Saturday 15 June 2013

Between you and me - I'm worried.

Apologies in advance - this is a lengthy rant, but it cannot be avoided.

I can't be the only one that's just a tad concerned about the imminent demise of Google Friend Connect. There were a few posts referencing bloggers buying fake Twitter followers last night, and no matter how hard I tried to concentrate on the launch night of Big Brother (already calling it, Wolfy's gonna win), my mind kept wandering - what's going to happen to Zombies Wear when GFC dies?
This blog, and its sister blog Band Shirts, reach a very limited readership as it stands, so how exactly do I withstand the removal of the only method through which I find my most interest? 

I'm not an SEO genius, in fact Google Analytics scares me. It's nice to know 300 people visit my blog, but what does it matter to me that they're all from the suburbs of Lithuania and using Firefox? Oh and another bone to pick - why call it traffic? Nobody likes traffic. Nevertheless, everyone's making it a priority to take advantage of Google Analytics when we lose GFC. But I'm not smart enough for that. Or bored enough, for that matter.

I guess my main concern is that I've yet to find a feed platform to suit me, so the lack of GFC will prevent me keeping up to date with my favourite blogs. I'm aware I'm not alone in that I've not yet warmed to our present alternative Bloglovin. Perhaps it's the 'unread posts' statistic that builds up each time I login, making me feel guilty for not having read the thousands of posts since I last emerged 2 weeks ago. If I'm interested in a post's content, I happily click through to read it, and I scroll through my feed until I've reached a post I recognise from the last time I scrolled, I don't need to be informed of the numbers of unloved posts I've found no time or interest to read. I can't be the only one that doesn't read every single blog post.

Also, while I'm severely appreciative of the number of readers who have jumped ship and continued to follow on Bloglovin, my readership through the site is statistically low and it leaves me with little faith that any of us know what to do when GFC abandons us.

And no, I don't intend on manually checking every blog I like. I'm not a robot without a life. I'm a zombie, I've already used up one life, I need to make the most out of this one. 

I must stress that I'm not concerned with follower numbers, I'm more concerned that the end of GFC will spell the end of active blog readers. Bloglovin doesn't inspire me to read blog posts, the Blogger dashboard does. While I've read numerous bloggers praising its demise as an 'equaliser', pushing readers to consider content over follower numbers, it could also push readers away from venturing out to find new blogs. I for one use the GFC widget to click through to the followers of some of my favourite blogs and have in turn found some cracking reads and new loves through that. 

I'd love to know if you have any suggestions for alternative blog feed readers, as I'm at a loose end where to head to next.

What's your view on GFC's demise? Will it have a positive or negative impact on blogging for you? Will it improve or hinder your reading experience?

Join this zombie in another realm: Zombies Wear Band ShirtsFacebookTwitterInstagramTumblrPinterestBloglovinHellocottonShe Said Beauty

7 comments:

  1. GFC going really annoys me, I like it and want to keep using it! Ive come to visit and follow as I am coming to the #julylondonmeetup xx

    http://beautyqueenuk.blogspot.co.uk/

    ReplyDelete
  2. I feel exactly the same, although Bloglovin' is ok, I much prefer the current set up and I'll be sad to see it go! Only coming onto blogger to edit will be strange. xx

    ReplyDelete
  3. Was their an official announcement about GFC being removed? I assume that for something like this to happen, they'd first make an official announcement. There have been many posts since the google reader announcement about how GFC will go with it but I never entered panic mood because I don't think there was any official announcement about it and assumed it was all just silly speculation. We'll see what happens soon though as it goes in July right? I think I'm comfortable enough now to not really care about numbers of followers anymore to be honest. I recall being obsessed when

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I first started. (Sorry accidently pressed enter lol xD)

      Delete
  4. I'm so lazy when it comes to Blog Lovin', I can't imagine how it's going to be when I log in to blogger ready to scroll through everyone else's posts that I follow and see nothing. I'm giving SheSaidBeauty a fair try for following people, but not many blogs I follow are using it. Or they are and I have no clue how to find them.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I haven't warmed to Bloglovin either,it just feels like it's missing something... although it does make it easier to follow blogs from people who don't use Blogger as their blogging platform.

    I like that you can just click follow on GFC without having to click away from the blog you're reading. I also much prefer reading blogs in the dashboard.

    What on earth will blogger do to replace the huge gap that the 'Reading List' section on the blogger dashboard will leave? :S

    ReplyDelete
  6. I have made myself switch to Bloglovin'. I agree, I much preferred the Blogger Dashboard, though.

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for reading my post, I hope you liked it! I read every comment and aim to reply as soon as possible.