How to Add a Facebook Like Button or Like Box

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.

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

  1. We stumbled over here by a different web address and thought I should check things out.
    I like what I see so i am just following you. Look forward
    to exploring your web page for a second time.

    Visit my web-site :: spa membership program (Arlette)

  2. Hi would you mind letting me know which webhost you’re utilizing?
    I’ve loaded your blog in 3 completely different web browsers and I
    must say this blog loads a lot quicker then most.
    Can you recommend a good internet hosting provider at a honest price?

    Kudos, I appreciate it!

    Here is my blog :: vaporizer kopen belgie

  3. I’ve been exploring for a bit for any high quality articles
    or weblog posts on this kind of area . Exploring in Yahoo
    I eventually stumbled upon this web site. Studying
    this info So i am glad to convey that I have a
    very excellent uncanny feeling I came upon exactly what I needed.
    I so much indisputably will make sure to
    don?t disregard this site and provides it a glance regularly.

  4. I’ve been surfing online more than three hours today, yet
    I never found any interesting article like yours. It’s pretty worth enough for me.
    In my opinion, if all site owners and bloggers made good content as you
    did, the net will be a lot more useful than ever before.

    Look into my page … best multimeter (Christian)

  5. excellent put up, very informative. I ponder why the other
    experts of this sector don’t notice this. You
    should continue your writing. I’m confident, you have a huge readers’ base already!

    My homepage: embroidery

  6. naturally like your web-site however you have to take a look at the spelling on quite a few of your posts.
    Several of them are rife with spelling problems and I to find it very troublesome to inform the reality however I’ll surely come again again.

    Also visit my weblog – graphic novelist

  7. Awesome blog! Do you have any helpful hints for aspiring writers?
    I’m planning to start my own their website (Maybell) soon but
    I’m a little lost on everything. Would you advise starting with a free platform like WordPress or go
    for a paid option? There are so many choices out there
    that I’m completely overwhelmed .. Any recommendations? Many thanks!

  8. I’ve been surfing online more than 3 hours today, yet I never found any interesting article like yours.
    It is pretty worth enough for me. In my view, if all webmasters and bloggers made good content as you did, the
    net will be much more useful than ever before.

    Feel free to surf to my site :: cuplikan video gol

  9. You can definitely see your skills within finding the best multimeter for hobby electronics (Shelia) work you write.
    The sector hopes for more passionate writers such as you
    who aren’t afraid to say how they believe. Always go after your heart.

  10. When someone writes an post he/she keeps finding the best
    multimeter for hobby electronics; tempurl.org, image of a
    user in his/her mind that how a user can know it.
    Thus that’s why this piece of writing is amazing. Thanks!

  11. hey there and thank you for your information – I’ve definitely
    picked up anything new from right here. I did however expertise a few technical issues
    using this site, as I experienced to reload
    the web site many times previous to I could get it to load
    correctly. I had been wondering if your web hosting is OK?
    Not that I’m complaining, but slow loading instances times will sometimes affect
    your placement in google and could damage your high-quality score if ads and marketing
    with Adwords. Well I’m adding this RSS to my email and can look out
    for a lot more of your respective exciting content. Make sure
    you update this again soon.

  12. I have to thank you for the efforts you have put in penning this
    site. I’m hoping to see the same high-grade
    blog posts from you later on as well. In truth, your creative writing abilities has encouraged me to get my own,
    personal web site (Elsie) now
    😉

  13. Your style is unique in comparison to other people I have read stuff from.
    I appreciate you for posting when you’ve got the opportunity, Guess I will just book mark this page.

    Check out my homepage; buy house

  14. This is the perfect blog for everyone who really wants to find out about this topic.

    You understand a whole lot its almost tough to argue with
    you (not that I actually will need to…HaHa). You certainly put a brand new spin on a topic
    which has been discussed for years. Wonderful stuff, just wonderful!

    Here is my web-site … Vietnam

  15. Greetings I am so delighted I found your website, I really found you by accident, while I was researching on Google for something else, Anyways I am here now and would just like to say kudos for a remarkable post and
    a all round interesting blog (I also love the theme/design),
    I don’t have time to read it all at the minute
    but I have saved it and also included your RSS feeds, so when I have
    time I will be back to read a lot more, Please do keep up the great b.

  16. Do you mind if I quote a few of your posts as long as I provide credit and sources
    back to your site? My website is in the exact same area of interest as yours
    and my users would really benefit from a lot of the information you provide here.

    Please let me know if this ok with you. Thank you!

    my web-site :: Best Local Services

  17. Hey would you mind letting me know which web host you’re using?
    I’ve loaded your blog in 3 different web browsers and I
    must say this blog loads a lot faster then most. Can you suggest a good
    hosting provider at a reasonable price? Kudos, I appreciate it!

    My web page: Local SEO Tips

  18. whoah this weblog is fantastic i really like reading your
    posts. Stay up the great work! You understand, lots of persons are looking round for this information, you could
    help them greatly.

  19. Heya i’m for the first time here. I came across this board and I to find It truly helpful & it helped
    me out much. I’m hoping to offer one thing back and aid others like you helped me.

    my blog: webpage (Alena)

  20. Hello exceptional website! Does running a blog similar to this take
    a large amount of work? I have absolutely no expertise in coding however I was hoping to start my own blog soon. Anyway, if you have any ideas or tips for
    new blog owners please share. I understand this is off topic however I
    simply wanted to ask. Thank you!

    Also visit my homepage; personalised coffee cups

  21. We’re a group of volunteers and opening a new scheme in our community.
    Your web site offered us with valuable information to work on. You have done an impressive
    job and our whole community will be grateful to you.

    Here is my site: Box Studios

  22. Howdy! This is my 1st comment here so I just wanted to give
    a quick shout out and tell you I genuinely enjoy reading through your articles.
    Can you recommend any other blogs/websites/forums that cover
    the same subjects? Thanks!

    Check out my web-site … houses for sale

  23. Hi! I could have sworn I’ve been to this website before but after going through a few of the posts I realized it’s
    new to me. Regardless, I’m definitely pleased I stumbled upon it and I’ll be bookmarking it and checking
    back regularly!

Leave a Reply