“Sheesh. I can’t remember their name…but if I saw their face! Then I’d know them!”
How often have you heard that said? Or said it yourself?
If you’re doing nonprofit marketing or fundraising on the web with social media like Facebook and Twitter, you know the importance of having your face (or logo if you must) associated with your account.
But have you ever left a comment on someone’s blog and wonder why some people have faces with their comments while others don’t?
It’s all to do with the email address you use in the comment form.
Thanks to a site called Gravatar.com, that email address locates a picture of you.
Register for free, and you can upload an image to be used on blogs across the web. The best part is, you get to associate different images with different emails. Sort of like a mullet, right? One image for your email that’s “all business on top”; another image for your email that’s “all party in the back.” 🙂
Look at the difference. Here are two blogs I ran into today that had users not registered on Gravatar.com. The sites are GailPerry.com and TessGerritsen.com:
[You can click on these images, and the one below, to enlarge them.]
Check out the difference on 300wordsaday.com, a blog by Jon Swanson:
Can you see how much more professional people look with a real face next to their comments? So do yourself a favor and head over to Gravatar.com. You’ll be helping people put a face to your name in no time!
You hit on one of my pet peeves! I want to see faces when people come to visit me. I want to see faces when I visit and comment on other people’s blogs. I suffer less from the fear of being found than many people but I figure if you are already here anyway, you might as well show your face.
Thanks, Mark. I signed up. Now lets see if Gravatar works.
Rich: What a riot! Apparently my template doesn’t show faces anyway!
Embarrassing considering the content of my post!
Try posting a comment over on Sandy Rees’ blog:
http://getfullyfundedblog.com/does-your-coach-have-a-coach/.
Let me know if you can see your face!
I commented on Sandy’s blog and it worked. Also, thanks for pointing me to Sandy. I am adding her to the blogs I follow.
Great post Marc! And thanks for sending your readers my way to practice commenting. I love comments!
Sandy Rees
This is really important information. Branding yourself and using photos on forums and posts is a great way to establish rapport.
I will be sharing this site with my team. Much appreciation to your website and efforts.
Jamaul Finley
(No shameless plugs)