I changed from Blogger to WordPress over a year ago because I could have my website and my blog together. I also liked many of the themes and layouts and found it easy to use.
I still prefer WordPress, though there is one thing I don’t like and it’s a recent thing: Google Friends Connect isn’t available for it anymore.
So, how to expand on followers from now on? Tough question, but I think I solved it.
I thought about adding the Networked Blogs widget to the sidebar, but I’m not sure about that yet. Then, I added a RSS button (the orange button on the bottom footer under the Find Me On feature).
Clicking on it, you can add my blog to practically any reader (including Google) or receive my posts through email.
The downside? It doesn’t show how many followers I have on my blog (I bet there is some plugin for it, though). I know it sounds stupid, but when we first visit a blog, we all scroll down to look at how many followers the blogs have, isn’t it true? So, wanting or not, it does matter.
If you were a follower from the GFC before it went extinct, don’t worry. You’re still my follower and will keep receiving my posts through Google reader. At least, I think you are.
UPDATE: I just changed my Google profile—I have now a personal profile and a professional profile—and because of that I’m re-following everyone and, when possible, I add directly to my Google Reader. So, if you don’t see me on your following gadget, don’t worry! You’re on my reader ;)
If you’re not on blogger either, how are you dealing with following issues? Do you guys use Google Reader, or any other reader? What do you think of Networked Blogs? Any thoughts are welcomed.
Cheers,
I added Linky Tools Connect widget, even though I’m on Blogger. I haven’t used it much, but it does give people another way to follow me.
You’re in my Google Reader, so I’m always following!
Thanks for the tip, Alex. I just added a Linky Tools Connect widget, to give my readers another option ;)
You’re definitely in google reader!! I still get all your great posts :)
I still get your posts.
I don’t know if I signed up through GFC, but I did sign up to get notified of your posts through email, which hasnt’ been affected by the GFC changes.
I use WordPress too, and I wrote an article explaining the GFC situation and put a link to it on my sidebar. Not only does that explain why I don’t have GFC, but it also carries the implication that I used to have a reasonably healthy GFC following. I now use Linky Followers, and hope a lot of people start using it because I think it fulfills what most of us want from such a widget: a way to track followers and be able to get to their blogs. I think Google were trying to create a Facebook-style social network through GFC (that’s certainly what Google+ is), and I’m sure that’s not what many GFC users were (and are) using it for.
I have your blog on my RSS, Juliana, and I’m glad to also add my face to your Linky Followers so you I’m a follower. :)
Nice to see others using Linky Followers too.
I receive your posts through Google Reader yet =)
I’ve been struggling with that too. I hated it when GFC went the way of the dodo but I really haven’t found a good alternative yet. So far I offer RSS and a subscribe via email but that’s really about it. I don’t have a way to view how many subscribers I have. I’ll have to try the Linky Followers widget.
I had you on my reader, but I didn’t see you there anymore, so I added you just now ;)
I follow EVERYONE I can through the RSS Feed. My Windows Live Mail has a blog read feature, so I put them in there. Much easier to go through in my opinion. Count me as a follower, Juliana, because your feed is in there as well!
I left on your ghostly blog hop story that I was following you but then couldn’t find the button. So, I’m just adding you to my blog list.