How The Heck Did You Do That?!? Blogger Tips and Tricks # 6

                     

                      

Social Icon Buttons:

When making the codes for Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads etc. I noticed most are set up to direct you away from the blog to the social page. Using this code will allow your reader to follow you on say Facebook, but also remain on your page..which is where you want them!  It also creates a message when they hover over icon, like follow me on Twitter, like my Facebook page etc. Try mine, located in my sidebar, hover over them, click one, See you are still here and a new page opened. 

Here is an example code for Twitter, Email and RSS icons: 

<div id="stalkme">
<div style="clear:both;">
<a href="twitter URL address" target="_blank" title="Follow me on Twitter"><img src="image URL for twitter icon button"/></a>
<a href="your email address" target="_blank" title="Email Me"><img src="image URL for email icon button"/></a>
<a href="facebook page URL address" target="_blank" title="Like me on Facebook"><img src="image URL for facebook icon button"/></a>
<a href="Rss feed URL address" target="_blank" title="Follow me with RSS"><img src="image URL for RSS feed icon button"/></a>
</div></div>

Using this code you can make a social icon code for any site:

1.open a html gadget on blogger or Wordpress
2.add the following:

<div id="stalkme">
<div style="clear:both;">

3. then for each social media icon use this code <a href="Add URL to social icon site" target="_blank" title="Add follow, like etc here"><img src="icon image url here "/></a>
4. repeat #3. for all social icons you would like
5. close code with: 
</div></div><style type="text/css">

#stalkme a img {

                height: 32px;

                width: 32px;

                -webkit-box-shadow: none;

                -moz-box-shadow: none;

                box-shadow: none;

}

#stalkme a:hover img {

                -webkit-box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px rgba(60, 60, 60, 0.8);

                -moz-box-shadow:    0px 0px 4px rgba(60, 60, 60, 0.8);

                box-shadow:         0px 0px 4px rgba(60, 60, 60, 0.8);

}

</style>

• be sure to use direct url link to your profile on social site (which means go to social site, go to your profile and copy that URL) 
• Icons for social icon buttons are available for download. You will need to save them on Photobucket, Flicker etc and use the URL address it creates for icon image URL. 

               It would look like my twitter button URL:

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa411/kimbathecaffeinatedbookreviewer/twitter_1.png



Tip: Utilize Social Networks to Grow Your Blog

1. Facebook
2. Twitter
3. Pinterest
4. Instagram
5. Tumblr
6. Goggle+


Allowing followers different ways to engage with your blog will help it grow and strengthen your appeal to publishers. I have found that as I have added social sites to my blog I have had an increase in comments, growth and ARC's. 
Your blog is wonderful, you have written a lovely review but people need to see it. 

How do I utilize these social sites? 

Be sure each of these sites are linked to your page and that the name makes them identifiable as an extension of your blog. Feel free to check my social sites for ideas. 

Facebook is a great place to share bookish things, happenings on the blog and your reviews. Create a Facebook page for your blog and link your RSS feed through Network blogs. Share bookish news, engage your followers with questions, fun facts and cover reveals. 

Twitter is another place to share your blog posts, keep up to date with book news, author information and publisher info. I love chatting with other bloggers, authors, followers and friends. 

Pinterest- create book blog page, share covers, links to your reviews and attract other book lovers and publishers. Make a giveaway board, a tour board and book blogs you love board. I have boards for Publishers I have relationships with, etc. 

Instagram allows you to instantly share books you receive or an awesome cover you spotted at the local bookstore. You can also tweet it @publisher, etc. 

Tumblr/Google+ these sites are perfect for creating an extension of your blog and allow you to share links to blog as well as other bookish things. 

Is there something you want to know about?

email me and I will see if I can share it in

an upcoming blogger tips and tricks.