Display Twitter link in comments using TwitterLink Comments WordPress Plugin

So, you have users commenting on your site and you want to somehow spice up the comments area to display a link link to their Twitter page. That’s very easy with this WordPress plugin. A few clicks and all is set up.

I have seen on many sites that there is a place you can enter your Twitter username and it will create a link to your Twitter page within the comments area. This helps  your site as well as the commentators and both seem to win in this situation.

Small Description

TwitterLink Comments will add an extra field to your comment form so a user can add their Twitter username. A user configured ‘follow me’ link is then displayed along with their details on all their comments.

The blog owner has full control over the classes, HTML, link and message by using the settings page.

wp twitterlink details Display Twitter link in comments using TwitterLink Comments WordPress Plugin

You can either decide to let the plugin automatically put the link within your comments area or you can do it yourself, this depends on what your outcome will be.

If you are adding the field for the Twitter id to your comments.php template file, you need to make sure that it has name=’atf_twitter_id’ and that you configure the settings page to not automatically add the field.

Areas for automatic placing:

  1. Under Name Link
  2. Start of Comment Text
  3. End of Comment Text

Although I liked the options above, I used my own function to display the link as I wanted it directly after the comment meta and before the comment itself. You will have to play around as it depends on how your theme is set up.

 Display Twitter link in comments using TwitterLink Comments WordPress Plugin

Link Format Options:

  • Use NoFollow on link
  • Link opens in a new window
  • Manual link

Although there are options, the developer has made an effort to strip the HTML and only allows certain tags. This somehow frustrates me as I would like to do my own formatting and we are limited now.

Requirements: Seems you need WordPress 2.8 to run this plugin

Final Thought

I would like to know what you think of the plugin. Are you using it now on your site or are you using something else.

I will be setting up a post later this week showing you how I created a function for Thesis theme to handle this plugin.

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From the desk of George Serradinho

I am the proud owner of Serradinho.com and have made this my second home. I'm into blogging, downloads, WordPress, meeting and helping others, etc. Basically the internet in general :) Serradinho Web Services is my own company whereby I offer my services to clients. This ranges from web design, website upgrades, theme customizations, support, premium WordPress plugins and many more .....

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{ 37 comments }

Anand Srinivasan November 10, 2009 at 11:45 am

Is this from the same guy who developed CommentLuv plugin..He is so classy!
.-= Anand Srinivasan´s last blog ..Promoting Your Niche Store – SEO vs. SEM =-.

George Serradinho November 10, 2009 at 12:53 pm

@Anand – yes, it’s from the same developer. It’s funny how he has created this plugin to help with CommentLuv. It’s two great plugins :)

Millionaire Acts November 10, 2009 at 4:16 pm

Nice plug in! With the growing number of twitter users, definitely it’s time to put this plug in to my site. :)
.-= Millionaire Acts´s last blog ..Countering Cynicism =-.

George Serradinho November 10, 2009 at 4:39 pm

@Millionaire Acts – it helps a bit and you can make it nofollow so you have control over it.

Surender Sharma November 10, 2009 at 6:41 pm

Hi George,
This is really usable wordpress plugin to integrate Twitter links on Wordpress blog.
.-= Surender Sharma´s last blog ..By: Ms. Freeman =-.

George Serradinho November 10, 2009 at 7:13 pm

@Surender – it was easy to implement the plugin to show on my Thesis theme. Although I did not like the box whereby the user inputs their Twiiter username and checked if I could rather make it part of the comment form. The developer had good instructions of what to add and where.

The 3 ‘Format Links’ are ok, but I wanted to have more control with Thesis theme. I created a function for it and that will be published later this week. I hope it will help many out there.

P.S. Thanks for stopping by :)

John Samuel November 10, 2009 at 7:25 pm

I was using Twitter for Wordpress for sometime, but that was mainly to share my updates. This one I should surely try
.-= John Samuel´s last blog ..Happy Birthday Firefox! It’s 5 years of Happy Browsing =-.

George Serradinho November 10, 2009 at 7:51 pm

@John – some time ago, I used a plugin for the same reason as you mentioned. I think it’s important now as it promotes commenting a bit more as they will have a link to their Twitter account. They could see an increase in visits and subscribers, an extra bonus for anyone who comments here :)

P.S. I’m following you now on Twitter, so that I can keep follow you with your Twitter updates.

Curious Little Person November 10, 2009 at 8:29 pm

nice, very nice… i need to tr this on my blogs…

Cheers
.-= Curious Little Person´s last blog ..The Most Awesome Website Tracking Tool On the Internet =-.

Teen Blogger November 10, 2009 at 8:32 pm

I’ve seen this plugin on many sites and was considering to implement it on my blog as well. I looks quite handy if you want to increase twitter followers.

However you need Wp version 2.8, right?
.-= Teen Blogger´s last blog ..How To Keep A Effective Posting Frequency Combined With Brilliant Consistency- Part 1 =-.

George Serradinho November 10, 2009 at 9:11 pm

@Teen Blogger – thats what they hightlighted and so did I on the post.

Extreme John November 11, 2009 at 5:02 am

I have been using this plugin for a while I believe they recently changed it as well as the placement and where it is shown on your blog.
.-= Extreme John´s last blog ..When Morons Attack Bloggers =-.

George Serradinho November 11, 2009 at 6:56 am

@Extreme John – ok, glad to know of that extra info :)

Tinh November 11, 2009 at 5:23 am

Very useful tip, I will implement it in my blog immediately. Good way to increase Twitter followers sustainably
.-= Tinh´s last blog ..Historic Thesis Skin for FREE =-.

George Serradinho November 11, 2009 at 6:57 am

@Tinh – it’s one way to increase followers and you don’t really do anything.

izzat aziz November 11, 2009 at 7:08 am

with wordpress everything is easy, later on there must be for facebook and other social networking site.. :D

Dennis Edell November 11, 2009 at 4:52 pm

There are a few of these plugins now, have you tried any others?
.-= Dennis Edell´s last blog ..What Is Your Favorite/The Best Affiliate Marketing Forums? =-.

George Serradinho November 11, 2009 at 5:10 pm

@Dennis – I know many were using WP Twitip ID and had to change as the plugin is not supported anymore. I’m sure there are many other plugins, but you can decide what is easier for you :)

Dennis Edell November 11, 2009 at 9:08 pm

Ah ok, that was the one I was thinking of. Thanks for the update, I didn’t know it was no longer supported.
.-= Dennis Edell´s last blog ..What Is Your Favorite/The Best Affiliate Marketing Forums? =-.

George Serradinho November 11, 2009 at 9:54 pm

@Dennis – I also found out the hard way :)

Dennis Edell November 11, 2009 at 9:58 pm

Ouch, but isn’t that usually the way? lol
.-= Dennis Edell´s last blog ..Win A Free Premium Thesis Theme! Among Other Very Cool Prizes. ;) =-.

Gabe | freebloghelp.com November 12, 2009 at 3:15 pm

Very cool. I just might have to add the Twitter link to my sites.

George Serradinho November 12, 2009 at 5:02 pm

@Gabe – it’s easy to add and will also encourage commenting. That’s what I think.

Tycoon Blogger November 16, 2009 at 1:46 am

Thanks George, I can always count on you to learn about the latest and greatest WP plugins. This looks like a winner.
.-= Tycoon Blogger´s last blog ..Blogging for a cause – Fight SMA =-.

George Serradinho November 16, 2009 at 7:14 am

@Tycoon – I saw the plugin and installed it and then I just had to share it with others. Thanks for also linking to it from your Sunday roundup :)

Ruchi November 16, 2009 at 9:12 am

Very Informative , I will surely use it in my blog , thanks alot for sharing the information.
.-= Ruchi´s last blog ..Is Excessive Blogging Hurting your Relations =-.

George Serradinho November 16, 2009 at 9:22 am

@Ruchi – there are tons of cool plugins and this one helps to promote the commentators Twitter page, every small bit goes a long way.

Nancy@ifevolutionworks.com November 17, 2009 at 6:50 am

It works gret, but why doesn’t it work for my name with the comments and replies. My author/admin name shows, but the twitter name won’t :(
.-= Nancy@ifevolutionworks.com´s last blog ..Re-re-decorating =-.

George Serradinho November 17, 2009 at 7:07 am

@Nancy – you are the first person to say this, I suggest you speak to the plugin author and ask them.

Jannie Funster November 17, 2009 at 7:05 pm

Looks pretty easy, I love easy Plug-ins. Then again, most of the Wordpress ones I’ve uploaded and activated have been simple to make work. LOVE Wordpress.
.-= Jannie Funster´s last blog ..3 Photos I Took 3 days Ago & 3 Photos I Took 5 years Ago =-.

George Serradinho November 17, 2009 at 8:51 pm

@Jannie – very easy and many will like it. Let me know what other plugins you like, curious to know.

Ana December 4, 2009 at 12:32 am

Dear Serradinho,

This is a plugin that I have been on the lookout for as I have seen it on most people’s websites.

I am going to have a whirl and test it out now.

Thank you!

George Serradinho December 4, 2009 at 7:34 am

@Ana – glad to hear and let me know how you find it.

aviaitonMY February 16, 2010 at 5:56 pm

Hi,

regarding your twitter link setting, could you tell me what did you put in your field in HTML before link (max 120 chars) as image above??

or what did you put in all three field?

i cant see the rest..it cause the twitter-link only shows up when i commenting but not my visitors..

thank you!

George Serradinho February 17, 2010 at 10:10 am

@aviaitonMY – I don’t seem to understand?

Did you install Twitterlink WP plugin?
Do you have the the Twitter box by the comment form?

aviationMY February 17, 2010 at 10:46 am

ya..i have installed the Twitterlink and the Twitter field box by the comment box also work well.

i just want to know in

wp-admin>>settings>>twitterlink settings>>link format

what did you put in your

-HTML BEFORE LINK (120 characters)
-ANCHOR TEXT
-HTML AFTER LINK 120 characters)

since your image above only shows half of the code.

second, does the twitter link after comment meta shows up right after the commentator drop a comment or wait for another time to make it appears?

i make a test and only admin that the twitterlink appears straight away, visitors twitterlink not shows up..

thank you!

George Serradinho February 18, 2010 at 7:53 am

@aviationMy – please go read a post on my blog about how I displayed it and you will see what was done and how it was done.

Thesis Tutorial – Displaying Users Twitter link in the Comments Section

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