Platform-Api
Platform-Api (ShareThis sharethis.js) adds social sharing buttons for 40+ networks to any website, with inline and sticky buttons plus share analytics.
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What is Platform-Api?
Platform-Api (ShareThis sharethis.js) is a JavaScript library that enables website owners to add social sharing buttons to their pages, allowing visitors to share content across 40+ social networks including Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and more. The API loads asynchronously and provides two main button types: inline share buttons that appear at specific locations on a page, and sticky share buttons that remain visible on the side of the screen as users scroll.
Key features include customizable button design (size, shape, color alignment), selective social network activation, image-specific sharing (allowing users to share individual photos rather than entire pages), video sharing capabilities, follow buttons for social media accounts, reaction buttons for immediate feedback without comments, and social feed integration to display posts from social networks on your website. The platform also offers social analytics to track sharing performance over time, real-time analytics, engagement metrics, and integration with Google Analytics Dashboard.
Platform-Api is designed for website owners, bloggers, content creators, e-commerce stores (especially Shopify and WordPress users), photographers, marketing companies, and developers building ReactJS or Angular applications. It supports multiple platforms including WordPress, Shopify, Webflow, Jekyll, Blogger, Unbounce, and Drupal, with no signup required for basic usage and easy integration via a simple property ID.
Platform-Api pricing
Pricing model: Freemium
Free tier available with no paid plugin tier required: $0 for WordPress plugin and $0 for ShareThis account. Basic social share buttons (inline and sticky) are completely free with no upsell. Social Feed on POWR platform has plan limits: Free plan allows 6 displayed posts, Starter plan at $4.49/month features 12 posts, Pro plan at $12.14/month allows 20 posts, and Business plan at $80.99/month allows up to 50 posts.
Platform-Api pros
- Free social share buttons with no paid upgrade required
- Supports 40+ social networks for one-click sharing
- Both inline and sticky share button layouts available
- Lightweight asynchronous loading for fast page performance
- Customizable button size, shape, color, and alignment
- Image-specific sharing for photography marketing
- Video sharing capabilities included
- Follow buttons enable single-tap social following
- Reaction buttons allow immediate feedback without comments
- Social feed integration displays social network posts on website
- No signup required for basic button usage
- Easy property ID integration via JavaScript snippet
- Native ReactJS and Angular plugins available on NPM
- WordPress plugin for easy follow and responsive buttons
- Shopify plugin for e-commerce social sharing
- Social analytics tracks sharing performance over time
- Geolocation-based Smart Share Buttons customize channels by user area
- Compatible with WordPress, Shopify, Webflow, Jekyll, Blogger
- Customizable button labels and share count display
- Privacy compliance features included
Platform-Api cons
- Sticky buttons may interfere with site layout on mobile
- Limited customization without coding CSS knowledge
- Social feed posts limited to 6 on free plan
- Some advanced analytics require paid POWR platform plans
- JavaScript can be injected by ISPs causing script replacement issues
- Turbolinks compatibility issues with newer implementation
- Access key visible to everyone when using API directly
- Cookie consent management requires separate CMP tool
Frequently asked questions about Platform-Api
How do I get started with ShareThis share buttons?
Visit sharethis.com and click 'Get Share Buttons' or 'Start with Share Buttons'. Create a free ShareThis account, then navigate to your dashboard. Select either Inline Share Buttons or Sticky Share Buttons and enable the tool. Customize your buttons by selecting social channels, size, shape, and alignment. Click the Activate code button, copy the code, and find your 24-character property ID to include in the JavaScript snippet.
What is the difference between inline and sticky share buttons?
Inline share buttons appear at specific locations you choose on your page (like below blog posts or near product descriptions). Sticky share buttons remain fixed on the left side of the screen and stay visible as users scroll down the page, ensuring sharing options are always accessible regardless of where users are on your content.
How do I integrate ShareThis into my WordPress site?
Go to WordPress Plugins > Add New, search for 'ShareThis', install and activate the ShareThis Share Buttons plugin. Click on the ShareThis menu, connect your property to WordPress, select which pages should display share buttons, choose your button type and options, then update. The buttons will automatically appear on your site.
Can I share individual images instead of entire pages?
Yes, ShareThis allows image-specific sharing. You can attach Share buttons directly to images on your page, so when users click share, they share that specific image to social media rather than the whole page URL. This feature is extraordinarily helpful for photography marketing and visual content.
What social networks are supported by ShareThis?
ShareThis supports 40+ social networks including Facebook, Twitter/X, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Instagram, Google+, email, AIM, text message, and many more. You can select which networks to display in your buttons during customization, and Smart Share Buttons can define geolocation to show the most widespread sharing instruments in your users' area.
How do I track sharing analytics with ShareThis?
ShareThis provides Social Analytics that tracks the performance of social shares over time. You can access this through your ShareThis dashboard to see engagement metrics and content insights. The platform also offers integration with Google Analytics Dashboard where you can analyze, measure, and keep record of customer interest.
Is ShareThis free to use?
Yes, the core ShareThis share buttons are genuinely free with no paid plugin tier. The WordPress plugin is $0 and the ShareThis account required to render buttons is $0. There are no upsells for basic inline and sticky share buttons. Some advanced features like expanded Social Feed posts require POWR platform paid plans.
How do I add ShareThis to a Shopify store?
Install the ShareThis Share Buttons app from Shopify Apps. Login to Shopify Admin, navigate to Apps > Smart Wishlist > Configure Appearance > Social Sharing. Enable 'Display Social sharing widgets on Wishlist page', locate the 'ShareThis Property ID' field, paste your 24-character property ID, customize sharing buttons as needed, and save. The buttons enable customers to share products to Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and email.
Can developers integrate ShareThis into React or Angular applications?
Yes, ShareThis assets are available within the developer's Git database and NPMjs. There is a official ReactJS plugin available at npmjs.com/package/sharethis-reactjs which is more convenient for integrating share buttons in React development environments. The platform supports easy setup into ReactJS and Angular applications or websites.
What are Reaction Buttons and how do they work?
Reaction Buttons facilitate interaction by giving users an opportunity to leave immediate feedback to any type of material (photos, blog posts, videos) without requiring comments, sharing, or selecting any form of interaction. Instead of traditional comment systems, users can instantly react to content, making engagement faster and more convenient.