@NicholeLReber
http://www.architecturetravelwriter.com/
I got one done earlier and have to get two others done. Had a lot of help from a dear friend who walked me through the process.
For the life of me, I couldn't navigate on my own today. Must be a worse than usual senior day.
Still, only two to go. That's okay for now.
Done!
Done. BLogger has tools that enable sharing. go into your design area and "Add a gadget." I searched for sharing gadgets and experiemented with a few.
I already have these on my blog. This is a good challenge.
My WordPress blog theme came with every share button imaginable, but I didn't like how tiny they were, and they really got lost under my related posts graphic (and there were just too many of them).
After searching high and low, I installed the SHARE THIS widget, which has given me the five buttons I need -- and they're BIG and pretty.
BUT I might also add that bloggers should have FOLLOW ME buttons in the sidebar as well. For this, I installed the WP plugin Social Media Widget from their widget website, which gives you a lot of fun options in terms of size and design of the follow buttons.
I have no idea if people are using the share buttons - I think they tend to retweet me and repost my FB statuses instead. But I do believe they click on the follow buttons, as I have more followers now than before.
Done and done for awhile.
Thanks! That was easy. I use TextPattern for my blog on my website.
http://www.bmorrison.com/blog
Done. Thank you for doing this and helping grow the writer's community!
I already did this, but I don't think they are using them much. Did I give you my blog address? http://onearlyretirement.blogspot.com/. Thanks so much for doing this!
I already had a couple of share buttons on my post pages, but I couldn't remember where I got them. Couldn't use the addthis.com codes. You are somewhat limited on a wordpress.com site (vs their .org sites, but eventually I re-found the Sharing option in the Settings menu. Plenty to choose from so I added four more. Good challenge today. Thanks.
Thanks for the url on the share button site. I already have some buttons on my sidebar, but this seems more efficient.
Sharon
Done :)
done, though a little later than i intended! now i've got to figure out how to track it.
Done, finally! Not too hard. On to Day 8!
I already had share buttons that show up at the bottom of every post.
Done - I had added a twitter button, then read this post, so I added the AddThis Button too.
http://lynnobermoeller.blogspot.com/
@Obermoeller
Done! Actually they were there already and now one of my blogs has them twice.
Happy Easter! Christ is risen! He is truly risen!
God bless, Anne Marie :)
Done. I'm nearly caught up with the challenge!
I already had these buttons on my website; however, today, I linked my new Twitter account with my Facebook page. Ooooo . . . progress!
Done! Blogger actually has it embedded in their blog template. yea!
Done! ;)
Also, went to Rachel Z Cornell's ProNagger blog and shared her newest post via twitter and it worked!
Also, went to Anne Kimball's Life on the Funny Farm and shared via twitter.
Sharing is Caring!!
Done. Have these on the draft of my blog in blogger. Not yet ready to launch.
Thank you so much for this challenge. I have been wanting to add these buttons to my website for a long time, but never could find an easy way to do it. Add This was perfect. I look forward to the next challenge.
Done--thanks! I haven't blogged in over a year and have fallen a bit behind on the latest gadgets.
Done - I guess? My blog uses all the stuff available from Blogger, so there are Google+, Facebook, and Twitter buttons, etc. plus the standard email or blog about this links.
Cheers!
Done!
Seems this is going to be more effort than I initially thought. <a href="http://dsnite.blogspot.com/2012/04/sharing-not-so-much-day-7-of-april.html>Sharing here.</a>
Done. Linked the Twitter feed to the website as well. LaraBritt.com
I already have share buttons. On my blog Better Than Preschool the theme has a huge share button--no missing it.
A client that I blog for has a lesser known blog platform. The theme used on this platform put the RSS link in tiny print at the bottom of the page. I often get email asking where to find it. There is also no option to subscribe to the blog via email (my preferred method).
Don't over look any possibilities for allowing your readers to subscribe and share.
Done...I've wondered about Pinterest. Should we add that and if so, how is it possible?
Thanks! Done and done. :)
Already have them on my blog =)
Already have them on my blog =)
Actually I already had this at the bottom of my blog posts. I added a more prominent one at the top through the very easy add this process, and now I don't know how to get rid of the old one. Help???
Thanks.
Done, long ago. Share buttons are a necessity.
April
Good grief that was tricky. I knew they were on my WordPress blog, Adventures in Living (http://nltgal.wordpress.com) but I couldn't see them.
Fortunately, my husband is in charge of http://expertwordsmith.com
Done. Falling behind, but trying to catch up :-)
Done on my blog. Great ideas - thanks!
Done! Finally finished this one.
I don't know why I let electronics intimidate me - that was way easy.
Could not add "Addthis" however did add some of the gadgets on Blogspot that provide tracking
Well, it was exciting, but I did it!
Both on ckswarriorqueen.wordpress.com and on www.warrior-queen.com
WOO~HOO!
Luckily, I had recently added share buttons to my blog, but I needed to update my website with share buttons. I had problems with the AddThis software, so finally just settled on adding a Twitter button to my first page and links on my contact page. Yay!
I finally got this done. The problem is that I have no idea what I've done. I don't know what these buttons are for or how someone uses them. I'm finding this Platform Challenge very helpful and appreciate all you're doing, Robert. But if you're willing to give a little more explanation for those of us who are especially ignorant, that would be wonderful. Thanks bunches!
Already done!
This was the hardest thing I've done so far in this challenge. It wasn't actually hard or anything, I was just intimidated by the need to deal with HTML
I was fretting about this, then discovered the checkbox on Wordpress... done!
Couldn't quite figure it out. But I put Facebook/Twitter links on my new Blogger page with their widget, so the effect is the same.
Ok did that.. this is a useful challenge. Very useful. Practical so far! c
I also could not quite figure out how to import the buttons from the site you suggested, but Fred and other people's comments led me back to Wordpress' sharing so I used that.
Have a Facebook and Twitter "share this" that was a built in gadget. The addthis is more than I can mentally handle tonight. I'll go back to it eventually.
Got it. Pretty easy using the Wordpress share stuff. I would really like to find those cute pop-up type. Okay. Maybe sticking to the basics for this challenge is enough. ☼ ♥ ☮ <<
I think I'm running behind on more that dates. My blog is on Goodreads. I do have links on my website, and often post links on my blog to particular items. And I'd really like to add those links, but I'm a bit technically challenged. (I mean, what do you expect from an 82-year old lady?) However, I shall persevere.
Done - Using the Wordpress sharing widget, did not have to worry about where to paster the HTML code (I did go to the AddThis site and register, but it gave me no clue as to where to paste the code, so I opted for the easier widget (for you wordpressers, go to settings, then sharing, then be sure to check the box that has the sharing buttons showing for your home page and every post)
Done! :-) www.hotmessprincess.com
YIPES!!! I think its done, but not sure. If not tomorrow Or later I will enlist some help. Huh.
Done. Blogger has share buttons already. I might look more at AddThis though.
First I'm grateful for IMNB's post tonight; and I'm well aware i'm in learning curve, and extra tired; life's speed warp lurches forward. I know hashtag now; i'm linkedin even to people i never signed up; go figure; i don't know about add on; i'm trying everything and i'm blogging regularly, i feel like i'm falling behind but not worrying; i know in a month, i'll feel as if i've learned a lot; and the people to connect with; wonderful;i just may fall behind, but i will evetually cover it all; and i'm happy. I wish I had studied blogging in 3rd grade, but nothing invented then.
Done. Blogger already had the share buttons but I selected the larger ones. Now, I have to figure out how to delete the smaller set of buttons.
Done! Added share buttons on my blog, for the networks I'm affiliated with (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Stumbleupon)
Done! I've also moved my blog to lisahelene.wordpress.com but left the title Dancing Backwards in Heels, much like so many others are doing. I think the identity issue is important, as I've read in another MNINB post, and it's honestly easier to sign in through Open ID with a shorter blog name.
Done. I already had these on my blog. I did add them to my website though!
I used AddThis code to put new sharing buttons toward the top of the page on my blogspot blog, but not on my wordpress blog. I already had the built-in sharing buttons on both at the end of my posts, but I read some of the AddThis tips and they recommended having some buttons near the top of the page. Doing this challenge acquainted me with how HTML code can be used in blogger. I also noticed some things along the way that I might want to check out further on another day. Stretching my wings some more - yay! Thank you again, Robert.
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