What is Gravatar and why should I set it up right away?

January 11, 2022

What is a Gravatar

Gravatar stands for Globally Recognized Avatar, i.e. an avatar that can be recognized worldwide because you only have to upload it once, it is linked to the registered e-mail address once and is automatically inserted every time you enter this registered e-mail address somewhere in the Internet writes a comment.

Delete WordPress plugins correctly - Here's how! — Source: en.gravatar.com

You can change the avatar at any time and only have to do this once to change this image for all communities. In addition, you can link not just one, but several e-mail addresses to an avatar and you can also change this e-mail address. All in all, a very clearly structured free service.

Advantages

Gravatar is a free online service that allows users to use an avatar image on various websites. Gravatar offers many advantages, for example: it makes it easier for the user to create a unique profile. By using the service, users can ensure that their online identity is consistent and permanent. It gives users a consistent presence across different websites, making them easily recognizable when they log in.

Disadvantages

Gravatar also has some disadvantages, such as the limited number of images a user can use. Also, Gravatar does not offer the possibility to customize the image to make it more unique. Users also have to be careful not to use too many different images, otherwise they can be identified as spammers.

Use cases

Gravatar is most commonly suitable for use in blogs, forums, comments and other online communities. It allows users to log in through their avatar image and gives them a consistent presence. It is also very helpful in distinguishing users from each other and creating a unique identity.

Examples

An example of the use of Gravatar is the use of avatar images in a forum. When a user creates a new topic or posts a comment, their avatar image is automatically displayed. This makes it easier for other users to identify the user who posted the comment.

Another example of the use of Gravatar is in a blog. Readers can more easily identify the blog's authors by their avatar images and they can also more easily recognize other readers.

Why should I set up a Gravatar

First of all, it saves a lot of time because you only have to upload your avatar once. Secondly, the Gravatar gives you a high recognition value, which means that you are more likely to receive replies to your posts and your posts are therefore given a higher status. These users are recognized as loyal users with serious claims, which also leads to the websites of these users being visited more often, as people want to know who is behind the name and avatar.

How do I get a Gravatar?

It is simple and free. You only have to click on the Gravatar website (gravatar.com)enter your most frequently used e-mail address and upload an avatar. It can be a photo, a logo or any other avatar.

At WordPress Themes and most other websites, Gravatar is now standard. If you have any questions or comments about the Gravatar, please write a comment.

The prehistory of the Gravatar: The Avatar

Before we look at the Gravatar, it is good to know what an avatar is. An avatar is a static or dynamic, graphic user representation. The avatar is used to identify a person in virtual space (Internet). The combination of name and avatar makes it easier to remember a virtual person. The origin of avatars can be found in the Internet gaming scene, where Internet users wanted to be recognized by eye-catching avatars. With the Blogging the avatars slowly grew up. Bloggers created eye-catching avatars or simply took a memorable photo that they used as an avatar, because with the diversity on the Internet, recognition value is important. The problem was that you now had to keep uploading your picture to every blog, social community and website. This is quite annoying and this is where the Gravatar comes into play.

Conclusion

Gravatar is a very useful tool to give users a consistent presence online. It is a free service that allows users to use avatar images on different websites. It makes it easy for users to log in through their avatar image and gives them a consistent presence. However, it is important that users are careful otherwise they can be identified as spammers.

FAQ

What is a Gravatar?

A Gravatar (Globally Recognized Avatar) is an image associated with an email address that is used on various websites to identify a user. When a user leaves a comment on a website, the Gravatar image is displayed next to the comment to indicate that the comment is from the user.

How can I create a Gravatar?

To create a Gravatar, you must first sign up on Gravatar's website and create an account. Once the account is created, you can upload an image and associate it with one or more email addresses. You can then use the Gravatar image when you leave comments on websites that support Gravatar.

Can I use multiple Gravatars?

Yes, you can use multiple Gravatars by assigning a unique email address to each Gravatar. This way, you can use different Gravatars for different websites or purposes.

Can I change my Gravatar at any time?

Yes, you can change your Gravatar at any time by logging in to the Gravatar website and uploading the new image. The new Gravatar image will then appear on all websites that support Gravatar and use your email address.

Can I use my Gravatar on my own website?

Yes, you can use your Gravatar on your own website by copying the Gravatar code from the Gravatar website and pasting it on your website. This way, the Gravatar image will be displayed on your website when you leave comments or posts.

What image formats are supported by Gravatar?

Gravatar supports JPEG, GIF and PNG formats.

Can I publish my Gravatar images?

Yes, you can publish your Gravatar images on your website or on other websites. However, it is important to note that you must respect the copyrights of the images.

Can I use my Gravatar on my blog?

Yes, you can use your Gravatar on your blog to personalize your posts and comments. If you have a Blogger account, you can also use your Gravatar directly on your blog.

Can I use my Gravatar on social networks?

Yes, you can use your Gravatar on social networks like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. However, you must include the link to your Gravatar in your profile.

Can I have more than one Gravatar?

Yes, you can create multiple Gravatars by creating multiple accounts. This way you can use different images for different purposes.

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About the author

Niels Stuck

Niels Stuck has 10 years of SEO experience and is the founder of the SEO agency "WOLF OF SEO". He gained practical experience by building 20+ affiliate sites alongside his marketing studies. Finally, he wrote his bachelor thesis about the influence of SEO on Google rankings, traffic and sales development in the form of a case study. Today, he specializes in e-commerce SEO and helps more than 80 companies build a sustainable organic revenue channel through SEO. Niels advises startups, established brands and corporations in search engine optimization of their online stores and primarily focuses on data-based content strategies and link building. He shares his knowledge about SEO and online marketing in this blog, as a speaker at conferences, in podcasts and as a guest author for OMT, Forbes, Starting Up and many more platforms.

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