One of my clients last week asked how she added a picture of herself when she commented on blogs.
And I thought, it’s easy but if you don’t know, you don’t know!
Those little pictures are called Gravatars and the Gravatar you create follows you around wherever you comment…like magic!
But it doesn’t have to be a picture of yourself. It can be an image, a caricature or a symbol. Basically it just has to be an image.
But before I take you though the process, why add a Gravatar in the first place?
I think it helps your comment stand out. It can help brand you. Blog owners and other commenters like to see people’s faces. A nice smiley face staring at you makes you want to read their comment, doesn’t it?
Adding a Gravatar
Step 1. Go to http://www.gravatar.com/ and click on the “Sign up” menu tab
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Step 2. Add the email you would normally use when commenting on blog sites and click
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Step 3. You will be informed, “We’ve sent you an activation email.”
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Step 4. Go to your email inbox. You will have an email from “Gravatar” and the subject line will say, “Welcome to Gravatar”. Open the email and click on the confirmation link inside.
Step 5. On the new screen that appears after you click on the confirmation link, enter:
Username (can be any name) and check is it available by clicking ‘Check’
Password (twice)
(Make a note of your username and password)
And then click the ‘Signup’ button.
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Step 6. Your account has now been set up. Now let’s add a photo or image of your choice. The screen you are now on says, “Whoops, looks like you dont have any images yet! Add one by clicking here!”
Click on “Add one by clicking here!”
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Step 7. Here you have the choice to decide where to get your image from. The majority of the time, it would be from your PC.
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Step 8. Click “My computers hard drive”
Step 9. Click on ‘Browse” to fine the image you’d like to upload. Click ‘Next’.
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Step 10. You can then ‘crop’ your image.
Step 11. Once you are happy with your finished image, click “Crop and Finish”
Step 12. Choose a rating for your image. It’s normally “G” (G rated Gravatar is suitable for display on all websites with any audience type.)
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Step 13. That’s it. You have now added an image associated with your email. Next time you comment using that email you have just used to set up your Gravatar, your chosen image will be displayed alongside the comments.
You can more emails and more images to your Gravatar account if you wish.
Are you more inclined to read comments if there is a nice image associated with the comment?
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17 Comments
Twitter: myblog2day
November 21st, 2009 at 2:16 am
That’s a very neat tutorial Andrew, I believe that many people doesn’t know how to do it. Tweeted it for you my friend.
Cheers,
Lee
Lee Ka Hoong´s last blog ..Make Money Online With Twitter – Ad.ly
[Reply]
Andrew Rondeau Reply:
November 22nd, 2009 at 7:09 am
Thanks, Lee – much appreciated.
Andrew
[Reply]
November 21st, 2009 at 5:42 am
Yes this is nice tutorial, I also did not know before about it, I think gravatar help us for give more identification.
chandan@work at home´s last blog ..15 most effective twitter tools [Digg]
[Reply]
November 21st, 2009 at 8:29 am
I had the same question several months ago. I find that having a nice gravatar is a must if I want to get most out of commenting. So I use this yellow smiley which I use on all social media sites I’m active on. Hope people will easily recognize me.
Phaoloo´s last blog ..Top 19 Tools To Hide Folders On Windows
[Reply]
November 21st, 2009 at 9:12 am
It is basic tut but many bloggers missed. gravatar help bloggers build their personal branding online very good
Tinh´s last blog ..Earn Up To $100 With PayPal Wishlist on Facebook
[Reply]
November 21st, 2009 at 9:40 pm
Very interesting info and good tutorial to help when making posts and using an image for your posts. I try to use my gravatar image whenever possible.
[Reply]
November 22nd, 2009 at 1:04 pm
Very nice tutorial. This tutorial be very benifical for all the new blogger. Excellent post, I too learnt about gravatar.com from one of my blog friends………
Very good post and good work done too………
[Reply]
Andrew Rondeau Reply:
November 23rd, 2009 at 12:45 pm
Thanks Sandesh – for dropping by. Hope to see you again soon.
Andrew
[Reply]
November 23rd, 2009 at 12:51 am
Excellent tutorial, step by step the way it should be.
Dennis Edell´s last blog ..How Do You Feel About A Static Homepage On A Blog?
[Reply]
Andrew Rondeau Reply:
November 23rd, 2009 at 12:46 pm
Thanks, Dennis!
[Reply]
November 23rd, 2009 at 6:00 am
I think the gravatar plays an important role as some users link it to you and know who you are and whats your website just by seeing the gravatar.
Most of the themes now days cater for the gravatar already where as there are plugins and hacks to place the gravatar by your comments you leave.
George Serradinho´s last blog ..Serious Monday Roundup #18
[Reply]
Dennis Edell Reply:
November 24th, 2009 at 3:55 pm
You’ve hit it exactly my friend. A Gravatar is an awesome branding tool.
This is why I get so irked in forums and such with Homer Simpson and other such nonsense everywhere.
Dennis Edell´s last blog ..How Do You Feel About A Static Homepage On A Blog?
[Reply]
Andrew Rondeau Reply:
November 25th, 2009 at 10:48 am
I do have 2 pictures which I use – one of me smiling and one with my dog (now in pet heaven). Oh, we miss him!
Andrew
[Reply]
November 24th, 2009 at 11:08 am
Hi
Andrew, you have given detail tips for creating image in gravatar.com. Really I also didn’t know before about it. Thanks for sharing your technique. I will create my image in gravatar.com, for upcoming commenting.
[Reply]
Andrew Rondeau Reply:
November 25th, 2009 at 10:50 am
Chris,
That’s nice to hear – tell us when you have it loaded and we’ll come and have a look!
Andrew
[Reply]
November 27th, 2009 at 2:24 pm
Gravatar training 101.
All serious bloggers should have one set up and you sir have made the process easy.
Willie Plasencia´s last blog ..Kompozer, A Free Webpage Tool For You!
[Reply]
Andrew Rondeau Reply:
November 27th, 2009 at 3:47 pm
Thanks Willie!
Nice to see you over here.
Andrew
[Reply]