Where do you put your social share buttons?

8 replies
It seems that most sites put their buttons (Facebook "like", G +1, etc.) at the top of articles. Right now I have them at the bottom, with the thought that the reader is more likely to click it after reading the article. I thought about doing both top and bottom, but it looks like a mess on my main article page.

Any thoughts?
#buttons #put #share #social
  • Profile picture of the author Presto Smith
    Yeah, I think your reasoning is right. Put the share button after the article so that the user is more likely to click on it after they have enjoyed the article. You could do a simplified version of it at the top or on the side to help reduce the clutter if you want both.
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  • Profile picture of the author Bizzoyce
    I have always put them at the bottom of the Article. After someone is done reading they are more likely to share if the button is in front of there face rather then go looking for it. Just my 2 cents. Or just have it stuck to the side of your blog so it follows them down as they read.
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  • Profile picture of the author timpears
    How would anyone know if they wanted to share it until they have read it? Mine have always gone at the end of the article.

    I would like to make them bigger so they get more attention, but haven't figured out how to do that.
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    Tim Pears

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    • Profile picture of the author Robert Bleach
      Originally Posted by timpears View Post

      How would anyone know if they wanted to share it until they have read it? Mine have always gone at the end of the article.

      I would like to make them bigger so they get more attention, but haven't figured out how to do that.
      If you are on WP, use the Add-to-any plugin. In addition to the bar that expands into a box of social networking sites, it lets you add big Facebook Like, Google +1 and Tweet buttons. In the settings, look for the option to add "services." Then click on the ones you want to show outside the "share bar." I just noticed this option like 2 weeks ago and felt like an idiot for not having seen it sooner.
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      • I put them where they don't take up valuable real estate.

        99.9% of your visitors aren't interested in "sharing." Social media obsessives are delusional about this.

        When you become an IM television reality star, then start worry about social media.

        fLufF
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        • Profile picture of the author AnniePot
          Originally Posted by fluffythewondercat View Post

          I put them where they don't take up valuable real estate.

          99.9% of your visitors aren't interested in "sharing." Social media obsessives are delusional about this.

          When you become an IM television reality star, then start worry about social media.

          fLufF
          --
          That's very true.

          I've always put them at end end of my articles, but as you say, I don't think too many people actually bother with them. Once I was in the fortunate position of writing a highly topical article which managed to pip many others to the post (no pun intended), and that did create a lot of sharing, but it was the exception to the rule.
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  • Profile picture of the author imdomination
    I've got them at the bottom too, but a lot of mine are on sites that people generally wouldn't share, so they never get clicked anyways.
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  • Profile picture of the author Rita Kusmayanti
    Top or bottom doesn't matter, if they want to share your articles they will looking for the buttons.
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