how to install disqus to your blog

What is Disqus?

To put it simply, Disqus (pronounced discus) is a comment system. You will be able to see it in action at the bottom of this post, it enables you to fully interact with your readers in a way the standard blogger gadget cannot. Think of it as a tiny forum for each post, people can comment simply by signing into twitter or Facebook and they will be notified when you reply, so you can keep the conversation flowing. Not only that but it also gives readers the ability to leave pictures and links in their comments! It will also recommend other posts to readers that have interesting comments on. So if you like the sound of it, and want to learn how to install it on your blog (super easy by the way!) Here's how:

STEP ONE:

You need to make sure that your comments approval on blogger is set to Anyone.
SETTINGS > POSTS AND COMMENTS > WHO CAN COMMENT? > ANYONE > SAVE SETTINGS.

STEP TWO:

It's time to set up a DISQUS account, so head over to Disqus.com and press LOG IN and then CREATE AN ACCOUNT, or alternatively you can log in with Facebook, Twitter or Google+ (I recommend google, as your blog is already connected!)

STEP THREE:

Now press FOR WEBSITES and then ADD DISQUS TO YOUR SITE.

You will be taken to a page like this, choose a name and then choose a unique disqus URL, finally choose a category for your blog, just choose other if they don't have one you want! When that's all done, press FINISH REGISTRATION.

STEP FOUR:

Once you have finished the registration, you will be taken to a page with lots of plug in links, for blogger, wordpress etc! First press the ADVANCED tab and here we are going to upload a default image that will show when people comment who don't have their own photo! This is an optional step but I recommend it as it ties everything together and makes it look more professional! All you need is a 250px by 250px image of anything you want, you can make these for free using the CANVAS setting on picmonkey.com ! After you have one ready, simply press USE CUSTOM PICTURE, choose your file and scroll down to SAVE.

It will take you to a page where you select how much of your chosen image to show (drag it around the whole photo) and then come back and press the INSTALL on the right.

STEP FIVE:

Now you are back at all your options, choose BLOGGER!

 You will be shown a set of three instructions. As step one says, click on the ADD TO MY BLOGGER SITE button!

Then simply choose which blog to install it to (if you have more then one) and press ADD WIDGET. 

It will add the gadget to your blog at the top, drag it to where you want it, I recommend underneath the BLOG POSTS widget! Don't forget to press SAVE TEMPLATE.

STEP SIX:

Don't forget to go back to DISQUS to do step two, this means that all comments on your blog currently, will be imported into DISQUS and show them all already in the new gadget!

CLICK ON IMPORT

Now press IMPORT COMMENTS FROM BLOGGER, and choose your blog, then press IMPORT (this can take up to 24 hours, so don't worry if links go missing, or comments don't show, they will come back!) Then Press ENABLE SYNCING this means that any comments made via DISQUS will also be visable from the comments tab on your blogger dashboard! Again, choose your blog and then grant access! That's it, you are all done, wait a few hours for your comments to sync, and your all ready to start using DISQUS!

If you have any questions, use the contact me tab at the top to fire me an email!