Gydget FAQ
General
What is a gydget?
A gydget is our name for a viral fan widget. Gydgets are small, viral web applications that fans can easily grab and add to their own web pages.
A gydget is our name for a viral fan widget. Gydgets are small, viral web applications that fans can easily grab and add to their own web pages.
Why should an artist or team build a gydget?
With a gydget an artist or team can:
With a gydget an artist or team can:
- Earn revenue - The Buy Tickets button, Ringtones button, Buy Music button and merchandise links allow fans to make purchases from the gydget.
- Grab eyeballs - The 'Tell friends' and 'grab it' buttons allow fans to share the gydget with their friends.
- Create community - Gydget allows fans to connect with each other and show some love for their favorite artists.
- Keep fans up-to-date - All gydgets update automatically when new events or news are added.
- Design your own gydget - We're all about customization. Change the image, colors, links, content and tabs.
- MySpace friendly: With the 'Go' button, linking out from MySpace is clean and elegant.
For Fans: Grabbing/Deleting a gydget
Who should grab a gydget?
Anyone who wants to support a favorite band, team or organization can grab its gydget and post it to their web pages (e.g. MySpace, Facebook, Friendster).
Anyone who wants to support a favorite band, team or organization can grab its gydget and post it to their web pages (e.g. MySpace, Facebook, Friendster).
What social networking sites does Gydget support?
Fans can add the gydget to MySpace, Facebook, iGoogle, Blogger, NetVibes, Freewebs, BackPlanet, Friendster, Piczo, LiveJournal, TypePad and more. You can also copy and paste into the source code of virtually any page.
Fans can add the gydget to MySpace, Facebook, iGoogle, Blogger, NetVibes, Freewebs, BackPlanet, Friendster, Piczo, LiveJournal, TypePad and more. You can also copy and paste into the source code of virtually any page.
Can fans choose the wide or narrow gydget when they grab it?
No. If a fan clicks grab it from a narrow gydget he/she will grab the narrow gydget.
No. If a fan clicks grab it from a narrow gydget he/she will grab the narrow gydget.
How do I remove a gydget from my MySpace page?
For a fan to delete the gydget from their MySpace page, login to your MySpace homepage and click 'Edit Profile.' You'll see your page broken out into sections. Find the section where the gydget is sitting and click 'Edit' to the right and below that section. You'll now see the section broken out into code. Search for the word 'gydget'. Our code starts with this line:
For a fan to delete the gydget from their MySpace page, login to your MySpace homepage and click 'Edit Profile.' You'll see your page broken out into sections. Find the section where the gydget is sitting and click 'Edit' to the right and below that section. You'll now see the section broken out into code. Search for the word 'gydget'. Our code starts with this line:
<a title="Gydget - Grab your Widget!" name="gydget" style="border:0"></a>
And ends with some lines that look like this:
</tr></table><img style="visibility:hidden;width:0px;height:0px;" border=0 width=0 height=0 src="http://counters.gigya.com/wildfire/CIMP/JnB*PTEyMDE1N
DQxMzU2MDYmcD*4NDQxJmQ9Jm49bXlzcGFjZQ==.jpg" />
... or like this:
<embed height="0" width="0" src="http://counters.gigya.com/wildfire/CIMP/Jmx*PTEyMDc2NzY3MjkwMTkmcHQ9MTIwNzY3NjczM
DUyMyZwPTg*NDEmZD1XSUQlM*QxNjUwMCUzQnRpdGxlJTNEQ2FtcCtCaXNjbys3Jm49.swf" flashvars="" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" ></embed>
Highlight and delete everything between and including these lines code. Click 'Preview' at the bottom of the page. If everything looks good, click 'Submit'. If things don't look right, click 'Cancel' and try again. You may want to save the code in your MySpace profile to a file on your computer just in case you delete the wrong thing!
Creating a gydget
Who should create a gydget?
Any group that has event dates, news or media to share should create a gydget. Musicians, comedians and sports teams are a perfect fit!
Any group that has event dates, news or media to share should create a gydget. Musicians, comedians and sports teams are a perfect fit!
How do I create a gydget?
To create a gydget, go to www.gydget.com and click 'create'. You will have to sign up by entering your email and a password. Then follow the instructions to create your gydget.
To create a gydget, go to www.gydget.com and click 'create'. You will have to sign up by entering your email and a password. Then follow the instructions to create your gydget.
How many different versions of the gydget are there?
There are two different versions of the gydget – a wide version (425 x 350 pixels) and a narrow version (250 x 385). You can develop both simultaneously by paying attention to the wide and narrow options in the following tabs:
There are two different versions of the gydget – a wide version (425 x 350 pixels) and a narrow version (250 x 385). You can develop both simultaneously by paying attention to the wide and narrow options in the following tabs:
- Settings Tab (Image)
- Buttons Tab (Ad buttons)
What image formats does gydget support for the image on the top left?
Gydget supports .gif, .png, .jpg files. If you try to upload a different file format the image won't appear - sorry :(
Gydget supports .gif, .png, .jpg files. If you try to upload a different file format the image won't appear - sorry :(
How I do choose my own colors for my gydget?
Under 'More Color Options' in the 'Settings' tab, or you can enter your own hex values for the customizable areas of the gydget. There are many reference charts available to find out the values of colors. For an example see http://html-color-codes.com
Under 'More Color Options' in the 'Settings' tab, or you can enter your own hex values for the customizable areas of the gydget. There are many reference charts available to find out the values of colors. For an example see http://html-color-codes.com
What is Top Friends?
Top Friends in a feature in the wide version of the gydget that allows fans who have uploaded their images and added the gydget to their profile pages to be shown in the gydget. It is not available in the narrow gydget.
Top Friends in a feature in the wide version of the gydget that allows fans who have uploaded their images and added the gydget to their profile pages to be shown in the gydget. It is not available in the narrow gydget.
Can I use both the narrow and the wide gydgets?
Yes - just grab the code for the version you want from under the gydget. Use the toggle button above the widget ti switch between narrow and wide.
Yes - just grab the code for the version you want from under the gydget. Use the toggle button above the widget ti switch between narrow and wide.
Can I automatically 'switch' my existing gydget from narrow to wide?
No - you'll need to manually grab the code for the wide version and paste it over the old code, or display both versions.
No - you'll need to manually grab the code for the wide version and paste it over the old code, or display both versions.
Can I add ticket links to my events?
Yes. To add a ticket link go to the events tab, find the event, and click edit. You'll see a field where you can add a URL.
Yes. To add a ticket link go to the events tab, find the event, and click edit. You'll see a field where you can add a URL.
How can I add a .swf file or a static image (e.g. record album cover) to my gydget?
In the 'Tabs' tab, click 'Add content tab...'. Then enter the source URL for the media. The size should be 240 x 215. For a Flash file make sure that the X,Y coordinates are 0,0.
In the 'Tabs' tab, click 'Add content tab...'. Then enter the source URL for the media. The size should be 240 x 215. For a Flash file make sure that the X,Y coordinates are 0,0.
I already have a narrow gydget. How do I create a wide gydget?
You create a wide gydget the same way as you create a narrow gydget. In the 'Settings' tab and the Buttons tab, you will see fields for the wide gydget since different size images and ad buttons are needed for your wide gydget to display correctly.
You create a wide gydget the same way as you create a narrow gydget. In the 'Settings' tab and the Buttons tab, you will see fields for the wide gydget since different size images and ad buttons are needed for your wide gydget to display correctly.
Are the wide and narrow versions of my gydget linked?
Yes - colors, tabs and most content will display in both versions. Top Friends will only appear in the wide gydget.
Yes - colors, tabs and most content will display in both versions. Top Friends will only appear in the wide gydget.
Can fans choose the wide or narrow gydget when they grab it?
No. If a fan clicks grab it from a narrow gydget he/she will grab the narrow gydget. Note that if you have a narrow gydget, only the narrow version will be available to users unless you adjust the 'Default gallery size' setting on the 'Settings' tab.
No. If a fan clicks grab it from a narrow gydget he/she will grab the narrow gydget. Note that if you have a narrow gydget, only the narrow version will be available to users unless you adjust the 'Default gallery size' setting on the 'Settings' tab.
Can you have the top friends feature in the narrow gydget?
No, top friends is only supported in the wide gydget.
No, top friends is only supported in the wide gydget.
MySpace
When I post my gydget, can I just post the Flash portion?
No. MySpace blocks users from being able to click on links in Flash. If you remove the HTML section you remove the 'go' button, which is what allows users on MySpace to open external links.
No. MySpace blocks users from being able to click on links in Flash. If you remove the HTML section you remove the 'go' button, which is what allows users on MySpace to open external links.
How often does my gydget update from MySpace events? What if I want it to update immediately?
The gydget updates at 12:00am PST. To update your widget immediately, delete your MySpace id and re-enter it.
The gydget updates at 12:00am PST. To update your widget immediately, delete your MySpace id and re-enter it.
If I delete an event in MySpace will it automatically update the gydget?
We will automatically remove your event from the gydget, but you can still edit or view the it in your gydget's 'Events' tab on gydget.com.
We will automatically remove your event from the gydget, but you can still edit or view the it in your gydget's 'Events' tab on gydget.com.
Why isn't my gydget showing up on my MySpace page when viewed from a Mac?
Check to ensure you don't have opacity of less than 1.0 on your page. Mozilla-based browsers, such as Firefox and Camino, cannot display Flash items if any parent element of the Flash object has an opacity of less than 1.0. The relevant CSS code looks like this:
Check to ensure you don't have opacity of less than 1.0 on your page. Mozilla-based browsers, such as Firefox and Camino, cannot display Flash items if any parent element of the Flash object has an opacity of less than 1.0. The relevant CSS code looks like this:
#example_div_selector {
alpha: 0.3;
}
Firefox 3.0 addresses this issue, and will be released in Q2 or Q3 of 2008.
How do I add a gydget to a Facebook artist or band page?
** Note that users can easily add gydgets to their own Facebook profile pages by clicking 'grab it' then 'facebook'. **
- Log in as the admin user who controls the artist page. Click 'page manager' (on the left under 'Applications').
- Click 'Pages' to the right of 'Ads manager' to open the artist page. You'll see the artist image and name. Under their name you'll see 'Information' and 'Applications.' Scroll down under 'Applications' and click 'More Applications (browse more)'
- In the search box type 'Gigya' (Gigya is our Facebook distribution partner). Click the Gigya / My Stuff image at the top of the results list, then click 'You can add this to some of your pages'.
- 'My Stuff' is now installed for the artist. Go back to the artist page (step 2) and click 'edit' next to gigya. Paste in the facebook code you get from our site, save and wait while it imports). Check the artist page and you should be ok!
** Note that users can easily add gydgets to their own Facebook profile pages by clicking 'grab it' then 'facebook'. **
Promotion
What should I do after posting my gydget?
Ensure your fans know that you want them to grab your gydget. We provide MySpace bulletin code on the 'promote' tab. Send bulletins a few times a day encouraging your fans to grab your widget. You can also send emails and talk about the gydget in your blog. Promotion makes all the difference. There are bands getting thousands of grabs a day because they actively encourage their fans to do so.
Ensure your fans know that you want them to grab your gydget. We provide MySpace bulletin code on the 'promote' tab. Send bulletins a few times a day encouraging your fans to grab your widget. You can also send emails and talk about the gydget in your blog. Promotion makes all the difference. There are bands getting thousands of grabs a day because they actively encourage their fans to do so.
