How to Add a Facebook Like Button or Like Box

by Posted on

The Easiest Way to Add a Facebook Button to Your WordPress Site

In this post, I’ll explain the differences in the Facebook Like Button and the Facebook Like Box. I will also explain the step-by-step process of adding this functionality to your website using WordPress as an example.

Button vs Box

 
The Facebook Like Button is used for visitors of your website to ‘like’ a particular post, page, site or any other criteria a website has to offer. This is done by assigning a URL to ‘like’. Do not confuse this with a ‘Share’ button which allows Facebook users to share a post, video etc. with their Facebook friends.


I am currently using the Socialize plugin on the Ask Adam League that is running on WordPress.

The Facebook Like Button has some great advantages. It allows users of the Facebook community to ‘like’ something which in turn shares that something and broadcasts it out to all of their Facebook friends via their News Feed. Also, this something that they like will remain on their profile for other people to see and visit.

The Facebook Like Box on the other hand allows visitors to ‘Like’ a Facebook Fan Page. It also has other functions such as showing the faces of people on Facebook who like the Fan Page and it can also display the latest post on the Fan Page.

Important:

An interesting note here is that you can use the Facebook Like Button as a Facebook Like Box but only a Facebook Like Box can be used as a Facebook Like Box. This is how it works. In the Facebook Like Box Generator you are prompted to add a Facebook Page URL in the respective field pigeonholing the developer into using the Facebook API strictly for users to ‘like’ a Facebook Page. However, in the Facebook Like Button Generator the user is allowed to add any URL they want. This makes it possible for users to ‘like’ the corresponding page that the developer is suggesting. How a Facebook Like Button can be used as a Facebook Like Box is simple; add a Facebook URL to the URL field and how you are on your way to making a Facebook Like Button that when clicked will allow a Facebook user to ‘like’ your Facebook page. For example, the Ask Adam League currently has a Facebook Like Button on the site. When clicking on this Like Button, the visitor will be Liking the Facebook Fan page for the Ask Adam League. They will also be able to see other friends of theirs that like the Ask Adam League Facebook Fan Page.

How to Add a Facebook Like Button to a WordPress Site

Adding either the Facebook Like Box or Button is very similar so instead of writing War and Peace here I’ll show you the steps for the Like Button.
Notes: These steps include using the code from the Facebook Developers website and not a WordPress plugin as I’ve found many of the plugins to be confusing or very spotty with their functions.
These steps will show you how to add a Facebook Like Box to your WordPress sidebar using a text widget; the simplest way I have found to add the Like Button.

Generate the Code:

  1. Go to the Facebook Like Button generator. This is where you will set the parameters for your Facebook Like Button and generate the code for your WordPress widget.
  2. The first step for generating the code is to get the URL for your page. I will choose to use the Ask Adam League Facebook page in this example since I want my site visitors to ‘like’ my Facebook page. Just visit the page and grab the full URL there and paste it into the ‘URL to Like’ field. (I’ve noticed that Firefox 3 on my Mac did not generate the Like Button example. It wasn’t until I updated to Firefox 4 that this happened).
  3. Select the different parameters for your Like Button such as pixel width and color scheme. You can also toggle on or off Faces which just displays the faces of the users who like your page.Click ‘Get Code’ and you’ll be presented with two different types of code; iFrame and XFBML. XFBML works for me (I’ll let the coder community explain the differences).
  4. Copy the XFBML code.

Insert the Code:

  1. Login to your WordPress CMS and go to ‘Widgets’ under the ‘Appearance’ pulldown on the right.
  2. Here you’ll have all of your widgets available that can be installed in your sidebar. If you don’t know what these do just think of them as little applications that do things on your sidebar.
  3. Grab the ‘Text’ widget and drag-and-drop it to anywhere you want the Facebook Like Button to be with all of your other widgets on the sidebar respectively. (if there is currently a text widget on your sidebar that you would like to install the Facebook Like Box code to with some other code there will be no problem at all).
  4. Crack open the Text widget by clicking on the pulldown. Your text widget will open up exposing the field where you will enter the code.
  5. Paste the code that you copied from the code generator.
  6. Click ‘save’.
  7. Bring up the page(s) that has your new Facebook Like Button to check it out.

Yeah yeah. I know we only have 12 people who like us on Facebook. Give us a sec.
Now anyone that visits your site will be able to like your Facebook Fan page. You can follow these same steps with the Facebook Like Box generator to make a Like Box if you wish.

Send me a comment if you guys have any questions. Good luck!

Note: My first time adding the Like Button it took almost 2 hours for it to show up on my page. Whether it took the Facebook API a million years to work or whatever else was going on I do not know.

Published by Donald Sinatra

11,483 Replies to “How to Add a Facebook Like Button or Like Box”

  4. Hello I am so delighted I found your weblog, I really found you by mistake,
    while I was searching on Yahoo for something else, Regardless I am here now and
    would just like to say cheers for a tremendous post and a
    all round exciting blog (I also love the theme/design), I don’t
    have time to look over it all at the moment but I have book-marked it and also added in your RSS feeds,
    so when I have time I will be back to read much more, Please do keep up the fantastic
    jo.

  5. I think other site proprietors should take this website as an model, very clean and
    fantastic user friendly style and design, let alone the content.
    You are an expert in this topic!

  7. I have a few pieces of classic jewelry, and naturally I love
    taking a look at more on ebay (and TV antiques shows).

    Thanks for sharing and congratulations on being LOTD 24th May 2012!

    Feel free to surf to my webpage joma jewellery a little friendship (Anibal)

  9. We have now an extensive number of jewellery in our Wedding & Engagement Jewelry Store ,
    which provides a beautiful collection of engagement rings and wedding ceremony rings excellent for
    that long run dedication. We also supply a terrific number of jewelry for
    the bridesmaids , ushers and flower women to make that big day one to recollect
    for everybody.

    Here is my web site; joma jewellery friendship bracelet (Winifred)

  10. You are so interesting! I do not think I’ve truly read something
    like that before. So good to find another person with some genuine thoughts
    on this topic. Seriously.. thank you for starting this up.

    This site is something that’s needed on the internet, someone with
    a bit of originality!

  12. Write more, thats all I have to say. Literally, it seems as though you relied on the video to
    make your point. You clearly know what youre talking about, why waste your intelligence on just posting
    videos to your weblog when you could be giving us something informative
    to read?

  13. In addition, Phenocal, which consists of where can i
    find pure garcinia cambogia in stores, Kami, cambogia,
    is a different significant as a pharmaceutical-grade weight control substance and also
    carries active components such as biotin, conjugated linoleic acid
    and also environment-friendly tea leaf.

  17. First off I would like to say superb blog!
    I had a quick question which I’d like to ask if you don’t mind.
    I was curious to find out how you center yourself and clear your thoughts prior to writing.
    I’ve had a difficult time clearing my mind in getting my ideas out.
    I truly do take pleasure in writing but it just seems like the first
    10 to 15 minutes tend to be lost simply just trying to figure
    out how to begin. Any suggestions or tips? Kudos!

    Feel free to visit my blog – Sitzungraum mieten

  19. Hey there just wanted to give you a brief heads up and let you know a few of the images aren’t
    loading properly. I’m not sure why but I think its a linking issue.

    I’ve tried it in two different internet browsers and both show the same results.

  20. Incredible! This blog looks exactly like my old one!
    It’s on a entirely different subject but it has pretty much the same layout and design. Outstanding choice of colors!

  21. Great blog here! Also your site loads up fast! What host are you using?
    Can I get your affiliate link to your host? I wish my website loaded up as fast as yours
    lol

    Look at my weblog: canevas

  23. By the end of the 8th Century CE the Islamic Civilisation had spread its area far and broad
    and now included North Africa, Spain, India and Central Asia.

    My page; joma jewellery a little sparkle (Osvaldo)

  24. Supplies used for jewelries’”objects that adorned the physique- advanced by time.

    Also visit my homepage joma jewellery wholesale – Kazuko –

  25. fantastic issues altogether, you simply won a new reader.
    What may you recommend in regards to your put up
    that you just made a few days ago? Any certain?

  28. Hey I am so delighted I found your website, I really found you by accident, while I was looking on Bing for something else, Anyways I am here now and would just
    like to say thanks a lot for a tremendous post and a all round
    thrilling blog (I also love the theme/design),
    I don’t have time to read through it all at the moment but I have bookmarked it and also included
    your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be back to read
    more, Please do keep up the excellent job.

  29. I’m curious to find out what blog system you happen to be using?
    I’m experiencing some minor security issues with my
    latest blog and I’d like to find something more safeguarded.
    Do you have any recommendations?

  32. 先日読んだ雑誌で、ハイドロキノンが配合された美容液はシミを消す効果がなかなか優秀という記事を見ました。美容液の成分は無理やりな口コミで評判が悪くなるから、次から次へと新しい物が出ては気づけば消えている気がします。
    ダイエットもそうですけど、美白にもいろいろトレンドがあるからいつでも敏感にしてないと失笑の対象になってしまって危険ですね。
    ドラッグストアに行けば美白を謳うコスメがかなりの棚を占めていて、さぁあなた達、美白しないとダメですよ！とプレッシャーをかけられてるようです。
    ヒアルロン酸、コラーゲン、ビタミン誘導体あたりはもはや定番ですね。
    ビタミンはキウイから摂るといいと言われていましたが、最近ではフルーツは糖度が高いから避けたほうがいいみたいですよね。
    卵のコレステロールは体に悪いみたいに言われていたのが、卵のコレステロールは善玉だからメタボ予備軍でも大丈夫になったみたいですし。

  35. Just desire to say your article is as astonishing. The clarity on your publish is simply nice and that i can think you
    are knowledgeable in this subject. Well along
    with your permission allow me to clutch your feed to stay up to date with approaching post.
    Thanks a million and please keep up the rewarding work.

    My blog post: laminate stairs (j2k.tv)

  36. With havin so much content and articles do you ever run into any problems of plagorism or copyright violation? My site has a lot of completely
    unique content I’ve either written myself or outsourced
    but it looks like a lot of it is popping it up all over the internet without my permission. Do you know any techniques
    to help prevent content from being ripped off?
    I’d certainly appreciate it.

    Visit my site: wooden chess pieces

  37. Undeniably consider that which you stated. Your favourite justification seemed to be at the net the easiest thing to take
    into accout of. I say to you, I definitely get annoyed whilst people consider worries that they just don’t understand about.
    You controlled to hit the nail upon the highest and also outlined out the entire thing with no need side effect , other folks can take a signal.

    Will probably be back to get more. Thank you

    Take a look at my web-site – large chess set

  38. Hey there, You have done an excellent job. I’ll certainly digg it and personally suggest to
    my friends. I’m sure they will be benefited from this website.

  40. All you have to be committed to doing is lifting some items that
    may be a tad heavy and putting some elbow into it.

    When you do so, you will be better off financially and increasing your credit score gives you a
    better chance to get a good interest rate when purchasing your first
    home. That should be enough to give the potential renter a solid idea of whether or not your unit
    is what they’re looking for.

  42. This is the perfect web site for anyone who really
    wants to understand this topic. You realize so much its almost tough
    to argue with you (not that I actually will need
    to…HaHa). You certainly put a fresh spin on a subject that has been discussed for years.
    Great stuff, just excellent!

  43. Silver Jewellery has created a position of its own in up to date and
    designer jewellery section. Silver is just not solely utilized in designer Jewellery but also in creation of designer artifacts.

    my web-site; joma jewellery bow earrings (Dorothea)

  49. This is the right webpage for everyone who wants to find out about this topic.

    You know so much its almost hard to argue with you (not that I personally would want to…HaHa).
    You definitely put a new spin on a topic that has
    been discussed for ages. Excellent stuff, just excellent!

Leave a Reply