8 Awesome Facebook Gadgets For Your Blog

In the last post we talked about using Facebook to promote your blog, and how having people share your blog on Facebook is like getting free advertising.I also told you how i have really been working at promoting my blogs on social network and social bookmarking sites, the results really did point to Facebook as the best option with the most potential traffic.I go more in dept in that post and it is recommended reading here's the link : How Facebook Can Turn Your Blog Into An Overnight Success

At the end of that post i promised to give you a few Facebook tips to help you get people sharing your content on Facebook, and to help you create a professional Facebook fan page for your blog.The next post will look at the Facebook fan page but today we will see the options available to get people sharing your blog with their Facebook friends.

Facebook Taking The Lead - Recently Facebook made it possable for Bloggers to add a simple Like Icon to their blog.This in my opinion was Facebook taking the lead in making it as easy as possible for people to share content.The Facebook Like Button just requires one click and the user does not need to go to their account or fill out an annoying Catcha (Word verification).So sharing a blog post, video or any link now takes less than a second.Remember the pop up window, choose an image, add a description and fill the catcha ?

In April just after Facebook released the Like Icon i showed you how to add the basic icon to your blog in this post : Add The New Facebook Like This Share Icon To Your Blog Posts.Since then Facebook Developers have come up with some awesome gadgets, from a box that displays the profile pictures of people who liked the post to a sidebar gadget that shows updates from your Facebook profile.Lets look at the gadgets currently available and how to add them to your blog.

Update 17th June 2012 - Facebook have relesed a Facebook For Wordpress Plugin That allows you to easily add these gadgets and more to your Wordpress Blog.

8 Facebook Blog Gadgets

Like Button - The Basic Button

"..The Like button lets users share pages from your site back to their Facebook profile with one click.."



Recommendations

"..The Recommendations plugin gives users personalized suggestions for pages on your site they might like..."




Facebook Login Button

"..The Login Button shows profile pictures of the user's friends who have already signed up for your site in addition to a login button.."



Facebook Comments

"..The Comments plugin lets users comment on any piece of content on your site.."




Facebook Activity Feed

"..The Activity Feed plugin shows users what their friends are doing on your site through likes and comments..."

Facebook Like Box

"..The Like Box enables users to like your Facebook Page and view its stream directly from your website.."

Facebook Face Pile

"..The Facepile plugin shows profile pictures of the user's friends who have already signed up for your site.."

Facebook Live Stream

"..The Live Stream plugin lets your users share activity and comments in real-time as they interact during a live event.."

How To Add These Gadgets To Your Blog - Your probably wondering were the code is for these gadgets.Well the code for all the gadgets is available on the Facebook developers page.Simply Follow this link and click on the gadget you wish to add to your blog to get the code : Facebook Developers Gadgets

Were To Put The Gadgets

Some of these gadgets will work fine in your sidebar, so just add a gadget, Choose Html/Javascript and paste in the code.However you should add on of the like gadgets or share gadgets at the top or bottom of each post to make it easier for people to use.

Steps To Add Gadgets To Your Blog

Step 1. In Your (New Design) Blogger Dashboard Click The Drop Down Menu For Your Blog > Choose Template > Then Edit Html > Now Proceed > Tick The Expand Widget Templates Box as shown in the video Below :

Below Post Title - To add the button directly below the post titles Find the following code in your blogs Html :
(Click Ctrl and F for a search bar to help find the code - More Info)

Now paste the facebook button code Directly Below / Under

Above All Posts - To add the button at the top of the posts Find the following code in your blogs Html
(Click Ctrl and F for a search bar to help find the code - More Info)

Now paste the Facebook button code Directly Before / Above

Below All Posts - To add the button directly below the posts Find the following code in your blogs Html :

(Click Ctrl and F for a search bar to help find the code - More Info)

Now paste the Facebook code Directly Below / Under

I would recommend checking out all the gadgets and seeing which works best for you.Some of these gadgets can be connected to a Facebook fan page, Have you created a Fan Page for your blog ? Well in the next post of this 3 part Series on Facebook we will look at how to create a face book fan page and more importantly how to Spice Up Your Face Book Fan Page.

Drop Your Comments And Questions Below.