# Propositions to make share buttons more actionable and easier to use

**URL:** <https://meta.discourse.org/t/propositions-to-make-share-buttons-more-actionable-and-easier-to-use/25828>\
**Category:** Feature\
**Created:** [28 Febrero, 2015 11:25 UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/propositions-to-make-share-buttons-more-actionable-and-easier-to-use/25828 "2015-02-28T11:25:30Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 1

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**Author:** ![meglio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/meta/user_avatar/meta.discourse.org/meglio/32/71444_2.png) [@meglio](https://meta.discourse.org/u/meglio)\
**Post date:** [28 Febrero, 2015 11:25 UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/propositions-to-make-share-buttons-more-actionable-and-easier-to-use/25828/1 "2015-02-28T11:25:30Z")

</div>

# Our use case: sharing is not easy with Discourse

## Here is why

### - Cannot locate `share` button

Lots of users do not understand where to click to share what they read while they read (not when they has finished their reading).

It is known that while a reader goes through some good content, they have that “share it now” feeling a few times in between, not just at the end. What’s more, they might not even get to the end.

While the `Share` button might fit well into the design and be sufficient for some…

![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/meta/original/3X/6/9/6974d43c46fc6be43e774421db1d69ad8d06d253.png)

… it is non-functional and useless for our community.

We’re building a goat farmers community where members have a very basic level of knowledge about how to use Internet, not to say they’re located in Ukraine, which is below average “internet usage fluency”, so our members:

- DO NOT understand what this image means
- DO NOT realize where it’s possible to share
- DO NOT know where to click to get that url to share or email

Yet they keep asking me: how do we share? It’s obviously counter-intuitive, at least in our case.

I have to explain in detail and make screenshots, and all I hear afterwards is “why so complicated”?

When I see a “Tweet” button it’s straight - if I click it I tweet it.  
If I see a “Share” button, I don’t think about Twitter, I think about sharing. So one more thing to process in my head, plus one more click before I reach that Tweet button.

### - `Share` is not visible at all times

For those long articles, you won’t see the `Share` button until you read to the end of the article. What if it’s 1800 words? I miss that opportunity to let users share as soon as they feel they want to.

### - `Share` button cannot be fine-tuned

Not everyone would do this, but moderators would like to embed `Tweet this` button when writing ‘How-tos’, roundups etc - just in front of a citation that stands out.

For example, Twitter allows for so many configuration parameters, like default hashtag, default text etc: [X Developer Platform](https://dev.twitter.com/web/tweet-button)

**As a result** , I’m constantly losing almost every opportunity to let good articles written by mods be spread in social networks by sharing means.

# Propositions

1. Make share buttons configurable (i.e. default share text, hashtag for twitter, …).
2. Allow share buttons to be generated in tools like [Twitter Button Resource Page](https://about.twitter.com/resources/buttons) and then embedded right into the post text. For this to happen, an admin would need to embed the `<script>` part of the sharing functionality into the piece, and let authors embed the `<a>` part of the sharing button. Currently it does not work as javascript does not pick up the `<a>`s on the fly.
3. Allow for share buttons to be placed on the side, and not hidden under the `Share` button.
4. Add a button into the toolbar that would allow to insert a `Share button` and tweak its parameters in a dialog box.

# Resources

[https://blog.bufferapp.com](https://blog.bufferapp.com) makes share buttons available on the side and in the bottom simultaneously:

* * *

 ![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/meta/original/3X/2/5/25386faaaab46cf4f140b6ea3422a93e06356f7e.png) 

 ![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/meta/original/3X/5/2/52dc6ccfdde4b85eb24f564388d10233a3bc2b09.png) 

* * *

An epic blog post stressing the importance of availability of share buttons:

> **[The Research and Science Behind a Perfect Blog Post](https://buffer.com/resources/perfect-blog-post-research-data/)**
>
> How long is the perfect blog post? How is it formatted? What is its headline? We present the data and science behind these answers and more.

A story about how sharing can be one of key engagement factors:

> **[Content Strategy in 6 Steps: A Practical Guide for 2026](https://backlinko.com/content-strategy)**
>
> Learn how to build a content strategy that aligns with buyer intent, drives traffic, and boosts conversions.

* * *

_Thanks for reading to the end._

Any thoughts on current workarounds are welcome, as well as sane criticism and examples of how you do it with Discourse.

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_[View the full topic](https://meta.discourse.org/t/propositions-to-make-share-buttons-more-actionable-and-easier-to-use/25828)._