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

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

Let me guess:

You’re new to blogging and have no clue what the heck 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.

But, 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:

elna-nogravatar

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:

mailchimp-gravatar

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:

mama-bosses-fb

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:

check-gravatar

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:

gravatar-inpost

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

html-gravatar

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

grow-blog-donuts

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 recently 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 should be. 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:

not-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

Here’s a quick video that walks you through all of this:

Okay.

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”

create-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.

sign-up-gravatar

2. Activate Your Account

An email will be sent to activate your account. Click on the link in the email and sign in to your Gravatar account.

Note: activating your account means you also activated your WordPress account. Don’t worry about this. I don’t use my WordPress account and I don’t get emails from WordPress either.

3. Select Your Gravatar Image

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

For this demonstration I picked upload an image:

choose-image

4. Crop and Rate Your Image

gravatar-elna

Once you crop your image, click finish and then rate your image. You can choose from a G rating which means it’s okay to be used on all websites and audience types to X (hardcore sexual imagery!).

I chose G 🙂

gravtar-rating

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 🙂

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Reader Interactions

117 Comments Leave a comment

  1. Thank you for this! I’ve been searching for a “how to” but didn’t even know it was called a Gravatar. I’m planning to spend some time exploring your blog for more helpful information! I love your writing style and non-complicated instruction.

    Reply

  3. Oh, I didn’t expect it would be ao important and so easy! I have a blog on Blogger though (I know it’s not the recommended practice but I had obe for 9 yrs there and I made some money with it), I wonder if it works the same on there? Thanks so much!

    Reply

  4. Hi Elna, testing my Gravatar. Thanks so much for all your helpful articles. I am just working on my first blog and there are so many things to consider and to learn. Happy I found your blog, it is an amazing help.

    Reply

  8. Your information is so helpful! But did I miss a blog post about actual income generators? As in, how exactly does having a blog generate income? How does someone coming to my blog make money? Still learning and setting up and I want to learn it all!

    Reply

    • Hi Harriet!

      Thanks so much! For your Gravatar, if you want to network with other bloggers, a face of you would be a better way to brand your blog. But it’s a personal choice of course. I feel seeing a face helps me trust the blogger more!

      Reply

  12. I am going to start a mom nutrition blog! Do you think I should do a picture of just myself or a picture of me and my kids? Thanks!

    Reply

    • Hi Krystalynn,

      I suggest a picture of you and your kids for a mom nutrition blog! But, you can also just do yourself. For the first year on Twins Mommy I just had my own picture for my brand. It’s only recently that I changed to include my twins in my image!

      Reply

  13. Hey Elna, just testing my new Gravatar… thank you so much for all the info you post you have been so helpful already! Don’t think I’d be brave enough to start my own blog if I hadn’t read yours. Happy New Year, Emily

    Reply

  15. Thanks for inspiring post written here, Gravatar is really a great tool to show image on WordPress comment. But i’m confused about WordPress system, they create everything, but they didn’t create profile image setting!

    Reply

  16. Great stuff. I have been a freelance writer for many years but can you believe I have never started a blog? I have decided just recently I am going to blog about being a work at home mom & then I found your info! Thanks for the tips. Wish me luck :)!

    Reply

  17. Test driving! Thank you so much for your blog series 🙂 I’m starting up a blog and consistently come back to this site for easily understandable information

    Reply

  19. Thank you for the info and how to set up my new Gravatar. I’m still in the process of setting up my blog but with your advice I hope to have it grow 🙂

    Reply

  20. Thank you, love all your info! I’m currently working on launching my blog. I will follow lots of your advice.

    Reply

  21. Great helpful article. I have a question. Your headed picture looks awesome. What program do you use to add the text graphic over the image?

    Thanks for your help!

    Reply

    • Hi Stephanie,

      For my graphics I use Photoshop, but you can use Canva. They have a function to put a text box over your image 🙂

      Reply

  26. Holy smokes. I’ve devoured all of your tips and I only just discovered your blog a few days ago. Thank you so much for sharing all of these useful details that every new blogger needs to know. You’re so wise! 🙂 But seriously, thank you for the extra explanations and step-by-step instructions. I’m super new, but definitely a fan already!

    Reply

  27. Starting a website/blog again after letting it sit for a year because I became so frustrated. I like to say that reading your post has lifted some of that frustration. I have to do this and stick with it.
    Thanks for being so educated and brightly beautiful!

    Reply

    • Hey Matt!

      Yeah, I had no idea when I first started out! It took a bit of time to realize what I was missing 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!

      Reply

  30. Thanks so much for this helpful post! I feel that sometimes bloggers forget the little things like this that can be so confusing for beginners (like me!) Thank you!

    Reply

    • Hey Lois!

      I know right! I was a newbie not too long ago and I had no IDEA about Gravatars! I think they are essential to growing your brand!!

      Reply

  31. Before I thought my photo will automatically appear . haha! Very helpful post. I now have a gravatar! Nice! Thank you Elna.

    Reply

  33. Elna, by far your posts are the most useful post I have even seen. Full of practical tips for new blogger like me. I just want to express my heartfelt gratitude for your generosity in sharing so much useful like this. I can’t even decide which post I want to read first. Thank you so much again Elna.

    Reply

    • Hi Anna,

      Thank you so much and I’m so happy to hear this. I love blogging and helping other bloggers out – especially mama bloggers! 🙂

      Reply

  38. I have been using Gravatar since 5 years and it does personalize the communication on the internet. But indeed it’s a very informative article on Gravatar.

    Reply

    • Hey Shelley!

      Thanks for stopping by. Glad you liked it and I like your Gravatar! Yeah I feel bad when I check my spam and see a legit comment that’s like a month old!

      Reply

    • Hey Sigrid!

      I see your Gravatar so yay! Glad you have one based on this post. It helps other bloggers trust you more 🙂 Have fun commenting on other people’s blogs.

      Reply

  45. I no longer feel like a picture-less loser! Thanks 🙂
    Do you have any insight with regards to head shots versus logos for the gravatar?

    Reply

    • Hey Krystal,

      Personally I like headshots over logos because when I see a Gravatar using a logo I think of a company not a person. Just my two cents though.

      Reply

  46. Hi Elna!

    I LITERALLY just made a gravatar based off your article. I’m in the middle of designing my new blog, so I SO appreciate the practical help!

    Hope you are doing well!

    Reply

  47. This is awesome Elna! Thanks for putting this together. I so could have used this when I first started blogging. I knew I needed one but took me a while to figure it out. 🙂

    Passing this one on for sure. Happy Monday!

    Cori

    Reply

    • Hey Corina!

      Thanks so much. Glad you liked my post and thanks again for sharing my post 🙂 You’re the best blogger buddy!

      Reply

    • Hey Dawn!

      That’s awesome girl. So happy you have a Gravatar now. You’ll see, your comments will spark curiosity and you’ll make more connections!

      Reply

  49. Hey there Elna! Good information – a lot of bloggers don’t realize how important their Gravatar is. I need to update mine – it’s about 10 years old, and I think I’ve changed a little 😀

    Reply

    • Hi Kelly!

      Ha, too funny, I know what you mean about updating your Gravatar. It seems like I aged 10 years in only two years. That’s what twins do to ya! Lol! But, yeah having an up-to-date Gravatar is important 🙂

      Reply

    • Hey Tina!

      Thanks so much. And hey! You have your Gravatar. Yay 🙂 Yeah, Gravatars are super important for your brand and making connections not only with other bloggers but with your audience.

      Reply

  51. What an informative post, I love it! When I first commented on a blog and saw that terrible gray image … nope, I instantly knew it had to go! I just wish I had your post at the time, because it would have been quicker to figure out, haha! I really love your blog Elna, you’re doing an amazing job! 🙂

    Reply

    • Thanks Luna so much!

      That’s great you figured out what the whole problem was when you first commented! 🙂 Fantastic. I know there’s a lot of basic blogging series but a lot of them seem to skim over the whole Gravatar part. And for me, that’s like #1 of things to HAVE – well having a niche is important too 🙂

      Thanks so much for your kind words.

      Reply

  52. It’s super important to have an image associated with your blog. I’d say it’s equally as important to add one (the same one) to your FB profile as well. I won’t admit people with no picture to my FB group. It definitely allows people to feel like they know you, and that’s important. Great tutorial.

    Reply

    • Thanks Rachel!

      So glad you agree. It’s funny when I read someones blog and they seem popular (they have a following and a FB group) but NO Gravatar. What the? 🙂 I think they’re super important for brand identity and to help visitors know who you are! Thanks again for commenting.

      Reply

  54. I blog mostly about business as a business building strategy and rarely comment. I’ve had tremendous success and now I want to grow my blog some more. But, that’s about to change today! I just created my Gravatar wth your tutorial and I’m so excited. My website is currently under construction and as soon as it’s done I’m gonna pimp it all over social media! Lol

    Reply

    • Hey Tepsil!

      That’s awesome girl! So glad I can see your face 🙂 Commenting on other people’s blogs is a great traffic generating tip! Happy to hear you’re going to star doing that to grow your blog.

      Reply

    • Ha!

      Hey Bren, that’s so right. It’s very bleh 🙂 That’s why I was shocked when I found out some mommy bloggers that are popular didn’t have a Gravatar! Yikes…

      Reply

  57. Elna I cannot thank you enough for helping me with this one!!!! This is something I have been meaning to do for a few months now, but I found it so intimidating. It proved to be so so simple thanks to your post!!! I am testing it out now with gravatar and url in my name…

    Reply

    • Hey Natasha,

      Thanks so much! I know when I first started blogging, I would have LOVED this post too! So glad you have your Gravatar! And thanks for letting me know that the tutorial was easy to do.

      Reply

    • Francesca!

      Ha! I know right! My to-do list is a mile long as well. I’m sorry but having a Gravatar is super duper (with a cherry on top) important and it only takes a few minutes to set up! I swear!

      Reply

    • Hi Jessica! You’re welcome.

      So happy you found the post useful. I see you have a Gravatar. *happy dance* Congrats and thanks!

      Reply

  60. This was a great how-to. I also loved that you mentioned some key points about promoting your blog with a Gravatar. I am currently having some issues with mine and it has been a back-burner issue but you have reminded me of how important it is and I will head off to fix it.

    Reply

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