Tuesday, March 27
I tend to follow blogs with RSS feeds, which provide me with updates on my iGoogle home page. It’s convenient, because I don’t have to go from one blog hosting service to another to read new posts. Yet, it also gives me the option to visit the blog post on its home-site should I wish to do so. It is a rather anonymous way of following, however, and unless I leave a comment that I have subscribed to the RSS feed, the blog owner doesn’t know I exist.
After I’ve read the blog for a while, and know that I’m going to continue to follow it, I’ll usually sign up as a “Follower” using the gadget available from the blog site. I guess you could say that I ‘out myself.’
Several weeks ago, I decided to “Follow” a blog. The next day, the blog owner acknowledged me as a new follower. What he said next surprised me. He couldn’t find a link to my blog when he looked at my profile. Hmmmm! I have not one, but five blogs. Why weren’t any of them showing up? After all, one of the reasons we “Follow” is to increase visibility for our own blogs, isn’t it? (Be honest now.) It turns out that I had signed up to follow using Google Friend Connect (GFC), which doesn’t link to my Blogger profile.
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On the left is a blog I’m following with my Blogger Sign-In; note that my blogger profile name and photo are displayed. On the right is a blog I’m following with Google friend Connect; note that the profile name is different, and there is no photo (I didn’t put one in the profile).
After digging around a bit, I realized that the answer was staring me in the face all along. There was a way to use my Blogger profile to follow blogs. All I had to do was click the “Already a member? Sign-In” link (at the bottom of the follower gadget) instead of the more prominently displayed “Join this site with Google Friend Connect” link (at the top of the follower gadget).
The gotcha — since I had mistakenly linked to several blogs with GFC already, I had to fix each of those connections individually. This can be a cumbersome process if you have a lot of blogs on your reading list. (If someone knows of a short cut, leave a comment so that others can benefit from your know-how.)
If you don’t know which of the “Follow” options you selected, and you want to find out:
- Go to your Blogger Dashboard and click on a blog in your reading list. (Alternatively, do this the next time you visit a blog you’re following.)
- In the follower gadget, find and click on your profile. (Sometimes I see mine displayed above all the other followers; sometimes I don’t.)
- When your profile opens, if you see a link to your blog (screenshot below; left), you’re following with your Blogger profile; if you don’t see a link to your blog (photo below; right), you’re following with GFC.
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Following with my Blogger Profile (left), links to my blogs are displayed.
following with Google friend connect, links to my blog are not displayed.
If you want to change your connection from GFC to Blogger, here’s what you have to do:
- Click the Settings link (red arrow in the screenshot above; right)
- On the Basics page click the Change link (red arrow in the first screenshot below)
- Click the Blogger link (second screenshot below)
- Click Close when you get the confirmation window for the new profile connection
- You should now see your Blogger profile at the top of the Basics page (last screenshot below)
- Click Done or make any other changes you wish to make
- Your changed profile for the blog you’re following should now display a link to your blog (screenshot above; left)
- Click the “x” in the upper right corner of the profile window to close out
If you have a question about these steps, leave a comment and I will respond to you if you have enabled responses in your Blogger profile; if not, I’ll leave a comment on this post.
Good post Erin. I didn't realize there was a difference! Thanks for your research and tutorial.
ReplyDeleteWow, very nicely done. I have the same problem in that I use Windows Explorer Feeds to follow blogs, and fellow bloggers probably think I am not following them. But I have another question - how do I enable responses in my Blogger profile?
ReplyDeleteGREAT information Erin. I don't "think" I'm following with Friend connect but I'm going to check now. I too really don't use social networking sites and don't get what all the hoopla is about them. I have a facebook page and a few friends but the things I see posted are..........well I don't know......mundane??
ReplyDeleteOh dear have I just insulted my facebook "friends"?
Hmm...I'll have to check. Thanks
ReplyDeleteThanks for the info but I have only ever used blogger. Kathy will use facebook strickly for keeping in touch with the grandkids. It was a surprise when we couldn't find your profile.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment tips have most of our problems rectified.
It's about time.
You supplied so much information I feel I need to send you a check to cover all the time you spent researching this!
ReplyDeleteI feel like a real novice after reading this. I use the Google reader service to follow blogs. It has the advantage of showing when there is a new entry on any blog. I can read it in the reader or click on the header and go to the blog itself.
ReplyDeleteNothing is simple anymore:)
Hmmm. I've checked all mine and they all say "Blogger profile" but I KNOW (remember) that I've signed up to follow several of them on Friend Connect. So, guess I'm confused. (Not unusual :))
ReplyDeleteI only use the blogger dashboard to read the blogs..that way I only get the ones that I follow and are updated that day..now as for following?.. if I like the blog I follow..I do believe it is the commmenting that gets your 'name' out there in blogville!..just my opinion, though..
ReplyDeletegreat job on the tutorial, Erin.. I have noticed the google connect but never clicked on it!!
Whoa. This tutorial is way over my head. It's easy going when you follow but one blog.
ReplyDeleteSomeday, when I join the community, surely I'll reference this post.
Ditto Paul...your check is in the mail ;) -- MBZ
ahh, THAT explains it. We have conversed for a long time and suddenly you are a new follower on my blog! I use my google reader on my IGoogle page to catch up, sometimes use my dashboard to catch up, sometimes use my own blog links for the most recent posts, and then sometimes use other bloggers links to catch up. Why am I never caught up??? Great explanations, Erin.
ReplyDelete