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Sunday, March 17, 2013

Yes, I believe you heard right...Google Reader is going away!

But don't panic!!! There are some other options out there for you whether you are worried about losing the blogs that you follow, or are worried about losing the followers on your blog. :)
From what I can gather, Google is going to get rid of Google reader and the Followers gadget???? some time in early July.  They say they are doing this because it has become redundant since the launch of Google+. You may have seen the Google+ followers gadget on my blog and many others recently. If you have a blog and haven't upgraded from the Blogger profile to the new Google+ profile, you might want to do so. 
To do that, just click on Google+ in the left side of your blogs dashboard.
You will be given instructions on how upgrade. Make sure you fill out the profile well, and add your blog under "contributor to:"  If you don't do this, it will be very hard for people to find you after you leave a comment on a blog. Now just go to your layout page and "add a gadget" This is where you will add the Google+ Followers.
 I also recommend  that everyone who has a blog, also adds the "follow by email" gadget.
That way, people can get your new posts in their email inbox.

***********

If you want another option... I have a great one for you. It is called Bloglovin' and it is a wonderful way to follow all the blogs you currently follow.  Once you create a free account, you can even import all your followed blogs from your Google account. It works much like the Google reader, but I honestly like it even better. It's very easy to navigate and I think you will all like it very much. They even have a great Ap for mobile devices.

Once you create an account, you can click on the drop down menu next to your name and find the follow buttons (for those of you who have blogs) Just add the code they give you to your blog as an html gadget and you will now have a way for people to follow you through Bloglovin'.
(Make sure you do a post and let your followers know about this too.)

***********

I know change is hard. We all like things they way we are used to them. Nobody wants to lose the blogs we follow or lose the precious followers who make blogging so much fun. Thankfully, these changes are really not so bad. I would like to encourage all of you who follow my blog through Google Reader (thank you) to choose one of these other methods to follow my blog before July 1, 2013

Follow me via email
(Just enter your email in the box on my sidebar... I promise... no spam.... just a new post once or twice a week. :)
 or
You can follow me in Google+ (the gadget is on my sidebar)
or
You can Follow my blog with Bloglovin  (also in my sidebar)

UPDATE!!!!! Okay, in my haste to alleviate the stressed out ladies who sent me emails asking me about this... I may have jumped the gun slightly. There is a possibility that although Google Reader is definitely going away, the followers gadget (through Google Friend Connect) may not be.
I have not been able to find any current information that says the Google Friend Connect is going away. The thing is... I can't be sure one way or another. (You know how Blogger is) I sincerely apologize if I freaked any one out.
I would still recommend doing the things I suggested, because it never hurts to give people several options to follow you the way that works best for them.

20 comments:

Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions said...

I hate when they change things like this! So, let me get this right, Karen. Where it says "Join this Site with Google Friend Connect" that is what is going to disappear? Thanks for the detail on this. I had seen a few posts in the past couple of days, but wasn't sure what the deal was.

Sue @ Miss Phoebes Perch said...

Thanks for the info! Any technical advice is always greatly appreciated! Sue

Unknown said...

So does this mean we have to add the The Circle for friends. You know how I dislike changes, I just get it down to knowing what I;m doing and then they mess with it.
Thanks sweet girl, Hugs Marilou

Unknown said...

Ugh, I hate changes like this because something, somewhere, is bound to go wrong... then again I think I have google+ so keeping my fingers crossed. >.<

Hugs,

Vicki Boster said...

Thank you girlfriend for explaining this for us all. Heaven knows I need all the help I can get. I really do hate change -- but its a fact of life. Deep breathe -- move on. Love you for taking the time to do this for us all~
Vicki

BECKY said...

Thanks so much for sharing this, gal! I think I am going to blog about it, too. Can I link to your post for a complete explanation?

I am making a list of some things I need done on my blog. I will be in touch soon!

Have a lovely week, sweetie!
Hugs,
Becky

Faye said...

Oh I wish they would just leave things alone, who has time to change this!!! But thank you for the heads up and the how to! I really appreciate it or I would have been lost!

Rebecca Nelson said...

Karen...I don't know why but I expected this. UGH! My husband has helped me all evening TRY and change over to Google+... I'm completely overwhelmed! I don't even UNDERSTAND this circle stuff. I'm thinking I need a complete blog makeover...can we talk?

xoRebecca

Art and Sand said...

Thanks so much for the help. I added the follow me by e-mail button and I changed to Google+. Now I need to do the Bloglovin part.

Diane said...

Oh my gosh....I barely know how to get around now! I dont even know how to grab a button!! LOL. Oh well. Hopefully, I'll get it figured out. Thanks to God for folks like you! xoxo Diane

Jen said...

Thank you Karen,for explaining these things. I am not very good at this but will keep your information and get around to doing this soon. I am waiting for a brave day for this. haha

ImagiMeri said...

Thank you so much for your critical updates.......I would have been lost had you not mentioned this. Were you able to use the lamps yet? I'd love to see a piccy if you've got them up.

Hugs,
Meri

HI! I'm Tabitha said...

Karen what would all of us "lost in the techies" bloggers do without u...Thanks for the heads up

Claudia said...

I know that Google Reader is going, I've written about it. But I haven't seen anything about Google Friend Connect. That hasn't been mentioned in any of my reading. I lost that widget a while ago because I moved to WordPress - but are you sure about GFC?

xo
Claudia

E said...

THANKS ! I read about this over the weekend and was not sure how to salvage my links, I really appreciate your post ! Elaine

Charlene said...

Oh I see a phone call to Karen & a paypal receipt coming my way!!! I don't think I can handle one more teeny tiny thing! Miss all my blog time & friends. HUGS!

Vesna Maric said...

Hello there! I have just imported my Google Reader data into Bloglovin' as you have suggested an I am quite content with it, looks pretty much the same as GR. Thanks.

Helen @ Blue Eyed Beauty Blog said...

I plan to keep my blogger profile. I don't like google+ and don't ever want to change over to that. As much as I love the Blogger host site I would change to another host site before creating a Google+ profile. :(

Helen
Blue Eyed Beauty Blog
Exercise Encouragement Group Blog

Pendra said...

Thanks Karen, I don't know where you guys find all this info? I am so NOT a computer, techy kind of person! I just am barely hanging on so I am so glad that you share this info with me too! I don't know how I even figured out to have my own blog and not so sure I am going to be able to keep it all together! I just purchased a brand new laptop and am getting rid of my BIG home computer and tired old laptop. I just don't know if I have it in me to even do the set-up and figure out the modem, router, cable... But I will with help from friends like you!! Thanks Karen!
Hugs,
Pendra

Betsy@My Salvaged Treasures said...

Thanks for the heads up Karen:-)

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