Blogger Qs Answered: How do I add my picture to my comments?

Question submitted by Monica Dennis of Village Works, Piece by Piece

Q.
Where do I go to add in my picture so when I comment it shows up? (I only take the time to do this with blogs I like enough to remember. ) I assume it’s a CommentLuv feature? I think I’m blind and missing something simple. Sorry.

Thanks to Monica for submitting the question, because it’s something I probably wouldn’t have addressed unless someone asked. That’s the beauty of the Ask Me forum! I can only speculate about what a blogger needs help with unless there’s a way for me to find out directly. If you haven’t submitted a question yet, feel free to do so!

A.
Many blogs are using avatars in the comment boxes, to give the commenter some way of showing their face or extending their brand. An avatar is a square, visual representation of yourself used all over the web.
A Gravatar is a global avatar. It’s associated with your email account. When you leave a comment on a blog that uses Gravatars, it will be displayed (includes all WordPress.com blogs, many self-hosted WordPress blogs, any other blogs that use DISQUS or InstenseDebate comment systems, and as well as several social media applications).
If you don’t have one, a default image will be shown. The default image shown is based on the blog author’s preferences.
Anyone can set up a Gravatar. Although WordPress and Gravatar are connected (and share the same user database), you don’t have be a WordPress.com user to have one.

Set up your Gravatar in four easy steps:

1. Go to http://en.gravatar.com/.

2. Choose Sign Up from the top menu.

3. Enter your email address. When you receive a confirmation, activate your account.

4. Once your account is activated, upload an image that will serve as your Gravatar.

Make sure the image you upload is fairly large. The Gravatar system will create multiple sizes for you – you only need to upload a single image.

You won’t need to do anything further. Blogs that use Gravatars will display the image that is associated with the email you used to create yours.

A Note About DISQUS & IntenseDebate Comment Systems

When a blog is using DISQUS: the DISQUS system allows users to choose from a number of images, includes ones associated with Facebook or Twitter, as well as the Gravatar. In order for an image to show up in your DISQUS comment, you have to go to DISQUS and create a profile. It is worth your while, as many bloggers are choosing DISQUS as a way to enhance the commenting experience. (Side note: I would, too, except a few months ago they were still working out a huge bug with WordPress and I want to wait until that gets sorted out.)

When a blog is using IntenseDebate: IntenseDebate uses the Gravatar image associated with the email address you use to leave the comment. (Side note: am considering using IntenseDebate here instead of DISQUS because of that bug. Any thoughts? Especially if you know about the bug).

A Note About Blogger Avatars

The avatars displayed in Blogger comments is usually linked to the Blogger profile that is associated with the person leaving the comments, or the Google profile if the commenter decides to use that instead. People who use the Name/URL option to leave their comments will not have an image associated with their comment.

A Note About WordPress.com Avatars

Prior to Gravatars, the avatar associated with someone’s WordPress.com blog would be used whenever he or she left a comment on another WordPress blog (much in the same way Blogger comments are displayed). If you have an email address associated with an old WordPress.com account, and you use that email to leave a comment on a WordPress blog, it is still possible for that old image to be displayed, particularly if the blog you’re commenting on is using an outdated version of WordPress. In order to make sure your avatar is consistent with your Gravatar, be sure to log into your WordPress.com account and update the avatar there as well OR change the email address associated with your WordPress.com account so it picks up the right image.

Did that help? Let me know.

And chip in if I missed something or need to correct anything. Thank you!

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Norman from Local Advertising Agency Colorado

Your information is helpful and I like to have my avatar contain picture something very interesting or myself.

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Tamara @ pig costumes

Excellent article. I’ve been learning more about link value lately. Adding gravatar doesn’t seem like a big deal, but aunique, well-placed anchor text on a topic-related post is golden. Especially when that page eventually gains solid page rank. You can eventually own a good-sized chunk of a category having multiple posts supporting a topic.

sandy@electricians liverpool

thanx for the tip didnt know how to put a picture with my blog either, cheers.

seospidy@Internet marketing

thanks excellent post I like your content writing skills

FreakSmack@funny mug shots

I always had the blogger commenting system for my blog. but I've been using intense debate for a little over a month now and I really like it. Some of my commenters found it confusing at first, but have now gotten the hang of it. I am going to send a few of them to get a universal gravitar, because having a silhouette is ridiculous if you're a blogger.
.-= FreakSmack@funny mug shots´s last blog ..Raymond Carillo was Arrested for using his Gang Member Status to Threaten or Intimidate in Maricopa county =-.

Monica Dennis

Thanks, Tia! That was hugely helpful and I immediately went to do that. This will be my test to see if it worked too. This was one thing I had never heard of so there was no way I was going to run into it without you answering. :-D
My recent post Five Truths About Children Who Drown

ileane

HI Tia,
I just wanted to add something about Blogger - You can install Disqus or Intense Debate commenting system on Blogger and if you haven't already PLEASE do. I prefer Intense Debate because I had some issue installing Disqus. Also Intense Debate recently started recognizing WordPress.com avatars too.

I'm glad you decided to use Intense Debate. Cheers!
Ileane

bizchickblogs

Hi Ileane! Exactly! Blogger bloggers do need to install either one of those systems. On a client blog I put up I just installed IntenseDebate. Huge improvement to the Blogger blogging experience.

Thanks for stopping by and I'm happy with IntenseDebate. Such a great commenting tool.

Michael Koenig

So glad to hear that you're loving IntenseDebate! Hope you don't mind me dropping by. Let me know if you have any questions about ID.

On a separate note, have you checked out our plugins? We offer some super-cool add-ons like After the Deadline spelling a grammar checker, PollDaddy Polls, CommentLuv, and Smileys. They're available athttp://intensedebate.com/plugins . :)

Hi Michael! Of course I don't mind if you stop by. :) I checked out those plugins and I've added a few. Love it. Thanks!

Evelyn

This is great information! Before I switched over to Wordpress, I had no idea why my avatar was not showing up on Wordpress blogs, so this is very helpful.

I'm thinking about switching from Disqus commenting system to something else. I'm still checking things out. How are you liking Intense Debate?

Yes! I feel so bad for Blogger bloggers since they are kinda left in the dark on how to do this. I hope they do find this helpful.

I LOVE IntenseDebate. I had tried out DISQUS on a few different occasions but each time it was some other bug. So I'm happy with IntenseDebate. Thanks for asking.

We'd love it if you gave IntenseDebate a try! Please let me know if you have any questions. Email is probably the best way to get in contact - [email protected] Thanks!