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Saturday, February 2, 2013

Adding Followers Gadget in Blogger (post-GFC-retirement)

Spoken by at 5:21 PM

So, Google decided to retire most of Google Friend Connect's feature last year, though they have mentioned that they will continue to run the service for the 'foreseeable future'. The GFC Follower's gadget, that used to be available in the 'Add a Gadget' list of gadgets, has now been replaced with Google+ Followers gadget. For those of you who are still using GFC's Followers gadget, you can keep using it, until Google decides to pull the plug. But for new users, or for those of you who had your gadget accidentally removed, here's how you can add it back.

The Easy Way

Go to Dashboard - Layout - Add a Gadget (where you want the gadget to appear) - On your left, click on 'More Gadgets', and you should be able to find the Followers gadget there.


If you get an error that says "This gadget is experimental and is not yet available on all blogs. Check back soon", or if some other reason you can't readily add the gadget from the list of gadgets, try the method in the steps below.

The Alternative Way

Step 1:

Go to Dashboard - Layout - Add a Gadget (where you want the gadget to appear) - Look for HTML/Javascript gadget - Click on the plus (+) icon to add the gadget.



Step 2:

In the next window, just copy the URL (the address, as highlighted in the screenshot below) of the page. Once you've copied the address, you can close this window.


My URL looks like this:

http://www.blogger.com/rearrange?blogID=1782490369597539464&sectionId=sidebar-right-1&action=editWidget&widgetType=HTML&referrer=directory
Step 3:

Paste this URL in a text editor (such as Notepad, MS Word, or wherever you feel comfortable editing it). Next, find for the part that says 'widgetType=HTML' in your address, and change it to 'widgetType=Followers'.

My URL looks like this now, after making the change:

http://www.blogger.com/rearrange?blogID=1782490369597539464&sectionId=sidebar-right-1&action=editWidget&widgetType=Followers&referrer=directory

Step 4:

Copy this modified URL, and paste into your browser (preferably the browser that you were using early on, the on that is logged into your Blogger account). Hit 'Enter' on your keyboard, and voila, your Followers gadget is back.


Labels:

74 comments:

  1. Great tutorial. Thanks so much for posting this. Your site has helped me on a number of occasions :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. Don't mention it Angela. And I'm glad I could be of help :)

      Cheers!

      Delete

  2. Hey! I need some help. Why while blog loading fonts of the title etc. are changing few times until they change to these which are set by me? It looks ugly, how can I make it to load directly?
    See: http://emesthedoc.blogspot.com/
    Thanks for help.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. Hi eMeS,

      It is designed to load in its stock font, before applying your personalized choice of font. There isn't anything we can do to change this mechanism. That said, if your page load is smaller, or if your internet speed gets higher, you might not notice this issue any longer.

      Cheers :)

      Delete

    2. Thanks for the answer.
      Yup. But there are 3 fonts:
      1. Default font
      2. Comic Sans MS
      3. Rock Salt
      I'm talking about blog title.
      How Comic font could be there? I have never chosen it, and as I searched for it in HTML code - there is no word such as "Comic". How that could be?

      Delete

    3. It isn't Comic Sans. It's just stock font, being made cursive, to prep it for your Rock Salt web font. See the screenshot below:

      http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/1438/20130205053951capture.png

      Delete

  5. Any idea on when they might pull the plug and take away GFC?

    Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. No clue, but judging from how things have been going, I'd give it another year or so :P

      Delete

  6. Yoga Merhaba
    Konuyu biraz acarmisin. widgetType yerine blog linki eklenecek.
    Diğer toplam kod nereye eklenecek ?
    HTML/Script içine mi? Anlamadım!
    Thanks

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    2. Yoga're not using Google Translate.
      Did not understand the spelling?
      Can you open this thread a little bit. Blog Link widgetType be added instead.
      Other Total to be added to the code where?
      HTML / Script into? I do not understand!
      thanks

      Delete

    3. Hi Adnan..

      Add the URL to your browser, not anywhere else. See the screenshot below.

      http://img824.imageshack.us/img824/7417/94456985.png

      Delete
  7. Replies

    1. I can see the gadget loading fine in your blog Screenshot

      Temporary glitch perhaps?

      Delete

    2. Ya it look like a glitch for me.

      Delete

  8. In general, you're blog is mindblowing! I added the dynamic views to my blog and in only a few hours I completely changed everything with all your tips! Thx so much! Because of you, I spent my time wel!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. Hi April,

      Thanks a lot. Appreciate it. Hope you enjoy your stay here :)

      Cheers..

      Delete

  9. I love every bit of your work, very original, insightful and easy to follow, i must confess you've really aided me in setting up my blog http://trendevolution.blogspot.com but i wanted to confirm if there is a way to enable my social plugins display the right thumbnail for the post as well as the description. have thoroughly gone through your post but couldn't find any post on this. Sounds like is a major problem for all bloggers.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. Hi Sheedah,

      I'm trying to picture what you're referring to. I can see your plugins to the left of your blog. If I can understand your question correct, you want to display your post thumbnail and description inside your social plugins? That doesn't sound right. Could you send me an annotated screenshot of what you wanna do, to speed things up?

      Delete

    2. Thank you, i was actually speaking of the plugins laying horizontally below each of my post. Particularly the share buttons (Facebook share button) when clicked on displays the the image of another post entirely and not of that which is intended to share alongside the fact that it also displays my blog title and description instead of the post title and post description. its beginning to constitute a major disaster as to how my blog will visitors will perceive my blog. Tried sending the screenshot but can't through this medium. How do i go about it?

      Delete

    3. Hi Sheedah,

      I'm still not following. Is there a problem with your share buttons? If so, it is best to get in touch with the plugin maker, as you're using a third party social media plugin. If this isn't what you're referring to, I could still use a screenshot. You can't send pictures in comments, but you can upload your screenshot somewhere (to one of your posts for example) and give me the link to uploaded screenshot.

      Delete

  10. Hi Yoga,
    Is there a trick to implement facebook share button in blogger dynamic views? Or some possibility for visitors to share posts on facebook (i tried meebo, weblia toolbars but they are not visible)? And if this isn't possible, what can i do to appear the comment box for default like button, because now when like is clicked, only the confirm like appears, without comment box. I would appreciate so much your help! Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. We are at limitations for most angles when it comes to Dynamic View templates, especially when it comes to Facebook-Blogger integration. Unfortunately, I haven't come across a way to integrate the share button, or the like-with-comment box, in DV templates yes. As of now, these questions are still far-fetched, considering the amount of tweaks that we can make to DV templates.

      Delete

    2. Merhaba Yoga,
      Trefu için benim kullandığım bir çözüm var.Paylaşırsan sevinirim.Thanks.
      İnceleyin lütfen
      http://guney59.blogspot.com/2013/02/dinamik-blog-yazi-paylasim-ipuclari.html

      Delete

    3. Hi Adnan,

      I've seen that blog, but I'm not sure what I should be looking at?

      Delete

  11. I need help! My GFC is not showing up on my blog. Originally a designer built my blog, but I wanted a change. She had a gadget on my sidebar for my GFC. It had a link for a custom photo and the code for GFC.
    All I did, was change the photo. The photo shows up, but not my GFC.

    Thank you in advance for any help.

    I have learned alot from you. You are the greatest!

    ReplyDelete

  12. Never mind, thank you....It's fixed! I used your above fix.

    ReplyDelete

  13. Hi from Italy,
    compliments for this useful blog ;)
    You're really helping me with the dynamic view.
    I have a question: why some preview of my posts are not displayed in the home? you can see them here: http://idrtest.blogspot.it/
    please notify me if you answer, it's really important for me. best regards

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. Hi Gaia,

      If you're referring to your post thumbnails, it could be due to the fact that the pictures that you've included to your post is not hosted at Blogger. You will only see a thumbnail if you upload the picture for a particular post directly to Blogger.

      http://www.southernspeakers.net/2011/10/change-blogger-dynamic-views-thumbnail.html

      Cheers :)

      Delete

  14. Can this be added on Google Dynamic Views too?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. Yeap.. But GFC is being disabled for some newer accounts.. This will be done in phase.. Give it a go and see if you can add it.

      Cheers :)

      Delete

  15. is there any option to use Disqus comment system in Dynamic view template?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. Hi Jidhu,

      Unfortunately there isn't any way to replace the default comment system in Dynamic View templates - at least not for the moment.

      Cheers :)

      Delete

    2. ok.

      this is my blog : http://jidhujose.blogspot.com/
      do u ave any suggestions to improve anything ?

      Delete

    3. Nice blog you've got goin there. Good job :)

      I'd say keep posting, you're already doing a good job. Cheers :)

      Delete

  16. Any reason why I keep getting the message:We're sorry...
    The item you are looking for was not found or has been deleted. Please try again.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. Hi Erica,

      Where exactly are you seeing this? Have you tried adding the gadget using the URL way (see the column titled 'The Alternative Way' in the post above)?

      Delete

  17. Thank you! I went to a zillion sites to find answers, but you finally came through!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. That's great Jennifer. Glad you've got your gadget back! :)

      Cheers..

      Delete

  18. My gadget still didn't come back after following the steps exactly :( any ideas as to why? It told me my request could not be processed.

    ReplyDelete

  19. After everything it appeared to come onto my blog only to find it displayed the same 'configured incorrectly' message!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. Hi Bethany,

      Have you tried both methods above? Try using a different browser, just in case.

      Let me know how it goes.

      Cheers.

      Delete

    2. still no luck, tried both options on two browsers, (google chrome and internet explorer)

      Delete

    3. any ideas why I might still be getting that 'configured incorrectly' message after trying both methods on two different browsers? Really frustrating as I can't gain any GFC followers at all!

      Delete

    4. Hi Bethany,

      Let's take this discussion to the forum. Go to Blogger Help Forum, post your question, and get back to me with its link.

      Delete

    5. Here is the link to my question on the forum
      https://productforums.google.com/forum/m/#!category-topic/blogger/something-is-broken/xkIV3waclvU
      Thanks

      Delete

  20. i dunno why but something is wrong i don't have the followers widget so i tried the other way but it's not working ~~~~ ;(

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. Seems like you're not the only one. Have you started a discussion in the help forum yet? I'll follow with you there - it'll be easier for me to escalate the matter to Google.

      Delete

  21. THANKS! I deleted GFC and then regretted it and couldn't find where to get it back... all those hard won followers... I think i won't delete it until Google does :)

    ReplyDelete

  22. thank you thank you THANK YOU! This has made my day. Didn't have a follower widget in either google's own or 'other' widgets. Why is it so hidden?
    So happy to have found away around it now :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. Maybe it is just Google's way of hinting that the gadget might be going away, for good.. :)

      Delete

  23. I've been googeling all day of how to get the Followers gadget on my blog and I finally found a tutorial that really works! Thank you so much!! I wish you the best! :)

    ReplyDelete

  24. hey can you help regarding how to add a facebook comment box in blogger dynamic view on blogspot

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. The last time I tried to add Facebook comments to Dynamic View I failed miserably, and I'm not sure if anyone has succeeded..

      Delete

  25. I missed s step. I can see the followers widget in my browser, but how to I then include it back in my blog as a widget?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. Hi Leslie,

      Apologies for my ridiculously late reply. As for your issue, I'm not sure if I'm getting you right. If you've added the gadget to your blog (as per instructions in the walkthrough above), technically the widget is added to your blog, and viewers should be able to see it. Is this not the case?

      Delete

  26. Thanks for posting this! You're my hero lol

    ReplyDelete

  27. I had tried for several time but the widget doesnt come out..

    It just write ขออภัย...

    Gadget นี้มีการกำหนดค่าไม่ถูกต้อง คำแนะนำสำหรับผู้ดูแลเว็บ: โปรดตรวจสอบว่า "การตั้งค่า Friend Connect - URL เริ่มต้น" ตรงกับ URL ของไซต์นี้

    I dont knw what it is mean..can you help me to sort it out..

    you can try to visit my blog and recommend anything http://inrealitylifes.blogspot.com/

    thank you

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. Hi Abdul Munir,

      Sorry for the late reply. Have you tried using both the methods above?

      Delete

  28. i cannot add the follower widget on my blog...i dont know why..
    can u help me? :(
    i'm very sad...maybe because of editing the template makes my blog spoil... :(

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. Hi Ifa,

      What's your blog's address? Have you tried using both the methods above in the tutorial?

      Delete

  29. I have tried it 100 times - all it does is show the http address as the gadget. Any other ideas? Thanks. sandie

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. Hi Chatty,

      Sorry for my ridiculously late reply. Have you tried using both methods, with a different browser?

      Delete

  30. Hello,I just started a blog and my followers (pictures) are not showing up, what did I do wrong?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. I don't see a GFC Followers gadget in your blog http://styledbyurcia.blogspot.com/

      Are you referring to the G+ Followers gadget?

      Delete

  31. This was brilliant and very clear to understand. Thanks

    ReplyDelete

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