Bloglovin and you.

[Former_Member]

Bloglovin is super popular with blog followers because its a quick and easy way to keep up with all of your favorite blogs in one place. It does lean more towards the fashion and beauty audience but you can follow any blog you like via bloglovin. I think it's like an rss reader, no?

That said, a lot of bloggers don't seem very happy with it. They say it steals their 'link power'. Even so, a lot of blogs have a 'Follow me on bloglovin' button proudly displayed on their blogs.

I'm new at all this so I'm not sure what to make of it. Do you guys have any opinions about bloglovin? Do you like it or hate it? Do you have a button on your blog?

[Former_Member]

I dont have experience with it but most popular blogs Ive seen it used.

[Former_Member]

Hi Nessa,
I've been on Bloglovin for a couple of months but haven't had much time to really check it out. Because I had seen it on so many other blogs, I signed up for it. However, after reading your thread above, I did a quick google search on Bloglovin review. I will check out a few more reviews and reread this one which really has me concerned: http://geneabloggers.com/review-bloglovin/

I had planned on doing a return follow with you but will hold off. I'm going to do more research and will get back with you. If there is another site that allows blog following and gives "real" traffic to the blogger, I'll let you know.

I try to be very careful about who/what I promote. Anything that puts my brand in the background I figure is not building my brand.

Thanks for your question, I had no idea Bloglovin could be a problem.

[Former_Member]

Well, I just tested Bloglovin. Go to your settings and select "I don't want the frame." When someone clicks on you post, it takes them to your site without the Bloglovin' frame showing.

I forgot to check my site to see if it had registered when I had clicked on a post with the frame. These clicks do not APPEAR to have registered. After I changed the setting to show without the frame, I think it did register as a view on my blog site. I'll try to do a more control test tomorrow morning.

I can't say that I fully understand how readers work but will have it on my "need to learn more" list.

[Former_Member]

I was wondering if it makes sense to offer more than one reader? This may be a really dumb question.

[Former_Member]

Thank you so much for the link Annsliee! It was an interesting read and it outlines exactly what I've been hearing from other bloggers. I changed the settings as well so there is no more frame. Thank you for looking into it.

I don't think your question is dumb! I'm interested in hearing the answer.

[Former_Member]

Hi again,
I had posed a question on Website Babble. The moderator/owner said she didn't know much about Bloglovin but asked me to check if there was a "nofollow" in the source code. I checked the preview of my latest blog and didn't find it. Then I clicked on my post which took me directly to my site and again didn't nofollow in the source code. Hopefully, I was looking in the right place.

Anyway, it looks like having a nofollow code is the determining factor on whether or not a reader is "stealing link power"? I've read about nofollow but there seems to be such a debate on whether or not it is good or bad, when to use or not to use. I'll just keep trying to wrap my brain around that one.

Whew . . . . so much to learn:)

[Former_Member]

Nessa, I got this great explanation on Website Babble --and this should be my last note on Bloglovin "stealing juice"

"The way it works as far as I can tell is this, and it would result in a loss of "juice" to this extent. Anyone who links to your site in its own location gives you a link which has value based largely on who they are. If someone links to your site through Bloglovin' the link goes to them. Look at your navigation bar when you look at your post there and you can see that.

You can look at it two ways. In the first, your links are being divided so they are both weakened by the fact that they do not all link to you at your site. But the other view is that you are getting readers by virtue of Bloglovin' that you would not have otherwise so you are not hurting your own site at all and may help it if people find you and then go directly to your site, linking to it at some point. And you are getting some benefit in the way of readers and juice to that second location that you would not have otherwise."

From James, Super Moderator

[Former_Member]

Phew! Thanks for sharing this info. I just havent had time to research or test this! I see it on quiet a few blogs.

Looks like something I would avoid using personally! ha ha My follow RSS feed is down at the moment, thats all I use for 'following'. Im personally not a follow person, I just save the blog in my tool bar.

I like to use old school organic linking.

[Former_Member]

Wow! Thanks for looking into this Annsliee. I definitely feel more informed. I think I'll keep using it for now.

[Former_Member]

Speaking of Bloglovin. If you use Wordpress and your pictures are not showing in the feed... try this free plugin.

Featured Images in RSS w/ Size and Position