Recently I was asked how to add the Facebook Like feature to a WordPress.com blog.
Since I write about the WordPress. org or self-hosted version, I had to look this up. My work with WordPress.com is mostly with moving people to self-hosted WordPress.
Since plugins can’t be added to WordPress.com blogs and the templates can’t be modified, I honestly didn’t think I was going to find a solution for this. (Well, some extras can be purchased but I’m not going to get into the intricacies of WordPress.com in this article.)
But, I did.
- Go to Get Social Live
- Add the post title and the url to the post in the first two fields. Unfortunately, this will need to be added on a post by post basis. It can’t be added to the overall site.
- Select Facebook Like
- Click on the Get Social Button
- The code you need will show up and you can copy and paste it into your post.
When you click on the Like Button in your post, you will be take to a social live page that looks like the following.
You will then need to click Like again on this page, to actually like the post and have it posted to your Facebook wall.
So, while this is a clunky solution for WordPress.com users, I suppose it’s better than nothing. And based on my tests, it will work on self hosted WordPress sites too. I’m assuming it would work on any type of site.
Do you know of any different or better ways to add Facebook like to WordPress.com sites?
Note: The photo doesn’t really have anything to do with this post other than that it’s my “new” bike and I really “like” it ;-)
Have you read the theory that the “like” button is a conspiracy by FB to take over the Web – to have all sites on the Web connected to FB? I’m only half-joking actually – I’ve read articles about it and thought that they made an interesting point.
.-= vered – blogger for hire´s last blog ..Shiny Happy People (Stock Photography Rant) =-.
Hi Vered – I think Facebook does want the entire web connected to them.
Interesting timing! A friend posted a question about this on Facebook yesterday in response to this Mashable article http://mashable.com/2010/06/13/facebook-like-increases-blog-referral-traffic/.
I asked a friend of mine who’s a Facebook expert and she suggested this plugin http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/like/.
Hi – This solution is for wordpress.com blogs. Unlike the self-hosted version, plugins can’t be installed. On self-hosted sites, like this, there are more options – code or plugins.
I can’t use it, but I’ll forward it on, good find!
.-= Dennis Edell | Direct Sales Marketing´s last blog ..Name My Blog Network – Win $10 or Ad Space! =-.
Thanks Dennis :-)
Very cool! I’d been using Facebook’s own code generation utility for this, but added utility makes GetSocial look better. Thanks for the info!
Hi Paul – Great – I’m glad it worked our for you.
Ok, how about a ‘Like’ button for the rest of the population? Ya know, the folks that realize having your own WordPress blog has more value than increasing the equity of WordPress.com
.-= Colleen´s last blog ..17th Annual Cool Desert Nights =-.
Hi Colleen – I have an article here
http://www.kimwoodbridge.com/2-ways-to-like-add-facebook-like-to-your-wordpress-site/
I should have linked to it from this post ;-)
I have created a bookmarklet which launches the “Facebook Like” button in a wordpress.com blog post instantly. The blog owner doesn’t even have to leave the blog admin to add the button.
When clicked, the button takes the reader to a blank page with a “Facebook Like” button in it which can be clicked. Clunky? yeah! But it kind of looks like it is integrated right within the blog and not to some external third-party website.
How to add the Facebook Like feature in a wordpress.com blog post in ONE click
.-= Netty Gritty´s last blog ..How to add a “Share on Facebook” button in a wordpresscom blog post in ONE click =-.
Hi – Thanks for the info – looks like another good solution.
Hi Kim,
Thanks so much for taking the time to write and explain this clearly. I’ve just tested it for myself and another wp.com blog and it works. Much appreciated. Gayle.
.-= Gayle Pescud´s last blog ..8 How are you I’m fine =-.
Hi Gayle – Thanks for writing – I’m so glad it worked for you :-)
I am just getting started, and appreciated your post, thank you very much!
Hi, I wondering why I couldn’t post a like button to my wordpress themed page. I now have it up using your method, but it won’t post to one’s facebook wall even on the 2nd click. Any solution?
Hi Linda – I’m not sure. It’s possible that wordpress.com has changed the way this works – you might want to check their documentation or see if they offer an alternative plugin.