What is a “Gravatar” Photo and Why You Need One

Posted by Christina Hills | WordPress Tips | 17

Have you ever left a comment on a blog and noticed a little grey “mystery man” icon next to your name? That happens when you don’t have a profile image connected to your email address. A Gravatar solves that problem! It gives you a consistent photo or logo that automatically appears whenever you interact online. Whether you’re commenting on a WordPress site, joining an online community, or posting on a blog, your Gravatar helps people recognize and connect with you instantly.

What is Gravatar?

Gravatar stands for Globally Recognized Avatar. It is a free service that lets you create a profile image that follows you from site to site. When you comment on blogs or participate in communities that support Gravatar, your photo and profile details appear automatically when you use your email address.

Why Use a Gravatar?

Here are a few reasons you might want to set up your own Gravatar:

Consistency: Your photo or logo appears wherever you use your email address, helping people recognize you quickly.
Professionalism: A consistent image adds credibility to your online presence.
Branding: You can include links to your website and social profiles, along with a short bio, to create a simple digital calling card.
Saves time: Update your image once in Gravatar, and it updates everywhere that supports it automatically.

Gravatar is widely supported by WordPress and many other platforms, which makes it an easy way to manage your online identity. Create or update your profile by going to Gravatar.com.

You can find my Gravatar profile here: https://gravatar.com/christinahills

How It Works

Let me explain about comments: When you comment on ANY WordPress site, a little tiny photo of you shows up. If you have a Gravatar.com account, then instead of the little grey “Mystery Man”, you can have your own picture show up. See below…

Without a Gravatar

With a Gravatar

A ‘Gravatar’ is your little avatar (photo) that shows up whenever you comment on your WordPress websites, or any other WordPress Website.

How to Get Started

It only takes a few minutes to create or update your Gravatar profile:

Go to Gravatar.com.
Sign in with your WordPress.com account, or create one if you don’t have one yet.
Upload your photo or logo.
Add your name, bio, and links to your website or social profiles.
Save your changes — your Gravatar will now appear wherever you use that email address!

You can also check whether your email address already has a Gravatar connected by visiting this tool.

Final Thoughts…

Setting up a Gravatar is a quick and simple way to make your online presence more professional and personal. Instead of showing up as a blank face, your real photo or logo appears wherever you post, helping you build credibility and brand recognition. Visit Gravatar.com to create or update your profile, then try leaving a comment below to see your picture in action!

(Originally Published Mar 2013; Updated Oct 2025)

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About The Author

Christina Hills

Christina Hills helps entrepreneurs set up their websites using WordPress without having to rely on a webmaster or any tech people. Her trainings are fun and she makes it easy! Get the free PDF "The Do-It-Yourself Website Creation Checklist" Report Here

17 Comments

Andrew Stein on March 27, 2013 at 6:50 am

Excellent direction on Gravatars – Not sure that it’s true for ALL WordPress sites, though. I see variation based on how a user logs in – i.e., if they are using Facebook or Twitter to login to comment, Disqus, or other comment plugin, and then, there’s the variation between WordPress sites hosted by WordPress, and self-hosted wordpress sites on your own domain. Would be great to see a table that sorted all these variations out ! I keep different avatars for each of these options so I can recall how I was logged in when I comment – or “who” I was at the time? Gravatar is great tool, but it is not universal, unfortunately. I’m using my self-hosted WordPress site email and domain name here in your comment section. I’m curious to see which image shows up.
- Christina Hills on March 27, 2013 at 7:16 am
  
  Andrew,
  Yes you are correct that it is not true for the WordPress sites where the business owner has decided to use a different commenting system. I only teach the self hosted WordPress, as I don’t believe in using WordPress.com except for hobbyist.
  
  Also, various themes use the gravatar in different ways. In any case, it’s FREE to get one, you set it up once and then you can forget about it.
  
  🙂 Christina
  p.s. I like your gravatar photo!
  - Andrew Stein on March 27, 2013 at 11:27 am
    
    Thank you! and likewise – great Gravatar. I follow your program, and always learn something from you – thank you for always delivering. Agreed on the “hobbyist”…, Go BIG or don’t go. Enjoy your Easter.
    
    Andrew
    - Christina Hills on March 27, 2013 at 9:06 pm
      
      Andrew,
      
      I agree! Go big or don’t go!
      🙂
Amy Jones Anichini on August 16, 2013 at 8:48 am

Christina,
Thank you for the guidance on gravatars. You have a wonderful way of making WordPress features so easy to access. Thanks for everything you do!
- Christina Hills on August 16, 2013 at 9:03 am
  
  Amy,
  
  Nice to see your picture show up here!
Jo Ann Toporski on March 8, 2014 at 10:12 am

This is a test post to view the gravatar I just made
Marcia O'Malley on March 26, 2014 at 12:38 pm

Testing, testing, 1-2-3
Ugochi on February 9, 2017 at 8:49 am

Thanks so much for this post. I have a huge problem on my blog. When I comment on other blogs, my Gravatar image shows, but on my own blog it won’t. Please help, I have been battling with this for a while…
http://www.ugochi-jolomi.com
Thanks very much in anticipation.
- Christina Hills on February 10, 2017 at 7:08 am
  
  do you have 2 different email addresses? add both to gravatar
Daniela on August 21, 2017 at 11:15 am

Testing
- The Christina Hills on August 21, 2017 at 1:05 pm
  
  not quite working yet…
  - Kristen WEardon on September 17, 2018 at 11:46 am
    
    Testing
Kristen WEardon on September 17, 2018 at 11:46 am

Thank you
- Christina Hills on September 17, 2018 at 12:07 pm
  
  It’s working now! Good job @kristen 🙂
Christina on March 9, 2020 at 8:59 am

Just leaving a comment to test out my gravatar image
Lois Howard on May 11, 2020 at 3:46 pm

Testing

Testimonials

“I love my new site and I feel very proud of myself for pushing through my anxiety to learn so many new skills!”

Christina’s methodical and detailed approach to teaching WordPress is amazing! I had been afraid of WordPress before joining the WCW!! But Christina and her team make it all feel manageable, one step at a time.

I love my new site and I feel very proud of myself for pushing through my anxiety to learn so many new skills. There is no way I could have done it (or would have had the nerve to try) without Christina Hills and the WCW. Thank you so much!!

Joanie Nicholas

www.AllThingsOrganizedKC.com

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I am very grateful for Christina and her team to develop such a wonderful and useful course!

The workshop is so well-organized that a non-technical person like me can learn and master at my own pace. It teaches almost anything you can think of while building a website. I also had chances to ask my own questions and get answers on live calls. I feel so empowered that I can put up my own beautiful websites, and produce content that I want to share with the world.

I love the precious “real estate” on the Internet that belongs to me, instead of building on the rented land such as social media. I used to work with web developers on websites, it’s very time consuming with numerous back-and-forth emails and calls on any design idea or change, let alone the cost, time delay, and headache associated with it.

I would recommend the Website Creation Workshop to anyone who wants to gain the freedom of building their own online presence. I did it in four months with about an hour a day. It is an incredibly freeing experience to learn from Christina. Thank you!

Aileen Fan

AileenFan.com

“Thank you from the bottom of my heart!”

Thank you from the bottom of my heart! I joined the workshop in Spring 2019 and I completed a website for my husband’s music business. It is not perfect, but at the moment it is enough for our purposes. Of course it will grow and change alongside our business.

I agreed to help my husband to publish his music (stuck indoors, Covid and all…) Suddenly, I acquired a very clear vision where I wanted to go and now we not only have a website, but have also gained a verified and approved artist status on Spotify and YouTube – In three short months ? and this is really just the beginning. And you helped with a very important piece – building a foundation, our house on the web.

I wanted to say thank you for providing a very comprehensive resource that helped me to overcome “it is not enough” syndrome and to create my first ever working WordPress website. You gave me enough confidence to finish and publish it.

Thanks a million. You are awesome!

Neris Gallo

DantePlay.com

“I’m honored to be one of Christina Hills students!”

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Cecilia Roger

JapaneseEmbroideryAcademy.com

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Christina and her team have finessed the tricky balance between challenge and encouragement through an on-line platform allowing for even the most technically-challenged entrepreneur to be successful with developing their own website. I have gained skills and confidence in designing my own site – and now maintaining it — all while having fun! I’m so glad I found you when I did.

Sandra Jenvey

VitalEnergyBalance.ca

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Susanna Grinsvall

www.SusannaGrinsvall.com

“Super big thank you to Christina!”

After following Christina Hills online for a while I found her instruction to be very thorough, and honest in approach, so I decided to give the Website Creation Workshop a try. It happened at a time when I was struggling with another web designer, again, a grand total of four designers over a period of 15 years!!! I couldn’t be happier to not have to make those angry, frustrated calls anymore. Seriously!

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www.PatsLessons.com

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WOW! I can’t believe I created my own website! When I began this journey I was not sure I could really do it. After years of having paid others to create and maintain a website, I thought I might be getting in over my head. Thank God I found Christina and her team!

They have a fantastic program that allows you to move at your own pace and ask questions along the way. Everything is beautifully put together and well thought out. I think this is the only way I could’ve accomplished this. I did the work knowing someone was there to patiently guide and support me when I needed it. Thanks to Christina and her team for a putting together this beautiful program.

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AkashicWorkshop.com

“Christina instills confidence and independence in her students.”

I decided the new skill I’d learn during Covid lockdown would be web design, and I couldn’t have chosen a better teacher and program than the Website Creation Workshop. Christina Hills is a teacher’s teacher ( I say that as a teacher!) She has tremendous facility teaching technical skills and breaking them down in a simple, non-overwhelming process that is actually fun, especially to a non-technical audience. She is logical as well as creative in the perfect balanced combination. She understands creative multi-faceted people who are working with more than one niche, yet provides structure and sound advice at the same time. I have taken almost all of her different programs at this point, and each one has delivered far beyond my expectations.

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If you told me 6 months ago I would be designing and managing my own website – I would not have believed you. For years I had people to manage my site and they never got it quite right and it was too expensive to keep having them make those changes to get it right. Now, I have a website I love and I can make changes and keep it current without the huge cost of paying someone else.

Thank you, Christine and Team – you have all be fabulous and the training and support from the Facebook Group have gone over and above what I could have ever imagined. Thank you and I am looking forward to managing my own website!

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One of the things I love about you and your company Christina, is that you run it from an abundant loving place, like you’re caring for your fellow human. Along with all your brilliant teaching skills, you make it easy to want to stay connected to you, Christina, because you have built in the space for people to be human and change their mind or go through hard things and you support us in that.

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livingfromjoy.com

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“I am not a technically savvy person. And I just completed a gorgeous website that I’m really pleased with! Christina’s WCW is extremely well organized and detailed. Even I could follow it with ease! I feel empowered, because the world of websites is no longer a big mystery. What a wonderfully surprising silver lining.”

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www.LivingInFullExpression.com

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Christina Hills’ Website Creation Workshop course is The Best online course I’ve ever taken! Here’s why: It’s way more than information-packed (which it is). It took me, step-by-step, to create my own website in a way that was thorough, and easy to understand, and supportive, and encouraging, and easy to follow … AND FUN!

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TheHeroMethod.com

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I have been a member of Christina Hills’ community for three years now. I have appreciated her clear and understandable teaching. Christina’s lessons are very step by step so that anyone can follow them – even with NO website experience. Her process has been refined so that you just need to follow the process. You do not get lost down the many, many rabbit holes in WordPress or building a website. Her course is well organized and easy to navigate.

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“Christina provides a wealth of information in a clear, concise, practical and fun manner!”

Christina provides a wealth of information in a clear, concise, practical and fun manner. I tried to do my own WordPress website and ended up frustrated and with unsatisfactory results. After attending a free webinar about the Website Creation Workshop, I knew immediately that she was an excellent teacher, presenter and a person of heart.

I am so thrilled with my new website and my ability to control and grow my content over time. I ran into some challenges along the way, but Christina and her team were there every step of the way. That is a sign of a great teacher! Thank you Christina and I look forward to continuing the journey with you in other workshops.

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FourPawsDogTraining.com

“It is EMPOWERING!”

Christina’s Website Creation Workshop was FANTASTIC! As a graphic designer, I know how to make things look pretty! But I learned so much more about building an interesting and effective website.

Christina teaches at a pace that is slow and powerful, so all of the details have time to soak in. I highly recommend, and do to all of my entrepreneur friends, Christina’s training. It is EMPOWERING! Thanks!

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YinWithLynne.com

“A superb program to learn and implement technologies that are typically out of reach to non-techies.”

Christina Hills is a natural teacher! The Website Creation Workshop is a superb, comprehensive program to learn and implement technologies that are typically out of reach to non-techies. As a tool for every size business to establish an online brand, I’m confident that an investment in this program is worth the time and every penny spent working with Christina and her team. The support and guidance are invaluable!

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www.ExecutiveBrandCoach.com

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But with Christina’s Website Creation Workshop, I produced something that I am proud of and that is constantly getting me compliments! The step-by-step process is very straightforward and easy. Christina has “game-a-fied” the creation process so you see yourself making progress as you go. Not only do I love my site, but I’ve been able to even help some other people because of the training I’ve received!

Steven Cooper

www.ClarityFocusHeart.com

“I am glad to have taken a chance on this course and am so happy to have completed this website!”

I have attempted to learn WordPress many times with online tutorials, and continued to hit “roadblocks” where I couldn’t figure out how to move forward.

With the Website Creation Workshop, I was able to understand how WordPress works so much more clearly and was able to ask critical questions when needed. I am glad to have taken a chance on this course and am so happy to have completed this website – one that I hope will be the first of many more!

Maria Moyser

BrooklynAnimalAction.org

“If it weren’t for the Website Creation Workshop, I might still not have a website up and running!”

If it weren’t for the Website Creation Workshop, I might still not have a website up and running! Christina goes through things step by step so that you not only know what buttons to click, but why.

The knowledge will continue to be helpful so that even if I have someone else manage updates on my website, I can easily go in and make quick changes myself and will understand what I’m asking someone else to do. This was a great way to get myself going!

Kim Barnes

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What is a “Gravatar” Photo and Why You Need One

What is Gravatar?

Why Use a Gravatar?

How It Works

How to Get Started