The Bloggers With The Most To Say
Google FriendConnect... aka social-networkizing your blog
I've recently decided, along with fellow LA blogger and all-around badass Nicopolitan, to try out Google's new FriendConnect. Do check out the website for information...
http://www.google.com/friendconnect/
My reasons for bringing it to the forums are several: First, has anyone else begun to try it out and if so, what have you thought so far? Second, do you feel that FriendConnect is an asset to your blog/website? If you don't yet use it, do you think it might be useful?
For my part, so far I only have the box open for friends. I'm torn on whether or not to try the comments application, as I already find the comments sections of blog entries to be fairly useful. At the same time, I suppose a comment area on the main page might be nice for general comments that may be easier than email... like "hey, I like the new look to your blog" or something along those lines.
I realize it's new, and it has still a long way to go, but I'm interested to see what sorts of open source fabulousness this brings about.
So. Like it? Love it? Hate it? Discuss.
http://www.google.com/friendconnect/
My reasons for bringing it to the forums are several: First, has anyone else begun to try it out and if so, what have you thought so far? Second, do you feel that FriendConnect is an asset to your blog/website? If you don't yet use it, do you think it might be useful?
For my part, so far I only have the box open for friends. I'm torn on whether or not to try the comments application, as I already find the comments sections of blog entries to be fairly useful. At the same time, I suppose a comment area on the main page might be nice for general comments that may be easier than email... like "hey, I like the new look to your blog" or something along those lines.
I realize it's new, and it has still a long way to go, but I'm interested to see what sorts of open source fabulousness this brings about.
So. Like it? Love it? Hate it? Discuss.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Maxie on -
I don't really get it (yet). When you sent me the link it just took you to my blog and I was confused.
Maybe I'm just slow...
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Permalink Reply by Phil on -
Yeah, it's not always clear. On my site you should see the friend list on the right sidebar, and then you could click the 'join' button. I don't think they've really figured out the actual details of the invite buttons yet.
On the plus side, what makes it nice is that any basic email account can be used (yahoo, msn, gmail, etc.) as well as OpenID, so it's not like you have to sign up for yet ANOTHER service... I know we all belong to a lot, and probably too many at that. I appreciate the openness of it so far, in that respect.
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Permalink Reply by Phil on
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Basically, it allows your website to become more interactive. I could become a part of your community, and you a part of mine. It's still new, but there will be more and more features available in time. Right now there's little community/friend lists, and comment forms, etc.
There's a "wall gadget" (general comment form on your sidebar), a "review gadget" and others. The cool part will be when more open source developers start making new gadgets available. There's some twitter connectivity, too, but it's still in the early stages I think. Here's a link to the gadget list:
http://www.google.com/friendconnect/admin/site/osgadgets?id=1336856...
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Permalink Reply by cooper on -
I haven't a clue what it is, but if it requires I actually be around to manage it that isn't going to work. I guess if you run a live site and are manning it all the time it wold be a good idea but I prefer to be able to post stuff and respond to comments in my own time, and that is not usually real time. Or maybe I don't really understand what it is supposed to do. I'll pop over and see what is does on your site.
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Permalink Reply by Phil on
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I'm so with you on this one. So far, I haven't had to monitor it too much. I'm researching it a bit and trying to find a variety of gadgets that people have created. So far, not too much, but it's fresh out of initial testing and only just now in public beta, so it'll take it a little time to get jump-started.
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Permalink Reply by Phil on
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Sure thing, Holly! I like the pink background you chose. Looks like the friend window doesn't quite fit in the sidebar, but that's a pretty easy fix. :)
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Permalink Reply by David Stehle on -
I really don't know what FriendConnect is, but I feel like I'm connected too much already.
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Permalink Reply by Phil on
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If I understand it's potential correctly, FriendConnect was designed as a way to simplify our connectedness. It can bring all the connections together in one place, more or less. But it's still so early that I don't think they've quite ironed everything out yet. I'm just interested to see where this goes.
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