Install a Favicon Icon For A Professional Look On Your Blog.

Published on: Dec 22, 2009 @ 13:11

For advanced bloggers, one of the more professional-looking presentation tweaks you can add to your blog is the Favicon icon.

This is the image that sits to the left of your blog’s name in the tab at the top of your browser — on Bootstrap, it is the bolded, red “B”:

Generally, you can only tailor this icon if you are running a self-hosted blog, and there are several steps involved in adding it to your blog, depending on what platform you are running.

Self-hosted WordPress:  There is a plug-in here, and support and instructions on the WordPress.com support board here.

WordPress.com:  This is the free platform.  You can’t adjust your Favicon icon.  The default WordPress icon is the only one you can use.  This is one of the limitations of the free platform at WordPress.com.

Blogger/Blogspot:  There are instructions for adjusting your Favicon here.

LiveJournal:  There are instructions for adding a Favicon here.

Movable Type:  There are instructions for adding a Favicon here.

All other blogging platforms.

The basic instructions are the same for all blogging platforms.

1)  Create your Favicon icon from your original image (use the converter at the Movable Type page)

2)  Upload the icon to the root directory of your blog.

3)  Insert the appropriately adjusted code line into the head of your header file.  (Use the code line from Movable Type as well.)

If your blogging platform does not allow you to edit your header files then you cannot add the Favicon icon.

One tip I pass along that many of these instructions do not mention:  It can sometimes take a couple of days for the icon to actually pop up on your tabs, even if you have done everything right.  Internet Explorer in particular is notorious for showing/not showing Favicons as the mood strikes it.  So be patient once you have installed the code and the icon on your blog, and wait for it to appear before deciding you’ve messed up and start pulling your hair out.

First appeared on Bootstrap Bookmarketing Coop.