Like and Follow features in Jetpack?

  • Unknown's avatar
    andrewmarino · Member ·

    I downloaded Jetpack hoping for an all-in-one replacement for the (no longer supported) Share & Follow Plugin (S&F). I had a problem with S&F displaying in IE8 and there was/is no Google+ button.

    I’m sure I need to read the documentation more about Jetpack, but here are my initial questions:

    1) I activated the Facebook ‘Share’ button, but how do I also activate a Facebook ‘Like’? I’m not seeing this in the Jetpack menu or Sharing menu. I have an active like count from my S&F Plugin.

    1A) I guess I don’t necessarily need both the FB ‘Share’ and ‘Like’, if I can add the FB Like (and count) to my row of share buttons. (Liking is basically sharing)

    2) How can I get all the Share icons aligned and the same size? I don’t see this in settings. They look a little goofy. I think I’ll only need the 4 icons that I currently have displayed.

    3) Is it possible to create a ‘Follow’ widget, like I currently have in my footer widget for links to my website’s Facebook page and YouTube channel. I guess it could be done with 2 Image widgets, but I only see 1 image widget.
    Or, another suggestion? I like the way the Follow Us footer looks now.

    Currently, I have:
    Jetpack Sharing settings activated
    Share & Follow ‘Facebook Like’ and the ‘Follow widget’ activated – these work fine even though the plugin is no longer supported. I can’t imagine that I would need to update them but…

    I prefer fewer plugins to avoid potential conflicts, maintenance etc etc :)

    Thanks
    Andrew
    Blog url: http://www.visitbanteaychhmar.org/

  • staff-blorbo · Staff ·

    The Follow widget is just for subscribing to your blog and available as the Blog Subscriptions widget at Appearance -> Widgets in your Dashboard. There’s no Facebook Follow feature.

    As for a separate Like button, you can add that as a new service following this guide: https://en.forums.wordpress.com/topic/its-possible-facebook-share-and-like-buttons-at-the-same-time-update

  • Unknown's avatar
    andrewmarino · Member ·

    Hi,
    Yes, thanks. I realize that now about the Follow widget. Do you know how/where to change the CSS in that specific widget? I may want to use it, but reduce the font size/type.

    Geez, why is the Jetpack plugin so unuser friendly to the average person building a website with WP since it’s a WP-created plugin? We want a basic set of the most popular Share icons, all the same size and display them evenly spaced. Admittedly, it’s stupid that Facebook should need to have ‘Share’ and ‘Like.’ I will probably just end up using Like.
    Jetpack does have some great features, though I’m having problems with them :)

    Why can’t I use the free ‘Enhanced Distribution’ feature? When I click ‘Learn More’ a ‘Deactivate’ button appears. But, I have no ‘Configure’ button. I would like to use these feature to send my monthly news updates via Facebook, Google+. I have no ‘Publicize’ feature either in Sharing which I think is a related feature.

    Anyway, this all may be a moot point. I received an email from the Share&Follow Plugin author. He had some serious family health problems and is, just now, getting back to work.
    Thanks

    Andrew

  • staff-blorbo · Staff ·

    I’m not sure what you mean by it not being user friendly. We have designed specifically to be as user friendly as possible and have received countless praise to that effect.

    If you’re having trouble with share button spacing, it could be theme-specific. You might want to switch to Twenty Eleven temporarily just to check.

    Publicize is still a WordPress.com-only feature. It is not part of Jetpack yet.

    Enhanced Distribution has no settings besides Activate and Deactivate. As described, it “will automatically take the great published content from your blog or website and share it instantly with third party services like search engines, increasing your reach and traffic.”

  • Unknown's avatar
    andrewmarino · Member ·

    Sorry, no offense:) It is generally quite admin user-friendly with multiple, useful features.

    When I previewed it, I didn’t like the different-sized buttons for LinkedIn, Facebook and Email. I don’t think that’s a theme issue, but maybe. The odd spacing may be theme-related, but I haven’t investigated further.
    Also, it seems there should be a Facebook ‘Like’ button among the automatic available choice Share buttons. Users can have the option of using the Recommend or Like (or both). I realize that involves linking the button to a user’s FB account and maybe that’s difficult to include in Jetpack.
    Most users probably want to see their FB ‘Like’ count. I have no idea why FB needs a recommend, since a like is basically the same thing.

    I didn’t read the ‘Publicize’ section clearly enough. Sorry:(

    I also didn’t read the ‘Enhanced Distribution’ section clearly enough. Sorry :(

    I should read more:)

    One more question:
    Is there a way to change the font size/type/color (widget title; alternate text; subscribe button) in the ‘Blog Subscription’ widget? I think this would be in a css file somewhere.
    If I put it under my Monthly News widget, I want it to have a more, subtle look.

    I’m currently using a combination of Sexybookmarks and Share & Follow plugins to (almost) get what I want, but I’m always open to change :)

    Thanks,
    Enjoy the Holidays,
    Andrew

    Home

  • staff-blorbo · Staff ·

    There’s no way to directly alter that via the widget itself, but you can adjust your theme’s CSS to cover it.

  • Unknown's avatar
    andrewmarino · Member ·

    Ok, that’s what I thought.
    Thanks for the help. I’ll keep checking Jetpack for new features and updates.

    Andrew

  • staff-blorbo · Staff ·

    You’re welcome!

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