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Wednesday, April 01, 2015

A is for A GOOD IDEA - FOLLOW ALONG AND SEE

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Welcome to Pearson Report.
I am participating in the 2015 A to Z Challenge.

Yes - I will be adhering to my THEME Calendar.

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This post is purely for my benefit. 

Though many of you, doing the A to Z Challenge, may find it benefits you. In which case, aren’t I the best for sharing it. 

So here goes...

It’s A Good Idea to add A Follow Gadget. Not any old Follow Gadget.

THIS ONE in particular.



Many Bloggers are now Google + folks and don’t have the Original Blogger Follow Button on their site - particularly new Bloggers. (So it's really important to Tweet this till the cows come home. Consider it to be a community service announcement of the utmost importance.)

That’s because Blogger has hidden it. They would rather us all be Google + people. (And that's right up there with my love of Facebook (small bodily tremors, weakening bowels) you do the math - I will not do it.)

So, if you’re like me and you limit your popularity to Blogger and Twitter (and tea with the Queen on her birthdaythen you’ll appreciate this Button being activated at the sites you want to follow.

Here’s where to find it.


Open your layout page and click on the "Add a Gadget" button. 

You will see this…


NOTE - It's important to click on the More Gadgets button. Once you clicked it you'll scroll all the way down to the last option. (Keep going, I said all the way to the bottom)

Where you will see this…


Click on the Followers Gadget Button. 

You will be given this to fill out. Put in the title of what you wish to call your Followers, and click save. (Be original, and bear in mind "FOLLOWERS OF NOTE" is taken, by me. Because, let's face it, if you follow me you are note worthy.)


Now you have the Original Blogger Follow Button, and I'm a happy camper! (That's ultimately what this is about, isn't it!

If it's not on your site I CAN'T FOLLOW YOU! And that's a fact.


So there you have it - A Good Idea. (Indeed! Now, aren't you glad I shared it?)


IS THE ORIGINAL BLOGGER FOLLOW BUTTON ON YOUR SITE?


Cheers, Jenny

PS - A special shout out to Arlee Bird, from Tossing It Out. He’s the Founder and Creator of the  April Blogging from A to Z Challenge, As well as being a blogging friend, he is a great motivator and an inspiring leader. Thanks Lee - you rock!

40 comments:

  1. Yes, the original Follow button is on my site right at the top. Excellent info in this post, Jenny! You reminded me about the MORE widgets, an area I had nearly forgotten about. . . I'll be dropping in often to see what other tips I can glean. ..

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  2. Anonymous12:41 am

    Thank you for this tip.

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  3. Yes! I'm old school. I prefer the GFC button and never got to grips with Google+. It just looks nice!

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  4. Yes! Please add the GFC widget. It's still there and I still use it.

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  5. It's tricky to find, but very useful... I hope all is well!

    Welcome in the "A"... as a host I am stopping by to say thank you!
    Jeremy [Retro]
    AtoZ Challenge Co-Host [2015]

    There's no earthly way of knowing.
    Which direction we are going!

    HOLLYWOOD NUTS!
    Come Visit: You know you want to know if me or Hollywood... is Nuts?

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  6. I am on Google+, but do not have it linked with my blogger profile. I never use google+ really. I have Twitter, but don't really twit. I have a myspace, but ..., I also have a facebook, but feeling as if my head is going to explode from stupidity, I am spending very little time there.

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    Replies
    1. I think I still have MySpace somewhere out there. I just don't know where. Hey, it could be worse. It could be kids.

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  7. I have the original blogger button. Great tip for those who don't.

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  8. Yes, I do have my button! And I love it. And I wish everyone had it. Now maybe they will! Thanks for sharing the info. You are AmAZing. I'm glad you "stretched" the A.

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  9. Anonymous6:39 am

    I have the little follower faces. Google+ baffles me like everything else. It reminds me of facebook. Not a fan...

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  10. Dear Jenny,
    I check the mail every day for that invitation for tea with the Queen. So far? Zilch.
    concerned,
    Al

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  11. Awesome you mentioned this! Yep, I have the good old fashioned follower button on my blog. It is tedious to try to track down a blog on Google Plus so I'm glad you mentioned this here!

    betty

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  12. Wow, Jenny! This is great information. Thanks for this post. I am looking forward to following you through this month and beyond.

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  13. Yes, on the blogger hiding it. Very funny, they are. We can also follow blogs right through the dashboard, which makes it easy for those blogs that don't use follower gadgets of either kind.

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  14. i have blog followers but not the google +-I will keep this to see about putting this in (when I get the chance)

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  15. One of the many reasons I gave up on Blogger. I am all for Google integrating their other services but it's not as intuitive as it should be. Thanks for passing on tips to make it easier.

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  16. I have the original 'follow' button. Completely agree with you; not interested in joining Google+ and not able to follow anyone who has that as their only following device.

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  17. Yes, I believe it is:) I always forget to follow people's blogs. Ugh. I finally found someone who shares my aversion to facebook!

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  18. Hi Jenny - I need to read this properly - probably tomorrow my eyes are computerised .. thanks for setting it all out for us .. cheers Hilary

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  19. When I was earlier in Blogger I had the original Blogger Follow button too. But now I have moved to a self hosted wordpress site. Thanks for sharing this simple yet hidden aspect on Blogger blogs.

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  20. I have this widget on my site, although I also have Google+ and follow by email as well. I like Google+, bit I dislike the Book of Face intensely, so I know where you're coming from :).
    Sophie
    Sophie's Thoughts & Fumbles
    FB3X
    Wittegen Press

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  21. I have it on my site. Thanks for following me!

    Precious Monsters

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  22. I'm so old school I have to wind up my computer before it turns on!
    Good Idea, JP!

    Bushman
    2015 A to Z Challenge Ambassador
    @jwb81074

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  23. Now I have to go check my blog, as I am honestly not sure what I have on there!

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  24. Thank you for commenting! Strange thing is, I have a cousin called Jenny Pearson, but she is not you and you are not her! For a moment there I thought, blimey, is my cousin actually blogging?! My theme is "anything goes" too. I couldn't come up with a clever theme, just like that. So I reserve the right to write about any old thing that takes my fancy!

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  25. I have the button on Life & Faith in Caneyhead. But I have found that I can add any blog to my reader list by clicking "Add" under where it says reading list and pasting the URL for the blog I want to follow in there. Awesome sauce!
    Life & Faith in Caneyhead

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  26. Yes I do have the original followers add in. I have never been able to figure out the circle thing and am stumped now when I try and check into someone's blog and cannot figure out a way to add a comment. Love seeing all the faces on "Followers."

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  27. I just had to hit the little button after that, it called to the cat lol they do try to hide the thing, screw google + I say at my blog wing.

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  28. I keep the original follow gadget and hate Google+ with a passion.

    It's worth knowing that you can still (kinda sorta) follow a blog that doesn't have this gadget showing. On your Blogger dashboard you can manually add a blog to your reading list by copying/pasting in the URL. It's not the same, because the blogger in question won't know you're following but their new posts will show up in your reading list.

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  29. D.G. Hudson
    Thanks for dropping in. The “MORE” area has lots of the old stuff that Blogger would rather us forget.

    Christian Mayer
    You’re welcome. Thanks for dropping in.

    Nick Wilford
    My kind of guy! :) I’m getting tired of all these new ways for us to connect. There was nothing wrong with the original GFC button. I just think Google wanted to be like Facebook.

    Alex J. Cavanaugh
    Thanks for visiting, Alex. Your GFC is a busy little button. :) :)

    Jeremy Hawkins
    Hey, Jeremy, good to see you out and about.
    Hope life’s treating you well! I loved your A post. Go Alice!
    Yes, it’s tricky to find, not only in the Gadget area, but also on some peoples blogs.

    Ruth
    Hey there, buddy! I never got into all of those because of time. It takes time to set all these little places up, then check on them, etc. I see you feel the same. :)

    And I see Al is stuck out in MySpace… or HisSpace… or Somebody’sSpace… hahahaha

    Cherie Colyer
    Thanks for dropping in, Cherie. I wished more bloggers had it, would make my life easier! :)

    Donna Smith
    Great bloggers have this button! Glad you have it and love it!
    Thanks for the “AmAZing” nod - I’m smiling!

    Susie
    I like that… little follower faces… that’s what they are! Cute.
    Google+ baffles and frustrates me - both equally. I’m glad I’m not alone with my feelings for facebook - not a fan at all!

    Karen Walker
    Hey, Karen, thanks for dropping in. Your smiling avatar is the best! I’m hoping this will reach a few new Bloggers that don’t know about this button because of where it’s hidden.

    Al Penwasser
    Hello my loyal subject,
    Your invitation got lost in the mail. I’ll be speaking with the royal post department. But don’t hold your breath. Well, hold it if you like but we can’t take responsibility for the various unflattering shades of blue you will turn.
    Yours truly,
    Queen Jenny
    PS - In future correspondences please remember the “Queen” bit.

    Betty
    Thanks! The original follow button works just splendidly, I don’t know why Blogger wouldn’t want it used. Ah… right, they’re trying to be facebook… how sad is that!

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  30. Sharon Arthur Moore
    Welcome to Pearson Report. Thanks for stopping in and being WOWed by my A post. Looking forward to seeing you again. :)

    The Happy Whisk
    Hi Ivy! Yup, hiding it is pointless when I put my mind to digging up the back yard, or in this cage the Gadget yard. :)

    Birgit
    Keep the original one, don’t worry about getting that Google+ button, unless you actually use Google+, then I guess it’s useful as well.

    Frank Powers
    Welcome to Pearson Report. Sorry to read you gave up on Blogger, though I can understand why. It has its problems, that’s for sure. So long as the gadgets work, and make following easy I’m a happy camper.

    Susan Barclay
    Welcome to Pearson Report. Yay, another great blogger that has the original! Happy Dance underway. :)
    The Google+ does not let non Google+ folks use that follow option - which I think just turns people like me off them even more.

    Jennifer Hawes
    Thanks for dropping in - welcome to Pearson Report. I think you’ll find there’s a lot more of us with aversions to facebook than is readily known. Probably because we’re quietly plotting a mass takedown. hahahahaha And, if that’s the case, and the group needs a leader I’m their gal! LOL

    Hilary Melton-Butcher
    Take your time and visit when you’re eyes are less stressed - it’s a lot to take in. Besides, you already have the right follow button, so you’re good to go! Hugs, Jenny

    RaShelle Workman
    Thanks - I thought it was time to share this! Particularly for new bloggers.

    Shilpa Garg
    Wordpress is definitely a little harder to follow. Though I can add you to my dashboard. When I come across a non-Blogger site I do go looking for ways to follow. However, if they only have Google+ then that’s not going to work for me.
    Thanks for stopping by! :)

    Sophie Duncan
    The follow by email is a good option. I only recently added it to both my blogs upon the request of an interest party.
    You made my day with your dislike for the Book of Face… you go girl! :) :)

    Jolie du Pre
    Thanks for dropping by - and you’re welcome. My pleasure to follow. See what happens when the button is right there. :) :)

    Jeff Bushman
    Hey good buddy - thanks for dropping in. What do you mean you wind up your computer… heck that new puppy should be winding you up! LOL

    Andrea
    You have it! It’s funny when posts like this come along we all scramble to make sure all our buttons (and ducks) are in line!
    Thanks for stopping in - made my day! :) :)

    Eunice
    Welcome to Pearson Report. And, you’re welcome - I love commenting where I can. It appears Jenny Pearson is a popular name.
    Funny thing about this Theme of mine, is it’s really not a theme at all. I’m a fan of winging it and this was a spoof for all my buddies out there hell bend on having a theme. :) :)

    Barbara In Caneyhead
    Yes, that’s an option too - takes a little work and during a Challenge like this one it just slows the process down. I’ve taken that route on many an occasion when a blog really tickles my fancy. Thanks for stopping in… much appreciated. :) :)

    Loverofwords,
    LOL, me to regarding the “circle thing” - love that. I’m laughing, because I feel the same way. I’ll be addressing the comment issues tomorrow… that’ll be fun!

    Pat Hatt
    Awwwwww… thanks Pat - coolest thing having you as a follower.
    Thanks a bunch. I wished I had a great rhyme but after writing all these replies my brain is fried. (Really, I think I smell smoke) :)

    Botanist
    Tell me how you really feel about Google+. LOL (your such a passionate guy) I have the same passion… bubbling over in fact.
    I know about the “back door” approach, and use it often. It’s during this Challenge I find having an easy way to follow a blog that intrigues me without all the extra work would make my life sooooo much easier. (I’m all about easier these days)

    ---------------------------
    OKAY - thanks everyone for dropping in and sharing your thoughts. I hope I haven’t missed anyone.

    With smiles and hugs, Jenny

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  31. That is indeed a very good idea. I'm glad I set up my Blog before they decided to play silly whatsits and make things harder! I have both the G+ follow and the original button on there.
    Tasha
    Tasha's Thinkings | Wittegen Press | FB3X (AC)

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    Replies
    1. LOL - Let me try this again (first attempt was for the wrong comment hahaha)

      Hi Tasha - your blogs are easy to follow. Even if the follow button isn't there I can still add a blog manually to my Dashboard list. That said, during a Challenge like the A to Z (or others) why wouldn't someone make it easy for potential followers.

      Thanks for stopping by. Enjoy the Challenge. :) xo

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  32. Anonymous2:08 am

    Great idea for the ones who are on blogger and thank goodness I love WP :)

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    Replies
    1. As I said to Tasha, above, during Challenges it only stand to reason that a blogger (on any platform) should make following options easy.

      Thanks for stopping in to take a read! :) :)

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  33. Queen Jenny,
    What if I turn 50 Shades of Blue?
    breathless,
    Al

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    Replies
    1. 1 - You gotta admit, it has a ring to it.
      2 - Hmmm… the question begs (well, not really begs…) is Blue the new Grey?

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  34. Thanks for your community service blog post! I followed your directions and viola there it is! You may now follow my blog.

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    Replies
    1. Hi Julie - thank you for reading this and finding it helpful for your blog.
      I'm heading over there now to check it out.

      Thanks for stopping by… much appreciated. Cheers, Jenny :)

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Thanks for sharing your thoughts.