Wednesday 6 January 2016

Google Friend Connect

I think most of us have realised that something is going on with Google Friend Connect, mainly that we have lost followers over the last few weeks.  My blog friend Dawn recently shared the following information which I believe is one of the best explanations of what is happening that I have seen:

Hi everyone, have you noticed a drop in your blog followers? 
Or are you missing posts on blogs you followed?
I have & I was visiting my friend Linda's blog, when I came across a post with 
the following information, which I wanted to share with you!
This explains a lot!

In 2011, we announced the retirement of Google Friend Connect for all non-Blogger sites. We made an exception for Blogger to give readers an easy way to follow blogs using a variety of accounts. Yet over time, we’ve seen that most people sign into Friend Connect with a Google Account. So, in an effort to streamline, in the next few weeks we’ll be making some changes that will eventually require readers to have a Google Account to sign into Friend Connect and follow blogs. 

As part of this plan, starting the week of January 11, we’ll remove the ability for people with Twitter, Yahoo, Orkut or other Open Id providers to sign in to Google Friend Connect and follow blogs. At the same time, we’ll remove non-Google Account profiles so you may see a decrease in your blog follower count.

We encourage you to tell affected readers (perhaps via a blog post), that if they use a non-Google Account to follow your blog, they need to sign up for a Google Account, and re-follow your blog. With a Google Account, they’ll get blogs added to their Reading List, making it easier for them to see the latest posts and activity of the blogs they follow.

We know how important followers are to all bloggers, but we believe this change will improve the experience for both you and your readers.

Posted by Michael Goddard, Software Engineer

~~~

This change was due to take effect on Jan 11, but as I mentioned, I've already noticed 
a drop in follower numbers, as have some of my other blogging friends 
 I apologise if this causes any inconvenience & I hope that you can create a Google account, which will allow you to continue following my blog and others, who use Blogger.  

If you do create a Google account, you will have to "Follow" blogs again, as those who didn't
 have an account will be permanently removed from our lists.  However, if you choose not
 to open a Google account, you can still follow blogs using other means such as Bloglovin', Networked Blogs, by email etc but you'll have to check each blog individually
to see what options are available to you!.

I greatly appreciate everyone who follows my blog & I hope that you'll continue 
to follow by whatever means suits you!

I hope this information helps everyone understand exactly what is happening.

Thank you for joining me today, I will be back a little later with my Crafting for all Seasons DT card, I'm just waiting for it to brighten up a bit before I take photographs.


Pauline
x

5 comments:

Donna Ellis said...

The Google blog did mention this last week that they had begun the transition, and like you, I lost a few followers. But I can also see it from Google's POV , too. Thanks, Pauline!

Pen Sunshinepen said...

Many thanks I am finding I have to sign in again and again at this moment in time.
I have not "gone" just "lost" for the moment until I sign in again.
Crafty hugs Pen x

Faith A at Daffodil Cards said...

A shame Google is taking over what we do and give us no choice as such. Thanks for the information Pauline, I'll add it to my blog copying off you blog, if you don't mind.
Faith
x

Gibmiss said...

Hi Pauline
Fabulous card... Love Black and white...
I have lost about 7 followers lately....
Hugs Sylvie xx

JJ said...

Hi Pauline,

Thank you for this, I have copied it onto my blog, hopefully we can still find each other lol!

Love & hugs

Jacquie J xxx
http://jewelscardcraft.blogspot.co.uk/