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”

  2. If some one wants expert view on the topic
    of running a blog afterward i propose him/her to pay a quick visit this webpage, Keep up the pleasant work.

  4. Hey there! I know this is kind of off topic but I was wondering if you
    knew where I could find a captcha plugin for
    my comment form? I’m using the same blog platform as yours
    and I’m having trouble finding one? Thanks a lot!

    Here is my blog: realty miami

  5. A devotee referred to as Duni Chand visited Anandpur in 1681, and presented him a Shamiana (a royal canopy or tent) embroidered in gold and silver, and was studded with pearls Ratan Rai, the
    son of Raja Ram Rai of Assam , visited Anandpur
    with his mother and quite a few ministers, and presented a number of gifts to the Guru, like an elephant referred to as Prasadi (or Parsadi).

  8. Hello would you mind letting me know which hosting company you’re
    working with? I’ve loaded your blog in 3 different internet browsers and I
    must say this blog loads a lot quicker then most.
    Can you suggest a good hosting provider at a fair price? Many thanks, I appreciate it!

    Feel free to surf to my blog – website

  10. Call NuCoat’s industrial painting specialists today and let us aid you with your
    next painting job.

    Feel free to surf to my webpage; best quality painters (Lorena)

  11. write Numerous Internet sources have sample personal statements that you can look over.
    Terribly enough, this could bump to any person at any split second.
    You can use the information and re-word it inyour own words.

  12. I simply couldn’t leave your web site prior to suggesting that
    I really enjoyed the standard info an individual provide for your guests?
    Is going to be again frequently in order to check out new posts

  15. When I initially commented I clicked the “Notify me when new comments are added” checkbox and now each time a comment is added I get three e-mails with the same comment.
    Is there any way you can remove people from that service?
    Many thanks!

  16. Please look into our reviews on Yelp or Superpages to read exactly what our
    customers have to state concerning us.

    Feel free to visit my website: best painting companies; Donte,

  17. I have been exploring for a bit for any high-quality articles
    or weblog posts in this sort of house . Exploring in Yahoo I finally stumbled upon this site.

    Studying this information So i’m happy to exhibit that I’ve
    a very good uncanny feeling I found out just what I needed.
    I such a lot surely will make certain to do not forget this website and give it a look
    on a continuing basis.

  18. I’m impressed, I must say. Rarely do I encounter a blog that’s both equally educative and
    interesting, and let me tell you, you have hit the nail on the head.

    The problem is something which too few men and women are speaking intelligently about.
    I’m very happy that I came across this during my search for something regarding this.

  22. You actually make it seem so easy together with your presentation however I
    to find this topic to be really one thing that I feel I would by no means understand.
    It kind of feels too complicated and very vast for me.
    I’m looking ahead to your next post, I’ll try to
    get the cling of it!

    my web-site :: photo booth hire

  24. whoah this blog is excellent i really like reading your
    posts. Stay up the good work! You recognize, many individuals are
    looking around for this information, you could help them greatly.

    Also visit my web page: website

  29. To make the most of your search Apartment Service Noida Sector 16 you might attempt the following
    important words Apartment Service Noida Sector 16, Apartment Noida, House Noida.

  31. Called the Gem of the California Objectives, Vision San Juan Capistrano
    has stunning gardens and walled materials which include soldiers barracks
    (1791), Gallery Locations along its South and West Wings, the North Corridor, which
    located warehouses, a Fundamental Courtyard, the ornate Serra Church (1788), the Quest Cemetery along with landscapes.

    Have a look at my web page … oceanside self storage

  32. Unquestionably believe that which you said.
    Your favorite justification appeared to be on the internet the simplest thing to keep in mind of.
    I say to you, I definitely get irked whilst other people consider concerns that they just don’t understand
    about. You controlled to hit the nail upon the highest as smartly as defined
    out the whole thing without having side effect , people can take a signal.
    Will probably be back to get more. Thanks

  35. Quality stretcher frames is going to be accurately cut
    with a sloping profile that minimises connection with the
    leading face with the canvas, preventing impression marks.
    He allowed our other suppliers to drop their pallets at his dock instead
    of boost the haul road. To know more info regarding
    great deal of services, go ahead and visit their site
    any time.

    my website giuseppe zanotti outlet

  38. Link exchange is nothing else except it is simply placing
    the other person’s weblog link on your page at proper place and other person will also do
    same in favor of you.

    Check out my web page :: website

  39. Hi there! This is my first visit to your blog! We are a team of volunteers and starting a new initiative in a community in the
    same niche. Your blog provided us beneficial information to work
    on. You have done a extraordinary job!

  43. Hello, i believe that i noticed you visited my blog so i came to go back the desire?.I’m attempting to
    to find issues to improve my site!I guess its ok to use a few of your ideas!!

  48. We stumbled over here different page and thought I should check things out.
    I like what I see so now i’m following you. Look forward
    to looking over your web page for a second time.

  50. Encuentro que el tema es muy interesante. Den con Ud se comunicaremos en PM.
    [url=http://mycomunidad.nuevoforo.es/viewtopic.php?f=26&t=119392]katherineOn[/url]

Leave a Reply