To check out what widgets are available for your blog, click on the Edit Profile option in the drop-down next to your Profile Photo.
On your My Account Page select the Widgets tab.
You can now choose the widget you want. You can also specify which shelf would be shown in the widget and other details.
1. If the Preview shown matches what you want for your blog, copy the code.
2. Now go to the Widgets section in your Wordpress blog. The Widgets option is in the Left Column under Appearance on your Wordpress Dashboard.
3. Based on your Blog Template you will see your Sidebars listed on the right of the page. I have three hence they are listed as Sidebar 1, Sidebar 2 and Sidebar 3.
4. Choose which sidebar you want the badge to show in.
5. Now drag the TEXT widget into the Sidebar and paste the code into the TEXT dropdown. (You can use a few HTML codes to create space between plugins and to add comments). If you already have the TEXT widget in the sidebar you can go ahead and add the code. List the blocks of code based on the order you want the widgets shown on your blog.
6. Click the Save option in the Dropdown and you're done. Now check the widget on your blog to make sure it's showing as you'd like it to, else change the options you selected and replace the code with the new code generated.
And voila, you have a badge on your blog. I've added two GoodReads widgets to my blog - The 2012 Reading Challenge and The Most Reacent Books I've Read. Like them? Are you using a GoodReads widget? Which one did you like most?
Update (16/Jun/'13): Wordpress usually gives trouble with javascript and flash and that's what the GoodReads widgets are based on. I don't remember clearly now but I do remember having some trouble when setting up my widgets. My Challenge widget doesn't update for days sometimes, even now. So if you have trouble you could maybe just try another widget?
I came across this alternative way to set-up a Goodreads widget as a wordpress plugin. Maybe this will work for you. You could also complaint and ask for more help on the Bugs group discussion on Goodreads. It seems to be an active discussion with the guys at Goodreads helping out. You'd have to join the group first though.
Thanks to Gail Armstrong for sparking off this extra research with her question :)
hey, I had a problem with adding this Widget. when I was done with the steps and checked, the HTML code was also displayed.
ReplyDeletehttp://rakshabasav.wordpress.com/
My goodreads widgets look great on my blog-- but they don't update automatically. It's really frustrating, and I can't figure out why they wouldn't update themselves? Any help here?
ReplyDeleteHave you tried redoing it. Repaste the code for the widget, maybe that'll sort it out. :)
ReplyDeleteGive me a link to your blog, will take a look at the widget. Mine on the blog seems to be updating fine.
Just wanted to say many thanks for this! Saved my brain from fiddling with all the html stuff :)
ReplyDeleteGlad it helped Debbie. For those of us who read a lot and want to showcase the books we've read the GoodReads widget is great. So is the site, isn't it :)
ReplyDeleteThank you very much! Worked great!
ReplyDeleteGood to hear that Matthias :) Lets connect on GR....
ReplyDeleteHi there! I just added the Goodreads widget to my blog (http://kroniclesofk80.wordpress.com/) just as you've said. But the entire HTML code gets displayed on the blog along with the widget. What do I do? Please check it out!
ReplyDeleteHey Michelle thanks for stopping by and connecting. :)
ReplyDeleteI checked on your blog and saw the goodreads badge that links to your goodreads page. Is it working now?
Which badge were you trying to use?
Did you follow all steps? Maybe you could try again or connect with me on twitter (freya3377) and we can chat and try and figure it out. :)
Thank you! Nice manual.
ReplyDeleteGlad you found it helpful Tim :)
ReplyDeleteHey Gail, Sorry for the delayed reply. I was away taking a much needed holiday :)
ReplyDeleteI took a look at your blog, but couldn't see any widget. Did you put the widget in the right of left column of the slide-out sidebar?
The left column is wider, so I think the widget may do better there rather than on the right. Would you try that (above/below the pinterest widget).
Freya,
ReplyDeleteI just went ahead and put the widgets in the left column of the sidebar, and you can see my problem now. I would appreciate any help. Thanks for getting back to me! :)
I put the widgets above and below the Pinterest widget and, as you can see, the Goodreads are huge except for the one that seems to be duplicating at the very bottom. I have no idea where that one comes from. And even though I set the widgets to open links in Amazon using my affiliate code, they still open in Goodreads. :(
ReplyDeleteHey Gail, I checked the widgets out. Except for the last widget, the first two opened links in Amazon when I opened them.
ReplyDeleteCan't seem to figure out why the widgets are distorting. Can you paste the code you are adding to the website here.
Can it be possible that your side-bar code is causing this to happen?
The code seems fine. :(
ReplyDeleteWordpress usually gives trouble with javascript and flash (http://en.support.wordpress.com/code/#flash-and-other-embeds ) and thats what the GoodReads widgets are based on. Do all widgets give you touble or just this one?
I don't remember clearly now but I do remember having some trouble when setting up my widgets. My Challenge widget doesn't update of days sometimes even now. Maybe you could just use another widget?
I also came across this alternative way to set-up a Goodreads widget as a wordpress plugin. Maybe this will work for you. http://en.support.wordpress.com/widgets/goodreads-widget/
I also came across a group discussion on Goodreads where you could reach out to complaint and ask for more help. It seems to be an active discussion with the guys at Goodreads helping out. http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/509275-custom-widget-still-isn-t-updating
Hope this helps :) Let me know what happens.
Dear Freya - a quick message to say 'thanks' for this post. It was a lifesaver! Cheers, and all the best. Luke
ReplyDeleteGlad you found it helpful Luke. Thanks for stopping by. :)
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