Are you looking for more visitors to your blog?
One of the best ways to promote your blog for free is by sharing your blog posts on social media.
Social media has helped bring my blog thousands of visitors, with Twitter bringing the most.
WordPress offers sharing buttons so visitors can share your posts on social media.
These buttons are the best-placed option to encourage visitors to share your content on social media.
Where can sharing buttons be found on WordPress?
It depends on the WordPress theme you use, but most show sharing buttons at the end of blog posts which are the best-placed place for them. I have these sharing buttons on all my blog posts and pages.
What sharing buttons are available on WordPress?
All of the above. Some of them are already available on your blog posts when you create your WordPress blog.
How do I add more sharing buttons to my blog posts?
I’m using WordPress’s ‘default’ view in the images and instructions for this demonstration.
- Just under the sharing buttons, click on ‘Customize buttons.’ You can reach them via your blog’s dashboard if you cannot do this. Go to Tools – Marketing, and click on the Sharing buttons tab.
- Click on Edit Sharing Buttons.
- Click on any of the sharing buttons to add or remove them. Ghosted-out sharing buttons are inactive and not displayed on your blog.
- Click the Reorder button to move the sharing buttons to the order you want them to display on your blog and pages.
- Click the Save button at the bottom of the page to save any changes you have made.
- Click the Close button to close the Edit visible buttons window.
- The Edit More button allows you to place sharing buttons behind the More sharing button. I’ve put the Email and Print sharing buttons behind the More button.
- The Edit label text button lets users put their preferred text above the sharing buttons. Click on the button to open the text box. Mine reads, ‘ Please feel free to share this post.’
Button styles – why you should not use the icon-only option.
WordPress offers users several styles for sharing buttons.
I recommend you use an option that offers text. Readers who use speech software on their devices will then know which social media platform each button is for.
Reminder
Remember that visitors can still share your blog posts on any social media platform, even if you don’t have a specific sharing button for it on your blog. However, if you want to discourage readers from sharing your posts on social media, you can remove the sharing buttons from your blog.
Let’s wrap it up
- Sharing buttons are a powerful tool for sharing your posts for free and bringing traffic to your blog.
- Sharing buttons can be edited on your blog. Choose which ones you want to appear on your blog posts and pages.
- Ghosted-out sharing buttons mean that they are inactive on your blog.
- Make sure you choose a sharing button style that contains text, as this helps visitors who use speech software identify the sharing buttons on your blog.
- You can discourage visitors from sharing your posts by removing your blog’s sharing buttons. However, your posts can still be shared on social media.
If you have questions about sharing buttons or want to share which ones you have on your blog, please leave them in the comments section.
Layout, content, settings, and format might differ on self-hosted blogs.
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Hugh's Views & News 
With self-hosted blogs sharing buttons seem to be slightly different. I use them, and with SSPS, it’s beneficial to see where other bloggers have SM accounts and then share posts.
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I thought they’d be different on self-hosted sites, Esme. Do you have to install them via a plugin?
Yes I had my IT lady do that for me as I am not the techy genius and she did some other work for me and then just added them as well.
I wish ‘Reblog This’ worked on self hosted WordPress.
I removed the reblog button from my blog because of copyright concerns. I prefer ‘Press This’ because there are no copyright concerns when using it.
Oh yes, ‘Press this’ is what I meant. It’s not on self hosed sites. When I use the readers share option lately it doesn’t add the Title or description content anymore either. It’s reverting backward it seems.
It used to do the Featured Image, Title, and meta description with link to original post. Doesn’t do that anymore.
Who hosts your site for you? Maybe they can help?
No, I think it has something to do with WordPress.com as it being a feature for them. I’m hosted with SiteGround. I’ve noticed with past hosts that was a common thing between self hosted and WordPress.com hosted.
When it comes to self-hosted sites, I’m not very helpful. I’m just pleased that I have the WordPress engineers available with just one click if I need help with my blog.
This is great information, Hugh! I can’t seem to get Mastodon to work. I set up my profile but I can’t figure out how to verify myself. Any help will be appreciated. Thank you.
Are you wanting to verify your blog on Mastodon, Eugi?
If so, on your Mastodon profile, click on ‘edit profile’ and copy the verification code at the bottom of the page. Add a HTML block to your blog’s ‘about’ page (or widget bar if you have one on your blog) and paste the code into it. Click save, and then you’re verified. I have one on the bottom of the widget bar of my blog and also at the end of my ‘about’ page.
Wow! It worked. So when I click on the Mastodon link from my WP site , it takes me to a page which shows ‘edit profile’. Is that what others see or just me? I sincerely appreciate your help, Hugh.
That’s what you’ll see, Eugi. Others will see your profile and a follow button.
Thank you for your help, Hugh.
You’re welcome.
As a feature host, I enjoy sharing posts after I’ve read them, Hugh. The buttons make it easy to do so, great tutorial for those who are still on the fence. I’m surprised how many bloggers don’t have any sharing buttons, oh well.
I will have to look into Mastodon. As you are aware, the Twitter auto-share ended this past weekend. Nothing stopping us from tweeting our own posts at any time.
I’m also happy to see the email button on some blogs. There have been countless times when I’ve wanted to share a post with a non-blogger.
There is a setting where you have to switch sharing buttons on, Terri. I think for most of us, that feature is already switched on, but I believe that some themes come with it switched off by default. I’m not sure why, but it’s a little like those themes where captions under images and photos are set by default to left or right, rather than centre.
I’ll write and publish a post about Mastodon next month. It’s still early days for me on there, but I am enjoying it there and have made quite a few new friends, all of whom seem very welcoming. Unfortunately, not many bloggers yet, but I may be looking in the wrong place. Plenty of blogging theme and plugin developers, though.
I’ve never used the email sharing button. But I am curious why so many visitors to my blog have shared my posts via Skype – over 1,800 shares.
I look forward to that post, Hugh. That is a headscratcher about your posts being shared to Skype–spam maybe?
Could be, Terri. Although how spambots share posts via Skype is a new one on me.
Great post, Hugh. Thank you. I wish I had sharing buttons on my readilearn posts. I don’t think they’re available with my theme. I can’t find them anyway.
Have you switched them on, Norah? You can check by going to Tools – Marketing and then click on the Sharing buttons tab (as in one of the images on this post). Make sure you’ve ticked the boxes for ‘Show like and sharing buttons on’ next to posts and pages.
Thanks, Hugh. I’m not sure why, but I don’t have them on my site. On the original site, I had to install JetPack to have the sharing buttons. The new site builder doesn’t like to use JetPack. I haven’t had time to check all that stuff out with her yet. I don’t think there’s much point in having a blog without the ability to share it or to have others follow it. It just sits there as it is. When I make the time, I’ll look into it a little more.
I agree, Norah. All blogs need sharing buttons and a follow button.
I hope you can sort it out.
Thanks, Hugh. Me too. 🙂
I wasn’t aware they had added Mastadon. Thanks!
Yes, it’s a new addition, Dan. Ready for when WordPress begin Auto-Sharing to Mastodon next month. Feel free to share your Mastodon details here. My Mastodon details are @HughWRoberts@toot.wales.
I saw an entry from you on that platform. I didn’t have much luck setting up an account. It didn’t seem to like the instance I was trying to use. I will get out there ar some point.
I’m enjoying it, Dan. Although I’ve found it difficult finding other bloggers there, but it’s still early days. Plenty of theme and plugin builders, though.
Thanks so much for this! I’m always annoyed when I read a great blogpost and there’s no way to share it. And now I know how to put Mastodon in my share buttons!
Yes, Mastodon is a new addition to the sharing buttons on WordPress. Probably ready for when WordPress begin auto-sharing to Mastodon next month. Feel free to leave your Mastodon details here, Anne. I’m there too, and I’d like to follow you. My details are – @HughWRoberts@toot.wales
Thanks, Hugh. I’m not on Mastodon yet. I’ve been waiting to see which Twitter alternative is building the biggest audience. It looks like Mastodon is leading the pack, so I’ll do it soon.
Hugh, I’ve employed the sahre buttons and have 10s of thousands of shares. I’ve only been able to track down a single share in Reddit. Is there anyway of tell what postis being shared? I assume if readers are sharing I must have done something write and should consider doing more of the right stuff.
Hi Danny, it depends on the social media platform. For example, on Twitter and Mastodon, I can check my ‘mentions’ tab and it will show me who has retweeted or shared my posts. Other social media sites may be the same, but I’m not familiar with them so don’t know.
I share blog posts on social media that I have enjoyed reading but where I have nothing of value to add in the comments section. It shows the blogger, I’ve enjoyed their post and I’ve shared it for that reason. Much better than leaving a comment that adds no value.
Thanks for the info. One of those topics I was hoping for a secret to be releaved.
I really need to proof read my comments. I get so excited and my fingers fall behind and get tied up.
I checked and it looks like I am using all of those buttons 👍
Good to hear, Erika.
Thanks, as always, for a helpful post Hugh. You prompted me to revisit the settings for my sharing buttons.
That’s great to hear. Thanks, Michelle.
Hugh, I just changed the button styles on my blog! I never thought about the readers who use speech software on their devices. This was a marvelous post. Thanks for reminder!
It was something a blind blogger alerted me to a few years ago, Colleen. It’s the same as always making sure we fill the description box of any images or photos we add to our blog posts and pages.
I haven’t done that for photos… I will start doing adding descriptions. I know a poet who uses the reader. I’ll ask her what else I can do. Thanks so much, Hugh. 🫶🏻
Thanks, Hugh, wonderful advice.
You’re welcome, Noelle.
Somehow, my traffic didn’t come from Twitter or Facebook. Most of them either from Search Engines or Reader. Not sure why although it automatically tweets or send FB posts…
Engagement is the key on social media. If you don’t engage with other users there, traffic won’t show up. Search engines and the WordPress reader also bring in more traffic to blog than social media does.
Auto-sharing to Twitter from WordPress has also ended. See this post.
https://hughsviewsandnews.com/2023/05/08/twitter-auto-share-comes-to-an-end-on-wordpress-dont-panic-what-choices-do-you-have/
However, you may be using other software for your blog posts to tweet automatically.
Yes, you are right – my Twitter engagement is quite low.
Give it some time and engage there. You’ll soon see traffic coming to your blog from it.
I think Twitter may have stopped the sharing feature. Is that right?
Yes, that’s right Wayne.
https://hughsviewsandnews.com/2023/05/08/twitter-auto-share-comes-to-an-end-on-wordpress-dont-panic-what-choices-do-you-have/
Your right Hugh ..
I don’t 💜
They’re easy to use, Willow. And I find that many will share your posts on their social media accounts in return. But if you don’t want visitors to your blog sharing your posts on social media, you can easily remove the sharing buttons from your blog so as to discourage them.
It’s not that I don’t want but I am not keen on Facebook but I have shared my work and other people’s work too.
I am always happy to share I just don’t always think to use it 💜💜
Arrh, right. I don’t have a Facebook account either, but I don’t mind other people sharing my blog posts there.
Whenever I read a post that I have enjoyed reading, I always hit at least one of the sharing buttons to share it. I got into the habit of doing it. And if I have nothing of value to add as a comment, it’s a great way of showing the blogger that I enjoyed their post.