Gravatar for Bloggers and Readers: Why They Need It
What is a Gravatar?
It is a profile image that follows you around the internet. Log on to your Gravatar, and whenever you come across a website that is Gravatar enabled, you will be able to comment using your image. The image that you choose to follow you around the web will sit next to your comment.
Who is onboard so far?
There are a few websites that have Gravatar comments enabled, but the biggest eight are WordPress, HootSuite, Battlefield 3 Battlelog, American Idol, Github, techdirt, Disqus and StackOverflow.
Why should your readers use it?
It is a nice way of making your comment stand out a little better. It also means that you can add your brand logo to the comment sections of other websites too. You can use your Gravatar to grab people’s attention too, with something funny or exciting.
Showing your face may also show your sincerity too, and show people that you are not a commenting robot. If you are prepared to put your face next to a comment, it implies that you have nothing to hide.
Why should a blogger should use it?
It may help to attract attention to your blog and get more visitors to it. The comment section will certainly look a lot nicer too. As a blogger you can also get your face out there with Gravatar, helping you to become a little famous yourself.
Having Gravatar installed on your blog is also another way of allowing your readers to have a little fun. The truth is that very few people are going to sign up to Gravatar because they think it will make them famous, or will help them to attract a partner. It is just a bit of fun.
People are going to sign up for it because it is a novelty to have your name appearing next to your comments automatically. It makes the online experience a little more real and engaging.
Having Gravatar on your blog may also encourage people to blog. Of all the reasons to have Gravatar installed on your site, this is the one. It works the same way as Facebook does, in that it is a novelty and it’s already “there”.
People sign onto Facebook and the login remains active during their surf session. Whilst they are looking at blogs it shows their face at the bottom, and asks them if they want to comment. The platform is already set up, so it is very easy for them to add a comment. Gravatar works on a similar principal. It works on people’s impulse to comment--and if Facebook comments are anything to go by, it seems like it should work.
People may comment using Gravatar because they feel like they are making a mark. Let’s face it, when you comment and it just displays your name--it is a little bit dry, and once you have clicked off of the site, who is to tell if you ever even commented? At least if you use Gravatar then your face is out there and you can be recognized out of the crowd. In some respects it is a way of making your mark on the Internet.
A side effect of Gravatar is that when people come across their face on a blog they posted onto previously, it is kind of fun. Especially if you forgot that you commented on that page. It also reinforces the idea that you are leaving a mark on the Internet for all to see. It is not as good as having a book published, but it is better than nothing.
Author’s bio:
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