Recently I changed the blog’s theme, and also got a new logo. But you just can always find something on your blog that needs to be changed or modified. Anyway, yesterday I was sitting, looking at my blog and thinking: “It is missing something, it really is, but what is it ?” And at the same moment when I opened my FireFox Bookmark list It just shot me in the head, of course, how could I forget - the almighty favicon !
Now really, some people would think it’s a really no big deal, but if you’re a wimp in coding/programming, just like me then it really is a big deal. And favicon actually plays a big role, believe it or not, but that small 16×16 little icon can actually drive you some traffic. When I yesterday opened my bookmark list of websites that I have added, 30% of them didn’t have any favicons, and I sure have forgotten what those sites were about, and I just didn’t want to visit them anymore. But now, if you got some decent favicon, then it just puts some brand awareness. I recommend you to put the favicon as your own blog’s/site’s logo, so people when they see it, they would already know what’s that site about and is it worth visiting. And of course a unique favicon also helps you to stand out of the crowd.
How to put your own favicon if you’re using wordpress
To change or add the favicon on wordpress platform, all you have to do is to click mouse for couple of times. I didn’t add my favicon trough coding the template/header file, it’s just too dangerous for me, I don’t understand anything what is written there, and yes, I am a wimp in coding, php, html, etc. So I used some simple yet effective plugin - Favicon Manager Plugin. The install guide is easy to understand
I also assume that you want to create your own favicon icon. To create your own favicon icon just download this freeware programm called Gimp - the small brother of Photoshop. If you’re a wimp also in designing (like me), then just use the Gimp tool to crop your original logo, and resize it to 16×16. That’s more or less it. And believe me that small 16×16 size sucker really makes a difference if many people have bookmarked you via Internet Browser’s Bookmark/Favorite list.
The 2nd thing that has changed:
I updated/modified my “About” page. And I have added a fresh, new, cool looking picture of me. Laugh or cry, but I am really not a photogenetic person, and that’s the best one I have (made it yesterday). So anyway, I hope this small favicon guide was useful for you, and that you like my new photo better than the old one :).