Friday, January 29, 2016

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.
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13 comments:

  1. Row homes and CobblestonesJanuary 28, 2016 at 2:12 PM

    Oh the suspense and curiousity you have peeked Rosemary ... dramatic changes and retooling time. Well whatever it may be I know you will do it with grace and beauty.
    xoxo,
    Vera

    ReplyDelete
  2. Mary Palumbo CollingsJanuary 28, 2016 at 2:32 PM

    I noticed this on my blog as well, and since I don't have a ton of followers, it made me a little sad to see that I am losing some followers. Thanks for the info…

    ReplyDelete
  3. Rosemary@villabarnesJanuary 28, 2016 at 2:37 PM

    You're welcome. I don't focus on blogging as much lately. Too much going on right now, but, I knew some of my blogger friends might not be aware of the changes with GFC. So many relatively new bloggers are struggling to gain followers, and, now to have this happen may put some in a bit of a panic.

    ReplyDelete
  4. CynthiaJanuary 28, 2016 at 2:52 PM

    I only have one follower (so far)LOL! So I guess I'm safe for now, but I'll make note.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Michele M./ Finch RestJanuary 28, 2016 at 7:42 PM

    I lost 26 from last night to today and a few the other day.

    Man they can't just leave things be, I hate that.

    Well, let's hope they come back - that is a huge number for me, oh well, what can one do really?

    Thanks for the total explaination from the site - I have been just skimming along kinda paying attention - well let's say the mass exodus today really got my attention, yes ma'am-a-roonie!

    ReplyDelete
  6. SandiJanuary 28, 2016 at 10:06 PM

    I lost 25 in December! Just like that. Poor! Gone! Then I read that too, but it wasn't supposed to start until January. Strange. Don't have a clue! Lol
    Hugs~

    ReplyDelete
  7. SandiJanuary 28, 2016 at 10:08 PM

    That was supposed to say POOF GONE! Lol

    ReplyDelete
  8. Curtains in My TreeJanuary 29, 2016 at 9:51 AM

    It's a never ending battle here on Blogger?
    my special friends fell off my blog also out in to void land LOL
    I hope they notice it and re join my blog also

    I am suppose to be getting ready for an indoor garage sale at at an expo here in Columbia for next weekend and haven't priced one thing
    keep us posted on your doings LOL

    ReplyDelete
  9. RhondaJanuary 29, 2016 at 3:57 PM

    As long as BLOGGER and GOOGLE are happy, who cares what us bloggers want or think.
    What a battle with Google it's been. Right now they are working on fixing buttons missing on blogs.
    This should take about a year for them to fix. Or will that be something we suddenly cannot do?
    Grrrrrr

    ReplyDelete
  10. Lauren @ My Wonderfully MadeJanuary 30, 2016 at 4:38 PM

    I'm so behind on everything "blog" -- I've had to go back to working 30+ hours a week and have taken over directing our 3rd-4th grade children's ministry at church so my blogging has often taken a back seat. Someday (maybe!) I'll be able to get up to speed -- of course by then, it will all change once more! In the meantime, I'm learning that I can blog when it fits my schedule, enjoy reading other's blogs even if I'm not posting and focus on what's necessary at the time. I so enjoy seeing all that you are up to -- you're a creative genius! Thanks for explaining the blogger/follower issue.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Okio B DesignsFebruary 3, 2016 at 8:31 AM

    I've been a bad blogger the last couple of weeks. =(

    Jeanine

    ReplyDelete
  12. UnknownMarch 5, 2016 at 3:49 AM

    Hope you receive this! Such a great tutorial, never thought of using Gesso on picture frames. Thank you for sharing. Blessings from England.
    June Carole

    ReplyDelete

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