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13 March 2013

What's a blogger to do?

I'm sure you've all maybe heard by now that Google is foolishly getting rid of Google Reader, and subsequently Google Friend Connect.  They are hoping that we all start using Google+.  I've had an annoying time with Google+ and much prefer LinkedIn for that aspect.  But now, Facebook is experiencing some problems dropping some pages.  Though there isn't much talk about this, so it may end up being fixed.

Though this is certainly not the end of the world, social media is quite a big deal for our blogging community.  In fact, it's even quite a time commitment and investment for our blogs and our sponsors.  So whenever there is a major paradigm shift, things get a little crazy up in here and the question gets asked: what's a blogger to do now?

As far as for The Charming, I am definitely going to start promoting Bloglovin'.  I've been using it for awhile now and I love it.  It organizes my blogs and is so much more user friendly than Google Reader.  In fact, I only use Google Reader to help bloggers boost their GFC numbers, but will actually just catch up with them on Bloglovin.



I may try to give G+ another go.  I do like the idea of G+, even though I've been back & forth with actually having it.  But, I'm not getting a lot of feedback from my fans on Facebook, so I would like an alternative for being much more interactive with my fans (any recommendations?). 

In My Opinion
Personally, I'd like to keep social media streamlined and easy.  I feel like there are so many options out there: Twitter, Vine, Facebook, Instagram, HelloCotton, Pinterest, Bloglovin', Feeder, RSS, Email Subscriptions, Newsletters, and then the special interests like GoodReads.  It's kind of exhausting, don't you think?  I've always been a fan of simplicity and user-friendliness. 

I do love the main sites: Twitter, Bloglovin, Pinterest, Instagram.  But I have started a monthly newsletter for more exclusive offers, updates, and special events.  So those are going to be my main five until something better with enticing incentives presents itself.

Click to follow me on Twitter // Pinterest // Instagram.  Click here to sign up for my monthly newsletter.

I know others are talking about the switch to WordPress since GFC is going away.  I've researched this often quite a few times, and I always stick with Blogger.  For $10 a year, I get a custom domain name, email accounts, and customization.  I wouldn't say Blogger is better, but WordPress seems to be much more expensive ($18/year for a .com + $99/year for the cheapest plan that will allow a custom domain + customizations + email support).  Now, it is a Google product and Google has disappointed me many times in the past, including several email hackings, but it's still a great service so as long as they don't make a whole blogging community absolutely even more livid by dropping Blogger, I see no reason to switch.  It is a pretty great platform.

Other Readers.
Here are a few articles talking about reader alternatives:

6 comments:

  1. I had no idea that they were getting rid of GFC?! Thank goodness I just got Bloglovin!

    Hope you had a wonderful day :)

    Sheree
    The Hartungs Blog
    thehartungs.blogspot.ca

    ReplyDelete
  2. I didn't know about GFC either. I knew the google reader was leaving. That sucks! I have been promoting Bloglovin' too. It makes reading blogs so much easier.

    ReplyDelete
  3. My understading is that GFC is staying

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  4. Hi Amy! You're actually partly right. Google IS discontinuing GFC but only on NON-Blogger sites, meaning ours will be ok.. I feel the same way about g+ too tho ("ugh it's yet another site ill have to update) but I'm considering using it.. I'll start following you on BL but you shouldn't delete GFC completely as its not necessary. Hope that helps!

    Xo,
    Annie (www.theRantingLatina.com)

    Ps- http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2011/11/more-spring-cleaning-out-of-season.html

    ReplyDelete
  5. I would like to point out that the information that is provided about me is old. Here is the most current statement from Google on their blog about services that will be retiring. There is no mention of GFC leaving. Last year however they retired it for all non blogger sites. I have a friend that works at Google Headquarters in San Francisco and she is double checking on this information for me.

    http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2013/03/a-second-spring-of-cleaning.html

    ReplyDelete
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