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”

  13. You might only like sports games, but each and every now and then switch it up with a
    thing different. You will uncover that you like more than you thought.

    Even better, various games enable you to engage with diverse
    parts of your brain, which is a excellent
    issue.

  15. First off I want to say fantastic blog! I had a quick question which I’d like to ask if you
    don’t mind. I was interested to know how you center yourself and clear
    your mind prior to writing. I’ve had a tough time clearing
    my thoughts in getting my thoughts out there. I do enjoy writing however it just seems
    like the first 10 to 15 minutes are generally lost simply
    just trying to figure out how to begin. Any ideas or tips?

    Thanks!

  17. Today, while I was at work, my cousin stole my apple ipad and tested to see if
    it can survive a thirty foot drop, just so she can be a youtube
    sensation. My apple ipad is now broken and she has 83 views.
    I know this is completely off topic but I had to share it with someone!

  18. 緊急なキャッシングが希望の時には、専門の融資会社を利用することが大切です。実際に活用してみると、有利な資金調達を受けることができます。キャッシング会社を選択する時は、慎重に借り入れをすることが大切です。

  20. Oh my goodness! Incredible article dude! Thank you so much,
    However I am encountering problems with your RSS. I don’t
    understand why I can’t subscribe to it. Is there anyone else having identical RSS issues?

    Anybody who knows the solution can you kindly respond?
    Thanx!!

    My homepage :: Prüfung nach DGUV V3

  23. Admiring the commitment you put into your site and in depth information you provide.
    It’s good to come across a blog every once in a while that isn’t the same out of date rehashed information. Wonderful read!
    I’ve saved your site and I’m including your RSS feeds to my Google account.

  26. Hello there, You’ve done an incredible job.
    I’ll certainly digg it and personally recommend to my
    friends. I am sure they will be benefited from
    this website.

  31. It’s perfect time too make some plans foor the future and it is time to be happy.

    I have read this post and if I could I wish to suggest you few
    interesting things or advice. Perhaps you could write next articles referrinjg
    too this article. I want to read more things about it!

    Also visit my homepage … oram plus reviews

  32. This galvanized ladies to start carrying bags with locks, complex fasteners, and internal
    compartments. All this adds in the overall mark up
    tariff of their handbags which may have been saved if you had simply made the time and effort to acquire Chanel handbags online.
    Other shoppers will enter your store when they see others have been shopping
    there.

    Here is my blog post – prada bags outlet

  33. If you must feed the fish, wait at least 2-3 days and feed them very small amounts.
    D-Mannose is one of the most popular and the best remedies for those who are
    suffering from cystitis or urinary bladder infections.
    Fortunately, nowadays you do not need to be like an emperor to adopt an indoor wall
    mounted waterfall.

    My web site … Now

  34. Hey there! I could have sworn I’ve been to this blog before but after browsing through some of the
    post I realized it’s new to me. Anyhow, I’m definitely glad I
    found it and I’ll be book-marking and checking back frequently!

    Here is my page – garcinia cambogia actual reviews (Adelaide)

  35. I’m curious to find out what blog system you happen to
    be working with? I’m experiencing some minor security issues with my latest blog and I would like
    to find something more secure. Do you have any solutions?

    Also visit my web blog garcinia cambogia langley bc (Chastity)

  38. It is the best time to make a few plans for the longer term and it is time to be happy.
    I have read this submit and if I may I want to counsel you
    few interesting issues or suggestions. Perhaps you can write next articles regarding this article.
    I desire to read even more issues about it!

  39. I like the helpful info you provide in your articles.
    I will bookmark your weblog and check again here regularly.

    I’m quite certain I’ll learn plenty of new stuff right here!

    Good luck for the next!

  40. “黑桐谷歌”的父母都在新闻单位工作，并不保守，但是他们仍然不明白儿子从事的究竟是一份什么职业，整天宅在家里玩网络游戏，对着屏幕嘚啵嘚啵说，这就能养活自己？这不是不务正业吗？会不会是网瘾需要治疗？

  41. We are a group of volunteers and starting a brand new scheme
    in our community. Your website provided us with useful information to
    work on. You have done a formidable activity and our whole neighborhood might be grateful to you.

    My web site: DGUV V3

  43. I keep listening to the news update speak about getting boundless online grant applications so I have been looking
    around for the finest site to get one. Could you tell me
    please, where could i get some?

  46. Hmm it looks like your blog ate my first comment (it was extremely long) so I guess I’ll
    just sum it up what I wrote and say, I’m thoroughly enjoying your blog.
    I too am an aspiring blog writer but I’m still new to everything.
    Do you have any points for novice blog writers?
    I’d genuinely appreciate it.

  48. The on-line hack is also mobile custom-made so you’ll be able to generate your Gold and VIP
    immediately from your mobile browser , it’s does not matter if you have lg,iphone or galaxy – it is fits robotically
    to your cell device.

Leave a Reply