Why Google Friend Connect?
Many of you seen the Google Friend Connect boxes in the side bar of many blogs, and many of you have also probably already installed them on your blogs as well.
But have you put this resource to work? This is after all a part of your list!
I have been wondering recently about this and so decided to start poking around (I had not been over to the Google Friend Connect page since the day I set it up).
Finding more useful tools than I remembered seeing initially, I realized I had been letting a value added tool go somewhat to waste!
Google Friend Connect has more uses than just a bit of social proofing for your blog.
If someone likes your content enough to sign in AND opt-in to receiving updates to your blog, then it is a good idea to make sure that they receive updates from you.
You can easily make use of the benefits that Google Friend Connect offers, including filtering Adsense ads based on their interests, and sending out newsletters.
Setting Up Google Friend Connect
If you don’t have it, go to google.com/friendconnect, and this video from Google gives you a quick overview and shows you how to install the Google Friend Connect gadget on your blog.
So when you go to Google.com/FriendConnect you see your main panel.
The Google Friend Connect is not only useful for you, but your subscribers can learn about one another as well.
You have options not only to see information about your friends’ interests, and even filter adsense ads based on these interests, but what I am going to go over here is an option to send a newsletter, and let your friends know about new content that you may be providing.
This is going to help your search engine rankings in that you’ll be able to increase your return visitors stats, which at least in the eyes of Google is going to enhance your SEO.
Sending a Newsletter via Google Friend Connect
When you choose ‘Newsletters’ from the left sidebar, or ‘Send a newsletter’ from the main menu as shown below, you will see a few tabs in the next window.
The first tab is where you edit your letter, one for a history of letters sent, and a gadget to put on your blog.
On the first tab, ‘Compose Newsletters’, make sure that the button is selected for “Ask visitors to subscribe immediately after their first sign-in”, which they will do using there Google, Yahoo, AIM, or OpenID.
Now, not everyone signed into your blog through Google Friend Connect will be opted in to receive your letters. So to be sure that you encourage them to do so, you’ll want to edit your Settings a bit.
Click on the Settings selection at the bottom of the menu on the left, and you’ll see a few tabs here too. The one you are interested in updating is the ‘Advanced’ tab, so select that when you get there.
Here is where you’ll want to be sure and customize your ‘Join Confirm message’. You want to ask them specifically to click on the Subscribe button which is below the Join button.
The thing to remember here is that you don’t want to bombard your audience, as they may be friends of many other blogs, then you might want to limit your letters to once a week instead of for every post, especially if you post more than a couple of times per week.
Remember content is king, even when sending Google Friend Connect newsletters!
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Vicki,
I have not used Google Connect yet but after reading this post and watching video i will now! Thanks for sharing, Have an awesome Day
.-= Chris Bernardo´s last blog ..How to Take Benefit from a Big Launch =-.
Thanks Chris!
Good to see you again, thanks for stopping by to comment! Glad you found it useful!
Wishing You a Fabulous Day!
Vicki,
Great stuff. Continue sharing great value to ppl that need it
Aaron
.-= Aaron´s last blog ..How To Add An Opt In Form To Your Blog =-.
Thanks Aron!
Glad you stopped by, good to see you again!
Have an Amazing Day!
What a valuable post! Thank you so much!! It took me a couple of weeks to figure out how to add the friend connect to my blog so I haven’t spent any additional time to see what else I can do with the widget. Now I can’t wait to play!
Thank you!
Stacy
.-= Stacy´s last blog ..You MUST do This to be Successful! =-.
Hi Stacy!
Thank You! I know what you mean, I did the same thing, just getting the widget on the side bar seemed an accomplishment, and so it didn’t occur to me until recently to check out what else I could do with it – I’m glad to have found it has such awesome applications!
Thanks for stopping by, great to see you again!
Wishing You Every Success!
Thanks, Vicki! I did the same thing you did – I added the gadget, then never really looked into all it can do – I was just thinking about checking in to it some more, and then your post came across my Comment Luv
I am so glad you posted this – I have the newsletter option set up now
Lori
.-= Lori Tisot´s last blog ..How to Implement “Do Follow” on Your Blog – Get Your Links Noticed =-.
Thanks Lori!
I’m glad it was useful to you!
Thanks for stopping by again, great to see you!
Wishing You Continued Success,
This is a feature that I am not currently using. Thanks for bringing it to our attention. I plan to use this feature sparingly.
Thanks Vicki!
-James
.-= James Hampton´s last blog ..Stop Procrastinating – Start Your Home Based Business! =-.
Hi James!
Yes, I too plan on using this sparingly. It’s true your blog friends have signed in, but if they did request updates I would not want to flood their inbox, and so I combine my last 3-4 posts in one message.
Thanks for stopping by again, great to see you!
Have a Wonderful Day!
I always tried to avoid Google Connect, but you have twisted my arm, I’ll install it…
LOL Great Derrick! It’s also a great way to demonstrate social proof for your blog, enjoy it!
a great post, just proves that it needs more awarenes. google is too late in the social game and they just need to get their act together before facebook hurts their bottom line. with all the faillures they realy need to pull this off
I’ve used Google Friend Connect in the past, but didn’t really appreciate its usefulness. Like you Vicki, I was not aware of the additional features and enhancements Google now provides to Friend Connect users.
Thanks for this post, I’ll be taking a second look at Google Friend Connect now and implementing it on my blog as well.
To Your Success,
Sean Smith
Sean Smith´s last [type] ..How to Succeed at Network Marketing Online VIDEO
Great info, Vicki
This is something I want to add to my blogs.
I’ll let you know how it works for me
Hi Ellene! Great to see you here, yes keep us posted as to your results! I always get a few replies to my Google friend emails!
Wishing You Wonderful Success,
