Real Estate Blog - Make Your Own Link Buttons

Home : Blogs : Margaret Woda, Maryland Real Estate : Maryland Real Estate

Make Your Own Link Buttons

buttons - istockphoto.com

Over the past few days there have been a few posts about link buttons.
I saw one asking ActiveRain to please provide them for us. Someone else suggested using links instead of buttons and offered a tutorial on how to create a link. This post is going to show you how to make your own link buttons.

STEP ONE: Choose an image and save it on your computer. Here is a group of buttons that I bought from istockphoto, (that's where I get most of my images) and I simply cropped and saved the blue one to use for a link button on my blog. When you do a search on istockphoto for "website button," the results number 13,086 so you'll have plenty of options, including some that are ready to use. I purchase 26 credits from istockphoto for $38 every few months, and always choose the X-Small images which cost only one credit. In this example, it was one credit for these nine buttons.

STEP TWO: Open your saved image on Picnik.com (it's FREE!) and use an appropriate font style and color to create text; now save your image in a new folder on your computer labeled "Buttons." Before long you'll have a whole collection of them to choose from when you need one. I recommend you always include at least one at the bottom of each post. Some people prefer to use several.

STEP THREE: Upload your button to your blog just the same as you would any image. Center it, if you like (or not).

STEP FOUR: Create a link to the destination of your choice by highlighting your image, just as you would a group of words if you wanted to create a link. Your destination may be the IDX Search on your website, your contact form, or anything else your little heart desires.

STEP FIVE: Try each button to make sure it works propertly. If you followed all these steps, it should.

BE CREATIVE! Here are some link buttons created with other images:

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

I Love Maryland

For more information, check out Focus On Crofton and Your Online Relocation Package for Anne Arundel County by Margaret Woda.

Serving Crofton and the neighboring communities of Annapolis, Bowie, Crownsville, Davidsonville, Fort Meade, Gambrills, Millersville, and Odenton.

Posted by Margaret Woda, Maryland Real Estate on 02/26/2009 12:10 AM

Comments (100)

Tutorial in the Online Marketing Channel

margaret woda, long and foster realtors crofton

Post is included in group: Real Estate Tomato Bloggers
Post is included in group: Long & Foster Agent Lounge
Post is included in group: Dedicated Bloggers
Post is included in group: Club Chaos
Post is included in group: Active Rain Newbies

100 Comments on Make Your Own Link Buttons

FEB

Margaret - this is sooooo cool! Thank you for this info.

Cool buttons. I used my buttons right from my website for awhile... they were ugly. Thanks for the pretty ones and the site link :)

Margaret,

Very good post. I read the one you are referring to. i guess it is a good idea to use instead of text links.

What do you think of the idea to have a block done in HTML, with all the links set to use at the end of the blog? So, you do it one time and then insert in the blog? I do not see why not, but unless I do it, I am not completely sure.

Very creative and effective. Way to go!

Tony

Margaret - How cool is that? Great job. I might need to re-design my stuff.

Hi Margaret! GREAT tutorial--I LOVE buttons and really need to update mine and get something fresh and cool.

You are sooooo cool. Thanks so much for the great information. Can't wait to check it out.....

You're welcome, Barbara and Sally!

Jon - I use either one or the other, depending on what's more appropriate in the individual post. No rules in blogging, remember? I don't know how you can do that, Jon because each button goes to a different destination. If you have one image that's made with a row of buttons, how would you make individual links work? In fact, I've found that you have to leave about 5-6 spaces between each image, or the links get confused.

Margaret, you are the BOMB! I also read the one asking for them - it was Elizabeth Weintraub, wasn't it? So here's her answer! One question - do you have to insert them in every post? Is there any way that they can show up automatically? If not, that's a project for the AR guys to work on (I'm sure they're already working on it...)

What a Fabulous and creative post !

... and generous to share with us !

You are fantastic Margaret !!!

Cheers !

Sheldon

Margaret: I DID it!!! THANKS.

Sheldon, have fun with it!

Frank and Sharon, I wouldn't want the same button on every post. If it's not a real estate post - maybe a restaurant review - I might prefer a "subscribe" button over a "home search button" for example. If it's a post about schools, I might want a link to all the posts about schools on my outside blog.

Suzanne, if you have any questions when you try it, feel free to call me.

Debe, I tend to create them on the fly, but the first one under "Be Creative" is my most used. 'Wish I could find something that colorful for a home search.

Jason, I'll be looking for some on your posts.

Tony, It's so simple, you won't believe you didn't do it sooner.

Kat, that's so cool!

Great tutorial, Margaret... I may have to check that out. Thanks!

Jesse, did you see yourself featured in my blog on FocusOnCrofton today?

The problem with this is I cannot put that button on my outside blog without inserting it in very blog I write. Geez, Louise. It would be far more practical for Active Rain to provide us with a contact button on our blog template.

Elizabeth, do you really want every post to have the exact same button? I don't, and I would resent ActiveRain or anyone else making that choice for me. Once the button is made, it takes about 60 seconds max to insert the image and create a link on it - well worth the price of having flexibility to choose which buttons go on which posts.

I dont know if you should tell people they cant copy yours if you bought them they dont have permission.

Oh my word Margaret. You are brilliant AND my favorite person today (& tomorrow since today is almost over). Thanks for sharing this!! I just made myself a cute little button!! I love it! Kristin

I have messed around a bit trying to make my own buttons, but it is often better to find ones provided by others with more skill. I really apprecaite people who have those artistic and creative talents.

Sounds like you've been surfing recently - and found some good stuff! I love redoing my buttons every so often to liven things up.

Hi Margaret, I really enjoyed this post and I think it servers many members really well in that it clearly helps those that could use this information in their post and their respective web sites. ( like me for instance) . Well done and very easy to follow.

FEB

Wow thanks Margaret! I have been wondering how people were doing these and now I know. Thank you!

Thanks Margaret - I've learned a lot on AR and I have a lot of fun thanks to bloggers like you.

I love this kind of blog. Useful and fun! Thanks! -Erika

Shane, I appreciate your concern. Good point. Presumably people see COPYRIGHT at the end of the post and realize that means DON'T COPY. The truth is, however, they can buy the same images and re-create them or make some that are better.

Kristin - Would love to see it. Why not add it to your comment?

Robert - The good news is that there are plenty of buttons ready to use on istockphoto and other sites.

Jeff - I've been doing this for several weeks, ever since Justin Smith told me I needed to add a call to action at the end of each post. (my seo coach)

William - Thank you, I'm glad you find it easy to follow.

Teresa - I've learned a lot on ActiveRain that has then inspired me to do some research and trial & error... Now I find it really fun to do new things, much to the amazement of my young adult children. LOL.

George - This is a GREAT source of info... no place else like ActiveRain!

Erika - Me too! I love the posts that help me learn.

Hey, ActiveRain gurus... these comments pushed me over 300 points, so now I need a different badge!

I was just thinking I needed some buttons ~ perfect timing, thanks!

This is the Best and most USEFUL blog post that I have EVER seen. Thanks so much for sharing this most exciting idea. Very HELPFUL.

Thanks! Brilliant Idea!

Thank you for the education. I like update mine too.

Grace Keng, Silicon Valley realtor, CA

Way to go, Margaret! Thanks for sharing your cutting edge ideas!

Margaret: Thank You for taking the time to share this information... I will have to go get my buttons.

having some updated buttons would be a cool thing especially when they can be personalized so easily.

Thanks for the idea of putting the buttons on the blog, I did not think of that. I did create some buttons for my profile. In Activerain there is so much to learn. Now I just need to start working on blogging.

Thanks

Great information -- reminds me that I need to update my buttons

wow - great info - thanks for sharing

Thanks Margaret,

I use http://www.picnik.com all the time it is a great site and I appreciate the information on the buttons!

Another website specifically designed for making buttons is www.cooltext.com. Once made, you can download the image or just the html code and host the image on cooltext, if desired.

An easy and fast way to quickly add buttons is to get a WYSIWYG html editor (I use Kompozer) and insert your buttons and links into it. Then when you want them on a blog post, just cut and paste. Using this method, it's best to host your images online somewhere, like flickr.

Hi Margaret, Thanks! I am so slow to learn these things (I still have not figured out how to put all those buttons form facebook, etc. on the side of my blog page) and this is good info and thankfully, with clear, easy to understand instructions! Best to you this week!

I havw to try to create buttons for my site... thank you for sharing ...are they big enough for illustrations?

Very very nice Margaret. You definetely have some cool looking buttons!

Thanks for the tutorial Margaret, you definitely are a wealth of information. I've been following you as well as others here trying to getting my footing once again on AR. Been away due to family illness and I have a lot to catch up on.

Sue, Welcome back. Glad you enjoy my blog and hope you're a subscriber. Last time I looked, I had about 10 fewer subscribers than I do subscriptions.

Bill, Thanks!

Joel, Not sure what you mean... "Are they big enough for illustrations?" Please clarify.

Russell, Buttons on Facebook? 'Don't remember if I've done that or not. I'm not a huge Facebook fan after the son of someone I know became the victim of a sexual predator through Facebook.

Roger, Thanks, sounds like a great alternative for anyone who finds this hard to do. I have a whole inventory of these now saved on my computer, so I just insert whatever I need very quickly. Someone else, though, may prefer to do it another way.

Laura, How did I ever blog without Picnik in my arsenal?

Randall, You're welcome!

Kathy, I haven't yet found the perfect formula for "always use" buttons. When I do, I'll just cut and paste that entire row at the bottom of each post.

Eva, I checked out your blog and it looks like you're getting a lot of listings posted. Great info for you customers and clients! Now why not branch out a little and write something about your favorite restaurant...

Morgan, they are easy! One of the things I didn't mention is that everything you do in Picnik (if you're a subscriber to the paid version) is saved in your history. You can just open that, revise the text, and save it as a new button. You don't have to go through the whole process each time.

Roland, I'll be looking for them.

JB, You're welcome!

Grace, Have fun with it.

Michael, Well thank you!

Doug, That's really nice of you to say. I've learned a lot from other folks here on ActiveRain and it's only fair to pass good info on to newer AR members.

Joddie, Can't wait to see what you come up with.

Great information. I'm always looking for images and this seems to be a great source. I'll be using it in the future.

Very cool! I want a big, flashy, blicky button (think obnoxious looking) that says "subscibe to me because I'm a big deal!" Do they have those too?

p.s. just kidding.

I have resisted doing buttons... I go back and forth on whether I like the look or if buttons are part of the whole "spamming yourself" that Rich J wrote about. I had hoped at one point that there would be a standard set of tasteful buttons on ActiveRain but as Localism, Individual blogs etc were introduced...

Great stuff Margaret. I already have my own buttons but have considered making some changes. Lots of folks have asked about how to do these and you met the challenge.

Jeff

Thanks for the great and very useful information, Margaret. You always have great advice!

I have button envy. Very nice explanation thanks for sharing.

Thanks for the info.

Margaret, thank you so much. As a newbie I am overwhelmed with all that I am learning on AR. It seems like I'm coming out of a cave into a whole new world and there is so much to learn about. Even your instructions will take time for me to learn how to do, but I will stick with it. Thanks again.

Tom Thompson

above freezing today in Vermont

Margaret - so many cool things out there, huh? Thanks for letting us know about this!

very cool techie tip, always looking for way to separte ourselves from the (large) pack of other real estate marketers

Margaret, I have been admiring your blog sign up button since I first noticed it. A great thing about ActiveRain is that people are so open to sharing ideas. Thanks for telling us about this.

Margaret... Thanks for the info. These are really cool... great-looking and very easy to do.

Thanks Margaret for sharing how to make buttons. I have always wanted to know how to make buttons to put on my blogs. This is a very good tutorial. Congratulations on your featured post.

Hi Margaret, I really love you guys... and I only have been with you terrific people for about a week. There is so much to take in and learn I am trying to figure out the best way to file the information for later use. I have been doing a lot of bookmarkings. Thanks so much. ~ Kim

Margaret, I've been wanting some buttons! Perfect timing for me with your post. Thanks, as always, for sharing your knowledge. Much appreciated!

Hi Margaret, I did not make myself clear, What I meant was that I have still not figured out how to post those buttons/links on my Active Rain blog that I see on others. Many links like Twitter, send Txt mesg, Picasa, etc.

I am so sorry to hear about your friend that's awful. I use Facebook only with friends and don't connect unless I have a certain comfort level

Thanks again for the helpful tips!

Margaret,

Great informative post! Thanks for sharing!

Jason Sanders

The Value Pages Group

Margaret - Great post! Love all your buttons, very creative. Thanks for sharing!

Margeret!

wonderful demo...and you made it so easy ...thank you :0)

Thanks, Margaret. I think you were reading my mind. I hope that you have a wonderful weekend, Jim

button button who's got the button - oh oh. Wrong post... ;) Seriously thanks for the info as always Margaret! You make us look good. Bookmarked and very deserving of the !!!

I love learning new stuff! Thanks Margaret!

Mary

It's really cool to have such a positive reaction from my peers here on ActiveRain. Some days we can really use an "Atta Boy" and you guys have certainly provided that today! I snuck in here during the self-banned 9 to 9, so I'll be back tonight to comment on your comments. Thanks much!

Margaret - I was so envious of all the cool buttons I was seeing on your posts. Your tutorial is wonderful and I can't wait to see what I can come up with.

Margaret, I love this. I can't wait to try it. I'm too tired today so it'll have to be a tomorrow project. Well not a project, because I think it's going to be fun!

This is exactly what I've been looking for for the past week! Thank you so much!

Margaret....

This is a wonderful blog. I learned alot, and will try out the button creation. Thanks for the tip on Istockphoto too.

valerie osterhoudt

I have been wondering how people did this. Thanks!

Thanks for the post. I am going to check that out.

Yeah I did a blog button thanks to your great tutorial! You are a super star!

Thanks for this info. Im going to use some buttons on my blog...and so many to choose from!

You all are raising my expectations... I'm gonna be looking for link buttons everywhere now.

Maureen, I think the link buttons are an answer to Rich's complaint about spamming yourself. You're not writing a word of self-praise, just providing something of value to readers. That's my opinion!

Thank you, miss 300K - I can do this!

Holy cow! This is great! Thanks.

Hi Margaret, thank you for the great post! I had posted a comment asking how to do this but did not receive a response.

Margaret - I love your colorful buttons. This post will be helpful to many.

Margaret, great tutorial and I love your buttons. I never realized how simple it was to make. Thank you!

FEB

Glad you all are finding this and that you are planning to try it. It really is too easy to not do. You'll find many on istockphoto that are already made, I just have to get creative and put my own spin on them.

I don't want to complicate things, but sometimes I just do a screen shot (of my images or buttons after I purchase them) and add text in Snagit, so that's another option. I didn't want to make this tutorial conusing by offering too many options.

What a great blog with useful suggestions! Thanks for the links.

Now this is cool, thanks for the how to guide as well

Thanks for the info! I always wondered how everyone got the cool buttons!

Margaret - This is the best post ever!! I have wondered how to set up those buttons and all other pots I have read do not give the great example that you give. Now I know how to do it. Thank you!

FEB

I will bookmark this post. Thanks for the easy to use tutorial.

A quick question.

On my blogs I always include my point 2 web site. I always check my links after I post a blog to make sure they are working. My outside links pop up right away, but my web site takes a very long time until it comes up. Any suggesstions????

Bert Spangenthal

The Lohman Team

www.BertSellsToledoHomes.com

RE/MAX Preferred Associates

Toledo Ohio

Margaret These look soooooo cool. I can't wait to try them. Peggy

MAR

Good morning, all! With my new self-imposed 9-9 ActiveRain-free rule, I've got a lot of writing and reading to do in the next 40 minutes! Nothing more important than thanking you for your comments.

Bert, to answer your question, I can only guess. It's probably got lots of images, perhaps at high resolution, which always make a site slow to load. But this is only a guess. One thing is sure... if it's slow for you, and you probably have it in your cache, it's probably even slower for a consumer visiting for the first time. If so, they might just skip it and move on to another agent, so it's a good idea for you to "fix" this issue.

Very useful info. Thank you for sharing.

Hi Margaret, just last week I was asking folks about how would I make a button to ________ and here you have provided the answers. You're a doll. Thanks so very much!

MAR

Howdy, well I DID IT, great directions, I followed them and hey it worked on the first try. Thanks for sharing!!! I really appreiciate it! what other goodies do you have

MAR

This is so helpful and FUN! I love tips like this. THANK YOU so much for illustrating this!

MAR

Thanks for the Picnik.com info..........I always wanted a place to to to be able to add text to my graphics.

APR

I can not believe I missed this post - I knew how to do it but had no idea I could get some stuff from istockphoto! Thanks!

APR

Hi Margaret - Just made my first button tonight using this post as a guide. Worked like a charm. Thank you!

Liz

APR

Margaret,

Your thoughtful how-to just enabled me to make buttons and add them to my profile page. Never had done so before, but you walked me right through it.

Thanks a million!

Irene

MAY

Margaret,

WOW I stumbled across your blog post for button links OMG ! ! ! ! I SPENT HOURS ! ! ! HOURS trying to figure it all out... WELL did not realize you could highlight the picutre as a link DAH ~ ~ ~ well off an running NOW changing out my blog posts, profile page and etc... thanks to you and taking the time

MAY

Margaret, you are such a lifesaver. I didn't know it was this simple. Thanks, and Irene's comment just told me how to better my profile page. Wow.

JUL

Margaret -

THANK YOU SO MUCH for this information!!! It took me weeks to figure out what to even call the button thingy...and then when I figured it out I was on a rampage to figure out how to make one for my own site! Please know that I have hereby nominated you as the Most Awesome Person in the World!!! I'm bookmarking this one for sure! Thanks again! :)

This blog does not allow anonymous comments