Saturday, April 20, 2013

Discussion Post: How do you follow your favorite blogs?

I've been toying with the idea of getting rid of the Google Friend Connect widget (the "Followers" section in the sidebar) on my blog for a while. There are times it doesn't load quickly (or at all) and with the imminent death of the Google reader I've been thinking about how *relevant* it is now.

Here's the thing: I still get fairly consistent likes for this site through it. People are using it. Is it just because it's there or are there facets of it that I'm unaware of?

Here's what I'd like to know:
  • Do you use Friend Connect? (either as a blogger or a blog reader)
  • If you do use it as a blog reader, how do you use it? Is it simply to show support for blogs you admire or have you been using it to populate your Google Reader (or some other reader)?
  • For blogs that don't use it, do you connect to them through the RSS feed (FeedBurner, etc) or in some other way?
    • For those that use other ways, I'd love to hear how you follow a blog's content. Email? Do you manually add sites you enjoy into readers?
Talk to me, my lovelies. I'm all ears. I want to know what works for you!


30 comments:

  1. I used to have GFC when I was still at Blogspot, but when I moved to Wordpress I couldn't use it anymore. Now I just use Feedburner for my RSS feed.

    I follow blogs by RSS myself as well; I don't like to get so much email spam (:

    ReplyDelete
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    1. I'm the same way with following. I don't think I really even *look* at email posts that come through.

      Thanks for your input, Celine!

      Delete
  2. I follow blogs via RSS, never email and have never used GFC - or even Blogger.

    Tanya Patrice
    Girlxoxo.com

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  3. As a reader, I am using bloglovin...as a blogger, I am clueless. I have no idea what to add for followers on my blog. smiles..

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    1. As a reader, I'm trying both Feedly and Bloglovin. As a blogger... well, I'm with you on that. LOL!

      Thanks for stopping by, Christi!

      Delete
  4. I follow in RSS--I do not like getting stuff in my email (it is full enough and most of the time I end up send that stuff directly to my trash can). I haven't really found the ONE RSS feed reader I love since GR but I use a combo of Feedly/Bloglovin. I don't like that Bloglovin doesn't do full articles and has problems with some people's feeds. I don't like that Feedly doesn't have all the share options *sigh*.

    As a blogger, I just give everyone the options. Every person has their own way to read :)

    ReplyDelete
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    1. I like the way you think, Felicia! I'm playing with both Feedly and Bloglovin and I kinda feel like you do. I like both for different reasons but I'm not used to either of them enough to feel like I've found THE ONE!

      Delete
  5. I've stopped using GFC as a reader. (I never used it as a book blogger, since my site was always on WP.) I used to follow people on GFC as a public sign of support, but I've always used Google reader (now Feedly) to follow blogs.

    As a blogger, I try to give my readers all subscription options (like Felicia).

    Getting into the business blog world has made me realize that each blogging niche is different. There are only two or three business blogs I follow in my feed reader, but I subscribe to MANY newsletters because that's the best way to follow businesses.

    But the content creation is much different between book blogging and business blogging: most businesses post once a week AT MOST, so receiving an email isn't going to back up my inbox the way receiving a new email every time my favorite book blogs post would.

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    1. I got overwhelmed with GFC as a reader. OVERWHELMED. I'm so glad I was able to start new and pare down to the blogs that actually update and who still review books that I'm interested in.

      Delete
  6. I'm following blogs either through GFC and RSS subscriptions, and I offer different options (GFC, RSS, e-mail) on my blog.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Are you still getting pretty consistent GFC likes? I imagine that there will come a time when GFC goes away entirely (this is my opinion, but it seems to be losing a lot of the features that made it worthwhile in the first place) and we won't have it as an option anymore.

      Can you tell that I've put WAY too much thought into this? Lol!

      Delete
  7. I follow via GFC but I use google reader to view new blog posts. My second preference for following would be RSS.

    I don't only like following via email. It's too much like spam if you follow more than a few blogs.

    Since google reader is shutting down, Bloglovin seems to be the newest hyped-up way to follow blogs. I tried it once but I wasn't a huge fan because it shows the first 2 inches or so of each post. I would rather view just the titles.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. I'm with you on the email option. It's OVERWHELMING if you following more than a few blogs.

      I'm on the other side of the spectrum as far as what I want in a reader. I want to read the whole post IN the reader. Then I pop over to the blog to comment. That said... I'm not thrilled with either Bloglovin or Feedly yet. I feel like I'm still in the learning phase with both of them. Hopefully I'll find a happy medium soon and stick with one or the other.

      Thanks for your thoughts!

      Delete
  8. I now use RSS via Bloglovin. I manually add them and put them in categories. It's more manageable for me, and super easy. I've also enjoyed following blogs through Facebook lately, which I was hesitant to do in the past. I didn't want my personal FB overloaded with the content, but it hasn't been that bad and I'm catching good posts that way.

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    1. I've been trying to follow blogs on FB, too. BUT... I don't think I see even half the posts that people post simply because the timeline is so fluid. However, I do like supporting blogs there and seeing what they post there that's different from twitter and their blog.

      Delete
  9. As a reader, I do use GFC or email subscriptions, but I am also starting to use Blog Lovin'

    ReplyDelete
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    1. I'm slowly learning the features on Bloglovin (and Feedly). It's a slow process.

      Thank you for your input. I like seeing all the answers I'm getting!

      Delete
  10. I actually use the Pulse App on my phone and kindle fire. I'll comment in bed in the mornings and at night.
    Then I click through from twitter and facebook as well.
    The reader on my computer I've found I like the best is FeedDemon because it pulls up the full post, works like a browser so that it will pull up the blog page if you want, and you can comment and share all from the reader.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. It sounds like you have a SYSTEM down that totally works for you. I LOVE THAT!
      *adds FeedDemon to the list of things I want to take a look at*

      Thank you!

      Delete
  11. I use RSS feeds and I've been using Feedly. I have a Bloglovin account as well, but I haven't played with it yet to see if I like it better. I've been enjoying Feedly. I like all the different options on Feedly has for viewing posts. I also love Feedly mini, which shows up on the bottom-right corner of any site with an RSS feed so that you can add it to Feedly or just save a particular post for later. It also allows you tweet, facebook, or email the post to friends.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. One of the big reasons I'm leaning toward Feedly is the post viewing option. I didn't know about the Feedly mini thing. That sounds like something I would use A LOT.

      Awesome! Thank you!

      Delete
  12. I have GFC, Bloglovin, Feedly as well as Google Reader. But the one I actually use as a reader is Google Reader (at least until it goes away). Also, I add blogs manually :)

    ReplyDelete
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    1. We sound very similar in the way we do things. Although, now I'm transitioning over to Feedly so I don't get blindsided when Google Reader goes away.

      Thanks for you input!

      Delete
  13. Friends connect, and RSS in general really has always baffled me. I prefer to follow people on Twitter, but keeping up with blog posts amount every day interaction can be difficult.

    I use bloglovin too; I really should become more savvy at engaging with readers.

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    1. You're giving me an idea for a future blog post.

      THANK YOU!

      Delete
  14. I mainly use RSS (specifically I use feedly), and I follow on twitter.

    I'm listed on bloglovin' but don't use it to connect with blogs myself, and I have a page on facebook but don't tend to follow other's facebook pages. I find I get a lot of follows through wordpress subscribe and a fair few through e-mail, I'm not sure how many follow my RSS

    ReplyDelete
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    1. RSS seems to be the big winner -- no matter what feed reader is used. I like knowing this.

      Thank you for your input!

      Delete
  15. After switching from blogger to WP I stopped using GFC - I left it open for a while but I wasn't THERE every single day and so I forgot to check. Now, I use a software that downloads RSS feeds into a separate application. I like it because I don't have to boot up firefox every time I want to read a post I liked (I leave FAR too many tabs open and booting up takes FOREVER) but I still have the option to switch to a browser for commenting if I want.

    ReplyDelete