If you haven't heard by now, Google Reader has sadly gotten the boot. Like disowning a child, they have kicked it to the curb and will be letting it die on the streets come July 1st. Though they haven't been specific, I'm betting money that Google Friend Connect is peacing out as well... booo!
I was following the uproar on Twitter last night, and I completely understood everyone's frustration. I saw others making fun of the reactions (#calmyourself), but I'm sorry - it's kind of a big deal!
Lots of bloggers have focused on making Google Reader and GFC the #1 way to follow, especially with giveaways. There is a lot of time and money that go into those. Some say it's just a number, and sure, I believe that to an extent, but to me that number showed how many people along the way I've been able to reach in one way or another. It may not be the number of active readers I have (not by a longshot), but it's been a way for me to measure overall success.
But, after the initial shock drained out and I realized there's nothing I can do about it, I decided to shift my attitude a bit. Here are a few reasons why I'm starting not to care...
Will I miss Google Reader?
To be honest, I stopped using Google Reader a long time ago. In the beginning I used it all the time, but the more bloggers I met and followed, the more overwhelming it got, and consequently I let it get out of control. For a while now I've only been following to support the blogger and during giveaways - that's about it.What reader have I been using?
None. Nowadays I read through returning comments and social media - Facebook, Twitter, Instagram mostly. Consequently, I've lost touch with a lot of blogs I actually liked reading but just forgot about, which is really sad.Will I use another reader?
I'm excited to use Bloglovin again! Last night I moved all of my subscriptions over and did a major clean up from 400+ blogs down to 150. I think that's a realistic number I can try to keep up with, and I've already started reconnecting with blogs I've lost touch with. I don't like unfollowing people, but it had to be done.... plus I get unfollowed allllll the time, so I don't feel too bad.Want to switch too? Katie from Priceless Adventure has a super easy tutorial on how to move your subscriptions from Google Reader to Bloglovin.
I'm kind of bummed. It's taken me three years to get my numbers on GFC to what it is now, and Google is just going to steal that number from me! for me, it's like starting back to square one.
ReplyDeleteI totally get it, though your GFC readers will still have time to transfer their subscription elsewhere - I've already seen my Bloglovin subscribers increase!
DeleteAs someone who is a fairly new blogger (I only have a few GFC followers), the change won't affect me too much. I can see though why people would be frustrated and angry if you had a lot of followers. When I look into advertising on blogs, I definitely check out how many GFC folks they have. It was always a gauge of mine on how popular they were. Do you know if bloglovin' has some sort of same thing? Or are the number of blog followers going to be completely unknown now?
ReplyDeleteYou can see how many followers a blogger has on Bloglovin! And it will be a more accurate number now. When looking into advertising it's better to gauge on their page views and interaction over their followers! Trust - I've seen BIG bloggers with huge numbers have like 5 or 6 comments on their posts.
DeleteI honestly hope GFC gets the boot along with Google Reader. I think bloggers put too much emphasis on numbers. In the end, if GFC disappeared, everyone would probably keep their loyal followers and lose the ones that just followed for giveaways, etc. So really it doesn't matter so much. I understand where you're coming from though. Putting that much effort into getting subscribers only to see them wiped away sucks.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you! It does suck but I think it will be a good thing.
DeleteI have read GFC is not going away, it's just going away for non blogger blogs. which i am glad about. i put effort into helping that number grow. I am already following you on bloglovin, one of the first i followed right away!
ReplyDeleteI thought it already did go away for non-blogger blogs last year? I'm still expecting it to go away. Dana at The Wonder Forest said, "Google has failed to mention this but considering that the widget's website no longer works (google.com/friendconnect) and has been replaced by a Google Plus error page, as well as the fact that they've pretty much hidden the friend connect widget from the main selections of your "add a gadget" page in Blogger, I would not be surprised. The two services run pretty much hand in hand."
DeleteLike you I am relieved to see the widget get the boot! I'm finding this whole change liberating!
ReplyDeleteI've never been a fan of GFC and honestly do expect it to get shut down in the future too since Google seems to be more interested in promoting G+ than anything else.
ReplyDeleteBut I'm really bummed about Reader. It was the first bit of news I heard this morning and it just ruined the start of my day. I've been using that exclusively for all my blog following for a couple years now. :( This morning I switched over to Feedly and I'm hoping that will work for me. I also need to clean up my feeds. I logged into Reader this morning after about a month of not doing it and there were 800+ posts in it, whoops...
I LOVE BlogLovin!! I barely use Google Reader anymore!
ReplyDeleteI was still using Google Reader, but I'm excited that this is sort of "forcing" me to use Bloglovin'. So far I really love the ease of reading and commenting, and I love that I get to actually see the blogs I'm reading, even if I'm not commenting on a particular post.
ReplyDeleteJust found out about from your post while I was scrolling through Facebook. I haven't used Google Reader in I don't know how long. I've been reading everything with Bloglovin' for the past 4 or 5 months and I love it! It makes it so much easier, and there's an app, so it's easier on my phone too.
ReplyDeleteI'm a little bummed too! You're absolutely right - it's not about the numbers, but those numbers have been so encouraging to me. I recently hit 100 followers, which is nothing compared to some blogs, but it was amazing to know that that many people wanted to read what I have to say! But I'm excited to use Bloglovin, because I love that it can follow many platforms and it knows what you've read already!
ReplyDeleteHope you have a wonderful day!
Sheree
The Hartungs Blog
thehartungs.blogspot.ca
You should follow me!! :)
ReplyDeleteI switched to Bloglovin a few months ago and never looked back! Guess I made the right decision!
ReplyDeleteI'm a lil confused about the whole thing to be honest. I never used google reader, but just used my following list on the blogger dashboard. So will that disappear too? That's where I'm like how much is ending with this announcement.
ReplyDeleteI already follow you on Bloglovin and will be there to stay! =)
Ergo - Blog
I love bloglovin! I use bloglovin' for reading blogs but most of my blog followers are with GFC - but I already see my bloglovin' subscribers increasing.
ReplyDeleteOh, I loved this! I panicked a little, too, then quickly transported all my info over and I'm okay...maybe:) I like the thought of no GFC...I find that HUGE blogs sometimes are big for no reason and little ones can be amazing. This is generally speaking of course. Maybe if the numbers weren't an issue it really would be on content?
ReplyDeleteI am a little sad to see Google Reader go, just because I've gotten so comfortable with it.. but I guess it will be refreshing to go to Bloglovin'!
ReplyDeleteI just transferred all my subscriptions to BlogLovin.
ReplyDeleteI was using the reading list on my Blogger Dashboard but not sure if that will disappear as well.
Also? BlogLovin' has updated their site to make it even EASIER to transfer all your Google Reader Subscriptions.
I also made a tutorial and posted the update on my blog:
UPDATED Tutorial with BlogLovin'
I've been using BlogLovin' for a while, so I'm happy that lots of others are making the change! Not having that little blue box there for people to judge as soon as they see your blog is super exciting! I posted a tutorial for something today that I thought would make the change even easier: popup comment boxes. It allows you to comment without leaving BL!
ReplyDeleteI do have to say, it's a big deal. Not because of the number but because it's a measurement. If I went by how many pageviews I get I would cry because they suck. Maybe with everyone switching I can get a good following (comments and pageviews).
ReplyDeleteCody
catchingcodyk.blogspot.com
I had an initial "my blog is going to disappear with all my hard-earned followers!!" moment. Then I felt freed from the GFC rat race. It has always been a gauge of how I am doing as a blogger...and I have many times lost sight of why I do this as a result. I have always admired those who opt out or head to Wordpress. In a way, my blog will likely improve...because it will be less about the numbers and more about the fundamental reason why I started blogging in the first place. I have to let go of the money spent participating in giveaways and other outlets that boosted my numbers. If people keep following me, it's because they like my blog. Not because there's a potential to win a Starbucks card.
ReplyDeleteAs long as I still have readers, and have some way to continue to reach more readers, I don't think this should be too much of a problem. This is the first time for me since entering the blogging world that I've actually experience any major shift in the technologies involved, so that makes it a little scary. I just hope that it never comes to the point where blogger itself goes away. Because then I'd have to toughen up and learn about real website stuff!
ReplyDeleteI'm sad to see it go, only because I was comfortable with it. But the truth is, I'll get cozy with Blog Lovin' now. No big deal. I'm hoping I don't lose readers, but I know that the loyal ones will stick with me! :)
ReplyDeleteMaybe this is a good time for a come back. I've been watching my GFC numbers slowly dwindle from my lack of posting. Maybe thinking that no one is reading will help me bring my blog back? I mean if JT can bring sexy back twice - so can I.
ReplyDeleteI'm in the anger stage of grief when it comes to Google Reader... I've been using it since it launched in 2005, so obviously I'm pretty used to it and I'm pretty bummed to see it go the way of the dinosaur. I haven't decided whether or not I'm going to migrate to BlogLovin' (which I don't like that much) or switch to something else.
ReplyDeleteWhile it still seems a little unclear about the phasing out of GFC (though my gut says that's coming), I'm selfishly going to be glad when it's gone. I really can't stand following methods that are platform dependant... I don't know how many times I've had to give step by step instructions for following my WordPress powered blog to bloggers who didn't realize that there was any other way to follow than GFC.
I'm with you! I think this is actually going to finally help me take the step to switching to Wordpress! Numbers aren't everything! Plus we can still count stats in other ways. Haha, but you're right...it's the baby blanket we don't want to let go! Bloglovin' never quite appealed to me, so I went with Feedly which is super easy to read and navigate! I'm guessing they'll come out with a follow button soon?
ReplyDeleteugh, I can't stand google reader so I'm happy to see it go. but don't worry - I'm already following up with bloglovin :)
ReplyDeleteI am bummed if GFC is going away. It's a huge motivational tool for me. I love seeing my numbers go up. It's like a pat on the back from blogland. I do blog for me, but I also started a blog for others to read. Anyway... I won't get into this too much! Hopefully it just makes our blogs better somehow. I need to do a MAJOR blog clean up.
ReplyDeleteI removed my GFC widget a while back, and it was SO REFRESHING to not feel the pressure to compete with my numbers anymore. I enjoy the anonymity of following by Bloglovin', but it appears you can now follow publicly? I am interested to see how that works: again, I've enjoyed being able to keep my stats a secret for the most part. I've noticed a trend among a lot of the blogs I read several months ago of installing a generic button for GFC the doesn't display the number of followers next to it, so I know I'm not the only one doing this. I just completed the import- where I had 40 blogs on BL I now have 160 to sort through! It might take a long time, but several blogs have already come back to the surface that I love but had long forgotten.
ReplyDeleteI've always used Bloglovin. I only use GFC for giveaways and I always follow the blogs I read regularly on there. I find its nice to follow the ones you appreciate in every way possible but I don't see a big deal in losing GFC. However I think its crazy that they are getting rid of Google Reader. A lot of people use only that to read blog posts. I'm sure everyone will adapt and hopefully become Bloglovin converts lol. I love using Bloglovin.
ReplyDelete