This is a special inredningsvis advice post about how you can add twitter and facebook to your blog. Since I started blogging, not so long ago, I’ve noticed that a lot of people have been asking for help with social media, and of course I’d like to help out if I can. It seems that a lot of people believe that you have to be an A-list celebrity to have Facebook and Twitter, but this just isn’t true. Anyone can use these services. Using social media can be a great way to keep track of all of the (thousands of) blogs out there, make contact with new bloggers, and also promote your own blog.
With approx. 750 million users, it can be a good idea to have a Facebook page for your blog.
- Create a Facebook account at facebook.com This account is for yourself as an individual and is necessary before you can create a page for your blog.
- Create a page by clicking here: https://www.facebook.com/pages/create.php?ref_type=sitefooter (You may need to replace “https” with “http”)
- When you have created your page, you need to create a “Like box” by clicking here: https://developers.facebook.com/docs/reference/plugins/like-box/ (You may need to replace “https” with “http”)
- Enter the URL of your blog, or your facebook page into the field”” and then click on “Get code”
- Click on IFRAME and then copy the code.
- If you use Wordpress (which I strongly recommend), paste the code into a Text Widget. If you use an older system such as blogger, you can follow the instructions here for creating a Widget http://webtrends.about.com/od/howtoguide1/ht/blogger_widget.htm
- Done! Now your readers can “Like” your blog on Facebook! Don’t forget to “like” other blogs you like :) and write updates on your Facebook page regularly! :)
Twitter är is a fast network which can seem a little strange at first but is great once you get used to it. You can write short, quick messanges which reach out to thousands of people in a split-second. Here is how you include a Twitter button on your blog:
- Register for twitter at twitter.com
- Go to http://twitter.com/about/resources/buttons#follow
- Copy the code in the box and paste it in a Widget as you did with Facebook.
- Done! Now your readers can follow you on Twitter! Don’t forget to follow other bloggers that you like, and tweet often! :)
You have all the reasons in the world to get these social media networks on your blog, otherwise you could miss out on new bloggers that would liek to follow you.
BONUS INFO: Big blog no-no’s
I thought also to include some big blog no no’s…in other words, what should be avoided if a blog is to succeed.
- Do NOT display all of your followers from google friend connect at the top of your blog Even if you are proud of all of your followers, I promise you that no one thinks its much fun to stare at thousands of heads all at the same time :) It’s just bizarre, messy and tacky. People want to see your pictures and not others heads ala the blogger’s French Revolution.
- Don’t have disco music on your blog Not everyone has the same taste in music – a blog is supposed to appeal to the masses, right? I just about jump out of my chair sometimes when certain blogs play disco Ibiza party music at full tilt. You lose focus on the content, and just like in a clothes shop with the music too loud, you just want to run away as fast as you can. If you want music, it’s better with a youtube clip so that people can choose to turn on (or off ;) the music.
- Keep the background neutral Keep the background layout light and neutral so that your pictures and text are the focus, instead of thousands of orange butterflies on green flowering meadows placed on the SIDES. People want to see butterflies in your main blog content area, I promise.
- Never have poor picture quality with photos If you for example take a photo of Grandma in the garden at the Summer cottage, people want to see that it is Grandma, and not blurry shadow pictures that look more like Grandma-goes-poltergeist ;) I think you understand what I mean and as I’ve previously mentioned, quality always pays off in the long run :)
- And finally…No copycats Try not to copy other blogs directly. It just drips embarassing copycat. In the end, it is always the original that gets the most attention anyway. Do your own thing and find original material which you can then publish. It’s completely ok to borrow a picture, but not an entire post. Believe me, it makes people so much happier if you do this, rather than just ripping old posts that they’ve already seen on another blog :)
I hope that this post has given you enough inpiration to take fresh steps out onto unknown blog territory. Who knows what’s waiting around the next corner…
LOVE M
Further reading:
- 3 roads to blog traffic
- Home decor blogs: 10 tips for success
- Swedish home decor blogs and Scandinavian Style
