Blogging Basics: Why Every Blogger Needs a Gravatar (And How to Set One Up)

Elna December 16, 2021 199 Comments

Let me guess:

You’re new to blogging and have no clue what a Gravatar is right? (you just liked my blog image of those yummy donuts eh?) 🙂

I totally get that.

When I first started blogging almost two years ago, I never heard of a Gravatar.

The closest thing was an Avatar and well, I’m not into sci-fi stuff.

Having a Gravatar, though, is important to grow your brand and get noticed by others (especially influencers).

For some reason, though, when you start a new blog and you are brand new to blogging, you have no idea about this. I certainly didn’t.

I had to research and learn how to get a Gravatar.

Because, as all new bloggers soon learn, when they start reading other people’s blogs and wanting to leave a comment, it ends up looking like this:

Yup, that was me and probably my first ever blog comment. You don’t understand why everyone else has a nice picture of themselves next to their comment, and yours doesn’t.

Well, my blogging friend, having your mug next to your comment is a Gravatar and every blogger should have one.

Hold up! I forgot to ask, do you have a blog yet?

Before you get into the nitty gritty of this post, if you’re reading this and don’t have a blog, but want to start one, I have an easy step-by-step tutorial on how to start a blog using SiteGround!

What is a Gravatar?

All a Gravatar really is, is a Globally Recognized Avatar. This image – whether it’s a headshot or logo or something else – follows you online.

You can use it when you leave a comment on a blog or forum, and it even follows you when you sign up for certain online tools like MailChimp:

What’s great about your Gravatar is that it’s only associated with your email address.

Whether you have a WordPress blog or using Squarespace, any blogger with an email address can and should have a Gravatar.

Before we get down to the nitty gritty, hang on tight as there is a video tutorial on setting up your Gravatar later in the post!

Having a Gravatar makes it easy for when you decide to feature other bloggers in an upcoming post you’re doing.

For example, my post, 12 Mama Bosses Tell You How They Monetize Their Blog has Gravatars of other mama bloggers:

So, instead of asking for their headshot and having to use an editing tool like Canva or Photoshop to resize it, I can just use their Gravatar.

But, what if you’re not sure a blogger you asked to contribute to your post even has a Gravatar? You can do a quick check here. Just type in someone’s email address and see if an image pops up:

And, want to know something awesome too? You can easily change the size of someones Gravatar image just by changing the last number (80).

https://s.gravatar.com/avatar/5fa63c208a91e65de900ea256d29d9d7?s=200

Oh, and one more thing.

You can use this Gravatar address in WordPress for when you want to add a blogger’s image to your post. In my mommy collaboration post I used their Gravatars in my post:

In the backend (HTML) version, it looks like this:

Pretty cool huh?

And if you want to be a popular blogger, I think it’s soo soo soo important to have one. Here’s why.

Why Having a Gravatar Can Help Grow Your Blog

Have you asked yourself why you started blogging in the first place?

For many people, it’s just a place to share your journey, inspire others or offer tips to help people with a problem or certain area of their lives.

But, every blogger wants to grow their blog, right?

What’s the point of blogging if no one is reading it?

While there are many different ways to get your blog on the map, one easy and quick way is with your Gravatar.

I know..who would’ve thought, right? But, I know from experience, having a Gravatar is the underrated blogging tool to helping you grow your blog. Here’s how it can help you generate more traffic, followers and engagement:

1. Puts a Face to Your Brand

Have you thought much about your visual brand? It’s the overall look and feel you want people to notice when they see your blog, your design and learn who you are.

Part of your brand package includes YOU.

For a lot of bloggers, their brand is actually themselves. Take Melyssa Griffin for example.

She re-branded from The Nectar Collective to Melyssa Griffin.

I did a similar thing switching my blog on Innovative Ink to Elna Cain.

When you use your name for your brand, it’s imperative to show your face.

But, what if you aren’t using your name for your blog? Do you still need a Gravatar?

Of course!

New people want to know who you are and what you look like.

Good blogging practice is to respond to any blog comments on your blog. If you aren’t using a Gravatar, your comment will seem out of place and generic on your OWN blog!

Your Gravatr, then, helps you remain constant on your blog by showing your image each and every time you respond to comments and it helps new readers connect with you faster when they can put a face to your words.

And when you start using a Gravatar, you start building a consistent brand because your Gravatar image should also be similar – or the same – as your social media profile images.

2. Helps You Stand Out

Is blog commenting part of your marketing strategy to grow your blog?

It can be for new bloggers. Visiting other blogs in your niche and of your target audience not only helps you stay connected with other mama bosses, but it also starts to build credibility in your niche.

By leaving insightful, useful and meaningful comments on other people’s blog, you immediately create trust and a level of curiosity.

People will start to notice you and want to get to know more about who you are, much more with your Gravatar than without.

3. Helps Drive Traffic to Your Blog

Over time, the more you comment and the more you brand your face – on your About page, side bar, blog images, author bio, and social media profiles – the more people will start to recognize you and quickly associate your face to your brand.

And it’s no different with your comments.

A blogger is less likely to click over to a someones site if they didn’t have a Gravatar associated with their comment.

Let that sink in.

You can work so hard on producing pillar content and share it all over social media, but if you’re going around leaving comments without your Gravatar image, you’re just hurting your chances of gaining a new audience.

I don’t know about you, but when I visit a blog and scroll through the comments, I always skim over comments that don’t have a Gravatar – unless I know them or if they leave a comment on my blog. Don’t you? They just don’t leave a lasting impression.

But, the ones that do are the ones that have a Gravatar and a meaningful comment. Those are the bloggers I’m excited to learn about and I will click over to their blog to learn more about them.

The Biggest Reason All Bloggers Should Have a Gravatar

Do you want to know the biggest reason I think you should have a Gravatar? It’s because your comment might otherwise look like a spam comment:

The WordPress commenting system might mistake your no-Gravatar comment for a Spam comment and place you in the Spam folder.

I normally don’t check my Spam folder – I just empty it periodically – but for this post I decided to take a look and couldn’t believe I had some legit comments in there!

I almost deleted them! Yikes!

So, it goes to show, not having your headshot along with your comment can hurt your chances at growing your blog and actually getting your comment published!

How To Set Up Your Gravatar

Now that you know how important it is for you to have a Gravatar, here’s a step-by-step tutorial on setting up your Gravatar account. Spoiler alert! It’s super easy.

1. Go to the Gravatar Website and Click “Create Your Own Gravatar”

Once you click on the Create Your Own Gravatar button, you’ll be taken to a sign up page where you can fill in your information – email address, username and password.

Now, you might be hesitant because Gravatar is branding itself with WordPress.

But, even if you don’t have a WordPress blog (maybe you have a Squarespace or Blogger blog) you can still have a Gravatar.

Gravatars are only tied to your email address. I suggest you use your domain specific email address.

2. Activate Your Account

An email will be sent to activate your account.

When you do this, you’ll be taken to your WordPress account.

3. In Your WordPress Account

In your WordPress Account, confirm email and then go up to your profile image and click on that.

3. Add Your Profile Image

Go ahead and add your profile image here.

4. You Have One Gravatar

Once you add your headshot you have a Gravatar associated with the email you used for setting up a Gravatar.

However, it’s a good idea to create different Gravatars for different email address or, you may just want to update your original Gravatar.

At this point you no longer need to log into your WordPress account.

On this page simple scroll down and click on Gravatar profile.

5. Add Or Change Gravatar

On this page is your Gravatar. If you go to the top menu, select My Gravatars.

6. Manage Yoru Gravatars

After signing in you’ll go to Managing Gravatars. Here you can:

Add more emails (and Gravatar images)
Note which email is your primary email
Upload your images

7. Accessing your Gravatars

Make sure to log out of your WordPress account.

At this point, months or days later, to access your Gravatars go the Gravatar website and use the email and password to log in.

This will take your wright to your page to Manage your Gravatars.

You’re done!

Now every time you use your email that’s associated with your Gravatar, your headshot will show up!

Whatcha Waiting For?

Start making an impact with your blog strategy and get yourself a Grvatar right now – and then test drive it by leaving a comment on this post 🙂

I hope you’re enjoying my Blogging Basics series. Be on the lookout for more topics to help the newbie blogger navigate this beast we call blogging!

Over to you – Fess up and let me know why you haven’t got a Gravatar yet! I promise to be nice 🙂

199 Comments

Thanks for the info!

Thanks for the info on adding a Gravatar!

Thanks, Elna, with your tutorial I was finally able to update the old gravatar image that has been driving me insane, haha. Now I can email HARO my link to my gravatar 🙂

Hi Kristin, Awesome and thanks so much! Glad you have a Gravatar now!

This is a very insightful piece of information. I don’t have a Gravatar as yet but I promise to craft one soon. I am building a foundation for my blog and I am learning tons from mommy blogger. I am not a stay at home mommy but a stay at home granny and I am working on my new blog. I am a first-time blogger and I am learning fast. Thank you for your incredible blogs – you are doing a good job handholding us.

I’ve had a Gravatar for ages, and had no idea why, I just knew that I “needed one”, so when I setup my blog I wanted to make sure I linked to it as I seemed to “know” it was important but not why, Your page, which I found today, has helped me so much in less than 2 hours thank you!

Hey Donna, That’s great you created a Gravatar even though you didn’t know why! 🙂

btw – I just put the wrong website link on my comment, because i had been busy checking out some of the other commentors web pages (that said its a pretty cool webpage!)

So helpful! Out of all the blogs I’ve been reading your’s is the most helpful! Clear and not confusing. Thank you!

Hi Laura, Wow! Thanks so much for your testimonial! I’m happy that you aren’t confused about blogging or overwhelmed by it! I’m here to help simplify it!

Thank you for the simple tutorial Elna! I quickly set mine up as my little guy brushed his teeth for bed. Just what this busy momma needed!

Hey Allison, Thanks so much! That’s great to hear!

Thanks Elna! The little extra tips you share in your posts – like not to worry about the WordPress bit with creating an account for Gravatar – are always helpful and appreciated.

This definitely is a gem of knowledge! Thank you for sharing this. I am working on my site as we speak.

Thank you Elna! I love your blog and writing style. I started a blog recently and a gravatar is on my to do list. This is my first comment ever..I’m very shy☺

Hey Yolanda! That’s great, but I don’t see your Gravatar?

Thank you so much for this ! I had no idea you could set them up and manage them separately. Brilliant post.

Hi Sarah, So happy to hear this! Glad you found this out! Love your pic and name!

Thanks so much Elna, I’ve stumbled across your blog as I start up my own. An hour ago I had no idea about gravatars- now I have one and feel much happier about it. Still working out many things with blogging, feeling my way, but I sense I will be a frequent visitor to your blog!

So happy you found out what a Gravatar is. I was just like you too and that’s why I decided to write this post! Have fun commenting with your new Gravatar!

I am enjoying this class so much! Can’t wait to learn more!

Hi Kim, That’s great to hear! Glad you are enjoying my course!

Thanks for this extremely valuable post, Elna. I’m on my way to change mine.

Thank you for all the great information! I love reading your blog posts. I’m just starting out blogging and find your resources valuable.

Hi Angie, That’s great to hear! Congrats on starting a blog!

I think it worked? Trying it out now! Thanks for the tip!

Hi Kate! Yes, it did work! Awesome!

Thank you so much for sharing this!! You always have the best advice and tips on blogging!!

Hi Laura, You’re welcome! Glad you liked this post!

Thank you for your help! I love watching all your blogging tips and you have such a pretty voice! I’m still in the process of setting up my blog and you are my constant resource when it comes to all things blogging.

Hi Krissi, Thank you so much! So happy my blog is helping you start a blog!! Email me any time you need help!

Hi Elna, Just finished my gravatar. It was easy. Thanks for the help!

Your Gravatar looks cute!

I hope this worked! 🙂 This is a great tip! Thank you.

Hi Elna. I just made my gravatar after reading your post. Thanks for so many great tips.

Hi Regina! That’s awesome! Looks great!

Hey Elna! New blogger here and I am so anxious to finish your blogging basics series. I just made my gravatar. It is so nice to have clear and concise tutorials and advice. Happy blogging! trisch from delischwithtrisch

Hey Trisch, Yes I updated my name! Thanks for coming over!

Hello, I liked this article and signed up for a gravatar. I am using this comment to make sure that it works. I am still a very new blogger and there are a million different things that I have to work on.

Hi! It works and that’s awesome! Thanks for commenting!

Hi Elna, I have been following your blog posts about starting a blog and freelance writing. Thanks for all the great tips. I am happy to say that I finally started my blog and just created a gravatar. I will continue to follow your great advice! As a fellow twin mommy, I could really use some extra money and I’m hoping that blogging and freelance writing will not only bring in some extra income, but also help people!

Hi Daniell, Thanks so much for your support! So glad you have your Gravatar and want to blog and freelance write! Yay!

Hi Elna, I just found your blog. I’ll be back! So much good information for us bloggers. I set up a Gravatar a few months ago and everything was working well for a while. Then it disappeared and I have no idea why and when I go to the site there isn’t much support or guidance. Everything looks as it should. Ever run into this problem before? Thanks!

Hey April, Sorry that happened. I would log into the WordPress side of Gravatar and change your email or photo to reset it! Good luck!

haha, there I am! I guess you can delete my comment. 🙂

Thank you so much for this! I’ve struggled with setting up Gravatar in the past and I’m still not sure it’ll work even this time around, on this comment…if not, I’ll just keep trying. Gravatar has strangely been one of those things in the entire process that I’ve never quite nailed down and have had difficulty making work, but this tutorial was so clear I actually felt like I knew what I was doing this time around. Phew!

Hi Rachel, Wow! Thanks so much for that compliment. And you know what? Your Gravatar works! Thanks for stopping by!

Yay! I just set up my Gravatar image! I’ve been meaning to do this for so long. My comments just didn’t look complete without it. Thanks!

Hi Sindy! Awesome! No go and do some more blog commenting! 🙂

I’m testing out my Gravatar in your comments! Thank-you Elna. This is exciting!

Hi Chelsie! Awesome! Have fun testing your Gravatar!

Thank You Elna. I had no idea there was a actual site to add / update images. I was originally with WordPress before switching to Squarespace a year ago, I didn’t realize it was tied to your email. Thank you again for the amazing information.

Hey Jacqueline, So happy you found your answer! Have fun blog commenting!

Thanks Elna! This was such a good read and very helpful. =)

Thank you for the info, I have just set up a Gravatar with your guidance and m hopeful that it works!

Hi! Yes! I see your Gravatar! Awesome! Glad the tutorial on setting up your Gravatar worked!

Thanks Elna! I’m working on launching my first website and your post was helpful and I just set up my Gravatar with your guidance.

Hey Karen! Awesome! Love your Gravatar image! Good luck on starting a blog!

Thank you soooo much! I finally figured out how to connect my blog to my Gravatar profile! I couldn’t find any help with Gravatar support.

Thank you so much for this! Hopefully (!) have this sorted now – and feeling bad about all the spammy looking comments I’ve left around the net up to now haha!

Hi Elna, I stumbled across your blog when I was researching reviews on blogging courses, and have found so much more than just a review! I’ve already perused several of your articles and have found them incredibly helpful as I am (possibly) beginning my blogging journey. I had no idea about Gravatars until this article! For various reasons, I was contemplating doing an anonymous mom type blog to bring in extra income in addition to my full time job. Is it a) possible to be successful anonymously and b) would a logo be enough in place of an image? Apologies for the super-long comment!

Thank you so much for this info! I just set up my gravatar – fingers crossed it works. I just discovered your blog a few days ago, and I am working my way through reading preeeeetty much the whole dang thing. Thank you!

Hi ReyRey! Personally, I feel it may be harder to be anonymous but you can do it. Use your logo for your Gravatar and social media profiles and limit your About page copy and you should be good!

Thanks very much for another great piece of advice. I am going to spend the next few weeks ‘bingeing’ on all your posts to get myself up to speed with building my blog as soon as possible!

Hi Shirah! Aww thanks so much! Binge read my blog all you want 🙂

Yikes – now I have to find a picture of myself, lol. Great post!

Interesting! I set mine up from the beginning but I’m glad I did!

Hey Jen! That’s great! I know when I started blogging I had no idea about Gravatars and I was like, how come some people have their pic when they comment and others don’t? I had to find out!

Hi Elna — I’m trying to set up my Gravatar as we speak! Thanks for the info!

Hey Jennifer! I see you!!!!

Hey Elna, I took your advice and used this great post to set up my gravatar. And look, there it is! Hi!!

Hey DeShena! So happy to see your face! Awesome!

Wow! So glad I googled about Gravatars because it brought me here. I will definitely be hanging out often! Thanks for the great information. 🙂

Hey Amy! That’s awesome! So glad you have your Gravatar!! Yay!

Hi Elna! Testing my Gravatar. I made it on WordPress…just started a blog today! Trying to do it right! ?

Hi Ariana! Yes! It is right! Congrats on starting a blog!!

I Love reading your posts, Elna! For one I love the way you write in that light conversational tone, and I have come to expect to find something great in every post. I learn sooo much from you and I can’t thank you enough. So now I know about Gravatar. I can use anything available to me to grow my blog. So shall we see if this Gravatar lesson took, shall we?

Hey Jane! You’re Gravatar does work! Yay! Thank you so much for your kind words! Blogging is tough for sure! I need all the support I can get 🙂 We have to do this together!