GOOGLE CHANGES -- GOOGLE + INFORMATION

If you haven't heard Google is doing a "spring cleaning" on some of their features. One of them being Google Friends Connect.

Google Friend Connect—Friend Connect allows webmasters to add social features to their sites by embedding a few snippets of code. We're (Google) is retiring the service for all non-Blogger sites on March 1, 2012. We (Google) is encouraging affected sites to create a Google+ page and place a Google+ badge on their site so they can bring their community of followers to Google+ and use new features like Circles and Hangouts to keep in touch.

You can see the other features they are phasing out.

I am still trying to figure this out. Does that mean anyone who doesn't have a blog cannot follow blogs at all and if they have been they will be removed leaving us bloggers with less Google Friends? It frustrates me that they decided to do this, my blog is approximately 2 years old, I have put alot of time and effort into it and for them to make one quick decision it effects thousands of us!

Not knowing the certainty of Google's actions, if they will somewhere down the road remove GFC entirely I  have decided to jump on the Google + wagon.  And starting next month I will be making it mandatory to enter one of my giveaways by following Mama to 4 Blessings on Google Plus. Why? I am not trying to rack in followers, I want people to see what I offer. Whether it be my homeschool posts, crafts , giveaways, etc. If you follow Mama to 4 Blessings whether it be on my blog or on Google +.

I have been using Google + for maybe a little over a month and I like it, I am still trying to figure it all out - the difference between following, friends, etc. So if anyone has any light on all this please feel free to leave a comment at the bottom of this post.

Melissa at Home Grown Families and I have decided to change our Friday Blog hop each week for readers to link up their blogs AND Google +. So feel free to join us each week and link up to this new feature of ours!

If you do not have Google +, I would recommend you signing up and if you blog grab the widget for your blog. This button has a friends button for your readers to click on to follow you - with one quick click! Before I heard this announcement I had my blog designer add the G+ icon to my social media (top right side) of my blog. There are several other G+ icons throughout the blogosphere you can use as well. If I hear anymore information I will be happy to post about it. Once you sign up for Google + feel free to follow/add to your circle of friends Mama to 4 Blessings and I will make sure to return the favor!