Friend Connect Directory

Integrate text chat, voice conference and document sharing via Google Friend Connect

2009-07-02T10:56:00.001-07:00

You can experience more direct communication with and between community members thru the newly introduced ClackPoint gadget for Friend Connected sites. Not only does this slick gadget let your users chat live in a text-based chat room, it also lets them dial in and talk directly from their computer thru a microphone.

You can take part in a group-edited notepad, import PDF's that can be viewed by other chat members, and even send out a poll to everyone else in the chat room.

The gadget could be used in a business setting, similar to WebEx. But also informal group meetings where real identities are still important (i.e. discussing plans for the next softball team practice).

You can try out the gadget at: http://clackpoint.com/gadgets/friendconnect/

Enrich your Life with Google Friend Connect

2009-06-29T09:02:00.000-07:00

Google Friend Connect is an online, open social service offered by Google. It allows users to communicate with their friends on other websites. Now, you don’t have to be on the same site as everyone else, but you can still communicate with them. The only catch is that the website has to allow the application to communicate with it.

Google Friend Connect uses features such as OpenId (when you sign in) and oAuth to help control the data. With the blend of the different open products, this effective new technology is bound to become a popular means of communication.

Websites that are not as advanced as the social networking sites can now take advantage of Google Friend Connect, as users can use their Google, Yahoo and other credentials to sign in and then the website owners can have some sort of social networking sprinkled throughout their site. A lot of codes would have to be written to allow sites to function in this way, but Google Friend Connect allows the website to stay the way that it is and allows the consumer to use their other applications from Google, Yahoo, etc to interact with the non-social websites.

Basically, what this all means is that now the web itself has become social! Yes, the public is social and we communicate with each other to the extent that sites such as Twitter have become ‘addictive’; however, in the past websites could not communicate with each other. With the new technology that Google Friend Connect has offered, websites can now be social with each other.

The development of a social friends list is valued by many online users. Now, the users can take their friends with them to other sites. Google Friend Connect doesn’t steal your log in information, your password information or your friend’s IDs and it doesn’t share any information with other sites. It is a completely friendly interface that allows the user to control where they want to link their Friend Connect count to.

The users and the website owners are in complete control of what happens with their account and/or website. Website owners can choose what type of social platform that they want to incorporate into their site and users can leave comments, participate in forums and so on. Google Friend Connect allows you to do more than just leave comments. API formats allow virtually any type of social interaction to be possible and with the incorporation of some type of social platform onto a website; website owners will see a decrease in spam.

Google Friend Connect is completely free for both, the users and the website owners. It allows for social integration to be possible with very little effort. Users can take their friends with them anywhere that they can go. The only aspect that is shared from site to site is the users photo ID, and the users still have control over that.

© 2009 FriendConnectDirectory.com - All Rights Reserved

Google Friend Connect integrates with Netlog - Europe's Largest Social Network

2009-05-21T14:47:00.000-07:00

Google announced integration with Netlog - Europe's premier social networking community with more than 45 million users.

Users can utilize their Netlog profiles on any Friend Connected site, invite other Netlog users to join Friend Connect, as well as share their Friend Connect activity with friends on Netlog. Google uses open standard technologies on the backend to enable Netlog and other sites to plug into Google Friend Connect.

Recommendation Widget introduced by Google Friend Connect

2009-05-21T14:33:00.000-07:00

On May 14, 2009 Google announced the Friend Connect Recommend Widget similar to options provided by Digg & StumbleUpon.

Sites with Google Friend Connect enabled now have an option to support content recommendation. Members can recommend the content they like, ranging from a whole page to a single picture by clicking a "recommend it" button. It's useful for both publishers and visitors, because they can easily see what parts of a site are the most popular.

Here's a video about this new Recommend Gadget:

Comment Translator Now Available with Google Friend Connect

2009-05-07T19:35:00.000-07:00

Google announced today a 'translation feature' for the Google Friend Connect comments gadget.

Have a hard time translating a comment made in a different language? No Problem! A “translate” link in the comments gadget now pops up a menu of languages to choose from. The translated comments are than highlighted in yellow.

Video (below) portrays what the comment gadget looks like in action:

How to Add a Social Bar Gadget to Blogger

2009-05-07T12:34:00.000-07:00

Follow these simple steps to put a social bar at the top (or bottom) of your blogspot's page(s) to give your visitors easy access to Google Friend Connect's Social Features.

If you haven't already done so, register your Blog URL @ http://www.google.com/friendconnect/
In the Google Friend Connect admin panel choose the 'Social Bar' option in the navigation menu of your Friend Connect enabled blog.
Select appropriate options outlined in the Social Bar setup page, such as Social bar position, Comments Header, etc. and than click 'GENERATE CODE'
Highlight & copy generated code provided (Only) in Step 2.
Now: Login to your blog's admin panel
Go to the Layout > Page Elements tab for your Blog
Click 'Add a Gadget'
In the Add a Gadget window select the 'HTML/Javascript' (this enables you to add/configure additional coding to your blog)
Paste the Social Bar generated code into the 'Contents' Box for the HTML/Javascript Gadget.
Save and watch the Magic Unfold! :)

Add an Event Gadget to your Site

2009-04-21T07:11:00.000-07:00

Google announced a new way to promote and get people to sign up for events online via Google Friend Connect.

Setting up an event is pretty easy: Just enter basic details, i.e. time & location, than Google will generate code which you can post to your site. A Google Map showing the event's location is automatically embedded. When people visit your site, they’ll see an event description and a button asking them whether they want to attend. They can sign in using Friend Connect (with a Google, Yahoo, AIM, or OpenID account) and RSVP. The advantage here is that the people see the event and sign up right on your website, rather than visiting another event service like Facebook or Evite. Furtheremore, when a Google user signs up for an event, it’s automatically transferred to their Google Calendar! Of course, that doesn't mean you should limit yourself to physical events -- host a virtual meet-up or "webinar" and share all of the important dial in codes through the event gadget.

Add a Google Friend Connect - Event Gadget to your site [Video]:

Google Friend Connect + NEW API = Deeper Integration for Site Owners

2009-03-12T09:59:00.000-07:00

Things got a lot more interesting today with the announcement of Friend Connect API.

This API allows site owners & developers to access the core features of Friend Connect for use on their own site, in an effort to make the web more social. Furthermore, this newest addition to Friend Connect's arsenal helps discourage web spam thru bots (whereas validation will be required).

Benefits:

* Allows sites owners deeper integration with API; i.e. existing login systems and existing data with new data and activities.
* Plugin developers can integrate with popular CMS, bulletin boards, or any open framework.
* Gadget developers can make OpenSocial apps with greater control over how data flows across servers.

The Friend Connect API works with Yahoo! or OpenID accounts, in addition to a Google account. Here's some documentation to help enrich the user experience.

Blogspot & Google Friend Connect Synergize

2009-02-27T06:44:00.000-08:00

Google officially announced yesterday they've integrated the Blogger Following feature w/Google Friend Connect. This adds a new dimension to Blogger by bringing the free publishing service closer to a traditional social network.

Friend Connect allows users to login with one account (whether it's a Google account, a Yahoo, AIM or OpenID account) to follow any site with Friend Connect enabled. Each site that a follower joins will show up on their profile.

Now any blogspot can benefit from this feature, as your readers interact with other sites around the web and their friends see your blog listed as one they've chosen to follow. It's now very much similar to services like Twitter and Tumblr, since you can browse a blog's followers.

Blog owners, no need to worry, Google has already migrated all of the existing Followers gadgets to the newest version of Friend Connect.

This video shows you how to follow a blog:

What is Google Friend Connect?

2009-02-25T19:22:00.001-08:00

Imagine every website and blog on the internet connected into a free social network. If this sounds like something fantastical, it isn't. It is the very real concept of Google Friend Connect. This is a novel, revolutionary, and free concept that has the potential to change the face of the internet.

Seriously, can you imagine placing a little widget on a website and witnessing a social network grow by leaps and bounds? Is there really a process that easy? Yes, and it comes in the form of a new concept called Google Friend Connect.

Social networking may have started as a leisurely pursuit, but it has now expanded into many other spheres. Online commerce, news and information, and public relations are among the many pursuits that made inroads through social networking sites. Additionally, the membership of social networking sites has expanded well into the hundreds of millions of members. Yes, you read that correctly, there are hundreds of millions of people who make up various global social networking communities. Now, as the popularity of social networking increased, the need for new and compelling formats has increased as well. So, it should come as no surprise that Google has developed a revolutionary concept known as Google Friend Connect.

Those that assume Google Friend Connect is "yet another" new social networking site are mistaken. This is a unique method of social networking that integrates a variety of different mediums to greatly expand the aforementioned social networking capabilities. Best of all, it has expanded these capabilities in an incredibly easy manner.

Google Friend Connect is radically different from traditional social networking. Members do not have to sign up or affiliate with any particular social networking site. Instead, you add the aspects commonly found in social networking sites to traditional websites or blogs. (Actually, you can also add it to the profile of any social networking site you belong provided your profile will accept Google Friend Connect's widget code) So, whether you own a social, hobbyist, or commercial website or blog, Google Friend Connect allows you to add common social networking related features to them.

For example, if someone ran a website designed to sell automotive parts, the Google Friend Connect widget would allow people to join the "network" of the website. These people could become friend within the site. They would be allowed to create their own profiles and expand their presence beyond the initial website and into other sites that include the same Google Friend Connect Widget. Additionally, they can add friends to their profile creating their own network of friends which could find their way to the original website.

Afterward, a free flow of information between members of the network can occur. Members can comment publicly on the website as well as communicate privately with one another. This could bring tremendous traffic and attention to the website. Needless to say, this could greatly increasing its online visibility. For commercial websites, this could lead to increased sales and revenues. For hobbyist sites, this could lead to increased readership, traffic, awareness, and feedback.

Signing in with Google Friend Connect does not even require creating a new account. You can sign into it through Gmail, Yahoo, AIM, and OpenID. Sending invites to people is an easy process as well as you can send invites to anyone who has a profile on other another social networking site.

So, really, there is no limit to the total expansion of Google Friend Connect. It is a simple, but brilliant concept that may possible do what was previously inconceivable: it can bring the entire internet together into one collective group. Yes, it is now possible.

GFC adds Space Saving 'Social Bar' to it's Arsenal

2009-02-13T06:44:00.000-08:00

Google recently introduced the 'Social Bar' Friend Connect widget for your site. Instead of residing in the browser, it resides on your website. No download required for your site visitors!

Site owners can add this Social toolbar along either the top or bottom of a page, thus improving options for site owners by offering a way around the potential design clash of other Google Friend Connect widgets. This less intrusive option keeps the side navigation or other parts of a webpage clear. It enables drop-down menus to host GFC widgets and allows visitors to login and see what other users are doing. (Hmmm, maybe some new Twitter+GFC widget could be a nice feature.)

Below is a basic introduction to adding social bar to your site:

New Social Playlist for GFC

2009-01-16T06:06:00.000-08:00

iLike developed a social playlist gadget for sites with Google Friend Connect enabled. Site owners can choose music for the playlist, or may allow logged-in users to customize the playlist.

You can add the gadget by signing in at www.google.com/friendconnect, click “Social Gadgets,” and you’ll find the iLike “Playlist gadget” option readily available in the list. You'll have admin access to edit the playlist and adjust settings accordingly to fit within the theme of your site. Once your settings are in place, Google Friend Connect will automatically generate code for you to copy and-paste into your website or blog.

How to Add Google Friend Connect to Blogspot

2009-01-12T19:41:00.000-08:00

It's easy to install Google Friend Connect onto your blog sidebar. It doesn't matter what skill level you are. If you are a blogger, you can do this! Follow these 9 easy steps to enrich the user experience and increase your blogs exposure:

On the Google Friend Connect Home Page, click 'Setup a New Site' and click continue.
In step 1, enter your Site Name & Blogspot URL (Ex. http://example.blogspot.com) and click continue.
In this case, you can skip instructions presented in step 2 and step 3 by simply clicking 'continue'.
In step 4 of the setup process, click: 'Get code for the Members gadget »'. Where you can adjust display settings thereafter.
Click 'Create the html code' and proceed to highlight than copy the generated code.
Open your Blogger account 'dashboard'
Click 'Layout'
Within the 'Page Layout' section, click 'Add a Gadget'.
Scroll down to select the 'HTML/Javascript' option which will enable you to add your Friend Connect code to your blog!

Happy Blogging!

Sign in to Google Friend Connect with an Open ID

2009-01-09T08:09:00.000-08:00

If you do not have a Google, Yahoo, or AIM Account, Google Friend Connect allows you to use any service which supports OpenID to sign-in and utilize social features on sites with Google Friend Connect enabled. The nice thing about logging in with a decentralized single OpenID on Google Friend Connect enabled sites and other OpenID supported sites, you don’t need to create a new account. OpenID is a good compliment to the traditional login and account system, whereas it eliminates password management for sites supporting OpenID logins. Nevertheless, your privacy is respected when using Open ID. According to GFC's privacy policy, "if you use an OpenID account to sign in to Google Friend Connect, Google will not receive the information you supplied your identity provider when you created your account."

You already have your own OpenID if you use one of the following services:

Flickr
www.flickr.com/photos/username

LiveDoor
profile.livedoor.com/username

LiveJournal
username.livejournal.com

SmugMug
username.smugmug.com

Technorati
technorati.com/people/technorati/username

Vox
member.vox.com

WordPress.com
username.wordpress.com

Alternatively, If you don’t have an OpenID yet, you can register with the following:

Upon joining a Friend Connected site with a Google Account, Yahoo, AIM or OpenID, you'll have an option to sign in and connect directly with friends from social networks via Orkut, Plaxo or Twitter. It's simple to setup. Once you sign in, go to the settings section, click the 'Add / Remove' link located towards the bottom and choose to connect your profile with your preferred site.

Tips to Improve Social Networking With Google Friend Connect

2009-01-05T06:42:00.001-08:00

Social networking truly has revolutionized the way people interact. Now, Google Friend Connect is on the precipice of improving - if not revolutionizing - the way social networking is conducted. Through the simple installation of a widget code, Google Friend Connect can be added to any online platform able to accept the code. That means Google Friend Connect can be added to any website. Blog, or social networking profile on the internet. This is an amazing function because it literally converts any online platform into a forum for expanded social networking. This is not minor benefit as social networking is more than an idle pursuit. Entire businesses have been built on the ability to effectively navigate social networking platforms. That is why social networking continues to expand in members and popularity and will continue to do so. Thanks to Google Friend Connect, this process is becoming even easier and more expansive.

Social networking is clearly expanding in ways that were probably not initially conceived of. Of course, this is a good thing as the perpetual expansion of social networking into other facets and spheres will allow for increased communications in a multitude of ways. This is no minor benefit. All professional and personal pursuits require relationships with others. Going it alone possesses significant limitations. This should not come as a surprise. People are more willing to work with or associate with people they know or trust than they would be with complete strangers. As such, the development of social networking sites is quite valuable in terms of promulgating interaction between people and organizations. While this process was never cumbersome, Google Friend Connect has made it even easier.

There are a number of ways you can improve and expand your social networking skills with Google Friend Connect. Some of these methods include:

You can encourage visitors to your site to look at the profiles of the other members of your network. You can also suggest that they add these profiles to their own networks. This will allow the size and scope of your social network to expand dramatically in a short period of time.

Actually, you can also suggest anyone that joins your network to tell their friends within their own individual networks to examine your site. Hopefully, these individuals will join your network as well. This is a near logarithmic approach to growing a social network. It could yield untold scores of members in a very short period of time.

Since the visitors to your site all share a common interest, it would be helpful to encourage them to spend time networking with each other. Those with similar interests usually make the best members of a social networking community. As such, encouraging as much networking as possible will yield further interest (and expansion) of your own network.

Tell the world about Google Friend Connect whenever possible. Even something as minor as mentioning your site and its affiliation with Google Friend Connect in blog comments or even signatures to message board posts. Over time, these simple methods could prove quite helpful in improving your social network.

Interact with the members of your network on a personal level. Far too often, individuals will amass huge social networks and never really "network" with their friends. Sending out bulk bulletins is preferable to not sending anything at all, but it would be best to try and individually contact as many members of the network as possible. Since Google Friend Connect is such a user friendly system it makes such communications as easy a possible. Also, staying in touch with the members will make them more likely to contribute to your social network and expand it.

Let all the members of your AIM and Yahoo instant messenger list know about Google Friend Connect. Since they can sign in with their messenger account, there will be no cumbersome steps they will need to take in order to join.

Of course, you can also recommend that all your casual visitors sign up with Google Friend Connect as well. Provide a spot on your website that tells them about the benefits of Google Friend Connect, how it has greatly expanded your social network, and, most importantly, tell them how easy it is to sign up. By promoting the services of Google Friend Connect to others, you will reap the rewards of the expanded social network created as a result.

Get Friend Connected on Twitter at http://www.Twitter.com/FriendConnected

© 2008 Friend Connect Directory - All Rights Reserved Worldwide

Why Google Friend Connect is a Must For Bloggers

2009-01-03T08:41:00.000-08:00

Usually when Google Friend Connect is mentioned, most people assume it is used exclusively with websites. This is not completely accurate as the Google Friend Connect widget can often prove very helpful to blogs. Namely, the widget can greatly expand a blog's readership potential.

Blogging is incredibly popular as evidenced by the multitude of blogs proliferating on the internet. Many blogs have large audiences and, in most cases, readers are allowed to comment on the entries in the blog. While this is a decent method of interaction between the Google Friend Connect blogger and the readers, it is also quite limited. Simply commenting on the blogs does not always stimulate excitement. Additionally, due to the design of the average blog, comments have a tendency to drop down the page and out of sight. If they are out of site then the comments probably will do little for increasing interest in the blog. That is why Google Friend Connect can provide a mega boost to a blog.

Google Friend Connect is a free system that can add social networking functions to a blog. Simply cutting and pasting a widget code onto the blog will have you in business in a short period of time. Once the widget is in place, readers can create profiles, create their own friends list, and communicate with one another. All of these tactics can work wonders for making a blog popular and lively. Now, some may think this is not necessary for a blog's success but it has a potentially huge benefit. If a blog becomes ground zero for a huge social network, the blogger can reap a number of rewards. Namely, the blogger might become very well known and popular while also greatly increasing potential revenue streams.

This inclusion of social network function into blogs is a huge leap forward from bloggings early days. Originally, blogs started out rather innocuously. The early "weblogs" centered almost exclusively on computer information and technology related subjects. In time, these subjects would expand to include a multitude of subjects. With the great variety of subjects, more and more readers became attracted to blogs. Eventually, the readership of blog rose into the hundreds of millions. This took the traditional media by surprise as many individuals were able to achieve fame through their blogging. To say this was a radical departure from the traditional, established mean of gaining notoriety for writing and news presentation would be a major understatement. In the past, the only way to reach a large media audience was through the major cable television channels, newspapers, or magazines with high circulations. Blogging changed all that and now Google Friend Connect may take blogging to the next level.

Why is Google Friend Connect so potentially helpful to bloggers? Keep in mind merely launching a blog does not mean it will automatically draw a huge audience. The audience has to be built and sometimes that can take a lot of time. This is why a proactive method for building an audience is so critical. Google Friend Connect can aid in developing that audience.

Once Google Friend Connect starts to connect like-minded readers into the blog's social network, the network will start to take a life of its own. That is, the members of the blog network may become members of other Google Friend Connect networks. This will lead to traffic deriving from these other avenues. Also, there is nothing stopping the publisher of the blog proactively becoming a member of other Google Friend Connect networks. This will lead to even further traffic and popularity. Best of all, this method is much cheaper than taking part in a number of traditional search engine optimization methods.

Another huge benefit to using Google Friend Connect is that the increased popularity and traffic will greatly enhance the ability to monetize a blog. Most blogs rely on pay per click advertising and affiliate marketing. With more and more people actively investing time with the new found Google Friend Connect social networking applications on the blog, the ability to convert these visitors into ad revenue generating visitors will increase dramatically.

The bottom line is that blogs need an audience and some form of publicity in order to be successful. A Google Friend network can deliver on both of these goals. Provided, of course, it is teamed with a very motivated blogger.

The Easy Way to Invite Friends with Google Friend Connect

2008-12-31T06:54:00.000-08:00

While Google Friend Connect is not a social networking site, it provides social networking applications that can be transferred to other online mediums. This means a few additional steps must be undertaken to build a friend’s list.

“Join this site’s new social network! Google Friend Connect makes it easy!”

Yes, you could add that little herald to your website or blog. You could even place it very prominently at the very top of the site. It might work wonders for those inquisitive about joining. However, there will be those that might dismiss it because they prefer not to take the extra steps needed to sign up. If they think this, then you have not utilized the easy way to invite friends into your Google Friend Connect network. That is, you have not informed them they are ALREADY members of the social network! When you don’t key your visitors into this critical piece of information then you are making it much harder to expand your friends list and, subsequently, your entire network.

One thing that needs to be understood, anyone you wish to invite to your Google Friend Connect network are already a friend. All the person has to do is sign in. This is because anyone with a Google, Yahoo, or OpenID account can sign into Google Friend Connect. There is no need to open any new accounts or create any new passwords. They simply have to sign in using the aforementioned accounts. When they realize this, they are more likely to join. This is because they do not have to join at all. Again, all they have to do is sign in. However, a common error made by those wishing to invite friends into Google Friend Connect is they do not convey this information to potential members. This can be a huge oversight that must be avoided.

It would also be beneficial to let people know about your site’s Google Friend Connect affiliation and its ease of use while performing traditional search engine optimization and traffic tactics. For example, many people will take advantage of free article directories to build traffic and search engine rankings. If the site you are promoting in these articles possesses a Google Friend Connect widget, simply mention that fact in the article. Of course, it is also important to mention the ease of joining the social network in the article as well. This way, any new visitors to the site will already know that they are “ready to go” as far as joining the social network.

Of course, it would not hurt to join other site networks that utilize Google Friend Connect. This way, through proactively becoming friends with other sites you will be expanding your friend’s list. Additionally, you could send communications to others members of the other sites and invite them to join your social network. Actually, the greater your presence expands on the web there will be increased instances of people sending friend requests in your direction. As the old saying goes, if you build it, they will come.

It also would not hurt to let anyone you come in contact with know Google Friend Connect exists. If there is a blog you frequently read or a website you usually visit, tell them what Google Friend Connect can do for them. Tell them how easy it is to add a widget and a little about the benefits you have gained from using Google Friend Connect. As these sites add widgets, they will surely become prime “targets” to become new friends on your site.

Really, the easiest and best way to add friends to your Google Friend Connect network is to be proactive about promoting the platform. Tell people about it, tell them how easy it is to join, and tell them how easy it is to add a widget to their site or blog. When you do this, you will discover your friend’s list growing exponentially. Google has made this possibility quite easy. Why not take advantage of what they are providing?

The Difference between Facebook Connect and Google Friend Connect

2008-12-30T12:42:00.000-08:00

Both Google and Facebook have released systems that can expand social networking functions to other platforms. However, Facebook’s system is much more limited and less user friendly than the one released by Google.

Social networking continues to greatly expand in popularity. Therefore, it is no surprise that new innovations, systems, and platforms continue to be developed. Two of the newer platforms include Google Friend Connect and Facebook Connect. While both of these systems are relatively new, their popularity should skyrocket in a short period of time. After all, both Facebook and Google are solidly established names in the online world. Both are known for delivering popular, quality products and services. So, it is safe to say if any two companies could revolutionize social networking it would be both Google and Facebook. Granted, while Facebook Connect and Google Friend Connect both share similarities, they also possess a few differences. Understanding these differences can allow someone on the proverbial bubble to decide which system would best for his/her individual needs.

Before looking at the differences, it would be best to briefly examine the main similarities between the two. Essentially, both Facebook Connect and Google Friend Connect allow fans of social networks to maintain and add social network applications to other websites. As a result, a social network can be maintained and expanded all throughout the internet. All that is required is adding the code from either of these two services to the website and you are in business. The positive effect of this on the free flow of information is fairly pronounced. Therefore, as more and more people become aware of them their popularity and membership should continue to grow.

Of course, there are also significant differences between the two. The most glaring difference between the two is the issue of expansiveness and compatibility. In particular, Facebook Connect is only compatible with a Facebook social networking account. If you do not have a Facebook account, then you cannot use Facebook Connect. With Google Friend Connect, however, there are no such limitations and restrictions. Specifically, virtually any social network can work with Google Friend Connect. Actually, you do not even have to connect with a social networking site to use Google Friend Connect. Networks can be formed with any type of website, blog, or online platform that can accommodate a Google Friend Connect widget. This brings us to another major difference.

To add code to a website or blog from Google Friend Connect is relatively simple. All you have to do is cut and paste a ready made code and place it in the appropriate spot on the site. With Facebook Connect the process is much more complicated. In particular, the process involves a number of specialized steps that programming professionals will find easy; but, others may be left dumbfounded.

Ultimately, main difference between the two centers on Google Friend Connect being much more user-friendly and expansive. While it is understandable that Facebook Connect exists to promote Facebook, those that would prefer a more inclusive format would gravitate towards Google Friend Connect. Additionally, even those that might have an interest in Facebook Connect may find themselves completely turned off by the complicated coding process associated with it. Granted, different people will have different likes and tastes but it would appear that Google Friend Connect will achieve far greater success than Facebook Connect. Again, simplicity and ease of use is often a most attractive attribute.

Build incoming links and increase exposure to your web site or blog by submitting to the Google Friend Connect Directory at http://www.FriendConnectDirectory.com

How Google Friend Connect Can Boost an Online Business

2008-12-30T05:58:00.000-08:00

Those that are currently running an online business are probably reaping many rewards. Online sales revenues are well into the billions of dollars per year. This makes an online business far more attractive to entrepreneurs than the costly start up fees commonly associated with traditional brick and mortar businesses. Additionally, there are a number of excellent online venues that can greatly aid in promoting an online business. One of these free promotional venues is the newly emerging Google Friend Connect system.

What is Google Friend Connect? It is a streamlined process provided by Google for both commercial and non-commercial websites to communicate and connect with one another is an easier manner. So, if you have an online business you could connect your business with others on the web that have websites. Also, if your online business has a profile on a social networking site, it can centralize and connect all the friends you have on all these social networking sites. One of the most obvious benefits that you can derive from this is the ability to greatly expand your presence online and communicate with enormous volumes of people in a streamlined and easy manner. This would have the obvious benefit of greatly expanding your ability to promote you online business in a simple and cost effective manner.

If you are operating an online business, there are two things you will need: traffic and a decent online presence. Google Friend Connect is a tremendous vehicle for delivering direct traffic. Additionally, it can aid in expanding an online business' presence all throughout the internet. How is this achieved? To understand how the process works it is necessary to look at both of these facets individually and how Google Friend Connect aids in achieving both goals.

The ability to communicate is critical for any online business. When communications can be facilitated easily and to large volumes of people in a short period of time, an online business can reap huge revenues. For example, if an online business were to offer a special deal or offer, it could send the information through its amassed social network. This would allow it to reach untold scores of people within seconds. This can lead to a significant drive in direct traffic from a variety of sources.

Additionally, one could become quite creative with the use of Google Friend Connect's ability to drive traffic and covert such traffic into sales. For example, an online business could send out an offer for a sale that is good exclusively for those members of the network. There could also be a time limit on the sale such as 24 hours. Such a special offer would clearly drive a great deal of traffic to the business' websites. Also, the special deal would work wonders for stimulating sales conversions.

Of course, the business' presence on the internet would increase as more and more websites, profiles, and friends are added into the network. The more people that see and hear about the business, the more people will see it as a serious online commercial entity. (Familiarity breeds comfort and credibility with consumers) As such, perpetually expanding the network will aid in increasing the business' online presence stratospherically. Best of all, because Google Friend Connect is open, not limited to a specific social network or online community, the expansion of this presence can go on for infinity. That alone can allow an online business to grow exponentially in a very short period of time.

Build incoming links and increase exposure to your web site or blog by submitting to the Google Friend Connect Directory at http://www.FriendConnectDirectory.com.

Do You Have to be a Web Expert to Use Google Friend Connect? (Answer: No)

2008-12-29T08:12:00.000-08:00

Some assume that Google Friend Connect must be difficult to use. Actually, it is an extremely user friendly system. Even those with limited or little web or computer experience can easily use the system successfully.

Wouldn’t it be great if there was a system where you could connect all your social networking sites, profiles, and friends into one centralized location? Wouldn’t it be even better if you expand this capability to include not only all these social networks but also traditional websites and blogs as well? Well, you no longer have to dream about such a service being invented because it already has. It is called Google Friend Connect and it is a system that shrinks the internet in a small and easily manageable social networking system.

While all this sounds great, it also sounds like it must be complicated. Surely, such a system must have many steps involved. It probably also requires a great deal of computer experience in order to properly operate. Honestly, you do not have to be a web expert to use Google Friend Connect. This is a system that was designed with the average person in mind. So, anyone can operate it effectively regardless of computer or web experience and with little instruction.

Google understands that most people need an innovative and helpful platform that is simple to use. When a networking platform is difficult to navigate or embodies a decidedly non-user friendly approach, it undermines its own prime purpose. After all, you cannot build a vast network if the platform makes the entire process overly difficult. Again, Google understands this and that is why it has devised a system that is easy to operate and navigate. In fact, it is such a simple system that even a complete novice can use Google Friend Connect to its maximum potential.

So, how exactly does Google Friend Connect work? Let’s take a look at its most basic aspects…

Really, all that is required to add your sites to Google Friend Connect is to include a widget on the website(s). Now, some might infer this requires a complex understanding of programming language in order to do. Actually, there is really nothing to it. Google Friend Connect provides a code for the widget. All you have to do is copy the code and paste it onto the appropriate place on the website or blog. Yes, that is all that is required and you are up and running as a member of the Google Friend Connect social networking system.

Signing into Google Friend Connect is an extremely easy process as well. In fact, there is no need to open a new account as it can be used with a number of pre-existing email and messenger systems. These systems include G-Mail, AIM, Yahoo, or OpenID. Google was clearly looking to make this particular networking system as user friendly and inclusive as possible and it shows!

One thing that needs to be kept in mind is the fact that Google Friend Connect is still in the “beta stage”. That means it is a new concept and will probably be altered as time progresses. That is to say, any bugs that exist in this social networking system will eventually be fixed. This will make Google Friend Connect even easier to use as time progresses. So, if you are having a little trouble with this social networking system there is no need to worry. Google will eventually get around to correcting the flaws and making Google Friend Connect an incredibly simple, user friendly, and easy to operate system as soon as possible.

Build incoming links and increase exposure to your web site or blog by submitting to the Google Friend Connect Directory at http://www.FriendConnectDirectory.com.

Official Google Blog: A friend connected web

2008-12-17T11:51:00.000-08:00

Official Google Blog: A friend connected web

Introducing: Friend Connect Directory

2008-12-15T09:45:00.000-08:00

The newest directory to the WWW for Google Friend Connect Users!

Check out FriendConnectDirectory.com