Facebook Fan page widget and Google friend Connect widget are two very popular social media widget we use on our blog. Advantages of using these widgets are
- Shows Community Building
- Blog Fans
- Alternative Way to drive traffic
Though I use both of them here at Shoutmeloud but in terms of usage and flexibility I prefer Facebook Fan pages over Google friend connect. I won’t say Google friend connect is completely useless, with the latest development and feature addition in Google friend connect, it is become useful. Though I still feel Google friend connect is running almost 2 years behind what Facebook Fan page is providing.
Google friend connect added some new features recently but again those features are something which we already have with facebook fan page.
Newsletter
Google friend connect newsletter feature seems to be more effective in comparison to facebook fan page Messages. but again facebook users are more active in comparison to Google friend connect users.
Site promotion
This is something which I always missed with Google friend connect as people who have joined facebook fan page. They get the update on their timeline on Facebook home page. But in Google friend connect again this is not possible.
Adsense
Google never miss a chance to educate people about adsense, and make most out of adsense ads. Its interest based ads run best with this new feature. Though again you need to configure and target audience will be very small, until unless you have plenty of members in your Google friend connect kitty.
Community Data Feature
Community data feature let you see more insight on your subscriber stats, but again I find Facebook fan pages insight feature much better. Though Google friend connect Export community feature is something unique and I like it.
Why don’t you share your point of view and let us know, which one you will vote for? Google friend connect or facebook fan pages?
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Article by Harsh Agrawal
Harsh has written 1211 articles.
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{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
Well as you have suggested Facebook Fan Pages are more rewarding, but the fact is that Google FriendConnect is based upon more robust and open platform called OpenSocial and in days to come we can expect more heavy features with it.
Better strategy is to build community on both !
And to remain ACTIVE on both !
After all Google Profiles are attached to FriendConenct , we can’t neglect the potential of future developments !
Agree with Rajesh…Kudos to Harsh for apt posting in right time.
i have just embedded facebook fan box and it looks nice and i will be adding google connect too ..
@Harsh can u also point out a little on mybloglog the yahoo service .. is it useful?
Hi,
Both FB & GFC are both obviously very valuable community builders. It’s difficult to predict which will turn out to be more valuable in the long-run, but like Rakesh I tend to think that GFC’s attachment to Google Profiles ( & Reader ) may play a much more significant role in the future.
Cheers
Will
Yup
I agree .. Facebook Fan page are also a complete url , so you can promote it seperatly like its a totally different entity . You can update links from other sites also if they are useful . So saying that google friend connect is 2 yrs behind is totally true
But do you think google will come up with something exciting in it in coming future .?
Manish
I think Google Friend connect will have more value and it helps in driving a lot of traffic when Google implements social search
i have not used Google Friend Connect but i am a big fan of Facebook Fan Page….
I am not using google friend comment on my blog, Well now a days I am busy with writing article for my blog, so I am not able to notice all about these.
Probably one of the best post on Shoutmeloud!!!
I feel FB fan page loads very slowly.
Interesting article
. I agree with Rajesh Kanuri that Google friend connect is a better way to drive traffic.
I never really got too into the Google friend connect thing, I really only recently started using the Facebook Fan Page widget and it seems to be going pretty good.
Maybe I will have to give Google Friend Connect a try.
hem… i think i need to create facebook fan for my blog. It seems great from what you say in this article.
Not tried yet, i think Face Book Fan Page is better.
Is anyone having a problem with the facebook widget not updating? My facebook page updates, but the widget on my site stopped updating on Tuesdsay (about the same time the new privacy rules too affect) It’s not a WP issue, as when I tried to create a new one on FB, it didn’t have the recent updates. If anyone knows how to fix this let me know. Otherwise I will have to take the widget off my site as the content is getting stale.
I hope someone knows how to fix this.
If you get enough free time then you should surely use both of ‘em else Facebook is the best.