Blogging & Social Media, Daily Life 
11 Comments Adding Google Friend Connect to a WordPress Blog
Someone asked me the other day how to “follow” my blog, and I quickly realized they were referring to the Google Friend Connect widgets that are ubiquitous on Blogger blogs. My first instinct was to let them know this was a WordPress blog and suggest that they subscribe to my feed, but then I decided to do a quick search and see if it was possible to get in on the following fun.
And guess what, it is! You can add Google Friend Connect to a WordPress blog (at least a self-hosted one, which is what I have – I have no idea about a WordPress.com blog).
It was really easy too, which is always a good thing in my book; the whole process took about ten minutes. 
Here’s what I had to do (disclaimer – this may be slightly different for you, but I’m just sharing how it worked for me):
- Signed in with my Google ID (my Gmail username and password).
- Under “Set up a new site,” selected the option for a standard website (as opposed to a Blogger blog).
- Filled in the information about my site.
- Downloaded the two files they provided, and then uploaded them to my site (I wasn’t sure what folder to put them in so I just put them in the main file area and it worked okay).
- Configured the members widget and then pasted the code they gave me into a widget on my sidebar.
You can see what it looks like in my sidebar. It seems that if I put it in my post, the sidebar widget won’t show up, which I’m guessing has something to do with trying to run the same script in two places on the same page. Hey, I never said I actually knew anything about computers!
Of course, I had to test it out, so I joined myself and, sure enough, it shows up on my Blogger profile and on my Blogger Dashboard as a blog I am following. Pretty cool, huh?
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Tags: following blogs, Google Friend Connect, sidebars, widgets
I’ve been following your blog for awhile. I would get updates, but I didn’t show up as a follower, weird. I did the follow again and it worked. I just got DSL so everything changed, weird again.
.-= Territory Mom´s last blog ..Pray for Melody’s Son =-.
I’ve been following your blog for awhile. I would get updates, but I didn’t show up as a follower, weird. I did the follow again and it worked. I just got DSL so everything changed, weird again.
.-= Territory Mom´s last blog ..Pray for Melody’s Son =-.
Looks good. Apparently, I’m going to have to follow in your footsteps. BTW, I’ve been trying for a while to get the tweetmeme in my blog , but it just “ain’t” work’n.
.-= MiaHysteria´s last blog ..Welcome To 1st Grade Alex! =-.
Looks good. Apparently, I’m going to have to follow in your footsteps. BTW, I’ve been trying for a while to get the tweetmeme in my blog , but it just “ain’t” work’n.
.-= MiaHysteria´s last blog ..Welcome To 1st Grade Alex! =-.
Forgot to tell you….you have an award
http://www.generalhysteria.com/2009/08/a-belated-acknowledgement-kreativ-blogger-award/
.-= MiaHysteria´s last blog ..A Belated Acknowledgement ~ Kreativ Blogger Award =-.
Forgot to tell you….you have an award
http://www.generalhysteria.com/2009/08/a-belated-acknowledgement-kreativ-blogger-award/
.-= MiaHysteria´s last blog ..A Belated Acknowledgement ~ Kreativ Blogger Award =-.
And today, your sidebar is below the comment box – weird. I was going to tell you it is blank, but down here, I saw it.
I’m pretty slow to upgrade my blog ~ can barely post as often as I want, and erm, read everybody else’s. I don’t ‘follow’ anyone, really, but go to sites from my fav list. Guess I’m old-fashioned that way. Still, I may have to re-read this post and start paying attention!
.-= Barbara´s last blog ..My mini – BlogHer =-.
It’s great to know that WordPress users can still add it. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to add the follower gadget at first because I didn’t want to become obsessed with my numbers. I have to say that those little faces have been such an encouragement–it’s so neat to have that sense of community. I’ve had you in my reader for a while, so I might as well pop my little face up on your sidebar. :GRIN:
Appreciate this perfectly well documented advice. Just followed your instructions and all works fine on my WordPress site. Thank You!
I’m so glad it worked for you! I don’t write a lot of posts like this, but when I have to search and search for something, it seems like a good idea to document it for the next person who is looking.
I’m hoping you still check this…
I’ve tried numerous times to put this in my blog, but it won’t work. i just got a private domain, and thought it would work then…but still isn’t. help!! : (