Blogger: Getting More Share Buttons

Blogger introduced built in sharing buttons some time ago. These optionally appear at the bottom of each post. The only option you have is to show what they've given you or not. They provide are Facebook, Twitter, Google Buzz, Email and Blogger buttons. There are no options to add other sites or change the look of your buttons. Blogger share buttons are in the footer of each post and those are the ways users can share.

So, what's the Blogger with other social networking interests to do? Let's start with the easy.

Easy Share Buttons
Add to Any is the most easily customized option I've yet to try. They provide Six basic button configurations, most using a pop out window either on click or mouse over. Better than most others Add To Any allows you to pop out individual site buttons and prioritize share options in the pop out. Run through their configuration tool, copy the code and paste it into either your template or an HTML/Javascript widget and you're set. As of this posting I actually include one of their Share pop outs in my own custom coded sharing sidebar.
 
Add This has a bit more variety in look than Add To Any, but this comes at the expense of fewer guided configuration options. The core buttons displayed are similar to those from Blogger. If you'd like to include more it's going to take some coding work in the toolbox section. The toolbox and documentation show you how to add other site buttons, change the layout and behavior of your AddThis sharing and much more. There is a lot of potential for customization with AddThis, but much of that work is left to you.

Share This is much the same to configure as Add This with a modest set of guided configuration options and an abundance of code configuration available. Unfortunately, getting the button code triggers a Login/Register prompt. Understandably Share This is looking to capitalize on their product with registration and the hopes of selling further services. At this time, however, competitors provide free scripting access to at least basic buttons. If you want ShareThis without registering you'll either need to dig through their customization documentation to build your own or find it somewhere else.

Summary
Blogger provides a basic set of share buttons with a few clicks of the mouse. If you're not satisfied with just those, the three sites mentioned are a good and easy place to increase your readers options. Add To Any is the easiest to customize with an excellent guided configuration tool. Add This has a bit more polished look to it, but robust customization requires a lot of coding. Share This may be the best looking of the three, though registration is required to finish the guided configuration and further customization still requires coding. If looking to add sharing options to your blogger site, these three are a good place to start.

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