I’ve been noticing from last few weeks that a lot of my readers who adds their intelligent OPINIONS in my posts by leaving a comment don’t have a Gravatar to get their image next to their comments yet.
Even most people still don’t know what is Gravatar and how to get their photos up there.
Gravatar is a free online service that automatically adds your photo next to the comments you leave everywhere on the web, be it a blog, discussion forums, online groups or other places around the web.
A little image that you upload to a certain email address, and ones you’ve done that you’ll get that little image next to your name when you leave a comment on a Gravatar enabled blog or website.
Just like responding to every comment on your blog and redirecting first time commentators to a thank you page, this little silly image is also very important that can help you to build your brand and authority around the web.
If you’re still confused on how to get a Gravatar, you’ll find some tips on how to get a Gravatar at the bottom of the post.
If you already use a Gravatar image to your comments. Hopefully this post will give you some advanced and extra hints to consider.
Why Gravatar is important?
- It helps you build trust: The main idea behind creating Gravatar.com is to let people see the faces behind when they read thoughts through comments, because people get curious when they read something interesting or some praising words, they wish to know who said that how he/she looks. Even when you split something bad, people will wish to see your face.
- It helps you build your brand: People who visit your blog often times start to become familiar with the image there (whether It’s you, your company or your product), so having a Gravatar image helps you build your brand and let’s others know that It’s you when you leave a comment somewhere.
- It helps in building relationships: Having your photo next to your comments makes you stand out from the others out there. At first you and your Gravatar might not get much attention, When I see your face constantly commenting on my blog, I get to know you more, and probably end up by visiting your website. Others readers can see the person behind the comment, and It’s very important for building relationship with other bloggers.
- It helps you develop authority: Sometimes a picture is enough to pique people’s curiosity. If you are someone who leaves quality and helpful comments (I’m looking at you Adrienne, Sapna, Shahzad, Raplus, Zion, Greg and all) and people see excellent comments left by you, they’ll start to see you as an expert in the specific niche.
- It helps you increase your traffic: This is also useful If you’re a small blogger and commenting on other blogs is a part of your traffic strategy, because people are more likely to click on your link If they see who’s commenting.
What should I use in my Gravatar?
What should you use in your Gravatar is extremely important because this is the image that will represent you, help you build your brand and introduce you around the web, so having a right Gravatar that grabs people’s attention and let’s people know who is the commentator after viewing the Gravatar image is must.
Most bloggers and webmasters prefer to use their own photo for their Gravatar, just like I do which is well. It’s just like a way of introducing myself around the web, so If you want to represent yourself as a blogger, marketer or anything else you do online – you’d go with a photo of yourself.
Or If you’re representing your company or product, you may want to use a company logo/icon or image of your product.
But, If you’re not going to product recognition specifically, I’d stick to photo.
How to get a Gravatar?
Okay, now you know how important it is to have a Gravatar image next to your name.
So, what should you do to get a Gravatar? It’s pretty easy. Go to Gravatar website, sign up, and then upload your photo (This could be a picture of yourself, a company logo or something unique). Make sure you use the same email address to sign up and to upload your photo that you use around the web for comments. If you’d like to use more than one email address, you can add them later onto the same account.
That’s all. You have to do it one time, It’s like set it and forget it only till you change it yourself.
If you still need help in setting up a Gravatar, post a comment below!
Some Gravatar tips to make it memorable and BRANDED:
There are a lot of things that you can do to get your comments noticed, and make your Gravatar memorable and branded. Below are a few tips that you can apply.
- Your Gravatar image will be your representation on the web, so don’t hesitate to invest some money to hire a PROFESSIONAL photographer to get some very good head shots from different angles, so that you can find a best one amongst them to use.
- If you can’t afford to pay to a professional photographer, than spend sometime on getting some good shots or you should get some of your friends or family to do it for you, and than tweak it a little bit on PHOTOSHOP to make it more appealing.
- If you’re using your own photo, this will be your introduction, a kind of “Hey, I’m Ehsan (aka the founder of the Guide to Blogging community)” so make sure choose a photo where people can see your face well.
- If you’re looking to establish a long term identity on the web, try to represent yourself as a lively and energetic person in your photo. There’s no need to be overly animated.
- Don’t use UNRECOGNIZABLE and low quality photograph. If you’re that shy of using your own photo, go with a LOGO of avatar of your blog. I’ve also been noticing a lot of members of the community using using random photographs from the web which is not good from many perspectives.
- Do not hesitate to use your logo as a Gravatar. As I said above that there’s a big movement in the blogging world about showing your real face to people, and If you’re that shy of using your own photo, then you can use your logo to represent your site just like Ileane from BasicBlogTips.com and Glen from ViperChill.com does.
That’s not all obviously. Leave me your comment below If you have anything of your own Gravatar tips or If you think I’ve missed anything.
So get a Gravatar Today:
What are you waiting for? Pop over to Gravatar website and get one now If you haven’t yet. Then come back here and leave a comment below to see the live demo of gravatar in action.
Hope to see some new faces in comments section.
Informative post.I know little bit about gavatar but this post teach to me a lot about it. Thanks for share this post with us
Glad you learned something today from this post.
Great sign!
Hello Ehsaan,
Gravatar is the only thing which define true identity of a commentator, so its very important to use it while commenting.
Thanks
Yup Sarvesh, but what’s what in your Gravatar? I can’t r recognize it well. Why don’t you use your own photo?
Very Soon..I will start using my own photo..:)
Would love to see the face behind those lovely comments
every one loves to have gravatar and even me and this is good idea
Thanks Rajkumar. Are you a police officer?
Hey Ehsan gravatar works well. Everyone is keen to know who is the man behind the comment. And gravatar is a nice way to do that. And it can attract more people also.
Thanks San, Yup Gravatar is vital in blogging and attracts more people as well. What does “Keen” mean?
Ehsan, love this guide and people would definitely love this guy especially for those who hasn’t got their Gravatar. Gravatar is the best tool that everybody should use and it’s free. It helps show your picture on all over the web and whenever you leave a comment on blog.
Thanks – Ferb
Thanks Ferb.
Another awesome post from you Ehsan, and Yes, Gravatar plays an important role for building relations with others and I think this post gonna helps all the newbies. Thanks for sharing this post.
Thanks for the heads up Sudipto. I can’t figure out your face in your Gravatar? Why don’t you show your face and just take a snapshop?
I am also thinking of replacing this pic but till now not get the perfect pic. Thanks for the advice.
Just don’t shy Sudipto, you need to get 1-1 with camera and take a photo of your face. Without being shy use it in your gravatar.
Gravatar helps in reducing the stranger gap between the commenter and the author. You said it right, it brings a sense of trust between both. Thanks a creating awareness about Gravatar.
Great post.
Thanks Rajesh.
thanks for good post on gravatar i just uploaded my photo on gravatar.com thanks for sharing such informative post
hi Ehsan,
gravatar is a very nice tool in blogging, it provides you a identity and it also helps the comment moderators to identify the genuine comment,
by the way very nice article Ehsan. thanks
Welcome Rohit, I like your gravatar.
I use gravatar but actually I don’t realise it. I don’t know how my photo can appear next to the comment box. I think my photo appears because of my email. I put my photo in my email profile so it appears when I am asked to attach my email in the comment box.
There is a website which serves us to make gravatar.
Gravatar is great..It adds that much needed personalization to comments..It’s also free so there is actually no reason why one shouldn’t have a gravatar.
It’s free and always will be Joe
I am using gravatar for almost a year now and its very easy to use. Blog owners like it if they see a face on their comment box not just random image. Thanks for sharing this!
Thanks for stopping by, Tom. You have a nice gravatar.
Yes, getting a Gravatar is so easy and so important for building trust and a reputation for interaction.
Thanks Astro, why don’t you use your own photo in your gravatar instead of that cartoon character?
Great Post
ammm.. .well a real pic looks more professional then just adding some thing else. A great guide . Will continue reading this blog after my Board Exams 
Nice to see ya here, Ummeed. Hope you’re doing well with your exams.
The gravatar can represent the personality of the person behind the picture. It can keep a good relationship with others online. It builds reliance too.
Yup It does!
Thanks for the heads up Heru.
I have a gravatar but never really knew why. With your blog, I think I can finally use my account and it won’t just sit there having no purpose.
Thanks for writing about Gravatar. Your article was very detailed and it really highlighted a lot of important things about the application.
Thanks Kristine.
Honestly, I hate it when readers would leave their comments with no pictures of themselves in my blog. I agree that it amps up the level of trust and it helps you make a big name for your brand as well. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for taking the time to write about Gravatar. It was very informative to learn of this application. Aside from using it, I;ll also be suggesting it to my friends.
Welcome Stacey, glad you enjoyed the post.
You look so pretty in your Gravatar
hey ehsan
gravatar is one of the best things i ve evr used in blogging. it gives us an online identity. but i prefer to use my own image because gravatar is our globally recognized avatar. but you can also use your own brand
Whoa prabhat, a brilliant comment.
I like the background color of your Gravatar.
Hello Ehsan,
Gravatar is indeed very important for your comment It helps in building relationships this is true and i am also using so thanks for sharing me
Very good article. It is worth reading. Thank you for sharing a simple but very useful thing we often ignore when we are on line.
How do you that It’s the thing that people often ognore, Heru?
Hi Ehsan,
Some really useful suggestions. I’m almost to the point as suggested by Adrienne Smith that if no Gravatar no comment allowed unless it is someone you know.
Another reason to get one!
Glad you agreed with Adrienne, Cararta. Thanks for droppin’ in.
Ha..ha! Hi Ehsan, you might be wondering what’s making me laugh? It actually has to do with some interesting comments shared on this post. Many are asking you handsome they look.
With me, it’s quite obvious I need to change my gravatar.But how can I do that when professional photographer in the name of Ehsan is not here? That’s just by the way.
On a more serious note, I certainly do agree with you on those love thoughts you’ve shared,
Haha, thanks for dropping in Kabenlah, where those funny comments, point me one please.
Lol, Ehsan is not that pro photographer
Why don’t you use your face in your gravatar?
Wonderful and much needed post Ehsan!
I couldn’t agree more with all the tips you mentioned because this is one problem all of us face most of the time.
It does become frustrating when you can’t make out who you are talking to, especially if it’s a new commenter who visits your blog. More so, it’s always better to talk a real person than just an object or weird image – isn’t it?
Speaking of myself, I do email the person requesting them to get a gravatar, and it’s only a handful of them who go ahead, while the others prefer to stay as they are. Unless there’s some kind of a ban put things don’t work! Also, when people change their email address or add a new one, the image goes because they forget to add that in. I guess you need to be very careful regarding all things.
Sometimes we know the blogger when they aren’t using their picture and can make out the change has happened because of the change of their email ID or account, and they still listen if you email and let them know. But yes, each time emailing also isn’t possible.
Thanks for sharing this very important post with all of us.
Nice to see ya Harleena, appreciate your comments always.
I agree with you that being real by showing your face in your comments is essential to get noticed.
Ohh nice to know you take too much care of your readers and commentators Harleena. Emailing every new commentator to get a gravatar is really a daunting task, isn’t it?
Harleena, now you can point the link of this post to all your new commentators who don’t have a gravatar, the post will guide them through every step
Thanks for the nice comment.
This list of comments is to long for me to leave a comment
Great post Ehsan.
It doesn’t take that time to respond to comments Andi. It’s my strategy to getting more comments.
No I agree, was just a fun comment, you get a lot of comments, I am seriously impressed. You are doing something right and I will be watching what you do carefully
Hey Ehsan!
That’s an interesting article.
You have rightly mentioned the reasons why someone should get a gravatar. It’s completely free and builds a brand for us. While, Google Authorship promotes bloggers’ faces on search pages, Gravatars do the same on blog pages. Who doesn’t want to get noticed? Using gravatar is the simplest solution.
I don’t know the reason behind this. But, why none of the bloggers don’t change the Gravatar pictures often? (Even I don’t). But we always keep updating pictures on FB
LOL
Very useful article.
Thank you
Hey Koundeenya,
Changing your Gravatar often isn’t a good idea, get a branded and memorable Gravatar ones and never change it again because when you leave quality comments around the web constantly, people will be getting familiar with your face and getting to know you. So changing it will hurt your readership and will make you anonymous.
Thanks for your comment Koundeenya.
I use Gravatar and think it is great! In fact I think all bloggers should be using it as it is a great way to get recognised online when you are writing or commenting on a site. People are much more likely to trust what you are saying when they can see your face, it’s natural after all.
Great post
Nice to see ya here after while Matt,
Thanks for the heads up. When you leave a quality and helpful comment somewhere, to get it noticed and clicked a gravatar image is must. The reason behind the creation of Gravatar.com is to help bloggers and webmasters build brand and gain the trust.
Thanks for dropping by.
Hi Ehsan,
That’s a very comprehensive post on Gravater. I’m sure it will help a lot of newbies to learn how to use it.
Thanks for sharing.
Hello Ehsan,
What a great informative and detailed post here. i really did love reading it through. As a blogger, it is best to have a gravatar enabled email because even putting our picture in google search, we need a gravatar enabled email. thanks
Thanks for stoppind by Babanature, glad you liked the post.
I think that Gravatars are very important. They help to get you noticed and also help in building a brand as well.
Thanks for the timely reminders
Isn’t that the reason you’ve built a big brand and authority out there, Kharim?
Thanks for your comment.
Nice tutorial Ehsan, I believe presence of Gravatar makes even an ugly comment beautiful and the absence converts a beautiful one into an ugliest. Every blogger must use Gravatar.
Nice to see ya here Rehnat,
Right, If you leave a quality and catchy comment somewhere and you don’t have a Gravatar, the chances are It won’t be noticed that much, and If a people read it, they would definitely want to see the face behind that comment. Thanks for drippin’ in.
I like your Gravatar by the way!
M not handsome Ehsan
Haha, If the face in your gravatar is yours, than you are!
Yeah that’s me
Ehsan, I have one question. Gravatar doesn’t work on BLOGGER sites.
There are a lot of blogs in my country, the Philippines that use BLOGGER as their blogging platform and it’s kinda hard when I want to comment on their post. I want my face/logo shown as well as include my blogs link. I tried using the wordpress setting but it’s for wordpress.com sites only and not self hosted ones.
I don’t want to bother you but I’ve looked up on google about this but can’t find something useful, do you have any ideas on commenting on BLOGGER sites?
You don’t need to reply to this comment though, I’ll keep looking.
I’m here to answer the questions of you guys, so why shouldn’t I respond lol.
I use the same photo of me on my Google profile that I’m using over on my Gravatar, so I always use my Google profile to comment on BLOGGER blogs, that way It shows my image next to my comments there. You can use your Twitter account too.
What do you think of that way?
That’s what I’ve been using, I share my posts on google plus so that readers would know where to jump next but I’m starting to think that it wouldn’t be beneficial. I’m not sure though. Thanks for the reply!
IntenseDebate and Livefyre commenting systems enable Gravatar for Blogger. My blog is also on Blogger and I use IntenseDebate now. It is brilliant.
I like the default commenting system, Rehmat! Whether It’s WordPress platform or Blogger. Those third party commenting system is not good for many perspectives as far as I know.
Using your Gravatar image on your Google or Twitter profile and commenting on Blogger blogs using those profile is the easiest way to go.
Thanks for your comment Zion.
But visitors don’t feel comfort with default commenting system of Blogger
Maybe most people don’t like the default ones, but It is the best.
You are always exceptional in creating an useful post for the bloggers Ehsan! Thanks for it!
Nice post and useful one for the bloggers. yeah, I already registered with Gravatar like other bloggers, but now I understood its benefits like building the brand, link, authority and traffic. Great to read its benefits and your remarkable tips to make it memorable are awesome.
Good work! Not only me, the community developed around you always expects this type of needful post from you, keep doing!!!
Thanks for the kind words Nirmala, nice to know you learned something new today. You didn’t know about the benefits and importance of using a Gravatar before, but still you have a nice Gravatar.
Gravatar is the universal avatar or identity for bloggers and web professionals. I’ve been using it right from the day I’ve entered into online business. Thanks for the cover up Ehsan.
Thanks for the heads up PrIyAnGsHu, It’s kinds hard to recognize your in your Gravatar and It’s kinda goofy too, why not changing it?
It’s been my gravatar since the last 3 years, but I’m thinking to change it now. Thanks for the suggestion
.
It’s never too late to make some changing in your work, to make it better. Looking forward to your new Gravatar.
Great Post Ehsaan!
Having your gravatar seems special to comment.
People also get attracted to such comments which have an interesting gravatar.
They might also click on your name and can reach your website this way.
Right Ritish, I like your gravatar very much by the way, a nice background color, great head shot. PERFECT!
I started using Gravatar from the second day of starting my new blog. I learned that people who don’t use one actually spam so better way to get approval for your comment is to have a Gravatar right!
I do get comments from spammer having a gravatar too, don’t you Vijesh?
And sometimes quality and useful comments from those not having a gravatar at all.
I love the idea of using your real photo @ Gravatar. It’s a pleasure to speak to a real person.
Yup Dmitri, thanks for your comment. And you have a nice photo in your Gravatar
Hi Ehsan,
No doubt about it, Gravatar is one of a great handful of products that really help you add branding to your social efforts on the Web. Thanks for sharing this post with your friends at BizSugar.
Nice to see ya here Heather, I’m totally in love with Bizsugar.
Do you have a personal blog of yours?
Thanks very much for this post, Ehsan – I now rarely post comments without a gravatar and I’ve sometimes emailed commenters advising them to set one up – now I’ll just be able to direct them to this post!
Sue
Hey Sue, good to see ya here.
I always advise my commentators who don’t have a Gravatar in my reply to their comment to set up one, hopefully this post will help many of your readers as well.
Are you also against using logo over a logo?
Thanks for dropping in, appreciate your support.
Hi – I’ve just reluctantly published a couple of comments from someone who uses a logo for their avatar – must admit I don’t like it and I’ve just seen a note on another blog saying they won’t accept comments if the person doesn’t leave their own picture and real name, but I find it difficult to be that hard line. If a comment’s obviously genuine, I don’t like to bin it.
It’s a tough one – it’s a shame some people feel unable to use their real identity online.
Sue
Good to see ya back Sue,
Not accepting the commentators who doesn’t has their own picture and name is not good. Sometimes a people who doesn’t know about gravatar at all leaves the most useful and quality comments.
Using your real identity does help you build your brand, but that doesn’t mean you should not accept comments from people not having a gravatar.
Thanks.
For a long time I was noticing that my picture wasn’t showing up next to my comments when I would get replies to my comments and it bothered me because I knew I’d uploaded a pic to Gravatar. So I’d go through and submit my pic again and see that it still it wasn’t showing up.
After a few times of doing this I just gave up trying and just kept commenting.
And then my business partner discovered the problem. I guess there is a setting in Gravatar for people that display x rated pics and my settings had that box checked.
No wonder I wasn’t seeing my pic on any blogs. Hahaha!
I’m grateful to all the people who saw I was making genuine comments and displaying them even though I didn’t have my photo displaying.
If anyone is having the same challenge I was, make sure to look for that setting in Gravatar! LOL
The web is lucky Ehsan to have your reminder here of why this resource is so valuable. Some people are “Reason why” learners and this will give them the incentive to get their smiling face in the comment sections of their favorite blogs.
Haha, lol Lewis, can’t believe it.
Gravatar has a lot options in it that I’m sure you and most of the other people still don’t know about, I think I should write a tutorial post on Gravatar too, shouldn’t I?
Why are you using a cartoon character in your Gravatar, or is it you?
I think it’d be an outstanding idea to do a tutorial for this topic. Especially seeing how responsive people are to it here now.
People LOVE becoming good at things they currently suck at. What they don’t like is having the process of learning something new be something that makes them feel dumb.
This is why a well-designed progression that makes it pretty much impossible for the student to fail is so important to pursue for anyone who wants their tutorial to have the biggest impact.
But this task of teaching is often underestimated primarily because people don’t take into account the four different learning styles and they only cater their content to their preference which ignores 75% or more of their audience and they often miss one or more of these six steps . . .
1. Present an overview of the topic.
2. Carefully define all terms and concepts
3. Explain the Principles i.e. why it works
4. Present a flow chart of the Process
5. Present detailed steps of your Procedure
6. Illuminate with any necessary Reference Structures
Before I took 291 pages of notes on Eben Pagan’s Advanced Learning and Teaching Technologies seminar I only had a big broad abstract view of what giving good instruction was.
I was never interested in going to school to be a teacher but I am profoundly interested in communicating with impact and the best way that I know how to do this is to consume information, put that information to use, and then convey to others what I’ve learned.
And that’s why the nerd in me was drawn to this seminar and led me to spending over 80 hours taking notes on it. And boy was this event ever a wake up call! I was getting schooled left and right!
If you have an interest in seeing the six steps above fleshed out in detail, I’ve put all the notes I took on that session on my blog here . . . http://www.mynotetakingnerd.com/blog/learning-how-tell-people-what-to-do/ and I think there’s another 5 sessions of notes on there from this event as well.
I’m anxious to see your tutorial on this topic. I’m sure that it will be awesome and I’ll be looking forward to sharing it.
PS. The cartoon is me. It’s on my site along with my Disqus profile as well.
I’ll consider writing in this topic near in future, Lewis.
You leave awesome comments, loved your comment and thanks for sharing your views regarding learning how to tell people what to do.
Nice to know It’s ya in your Gravatar, catchy one!
P.S. Don’t forget to checkout my latest post regarding WordPress Security.
Great post Ehsan,Now i’m going to change my gravatar image.
Do it now Mayur, Show your face in your Gravatar. So when are you gonna change?
waiting for some good photos, tomorow morning will snap some photos and grab it for gravatar.
I’ve been using Gravatar for years and I find this very useful.
Hey Ehsan, Good post.
As still a large amount of bloggers didn’t know about it but your whole lot of readers would know everything about gravatar.
Thanks for the post, a must for newbies.
Thanks for the appreciation.
Where are you looking in your Gravatar by the way?
In the mirror…….
haha, why not on camera lol.
Hi Ehsan.
What a coincidence that I’m going to talk about it (in my native language post) too. Basically I believe that transparency matters in online activity. Using gravatar is one of many ways you can be transparent easily. As you said, it can build trust and relationship which is highly important for online people.
Nice to see ya Okto, Good to know you’re helping people form your country regarding steps of blogging in your primary language.
Do you have readers that needs to get their gravatar set up?
Yes, I totally agree. Gravatars give your reader some trust and you, some authority. Most bloggers don’t realize this. Thanks for keeping it plain and simple @ EHSAN ULLAH
Thrilled Karthik, hope you enjoyed the post as well and learned something new today.
Like your Gravatar!
Hi Ehsan Ullah,
First I want to thank you for bringing up this topic and it was nice of you to link to my blog in the post.
I want to clarify something you said though. The only time I use the logo as my gravatar is when I’m commenting on my own blog. I also use the logo for my avatar on my second Twitter account for @basicblogtips
I started doing this because I felt like I already have a huge image of myself on the sidebar and I wanted to remind people that they were on my blog. So this way I reinforce the branding of the blog too.
Personally, I would never use a logo to comment on other blogs but I agree with you that it is better than not having any gravatar at all.
Another point I want to add (once again it’s just my opinion) I never liked the options that WordPress provides to us for commenters without a gravatar. I think they are really ugly and this is why I use the blank one instead of the gravatar logo or mystery man (monsterID and wavatar are the worst).
I see some bloggers using a plugin that will allow them to upload a customized image but I think that is a waste of a plugin. It’s like giving people too much credit. That’s why I leave it blank. Because in my mind not having a gravatar is = no branding OR no clue. lol
Hey Ileane, ya know I love writing about commenting strategies and ways to better relationship building here, It’s my favorite topic. Ahh no problem for the shout out
See I also have an image of myself in footer, seems I would also go with my logo over my gravatar only for the comments on my own blog that I’m currently using on my FB page, have you seen it? Isn’t it a good idea? (Would love to hear from you).
Yeah, everyone should show their faces when commenting on other blogs, but I’ve seen many people don’t want to show their face for some reason, so as you said that It is better to use your logo than not having a gravatar at all.
I too think It’s good to use the blank for those who don’t have a gravatar. I’ve seen some bloggers using a plugin to use their own blog logo instead of keeping it blank or using gravatar logo (For instance, just like John Chow dot com does), which is also good when it comes to reinforce the branding of the blog.
Thanks for clarifying it Ileane, hope to see ya back.
Smart tips Ehsan
No brainer for any serious entrepreneur out there, sign up, take a nice headshot and build your brand and trust around your home based venture.
Thanks!
Ryan
Thrilled Ryan
Awesome and informative post! Well yes, it’s about showing one’s real face to people, this helps to establish good identity and authority on the web. Indeed it’s about being real, so there is no need of being overly animated. And agreed, unless if one is not promoting company/business, then’s it’s better to use own photo. Overall, Gravatar image is very important for webmasters/bloggers to build online identity. Thanks Ehsan for sharing and tweeted
Thanks Nizam, glad you liked the post.
Nizam, It’s kinda hard to recognize the face behind your Gravatar, why not consider a new one?
This is a great guide Ehsan, I agree with everyone else.
I know there is so much to learn when we come online but if you’re going to be a part of social networking sites then you definitely need to get this in place as soon as possible.
I much prefer people using their faces over a logo although I understand they are wanting to get their brand out there. But social media is about people connecting with people, not companies so for a lot they’re hurting themselves there.
This is really a very thorough guide and I’ll be sure to share this as well. I still have some readers that need to get theirs set up too.
Thanks Ehsan and have a great weekend.
~Adrienne
Great to see ya here after while Adrienne, I know this is a topic that I had to cover before.
I too prefer using your own photo as a Gravatar, but using your logo only when you’re connecting on your own blog will add difference taste like Ileane does, and this is something I will also start doing. When it comes to social media and commenting on other blogs, using your face over a logo is much better.
Glad you liked the guide Adrienne, and hopefully this will help a lot of people to get their memorable and branded Gravatar sooner than later.
What’s new with your writing Adrienne?
HI Ehsan
Great post!
Firstly thanks for the mention and I really appreciate that.
Coming on to the post, I would say If we have open our shops we need to show our faces as well and opening shop is a very clear and upfront proof of being professional.
As you have rightly said, One cannot command respect and authority if one choose to hide behind those faceless pictures. I really feel the person is either not serious or have some hidden agenda or the reasons better known to them.
Everyone of us who are here on blogosphere are looking to build relationship and I wonder how can those anonymous commentators can think of ever building that.
I will be coming up with the commenting policy for my blog very soon for those people.
Thanks a lot Ehsan for sharing this.I expect a change in people after reading this.
Sapna
Hey Sapna, nice see ya here.
No problem for the mention, thanks for being a very good commentator of my blog.
Great example of shops, agreed with you. If you try be hidden in the blogosphere, you won’t be able to built authority and credibility, even Google wants to see the faces of the authors – isn’t that the reason they announced the Google author to show your face in search results?
Looking forward to your new comment policy.
Get. One. Now
It’s one of those “easy” tasks in blogging. Best part is people will start recognizing that face as they see you around the web.
The easiest task, but still a lot of bloggers are unfamiliar of it.
Thanks Greg, hopefully I’ll see a change on those people after reading this post, would love to see the faces behind those blue icons.
Great post Ehsan. there is always lots of value in your blogs and I like reading themand learning new tips. thanks for sharing
Lala Johnson.
Welcome Lala,
What’s your strategy/secret behind using a flowers image in your Gravatar? Why not use your own photo?
just like the flower when I first started this business never came back to change it. but you are right it is about time to change it.
It is the right time to change it Lala, use your FB profile picture as a Gravatar Lala. That one is cool.
You know bro, I’ll soon be fighting these faceless commentators on my blog. My blog looks dirty and spammy with them
haha same here Enstine, that is the reason I wrote this post.
What’s new with your writing these days, Enstine?
Great post Ehsan, having a Gravatar is must and helps in communicating also.
Hehehe… the most funny comment
You catty, Thankfully you changed the cat Gravatar. Now you’re a human
Hello Ehsan,
I think people like to see or imagine faces behind when they read your thoughts, and I’m sure that’s the idea behind creating Gravatar.com. People get curious when they read something interesting, or some praising words, they wish to know who said and how he/she look. Even if you split something bad people wish to see your face, because they want to know who you are, and you said something like this.
Having your face attached to your thoughts makes it quite trusty and attention grabbing. So, make sure you have one.
Anyways, quite interesting article.
Thanks for the nice comment, Romy.
Feels great when I read your thoughts regarding my posts in comments, seems I have to use some of your words in the post you mind?
By the way, Romy is your Gravatar image kinda goofy, or It’s only me who sees like this? You had a very good and clear Gravatar before, but It’s kind of low quality image I guess, isn’t it?
Thanks for your comment.
Good article Ehsan.
I used to not wear gravatar, but recently I’ve used.
What do you think about the images that I use this???
Thanks Darmawan, Nice to see you’re using a Gravatar.
Your Gravatar is kinda unrecognizable, is it your own photo? Take a head shot of yourself and use that.
Let me know what you think?
Thank you for your opinion Ehsan.
I wear my own avatar. Looks like I have to change my avatar.
Use your face over a logo Darmawan. Looking forward to see your new Gravatar.
Hi Ehsan.
I change my avatar. How Your opinion with a new avatar that I use?
I’m not handsome
Looking cool
Try using a right background color and pay attention to the background.
Thank you Ehsan.
I will try to correct background
Your welcome, keep on commenting and keep asking your blogging questions.
Sorry out of topic Ehsan.
Why your site sometimes inaccessible?
Inaccessible? what times Darmawan? And how inaccessible, I mean what it shows?
Nice points. I hear often why I use a cat picture as Gravatar.
The answer is, I want to stay anonymous for some reasons. But well Ehsan, you guys know who I am. Will be changing the pic sooner. But until then, I am this cat
Thanks for the nice article Ehsan!
Forgot one, change yours too… use your pic of your fb profile as your avatar.
May I know the reasons why you want to stay anonymous?
Using random photos from the web is not good from many perspectives, If you want to stay anonymous, why not use a logo/icon of your blog in your Gravatar?
It’s kinds hard to recognize who am I in my FB profile pic, I like my current Gravatar image. It sends signals that I mean business
Thanks for dropping in.
GRAAAAH…
Being Human!
OMG… Your comment box ask me to ‘check the box to confirm you’re human’. I am human, man
hahaha
Hi Ehsan
Your post is a Super-hit, you have been able to make a difference and I could see real Shahzad coming out from behind.
Start counting, your score now – it’s already 1+.
Sapna
+2 is on It’s way Sapna, check out Prince’s comment below
Ehsan, Nice information on Gravatar, May be this is the first most thing to do before initiating comments in other blogs. Its very true that many of beginners, may not know about the Gravatar, i too noticed few of them in my blog without their image next to the comments, suggested few of them to use Gravatar. Im not sure using the logo as image, initially i too used the logo but later changed to my image as few of the sites were not approving the comments with logo as image, even changing the image frequently is bad idea as the image represents the brand of the blog or business site.
Right, there are still a lot of people aren’t familiar about Gravatar. It’s even useful for those who aren’t bloggers, but loves to interact with other bloggers.
Lokesh, I like your Gravatar image, and I appreciate to letting those of your visitors who don’t have a Gravatar know about this post?
One more point, i would like to add here- we can encourage our commentator -by placing a gravatar link beside the comment box. It would help them to get a proper gravatar for them. Am i right
Absolutely right! rakesh.
Thanks for dropping by.