What is this "Follow" business? What? What? What is this thing that's hit the blogosphere?Isn't it exactly like being subscribed, only more public? Perhaps akin to being someone's fan on Facebook, versus their friend - kinda the same...only not really?
In my opinion, the subscribed ones are the real friends.
I find myself now clicking "Follow" on friends' blogs, even though I've already subscribed to every post they write via Reader. But Reader doesn't feed their egos, right? If I subscribe I'm like a silent supporter, as opposed to a little picture tile of glory! I'm happy to ego-feed, if that's what's needed. But I'm afraid to add the Follower gadget, myself. What if you don't click "Follow"? What if you prefer to stay in Reader? But what if you don't use Reader, and you're more likely to Follow...and I'm losing non-Reader-using readers every day? It's like High School all over again!
Perhaps my distaste for the double-up-seemingness of it all has to do with the fact that my Follower count is a tad lower than my subscription number. Or maybe it's that the people who Follow me don't use reader, and so you have to complete an equation to really gauge where my readership's sitting....
F + S + x = R
[Followers + Subscribed + The Unknown = Readership]
x / The Unknown = Bookmarkers / Link-followers / URL-typers / Homepage-makers (too optimistic?)
So, to follow, or not to follow? I sincerely would like to know - what's all the fuss about? Do you like "Following"? Or do you feel similar - you're already following in Reader!
8 comments:
I relate with the "double-up"-ness of it all. Although I DID have to "fan" myself so that I could make myself an Ami Ana admin. Despite the potentially conceited impression that may give I actually really DO like my own fashions and in fact have it as a hard and fast rule to ONLY make things that I like and that I would myself personally wear. Willingly. In public. During daylight hours.
hmmm, I didnt think it mattered...When I first started blogging in all my eager beaver-ness I clicked follow for your blog and then you told me about the subscribing thing so I clicked that too. It goes to show that I don't really know how it all works. The only thing I do know is how to open reader which is where I read all the blogs I've either sub'd to or follow...I don't really have a pattern established or preference. Would you like me to "un-follow" you but keep my subscription?
I just don't get what following is all about. If I like you, can't I just read you and maybe put you in my blog roll? So, I follow nobody, even if they follow me. I think it makes me a blogging jerk.
I follow if the options given, more as a show of support I hope, than the feeding of an ego! - but I LOVE my Reader where I can really see whos doing what and keep up to date - that is where I spend my time and attention - Reader all the way!!
I'm with you on this one. I'm thinking about following as well now though.
I am a stranger (with no element of danger), and I am new to blogging. I found your blog, through Mariah's blog, both of which I now follow. I did not know there was any other option other than to follow? Every blog that I do follow, is displayed in my reader. What is the difference? What am I missing out on?
I never follow. Just subscribe.
Mariah - do iiiiit. :P
Nicole - Hi! Yes - blogs you follow display in reader, and so it makes it all seem a bit redundant, I think...except...that if someone adds a "Followers" widget, then there's a big difference! As a little thumbnail image (or place-holder) is displayed for every person who has clicked "Follow", which anyone can click on and follow through to the follower's profile. The alternative, (subscribing), adds a feed to your Reader, but does not make you a public "fan". A subscribed reader will not display in the "Followers" count (on the widget). The reverse also applies however - a follower will not display as a subscribed reader if you search a feed via "Discovery/Browse" (within Reader). I guess the whole point of my post though, is that to many people (such as yourself), there isn't a lot of difference!
Every blog that I do follow, is displayed in my reader. What is the difference? What am I missing out on?
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