Google Now Helps You Connect With Friends
Google who dominates in search and constantly wants to get their hands into every aspect of the Internet (Blogging, Email, Video, etc…) have now released a new beta service called Google Friend Connect. Originally preview released in May of 2008, today, Google makes their beta service available to anyone.
Google Friend Connect reminds me of a mix between the MyBlogLog and BlogCatalog Widget with a little dash of SezWho mixed in for flavor. The service is very simple to use. Sign up for free and then add a snippet of code into your web site and then you will be presented with a neat little widget where web site visitors can join.
Once a web site visitor joins their avatar will appear on the list as a member of your site. Other visitors can click on available avatars and view the profiles of members of the site. The activity of members are tracked and made available for everyone to see.
There are three blends of the widget available. The additional widgets available include a commenting widget where visitors can share feedback and the third widget is an enchanged comment widget that allows visitors to leave their feedback and vote on the quality of the page.
I have had Google Friend Connect installed on my blog for two days. While I really enjoy beta testing new services from Google, I am having trouble really understanding the whole point. I think that it is great to provide interactive services on a blog, but Google Friend Connect is very bulky and clunky. Other widgets available such as SezWho and BlogCatalog provide more options to site owners and provide a better user experience.
In the past two days, my blog has gained 40+ members. It is unclear what I am to do with these members and I am sure my members feel the same. I will probably discontinue using Google Friend Connect until I see that Google develops a better system and gives me a reason or a purpose to use the service or if I see more bloggers within my community participating. A few things that I don’t like about Google Friend Connect is that it takes up a lot of real-estate on your blog or web site, you have no control over sizing the avatars, and most of the avatars are ghosts.
Visit the Google Friend Connect page to learn more about the service or to join.
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8 comments
Nice I gotta check this one out for sure. Seems like google are on top of things.
Check out Nick Throlson’s last blog post..SWATcash.com GPT Goes Down Declares Bankruptcy
I’ve thought of this since I got your newsletter; just haven’t had the time to click over…I’ll get to it.
Check out Dennis Edell’s last blog post..UPDATED: Would You Like To Sponsor My *Best Blog Review* Contest?
It’s GONE…
Instead I have a new advertiser taking up the real estate… you should check it out.
Well that was fast. A little odd to do it, while the post is still up…
Check out Dennis Edell’s last blog post..UPDATED: Would You Like To Sponsor My *Best Blog Review* Contest?
The post will always be up, I never really delete posts. Did you mean while the post was still on the home page?
Anyway, I can’t really control that. An advertiser purchased ad space and my choices were to remove the Google Friend Connect or to move it down below the advertisement. If I had moved it down, it would have pushed my Blog Building Blueprints down much lower on the screen.
I do like Google Friend Connect, but I am challenged to understand its purpose. I may bring it back to the blog if other people will join it just like SezWho… but until then, its just too big and bulky.
Google owns too much real estate on too many blogs out there. I totally agree on your being stumped with what to do. Whats the point of collecting an army of followers if you can’t use them? Its not the same as collecting a mailing list or RSS subscriptions. Its a totally 3rd party service which you yourself is a member of. No control.
Check out Michael Henry’s last blog post..Inspired Affiliate Marketing Challenge
Yep I did mean the first page. It makes sense though if someone bought the ad. At first glance, I thought you just decided to switch it out for one of your affiliates, which would have made no sense.
(I’m sending you an email tonight.)
Check out Dennis Edell’s last blog post..Your Link Just Got MORE Valuable!
Hell yeah… someone wanted to show me the money $$
Sorry yall, but my kids gotta eat.
I will keep an eye out for the email. Talk soon.
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