Hello my lovies. If have been paying attention to a few of the Book Blogging 101 conversations, you might know that there has been some anxiety about GFC shutting out non-Blogger blogs this coming March. (That is Next Month People!) This is a big deal — it literally flushes 4000 followers of mine down the toilet. I’ve pushed people to sign-up via my RSS subscription, but I’ve gotten about 1200, if I’m doing my math properly that’s a loss of a lot of followers. Luckily my pageviews have not gone down one bit (Thank you!!! XOXO) but it is always nice and reassuring to look over at that little GFC follower widget and see a pretty number there for EGO boosting purposes.
I’m going off on a tangent, aren’t I?
Sorry! But, here is the point of my story – the guy that runs LinkyTools, those fun linky lists that you see in so many of our blogs, teamed up with a few bloggers and came up with an alternative to GFC – he understands the need for this useful tool, unlike Google. And on top of his useful creation to the GFC competition – he’s made it available for use on blogs that can’t use javascript — ahem WORDPRESS.com – yup, the free one! This is a big step, because before this, WP.com peeps could only use email subscriptions and push RSS feed.
So yes there is now an Alternative to Google Friend Connect!
Yes, you too, wordpress people, can have a wonderful follower count on your sidebar!
You don’t have to be forced into BLOGGER anymore just because of the industry standard GFC!
But, this one is new, so therefor I only really have 1 follower (4 come with sign-up and 1 was me – have to test it!). Therefor, I’m going to try to sweeten up the pot to get this transition in motion. I’m using BRIBERY! Yeah!!! Let’s start a revolution. I’m running this contest until GFC bye bye date. March 1, 2012. Here is the blog post. I may even push it back further. Up for Grabs:
Two Winners!
Win a $20 Giftcard!
Win a $10 Giftcard.
The giftcard will be from your choice of stores:
- Amazon.com (Available International)
- Barnes & Noble (Domestic US)
- Wal-Mart (Domestic)
- Book Depository (International based on their shipping restrictions – you can choose $20 / $10 worth of books)
What do you have to do? Follow via the Linky Followers Gadget 
And — if you want to spread the revolution, you get a second chance to enter if you host your own giveawayfor the purpose of promoting Linky Followers. We want people to find an alternative to GFC – but it won’t be an alternative if no one uses it, right? So, let’s bribe them to get on the bandwagon 
Leave the link to your own giveaway in the linky list below. Fill out the Rafflecopter widget so your entry is counted!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Please only sign-up giveaways that have a required Linky Follower use…
Thanks as always for sharing information that makes our lives as bloggers so much easier!
How cool! Thanks for always sharing the most useful tips!!!
Oh wow I’m so happy about this!
Created a account and I’m ready to start following
Thanks for sharing!
I can’t run a giveaway but I have picked up the widget. If people start using it, it’s there for the using. I like to give my followers a choice.
Seems a decent widget though. I like that it shows the blog rather than just a post like Google Reader does, that’s kinda cool.
I’m not yet sure about this. I did signed up now and I will definitely try it but.. the beauty of all the other systems was that no matter if you signed up via GFC or RSS you simple got the Feed via your Reader. This is yet another Dashboard and “Reader”. Let’s see how this goes:) Anyway I signed up:-)
That’s what I thought as well… I also signed up, but we’ll see!
Thanks for spreading the word on this new tool
Oh I saw this email today from LinkyTools. I have got to check it out. I was wondering when the replacement for GFC would come around. Thought WordPress might try to create their own. I’m not sure how it works, but will definitely help support the follow here. But then again I never knew how GFC worked either. I just have it!
Ha, and I love your bribery, but won’t enter the giveaway. I’ll just follow because.
This is nifty! Will definitely be giving it a try and I added it to my blog. I like having as many options to follow as possible so everyone can find one that fits them.
Would you recommend us Blogger users to jump on this wagon as well? Don’t know why I’m even asking, cause’ the obvious answer would be yes
In case Google drops the widget altogether.
Created a account and I’m ready to start following
Thanks for sharing!
Great! I’m now following through the Linky and I posted about it everywhere. Blog, G+, Facebook and Tweeted your post.
I think I like this better than GFC, which I’ve never used on my own blog as I’m on wordpress.com. I’m happy with the email and RSS follower options in WP, but if Linky becomes the norm, I may consider it. I think this is a better alternative than Google+ so congrats for finding this.
Thanks for this information on another way to “rank” a blog. You always have such helpful tips. I have now added the Linky Follwers to my blog. Thanks for all you do! BTW – new Linky follower.
Happy Reading and Blogging,
Laurielu
Bona Fide Reflections
Count me in! I’m so glad to hear of this and just installed it on my blog
I will still be using GFC but I’m so glad non Blogger followers now have another option and will make sure it’s available on my blog.
Nice!!! Somebody’s awake!!
I feel like trumpets should be playing right now!!! I have a blogger blog but I can’t help but think google will eventually rid itself of GFC altogether.. and I really don’t like the rss feed so woohoo!!!
Ah! I wish this had been around a few weeks ago. I love the wordpress platform, but it just wasn’t friendly for non-wp followers. Granted, my only experience with wp was when I was self-hosted, which has been discontinued because of $$$. But I will definitely keep this tool in mind if I ever decide to move away from blogger. Thank you!
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You’re the best. Is he charging? I have had thoughts about WP changing. When I have a day I don’t read a book I will investigate it.
BTW I did do the RSS — you are too valuable as a resource. My number one most read blog in the recent BEA Blogger conference survey.
TRying to join up and log in so I can follow you but have tried for a half-hour and no luck. I will work on it tomorrow. Steph
this is so cool. although i won’t be affected by the change, i’m glad there’s an alternative to GFC for my non-Blogger followers and readers. thanks for the giveaway as well. c”,)
Duuuude! Epicness! Totally signing up and doing it!
Awesome!! I’ve signed up and have a widget on my blog! Thanks for sharing
If it was going to be anyone- it would be you who found a way…:D
Seems like I’m going to be one of the only hold outs. I’m happy with my current set-up.
I get the reason they don’t import RSS, I’m sure it’s costly…but at the same time I don’t feel like it’d be a good tool for me as a blog reader. It’s so much easier to open my email or my RSS feed-reader and have all of my posts instead of clicking a link to see if a favorite blog has posted and just forgotten to update their “Last Posted Date”. I don’t see myself as a blogger logging in to update that often, I’m forgetful. The more things automated the better.
Agreed! After checking it out, I can’t say I’m too impressed. I also feel we have so many things like NetworkedBlogs, Bloglovin etc. that already does this. Well, at least they upload post automatically… So yeah, I’m with you, Amanda!
They have a Blog Reader in the Linky Follower — it actually shows the blog and not just a processed version, so this eradicates the problem with colored text. And you can comment with the frame – so you are not constantly clicking out.
It annoys me that it’s only the front page showing though. It makes it even more complicated than just clicking out directly for me… I’ve tried it, but I’m still not a big fan, personally. But that’s me! I like FeedDemon! It does the same for feed reading, but with the real post, letting you read the post as it is in a built in browser and comment too!
Ooh, thanks, Rachel! I’ll have to check it out a bit more then. Maybe I’ll add the option for those that choose to use it.0
Even when I was on Blogger, I rarely used GFC to follow blogs myself…so I’m a hold out in general.
I just prefer RSS.
I’m with Bex on FeedDemon! The built in web browser makes it so that it counts towards page views, which has always been a complaint about RSS.
Thanks for finding this! We’ll see how it goes.
I just Followed you via Linky and signed up for it for my blog, too! Hopefully those with GFC will find and use LinkyFollowers!
I signed up for LinkyFollowers for my blog earlier today. I’ve still got GFC as an option as well (I’m on blogger), but hopefully this will give an extra opportunity for people to easily follow our blogs.
Thanks again! You always help us bloggers out. You are our guru of all things blogging.
It is different… hopefully as it gets more popular, it will get a little more simple. Thank you for the giveaway
I love the new Linky follower. I signed up for the give away, but decided to not do the contest at this point because of the amount of give aways I have going on. Is there anyway to delete the Guilty Pleasures linky? I apologize for the inconvenience.
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Thanks for the awesome giveaway! I’m glad wordpress bloggers like myself aren’t left out anymore!
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Thanks a lot for this great giveaway!
i’m having problems creating a contest entry with the linky tools for my website, but i’ll have it up as soon as i’m able to. thanks! and thanks for sharing such great information!
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