I once predicted that stink bugs would take over the world and make us their bitches.
I no longer believe that. Now I think it will be Google.
Not only does Google reign supreme in its online presence, it also has its hand in virtually every aspect of the blogging world, from Blogger and Feedburner to Reader, Analytics, and Page Rank. And last year, it rolled out Google +, the social media equivalent of a Facebook/Twitter lovechild that was supposed to be The Next Big Thing.
Except it wasn’t.
I was among the first wave of social media geeks to join G+ when it was introduced last summer. But other than a few blogging buddies with whom I was already connected on Twitter and Facebook, the only people I found there were strange men who kept adding me to their circles.
Furthermore, I found virtually no social engagement whenever I visited my page. It was like standing in the middle of a desolate, slightly ominous warehouse and shouting, “Hellooooo!” only to hear my own voice echo back.
And on top of all that, it was yet another social media site to manage.
So, I deleted my account. And no matter how many “experts” tell me I need to go back because Google is strong-arming people into using their inferior product granting G+ users priority in social searches, I’m standing my ground. Power to the people!
(I also find it a wee bit hypocritical that Google will penalize a blogger’s page rank for including follow links and/or sponsored content, but will promote sites that use G+ over those that don’t. Just sayin’.)
Unfortunately, however, I’m not able to thwart all of Google’s evil attempts at world domination. Case in point: This whole business about Google discontinuing their Google Friend Connect (GFC) widget on non-Blogger blogs such as this one.
Simply put, this means that if you currently subscribe to What She Said via GFC (as many of my readers do), then you will no longer receive my updates as of March 1, 2012, unless you re-subscribe using another option. And since March 1st is also my birthday, it would make me very sad to suddenly lose a good chunk of my readership.
So, here are your options:
- If you prefer to do your blog-stalking by Reader, then I encourage you to re-subscribe to What She Said via RSS feed.
- If you prefer to have your favorite reads delivered straight to your inbox, then you’ll want to re-subscribe by e-mail.
- And for the commitment-phobes who aren’t quite ready to take this relationship to the subscription level, I always share new posts on Facebook and Twitter.
But not Google +. Because while I can certainly be a bitch, I refuse to be Google’s bitch.
Support your favorite bloggers! Find others participating in Saving Our Subscriptions by following the #SOSubscribers hashtag on Twitter.
How do you prefer to read your favorite blogs? And what do you think of Google+?
Hello! I'm Kristin, a self-proclaimed city girl now living the rural life with my husband, daughter, and a black cat named Boo in eastern West Virginia – or as I like to spin it, the far western suburbs of D.C.
Welcome to What She Said, an irreverent blend of family, life, and humor. Because if I didn’t laugh, I’d cry.
Twitter: supermomboots
I love, love, LOVE the end sentence!
Stephanie’s last awesome post…Superhero Lollipops: My yearly stab at being “Crafty Mom”!
And have you re-subscribed yet? Because I happen to know that you were one of my GFC subscribers, missy.
Twitter: supermomboots
Um…is there a way to check that on my end? Because I usually just copy and paste the site address directly into my reader. How on earth do I figure out how I am subscribed?
Stephanie’s last awesome post…Superhero Lollipops: My yearly stab at being “Crafty Mom”!
So, you click on the little red Subscribe button and paste the feed right into that? I assume that would work, provided you have the right feed address – as long as updates are showing up in your feed stream, I’d assume you’re subscribed. I personally like to subscribe by clicking on a blog’s feed icon, just because it’s a one-stop-shop direct link. But to each their own!
Much like Pinterest, I never hopped on the Google+ train. I use the Google Reader (although I’m not on Blogger anymore, I still log in that way to see my updates. Archaic, I know!). It works for me. I can’t deal with another email and for sure posts would get lost in the abyss that is my abundance of unopened mail, so the reader is my best bet.
I’ve never figured out how to use Google Reader effectively, so I subscribe to my must-reads by e-mail. But yeah, my inbox is pretty much out of control and I often have to go through at the end of each week and just delete unread posts, so I guess I need to revisit Reader again.
And don’t be hatin’ on Pinterest. I lurves me some Pinterest.
Twitter: tragicsandwich
I have been on Google+ for ages and am almost never there, for exactly the reasons you describe. All of the conversations seemed to consist of “Google+ is so much better! The engagement is so much better!” But it was all that conversation, which was (a) boring and (b) not better.
I haven’t deleted my account, but I don’t use it much (although I do use Google Reader). And I follow some blogs through WordPress, but I actually read posts in Google Reader.
Tragic Sandwich’s last awesome post…We Don’t Want to Be THAT Family
I hear so many great things about Reader, but I never learned to manage mine effectively and in fact often forgot it was there. But my inbox is currently out of control with my blog subscriptions, so I should probably revisit Reader and figure out a way to make it work for me.
I mainly deleted my G+ account because of the creeper factor. Because it was creepy.
Twitter: tragicsandwich
They’ve changed it recently, and I’m still figuring out where various controls are, but I’ve found it to be pretty straightforward.
Tragic Sandwich’s last awesome post…Is There Such a Thing as an Introvert Who Likes to Show Off?
Goodness, you are passionate and informative about this issue. My preferred feed source is Twitter, which is how I got to this post in the first place.
Google’s don’t be evil from back in the day sounds quaint.
Erica M’s last awesome post…yeah write #45 is open
I like twitter too to find new posts.. thought I still subscribe via RSS.
And I didn’t know about this whole Google issue! Good to know!
Denise’s last awesome post…Simple Solutions for Creative Moms
Passionate? Eh, just a little ranty. Informative? I try! Thanks!
I often find interesting posts through my Twitter feed too, but a lot also gets lost in it. That’s why I like to subscribe to my must-reads.
Sooooo much gets lost in Twitter, so it’s better to arrange your must-reads into smaller lists than your main Twitter stream. It’s not a perfect system, but I find it to be better than checking email, then a reader, then Twitter, then Facebook. Holy moly, I think I’d prefer a weekly conference call.
And your post wasn’t a rant. I really enjoyed reading how strongly you feel about the issue.
Erica M’s last awesome post…one big aggregate news feed, then I’d be happy
Apparently, it’s my week to copy off of Kristin – because I totally want to do what you just did here at Literal Mom. I was thinking of just letting GFC fade into the distance, but this was so funny AND informative, I’m rethinking.
(Or maybe I’ll add it to the Friday tapas copy I’m doing – also from you).
Signed,
It’s not copying, it’s flattery!
Missy | Literal Mom’s last awesome post…Ask Literal Mom – Brushing Teeth – Expert Advice
Well, I already had issues with my GFC once, last summer into the fall. Still not sure what happened but one day it just stopped working and, as it turned out, my feed wasn’t configured correctly. Anyway, a month or two had gone by before people started telling me they weren’t getting my updates.
In the end, Booyah’s Momma fixed my issues… just in time for GFC to go away again. Naturally. So, this time I want to give people a very clear heads-up. I’ve already sent a newsletter to my followers and done a few tweets and FB posts, but I wanted to dedicate an entire post to it, too. I figure I can’t force people to re-subscribe, but I can certainly give them the option, along with a clear understanding of what will happen and when.
Did you read Eli Rose’s post on how to get the word out? It was really helpful. If not, just go to their site and search “Google Friend Connect.”
Yeah, stick it to The Man!
Ali’s last awesome post…WTF Wednesday – The "State of Gleepression" Edition
HELLZ, YEAH!
I already subscribe to you by email AND follow you on Twitter and Facebook.
I’m nobody’s bitch.
)
(Except maybe yours, now that I think about it
XOXO
julie gardner’s last awesome post…Today call me named
Don’t worry – I won’t make you wear the Gimp outfit. Unless you want to…
Twitter: ASassyRedhead
Good stuff there. I have a hard time juggling all that social media stuff beyond Facebook and Twitter.
But I try.
I do all my following by RSS. Makes my life much, much easier.
Carrie’s last awesome post…I shouldn’t out people like this, but we all gotta fall sometimes.
Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest – that’s my trifecta and I’m sticking to it.
Amen sister! Orwell didn’t know when he wrote 1984 that Big Brother’s first name would be Google. I’ve heard the echoes in Google+ too and have lamented losing picnik to a Google based Picasa. Grrrrrrr. And BTW – happy March 1st birthday to you.
Barb – The Empty Nest Mom’s last awesome post…Ash Wednesday
Thank you! I actually use Picasa and like it a lot – tried Picnik a few times and wasn’t impressed. But yeah, further proof of Google’s impending world domination.
Google = Dr. Evil.
After seeing this post title at SITS, I just had to stop by. I looked at Google+ for about 5 minutes and I hate it. No Google+ for me…I’ll stick to Twitter and FB!
Leslie’s last awesome post…How to Host a Reverse Baby Shower
My feelings exactly.
Thanks for dropping by – and good to know my headline was attention-grabbing!
I was in the same boat. I jumped on Google+ with enthusiasm and then was like, “uhhhh, what next?” I haven’t accessed it in MONTHS.
Jen Has A Pen’s last awesome post…Good To Me