Dear Webmaster, would you like to add Social Media Share button to your WordPress blog? If so let you know it can be easily done using “Add This” WordPress plugin. To know more about “Add This” third party plugin please visit here http://www.addthis.com. Its a free web component to active sharing and follow options for your WordPress sites.
To do this, login into your WordPress site with administrator rights. In menu go to Plugins > Add New as shown in below.
In install plugins Search for “addthis”. You will get list of plugins in search window. Look at the “Share buttons by AddThis” and “Follow buttons by AddThis”. If you need to add share option then choose the first one else for follow option choose the second. Click on Install Now. As shown below.
In few times the plugin will install and give you a successful message. After this to confirm please visit the “Installed Plugins” tab in plugins menu as shown above. Here you can saw your Add This plugin is listed.
Now to setup Add This account go to Settings Tab. Here you can saw “AddThis Share” option. Click on this.
If you have a valid Add This user account then provide your login details in “AddThis Share” page. Else register with Add This website to get an userid & password. Addition to login credentials you need to provide “AddThis Profile ID” in the top right corner of AddThis Share page.
Once you are Authenticated by Add This plugin in Basic tab set the Sharing tool. You can show sharing options in the top or bottom part of your WordPress pages. To do this select the radio buttons listed for top & bottom panels. If you don’t want to show select “Do not show a sharing tool…”. Now to save this settings click on Save Changes button at the end of AddThis Share page.
Now, Check your WordPress site you can saw the share buttons.
Importance of Share Buttons
Share buttons facilitate the process of sharing content with just a click. When users find a piece of content valuable, they are more likely to share it with their friends and followers. This creates an organic reach that can lead to increased traffic, improved SEO rankings, and a broader audience base. By enabling easy sharing, bloggers can tap into the networks of their readers, expanding their content’s reach far beyond their original audience.
Types of Share Buttons
There are various types of share buttons that bloggers can incorporate into their WordPress sites. Understanding the different options available is essential for selecting the most effective solution for a given audience.
#### Social Media Share Buttons
These buttons allow readers to share content on social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Pinterest. By integrating these share buttons, bloggers can encourage their audience to promote their content on popular platforms, driving traffic back to their blog.
#### Email Share Buttons
Email share buttons enable readers to send content directly to their contacts via email. This method can be particularly effective for reaching audiences who may not be active on social media but still engage in email communications.
#### Copy Link Buttons
This simple button allows users to copy the link to the content, making it easy to share in any medium, whether it’s a chat app or a forum. Although less common, it can still be valuable for reaching specific audiences.
Methods to Add Share Buttons in using WordPress Plugins
One of the easiest ways to add share buttons to a WordPress blog is through plugins. Numerous plugins are available, making it simple for bloggers to implement share buttons without needing coding knowledge. Here are some popular options:
1. Social Warfare: This plugin offers customizable share buttons and analytics to track social shares. It is user-friendly and provides options to display buttons on posts, pages, and custom post types.
2. AddToAny Share Buttons: This plugin includes a vast array of social media platforms and offers various display options. It’s known for its simplicity and effectiveness.
3. ShareThis: This plugin allows users to share content across multiple social networks, email, and messaging platforms. It also provides analytics to measure share performance.
To install a plugin, navigate to your WordPress dashboard, select “Plugins” > “Add New,” search for the desired plugin, click “Install Now,” and then “Activate.”
Analyzing the Impact of Share Buttons
After implementing share buttons, it’s crucial to analyze their impact on traffic. Most social sharing plugins come with built-in analytics tools to track shares and clicks. Additionally, Google Analytics can be used to monitor referral traffic from social media platforms.
By analyzing this data, bloggers can identify which content resonates most with their audience and which platforms are driving the most traffic. This information can inform future content strategies and sharing practices.
Conclusion
Adding share buttons to a WordPress blog is a strategic move that can significantly enhance traffic and audience engagement. By making it easy for readers to share content, bloggers can tap into the power of social networks and email, extending their reach beyond their existing audience. Whether using plugins, manual coding, or built-in features, the key lies in ensuring that share buttons are effectively placed, visually appealing, and optimized for mobile devices. By monitoring the impact of these buttons, bloggers can continuously refine their sharing strategies, ultimately leading to increased traffic and a more engaged readership.