Put a Face to Your Comments

A Gravatar is a photo, image or logo which appears beside your name when you make a comment on your own blog, another blog or a web forum (like an online profile). If you don’t have one, you just see the little grey mystery face appear beside your comment.

Here’s a comment I wrote the other day on the kitchen garden website. If you click on my name, you are taken to my website.

How to Get a Gravatar

If you have a WordPress Website

If you have a WordPress website, you probably already have an online profile but haven’t uploaded an image and email address to be associated with it. Hosted WordPress websites need an API key to run the spam filter. When you get an API key from WordPress, you also get an online profile complete with Gravatar.

1. Go to www.wordpress.com.
2. Login using your WordPress.com username and password or click on the Signup button and get a username only account.
3. Hold your mouse over the My Account link at the top right of the screen.
4. Select Edit Profile from the drop-down list.
5. Click on the Change Your Gravatar link under the grey face and upload your image.
6. Make sure the email address is correct (if you change it you will need to confirm by email).
7. Add your website address.
8. Click Update Profile button at the bottom.
9. Logout of WordPress.com (top right).

1. Go to http://en.gravatar.com/
2. Setup a free account
3. Enter your email address and upload a photo or image.

Photo or Logo for my Gravatar?

The jury is still out on whether a photo of yourself or a mini version of your logo is better for your avatar. I suppose it depends on your privacy concerns and the type of industry you are in. I have just asked this question on Twitter so let me know your thoughts below.

• What ever you use, it will be square and small so should look clear in this format.
• Try and use the same image on your Twitter, LinkedIn etc profiles (Since writing this post, I have changed my Twitter pic from my logo to a photo of me)

Enabling Gravatars on Your Website

Note that not all websites have gravatars enabled or use templates which show them (inluding this website). I am going to be trying the WordPress Gravatar plugin over the next few weeks so will post about it if it works out. The newer Studio Press themes all allow you to display gravatars.

If you are a Creative Web Ideas customer, please email me if you would like your WordPress.com username and password. Alternatively, I can set one up for you.