Blog Updates: Making your WordPress blog more Social

Posted on November 15, 2009 - by Wayne Sutton

social media words

Usually on weekends I’m going through my email and trying to reach inbox zero before Monday morning but last night I decided SocialWayne.com needed a few updates. My primarily goals of updating SocialWayne.com was to make it faster, remove WordPress plugins I didn’t need and add social engagement. While adding a few social engagement features I may not have reached my goal of speeding up the load time but I’m hoping WP Super Cache will handle the rest. Either way, here’s what I done to SocialWayne.com to make it more social.

1. Wibiya toolbar

Wibiya enables blogs to integrate the most exciting services, applications and widgets of their choice into their blog through customized web-based toolbars.

2. Added Follow Me Plugin
A floating tab on the right that says Follow me that links to my Twitter profile.

3. Added/Changed Facebook Share Count Plugin

I had another Facebook Share Count plugin installed but I switched to the one created by Jess Stay

4. Updated: Easy ReTweet WordPress Plugin

I still have Topsy and Tweetmeme plugins installed and actived but I’m not displaying them.

5. Added Facebook Connect Comments
Twitter List: 5 tools & 5 must read Twitter list blog post and resources | Social Wayne on the Social Web
Sadly my blog theme doesn’t support Disqus therefore I’m using BackType and Facebook to for social comments.

6. Added ShareThis Plugin
Twitter List: 5 tools & 5 must read Twitter list blog post and resources | Social Wayne on the Social Web
I was using the Sexy Bookmarks Plugin but I can add google analytics to ShareThis therefore I’m making the switch.

7. Added Find Me On plugin
Twitter List: 5 tools & 5 must read Twitter list blog post and resources | Social Wayne on the Social Web
You know what to do.

8. Added Google Friend Connect Gadgets
Twitter List: 5 tools & 5 must read Twitter list blog post and resources | Social Wayne on the Social Web
If you look to your right on the sidebar you’ll see two new gadgets from Google Friend Connect. One always you to leave a comment about the blog or you could post topics that you would like for me to cover and the other is a poll widget. Speaking of the poll, if you have a moment, login and vote. I’m using the feedback for an upcoming blog post.

There are a few more things I’ve done to SocialWayne.com and I’ll blog more about the Facebook Share plugins in the next few days. Let me know what you think about the changes and have a great week.

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About the Author

Written by Wayne Sutton

Wayne is the business development/marketing strategist for TriOut and partner at OurHashtag. For more, follow SocialWayne.com on Twitter, Buzz, and Facebook. Also check out the SocialWayne Podcast in iTunes. See all posts by Wayne Sutton.

This entry was posted on Sunday, November 15th, 2009 at 9:08 pm and is filed under Blogging, Featured. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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November 16, 2009

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Molly Buckley said:

Awesome post, Wayne!

As someone who is new to WordPress HOSTING, I’m actually teaching myself how to do it all. I’m quite proud of myself, actually.

So, I’ve been on the search for good plugins, and this post definitely helped me to find some more good ones. I just added the share on Facebook one now, actually! Yay!

Thanks, Wayne.
Visit My Website

November 16, 2009

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Patrick said:

Hey Wayne,

I was curious: why did you opt for the Easy ReTweet button over TweetMeme?

Thanks,

Patrick
Visit My Website

November 16, 2009

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Wayne Sutton said:

Molly, thanks for the comment and tweet. Good luck with your wordpress adventures.
Visit My Website

November 16, 2009

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Wayne Sutton said:

Patrick, beside the feeling like I’m supporting the “little guy” and sometimes the TweetMeme plugin crashes in my dashboard that’s about it. Ref. Easy ReTweet button over TweetMeme. Also I think I’m getting actual results as I’ve seen different numbers when I had both of them displayed.

I do still have TweetMeme active because of it’s ping and analytics features but I’m just not displaying it.

Thanks for the comment

Wayne
Visit My Website

November 16, 2009

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Patrick said:

Hey Wayne,

Cool, thanks for the info. As unfortunate luck would have it, the Tweetmeme JS was drastically slowing down some of my blogs this morning so I temporarily took it down.

Patrick

Trackbacks/Pingbacks

Dr. Harish Kotadia - 16. Nov, 2009
Blog Updates: Making your WordPress blog more Social http://bit.ly/1X4e9I #sCRM #PR #marketing
Ann Donnelly - 16. Nov, 2009
Making your WordPress blog more Social | Social Wayne on the Social Web http://ow.ly/CKqz
Daniel B. Honigman - 16. Nov, 2009
RT @waynesutton Sharing: 8 ways to make your WordPress blog more Social – http://shar.es/azacW
SPARKt - 16. Nov, 2009
Sharing: 8 ways to make your WordPress blog more Social – http://shar.es/azacW (via @waynesutton)
Session Designs - 16. Nov, 2009
RT @waynesutton: Sharing: 8 ways to make your WordPress blog more Social – http://shar.es/azacW
David C. - 16. Nov, 2009
RT @waynesutton: Sharing: 8 ways to make your WordPress blog more Social – http://shar.es/azacW
chriskovac - 16. Nov, 2009
RT @waynesutton Sharing: 8 ways to make your WordPress blog more Social – http://shar.es/azacW (great resource!!)
Ashley Sue Allen - 16. Nov, 2009
Always helping us engage! Thanks Wayne! RT @waynesutton: Sharing: 8 ways to make your WordPress blog more Social – http://shar.es/azacW
ellenlynch - 16. Nov, 2009
RT @AshleySue Always helping us engage! RT @waynesutton: Sharing: 8 ways to make your WordPress blog more Social – http://shar.es/azacW
Bill Pitzer - 16. Nov, 2009
RT @waynesutton Sharing: 8 ways to make your WordPress blog more Social – http://shar.es/azacW
Charlotte Observer - 16. Nov, 2009
by @newsgraphics RT @waynesutton Sharing: 8 ways to make your WordPress blog more Social – http://shar.es/azacW
ray dennis - 16. Nov, 2009
RT @waynesutton: Sharing: 8 ways to make your WordPress blog more Social – http://shar.es/azacW — #blog #wordpress #socialmedia #in
Wayne Sutton NC - 16. Nov, 2009
/ @jakrose blogged about Facebook share & other social plugins -> http://shar.es/azacW – @jessestay has a good 1 -> http://bit.ly/4wVzD2

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Wayne Sutton helps individuals, startups and businesses succeed in understanding how to communicate on the social web via brand strategy, social networks and location-based services. Wayne is the business development/marketing strategist for TriOut and partner at OurHashtag.