The Vanishing Followers and Retooling

I've been incredibly busy lately.  I'm preparing for a show in March, I have personal issues I'm dealing with, etc.  However, I wanted to take a moment to explain something that some of my fellow bloggers may not be aware of.

Are you noticing a sharp decline in followers on Google Friend Connect?  Don't worry, it's not you. You may just have to do some retooling.

Here is a quote from the Blogger Help Forum, dated 12/21/15.

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 OpenId 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.

Thank you,

Blogger support team

I may be making some dramatic changes over the next few weeks. Retooling time.   I'll keep you posted.

If You Need Me, I'll Be In The Studio

I'm busy.

I gave my studio a fresh coat of paint.  Now, I'm getting to a few projects.

Yes, I'm still in purge mode, so, I'm offering another discount code, through the month of January.

Any purchase of $10 or more will be 20% off.  Go to my Etsy shop, HERE, and use coupon code:VILLASPECIAL5 at checkout.

Well, I need to get back to work.

JUST WORKING

I just realized, I haven't posted in awhile.

I've been working.

Working on Etsy listings.

Working on cleaning up my studio with a fresh coat of paint.

Working on trying to decompress.

The more I get rid of, the more I want to get rid of.  So, keep an eye out.  I'll be adding lots of listings to my Etsy shop this week.

I'm also planning a sale in March.  I'll keep you informed.  The garage (aka The Abyss) is about to get a makeover.

THE PURGE CONTINUES

I'm quite serious about the purge.  I'm continuing to list creations, ephemera, hardware, etc.

Visit my Etsy shop HERE.

Don't forget to use coupon code: VILLASPECIAL4 at checkout for your 20% discount on orders of $10 or more.

The purge continues.

NEW YEAR, NEW FOCUS, MORE PURGING

It's time for change.

I'm not one for making resolutions, however, my focus will definitely shift this year.

I started the destashing last year, and, I'm continuing this month.  I need clarity, and, simplicity to move forward.

That means more purging, and, another discount special in my Etsy shop.  Use VILLASPECIAL4 for 20% off any purchase of $10 or more at checkout.  Click HERE to shop.  Offer ends January 11, 2016.

I have new designs, a studio to redo, a garage to transform, and, a different direction on the horizon. I'll share along the way.