~Jumping on the Bandwagon~

In the blogging community, we all know of the latest buzz concerning Google Friend Connect.  A wonderful followers tool that many, many bloggers and blog readers use to keep track of not only the blogs that we read but also as a tool to know who and how many followers we have.

All I knew was that Google Friend Connect affected non-Google blog platforms, like Wordpress, and that it was going away for them soon.  So, I really didn't give it much attention.  Then I read that rumors were going around that "someday" Google Friend Connect was going to be phased out completely.  Then I thought....hmmm, maybe I need to give this some closer attention but had no idea where to start.

Lately, I began seeing "Linky Followers"boxes on several of my favorite blogs and wanted to know what this new tool was all about.  The other day, I found two posts done by Heather and Vanessa's blog, At the Picket Fence, about this very subject.  The first post is about how and why Linky Followers started.  By the way, by the very same person who created Linky Tools. :)  The second post is a good explanation of not only the pros and cons of Linky Followers and all the advantages of using this wonderful tool, but also a very detailed step-by-step tutorial on how to get started and how to use it.  I was very impressed.  I encourage you to read their posts and decide for yourself about Linky Followers.

At any rate, ...I have decided to jump on the bandwagon and am following in the footsteps of some of my favorite blogs. You can find my Linky Followers box right below the Google Friends Connect box.   Hope to see you there!

Have a happy day today!~

         

~Can't Leave a Comment, Not Getting Comments or Your Pages Are Freezing?~

I think this is a problem that many of us bloggers have been experiencing lately.  Yesterday, I found out what the problem was and fixed it but haven't had a chance to post about it yet.  Thankfully, Carol from The Polka Dot Closet, has created a post about it, why it was happening and how to fix it.  So I am reposting HER post about it.  (yes, she knows I am doing this).....

Here's the fix!

I thought you had all lost that loving feeling.  I wasn't getting many comments

If you are not getting many comments

If you can't leave a comment

If you are visiting a blog and the pages are freezing

Here's the problem and the fix

Blogger introduced a new feature for people who use the imbedded comment format (As opposed to those who have a pop up or full page comment boxes).  Everything got messed up and they have not yet been able to fix it.

Some people who comment with Internet Explorer (Not those using Safari or Firefox) on a post with imbedded format, are not able to comment.  If they search other pages in your blog the pages freeze

Here's the work around as they do not yet have a fix

Change your comments to "Pop up" or "Full Page".  Go to Dashboard>Settings>Comments> And change it

If you are unable to comment on a blog, let the blog owner know to change her settings to "Pop up" for comments.  I am sure many blogs have no idea this is going on as they are still receiving some comments from people that don't use Internet Explorer

Geez, it sure would have been nice of Blogger to let us know this was a problem!  I found it by searching forums

This public service announcement was brought to you by 

The Polka Dot Closet

Thank you Carol!!!  Please take the time to stop by her blog and thank her for bringing this to our attention.

~A Blog List or Grab My Button?~

When I began the process of putting together my blog about six or seven months ago, one of the things that I read over and over again was that "the thing to do" was to create a "Grab My Button".  So I did....

I've been noticing, over the last few months, the variety of ways that bloggers do or don't show their favorite reads.  Some have no blog lists or buttons on their blog at all even though they offer a "Grab My Button".  Some have a "Grab my Button" and choose to do both buttons and blog lists (like me).  Some use only blog lists and then some use only "Grab my Button" lists. And then some have no "Grab My Button" at all.

Boy, I have a headache. Whew!  ;)

I like having the blog list because you can do them with a time line but there's no way to do that with the buttons.  At least, I haven't figured out a way.  I like having the buttons because I think they catch the reader's eye better.  So, have you figured out where I'm going with this yet?

I guess my question is, why do you do what you do?  What are the pros and cons?  I'm sure there are some or else there wouldn't be such a variety of options.  What works for you?  I would love your two cents worth on this.  Not that this is going to solve the world's problems or put the right candidate in the President's seat (sorry...hehe).  I don't park on these things very often, but today is my day.  That's what happens when I start thinking. :)

Thanks.  From the bottom of my pea-pickin' heart! ~

Update:  I have had a few tell me that my Grab My Button was not working.  So, I went back and created it again.  I would appreciate it if someone would test it to let me know if it is working.  Thanks!