The English word “avatar” derives from a Hindu concept relating to the descent to earth and manifestation in earthly form of a god. In modern computer terminology this has been transformed to mean the image of a computer user that accompanies his or her posts on a particular website or forum – effectively representing the alter ego of the user.
Some computer users will attach their own portrait as the avatar accompanying their posts but many prefer to remain more anonymous and will create an avatar in cartoon or other form so that they are not instantly recognizable. This protects their privacy while adding a distinct identity to their posts.
Using an avatar will enhance your online presence. You can use a different one for each of the sites and forums on which you post, but if you keep the same one for all, your exposure will be stronger which must be beneficial if you are an internet marketer or have some other internet-based business.
For those not sure that they can create an avatar without help, there are a huge number of easy to use avatar makers on the internet. Many free avatar generators allow you to choose from a variety of templates to create a cartoon-like character of your own design. They are very simple to use but often require you to log in to access some of their more advanced features. If you want to create an avatar in this way it can be great fun and the results can be surprisingly good but, as they are template based, you night feel that they aren’t quite as unique as you would like them to be.
Making your own avatar will guarantee uniqueness. However, you can still use sites that will help you transform photographs or other images into an avatar; they will also ensure that your avatar is correctly sized. In fact, if you create an avatar yourself, sizing is often one of the main problems. Avatar generators know what size sites will accept and will size accordingly. You will have to do the same because an avatar that is too large will not load.
Avatars generally come in four sizes from 50x 50 pixels to a maximum of 96 x 96 pixels. The most common avatar size found in forums and chat rooms is 80 x 80 pixels. Before trying to upload your avatar, therefore, you should check the allowable size.
Whether you want to create an avatar on your own or you think it is best to try one of the multitude of free avatar makers on the internet you will have great fun and you will be surprised at the number of alternative, unique designs you can create. An avatar next to your post instead of that blank square will add fun and distinction to your post and will help enhance your popularity. Just Google “avatar” and a whole new world will open up with avatar generators of every genre vying for your attention.
What are you waiting for? Upgrade your online presence and create an avatar today.
