Now that we are entering a new world of dealing with the Coronavirus, more people will be interacting online, rather than in person. And since that is the case, you will want to have a photo of yourself appear online automatically when you comment.
You may have noticed that on many blogs or websites, a little photo of a person shows up beside their comment. But sometimes, all that appears is a gray ‘mystery man’ silhouette. Boring!
However, you can have your image attach automatically to your comments on WordPress blogs and other websites using a “Gravatar”. A Gravatar is your little avatar that shows up when you comment on your website or other websites.
An “Avatar” is an image that represents you online—a little picture that appears next to your name when you interact with websites.
A “Gravatar” is a Globally Recognized Avatar. You upload it and create your profile just once, and then when you participate in any Gravatar-enabled site, your Gravatar image will automatically follow you there.
Here’s an example of photos in the comments:
Your Gravatar is an image that follows you around the web appearing beside your name when you leave a comment on a blog or website. It helps identify who you are on blogs and web forums.
What’s Great About a Gravatar & Why You Need One?
This short video explains more details about what a Gravatar is and how to set one up.
As you can see, there’s a lot to love about a Gravatar:
- It’s a free service (you can open a free account by going to www.Gravatar.com)
- It’s quick and easy to set up
- Upload your picture ONCE and it will appear automatically when you comment or post on a Gravatar-enabled site
- You can upload multiple images and swap them out instantly
- You can set a rating if needed
- If you use WordPress.com, you can sign up directly from your profile page without having to go to Gravatar.com
Gravatar is not Only for Commenting!
Besides commenting on WordPress sites, Gravatar images are also used in many other applications. For example conference use them to display the speakers for their event.
See image below:
So don’t delay, sign up for a free account and set your gravatar image ONCE, and then it will follow you wherever you go on the internet!
Simple Video: How to Create Your Free Gravatar
Need more help in getting started? I’ve created this short 9 min video to walk you through, step by step, how to set up your Gravatar image.
You can also find step-by-step instructions on how to sign up for Gravatar here:
https://en.gravatar.com/support/how-to-sign-up/ (but the video above explains it better)
Try it out! Set up a Gravatar account. Then, show us your new Gravatar by leaving a comment on this post below.
This article was originally published in February 2009
Thanks so much Christina for the great tip about gravatar’s! It took me 2 minutes to make my gravatar!
I’ve been listening to your teleseminar from TSS 1ShoppingCart. I love how you cover all the bases! Thanks for being such a great teacher!
Great tip.
I have a gravatar account and have at least 3 links there but sometimes it still doesn’t show up. I guess I need to go back and check it out again.
Thanks.
Well, added this email so I should be all set! Let’s see if you can see me!
Christine
I see you Christine!
Thanks Christina for the wonderful tip. I have joined up and hopefully you will see me. I have just found your site and am loving all the information which is so timely because I have started two blogs and want to eventually start a membership site. I am so glad I will be able to learn to do it myself instead of rely on some one else. Keep up the great info!
Charyn,
So glad you are liking the information. I will look for you on Tuesday during new student registrations….
🙂
Christina, I just registered a new domain name for a new website that I want to put up. If I register with my old website and email address and I want to show my new one, will I be able to do that with the Gravatar? In the video that you provided, I see where it says you cannot delete an email address. Is that correct? Even if you are no longer using it? I’m thinking I should wait to create my Gravatar account until I have my website up with the corresponding email address. Thanks for you informative lesson.
Eva,
with gravatar you can have multiple email addresses.
I would not worry about that, I would just go get a gravatar and start using it. It’s ok if you stop using an email address, because that email address is not public.
Are you going to join me in the summer program?
https://websitecreationworkshop.com/register/
Thank you, Christina. What a great tip! Love the simplicity with which you teach new information.
Susan,
glad you liked this gravatar tip!
and I like that I can see you smiling
🙂
That’s really cool. Thanks for the post!
Thanks for the info – can you change your image at any time?
Margaret,
yes you can change your photo at any time.
PLUS you can add multiple email addresses.
SO you can post on different blogs/wordpress websites with different email addresses and it will find you
🙂
Thanks for responding – I’m looking forward to more of your videos.
In your course is there any one on one mentoring. For instance, do you teach how to install WordPress and then answer questions on individual problems or stumbling blocks we may encounter in the process?
Best
Margaret
A BIG thumb up! I love the video, its so comfortable and vivid. I came to your post through youtube when I was looking for resources to write a new blog post on gravatars. I’ve used your video in my post, hope you won’t mind.
Followed you through twitter and facebook that I use most.
Suresh,
glad you liked the video! yes, twitter and facebook are places I do like to hang out at.
😉 Christina
Hi Christina,
I tried to use a photo that I had edited with Photo Shop. It did not work. So, I used the original photo, and it did work. Is there a reason for this?
Thanks
Patrice
Patrice,
I have seen odd situations where photos don’t work. I think it has something to do with how the image is stored internally. Gravatar does let you crop the photo, so default to that. You can try other photos and see if you have the same trouble. Good thing is that Gravatar let’s you change your pictures as you wish!
It would not let met crop, either. It just didn’t like me!!
Patrice,
sometimes you just need to click around inside Gravatar.com to crop your photo.
perhaps use a different photo editing software to crop your picture. Perhaps one that came with your digital camera
Thanks for the gravatar informaion. Hopefully, I no longer look like a witness relocation person when I post comments on WordPress. Let’s see if it worked…
Linda,
You look great! No witness relocation person here.
LOL!
🙂
Thank you so much for this. I have been a ‘mystery woman’ for a long time. Hopefully, no more. I hope you don’t mind that I left a comment to thank you and also to test out my steps to create a gravatar on your blog 🙂
Have a great 2011!
Stephanie,
That is what we are here for! Glad to see your smiling face show up!
Thank you Christina how much fun. I set it up, hopeful that it works.
Hi Christina, my (small) team and I have created our own websites for the past 6 years and we’re now getting started in creating websites for others.
We’ve come to your blog a couple of times and we are definitely taking all of your advice seriously.
Thank you Christina! It was very helpful 🙂
Hi,
Great Posting.
Thanks Christina Hills
Hi Christina,
I set up a Gravatar a long time ago, not sure if it still works though, so posting here to see. If not, will follow your directions and set up a new one. Keep up the great work on the site and with the videos–love them!
Yep, I can see your smiling face 🙂
I want to see if my picture shows up. I’m enjoying the class!
Barbara,
sometimes it takes a bit of time for your gravatar to show up.
Glad you are enjoying the program!
You can also leave comments in your student project and test it that way
Thanks Christina – this has been really helpful; I’ll be able to go get a gravatar now.
Cheers
gab
Really nice, this 1 will go in my book marks!
Very useful. Thanks!
I’m a begginer with wp. I have already set up a site buit with this platform (wordpress.org). In my dashboard there is no option for set my avatar or gravatar, no matter I have the gravatar plugin installed and activated. It keeps showing the unpersonal gray logo. Can you help me?
Alex, sometimes it takes a day to show up. But I see your pic now!
Congrats
🙂
Thank you, Christina. My problem was that I used a different mail account for my blog. Solved.
Glad you figured it out!
I got mine!
Carmen,
And I can see your smiling face!
🙂
Your simply amazing Christina!
You can expect some warm tidings from above and Gravatar pics from your new media fan
Ruben
Ruben,
just know that it can take a couple of days for your image to show up! Come leave another comment tomorrow to test it 🙂
Trying it out – thanks for the tip!
Yes it’s working!
Trying again…
Here’s my other one –
Carole, your other image is working too!
So I went through the process. Now I’ll check it out to see how it works….