Notice that little box in the right hand column of this blog? You can see lots of little avatars right? Well that is one of the enhancements made to this blog recently. What you are looking at is Google Friend Connect, a small application recently added to Google’s very own library. Google is calling this their very own contribution for companies that have a website and want to add a social element to it.
What is Google Friend Connect?
Announced in their May 12, 2008 press release, Google Friend Connect would allow “Visitors to any site using Google Friend Connect to see, invite, and interact with new friends, or, using secure authorization APIs, with existing friends from social sites on the web, including Facebook, Google Talk, hi5, orkut, Plaxo, and more.”
In other words, Google Friend Connect allows website owners to add a social element to their site quickly and easily.
Why Should You Use Google Friend Connect?
1. I recently went on a site called Billboard for the People and noticed that it had Google Friend Connect on it. I added myself to that particular site because I liked the site and it had an interesting message. I was then able to look at other people on the site and see what people with similar interests were also looking at. In short, it helps make the web smaller.
2. I also was able to make comments about the particular page I was looking at and help the experience for other visitors. I may also have noticed something relevant to this on another page (perhaps even one of my own websites) and I could then place a link in the comments section. This would once again allow, the other visitors that are on the same blog to see more relevant information
3. I then decided that I thought it would be a good idea to post on the Rise To The Top Blog. After speaking with the rest of the management and understanding the features of the software we decided to try it. The result was an extremely easy to implement piece of code and a nice way of making the blog even more social and relevant to our readers.
Google Friend Connect is contagious. It opens up the door for people that would have never otherwise heard of your site – all thanks to a growing social market. Can your website use more relevant visitors? Which website cannot?
What are the Drawbacks?
Like many people are already saying, Google Friend Connect is not going to replace Facebook. But that is not its purpose. In fact, what it does do is piggy back your ability to move freely between your social sites and easily stay logged in throughout your experience.
Are you a business owner worried about people posting irrelevant information? No need to worry, as you are given the ability as the administrator to approve all posts.
Do you think GFC doesn’t do enough? Well guess what there are many gadgets already being added. Games, comments and review/rate tools are already available!
Further Thoughts about GFC
We are still at the very beginning of a social revolution online. People are getting more and more outgoing online as the technologies grow trust with people. Google Friend Connect is a quick and simple way to make your site social.
We hope that you will give it a try yourself. If you like the content on our blog please do not hesitate to add it in the above box yourself!
Want to learn more about Google Friend Connect? Watch this video!
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Friend connect is the wave of the future as with social networking. I’m sure of it. Google friend connect looks very promising and I like the features added within Gmail and Google reader.
Google also says that site will get greater traffic using GFC. So GFC is a favorable addition for sites.
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Good to see, you’ve integrated GFC to your blog. I thing Google’s Friend Connect is a lot easier to install then Facebook’s Connect. But there is no meaning in comparing GFC with Facebook’s friend connect, both’re different cup of tea. Above all GFC is more for static sites that want to add social network-like features at no programming cost.
Indeed rate and review option is also looks as a nice addition.
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That was a good overview of Google’s new offering DJ! For sure GFC is a nice new addition to the TechWyse blog. I can already see a lot of friends who have “become a fan.” As you put it’s truly contagious.
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GFC is really a boon to small sites that have little or no user information. It allows them to connect to bigger sites and collect user information including sign-in and registration, list of friends, and interactions between those friends.
on
Yes GFC is a really cute tool to show off your website. Not only does it encourage participatory browsing but also it makes the online experience a more interactive one. Not to mention the sizeable traffic that it brings from the social networks.