Add Recent Comments Widget with Avatars To Blogger

In one of the previous tutorials, we saw a simple Recent Comments widget that displays the latest comments published on the blog posts but the main disadvantage was that the widget didn't have the option to show the users avatars. So, for those who'd like to see something more, here's a stylish Recent comments widget with round avatars and comment excerpts. Besides providing the option of displaying the commenters avatars, we'll be able to change the default image for the anonymous avatar, as well.

Isn't that cool? Let's begin adding it!

How to add recent comments widget with avatars

Step 1. Go to Blogger Dashboard and select your blog > go to 'Layout' and click the 'Add a Gadget' link:

Step 2. When the pop-up window appears, scroll down and choose the 'HTML/JavaScript' gadget:

Step 3. Copy and paste the code for the recent comments widget inside the empty box:

<style type="text/css">
ul.helploggercomments{list-style: none;margin: 0;padding: 0;}
.helploggercomments li {background: none !important;margin: 0 0 6px !important;padding: 0 0 6px 0 !important;display: block;clear: both;overflow: hidden;list-style: none;word-break:break-all;}
.helploggercomments li .avatarImage {padding: 3px;
background: #fefefe;-webkit-box-shadow: 0 1px 1px #ccc;-moz-box-shadow: 0 1px 1px #ccc;box-shadow: 0 1px 1px #ccc;float: left;margin: 0 6px 0 0;position: relative;overflow: hidden;}
.avatarRound {-webkit-border-radius: 100px;-moz-border-radius: 100px;border-radius: 100px;}
.helploggercomments li img {padding: 0px;position: relative;overflow: hidden;display: block;}
.helploggercomments li span {margin-top: 4px;color: #666;display: block;font-size: 12px;font-style: italic;line-height: 1.4;}
</style>
<script type="text/javascript">
//<![CDATA[
// Recent Comments Settings
var numComments  = 5,
showAvatar  = true,
avatarSize  = 60,
roundAvatar = true,
characters  = 40,
showMorelink = false,
moreLinktext = "More »",
defaultAvatar  = "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFXU3ZK3H0_0bWLLj5L5lz_A7leB44QdqCrRHcviL6sA5df6nOuE7EPikKYAdNlw0YnYii1UD1w-t7sofXvWiJ1ZQFE8u2TuJvQLLAR7ZR3m0XUTv_yoo7qjSAi8u3NJKcNNuJYg4ZbU8l/s1600/default-avatar.jpg",
hideCredits = true;
//]]>
</script>
<script type="text/javascript">
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</script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="/feeds/comments/default?alt=json&callback=helploggercomments&max-results=5"></script><div style="font-size: 10px; float: right; margin-top: -15px">Get this <a href="http://helplogger.blogspot.com/2012/03/add-recent-comments-widget-with-avatar.html">Recent Comments Widget</a></div>

Note:
- if you want square avatars instead of round, remove the line in red;
- by default, the recent comments widget with avatars will display 5 comments. If you need to show more, replace the "5" value in red;
- to change the avatar for anonymous users, replace the following address with the URL of your picture:

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFXU3ZK3H0_0bWLLj5L5lz_A7leB44QdqCrRHcviL6sA5df6nOuE7EPikKYAdNlw0YnYii1UD1w-t7sofXvWiJ1ZQFE8u2TuJvQLLAR7ZR3m0XUTv_yoo7qjSAi8u3NJKcNNuJYg4ZbU8l/s1600/default-avatar.jpg

- to change the size of the avatar, replace 60 value in green

Step 4. After changing these settings, click the 'Save' button and we're done!

From now on, when a reader sees the recent comments widget with avatars for Blogger in the sidebar, he comes to know that your blog is pretty active and that encourages him to post comments on your blog. This way, you can gather some active user base to comment on your blog posts.