I’ve noticed on some blogs recently that they were posting reminders about the rules of their contests. They mentioned that some people were marking themselves as followers when they weren’t. Each one was kind enough to say that the person probably just forgot or thought they had already done it. I was so glad that wasn’t me.
The next time I signed up for a contest it was at a blog that I had been visiting for a year and it was also on my blogroll and on the list of blogs I follow. I knew I had been following for a long time already but I decided to click on the Follow box just to check. Boy was I surprised when it prompted me to hit the button to sign up. I was positive I already had! I hit the button and was added to the list of followers. Now I do it all the time when I visit a blog or join in a giveaway just to make sure. If I ever did that for a contest on your blog I’m very sorry. I’m always honest about my entries and I would never have done that intentionally.
Have any of you encountered the same problem? J. Kaye at J. Kaye’s Book Blog recently put up a great post about this very topic and included detailed instructions and photos to help remedy the situation. I found it to be very helpful so check it out if you get the chance. Thanks J. Kaye! I’m sure others have discussed the same topic too so feel free to link to them in your comments. The more information I can get on something the better!
I’d also like to thank all of my followers. Each and every one is exciting and surprising to me. While it is a benefit to be a follower for my contests I know that at least some of you have signed up of your own free will. It’s very much appreciated and I’m grateful you’re joining me on this crazy ride!
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I was just going to post about this exact topic!! Did you read my mind? =)
ReplyDeleteI don't follow anyone because I thought subscribing in Google Reader was enough. Now I'm wondering if that's right.
ReplyDeleteI remember being very confused when J. Kaye's post went up because it seemed like you could easily think you were following but not really be somehow. I'm really hoping that I'm following everyone correctly... I think I am... but now I do wonder.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I follow in Google Reader and I'm sure they don't have anyway of making sure that I follow there. I don't really follow many in actual blogger follow. It's a good thing to think of though if entering contests; however, I never read those blogs in blogger and it seems somewhat of a waste...good thing to think about though, thanks!
ReplyDeleteGood points. I don't enter many giveaways but I'd be embarrassed to tell someone I was following if I really wasn't. I'll double check myself too now. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteI think being a follower and subscribing in a feed reader are basically the same thing -- I wouldn't do both. I use Google Reader, which automatically picks up all the Blogger blogs I follow.
ReplyDeleteOne thing I wonder about is how can you check who follows in google reader if they don't follow through the friend connect way. J.K.'s post was an eye opener for me too and very informative.
ReplyDeleteAs you can see from your responses many people don't follow. :( And that stinks because it means something to see our "follower" increase.
ReplyDeleteI too use Google Reader. But I follow each and every blog via the "follow" button. Sometimes I do forget, especially if I'm just stumbling across it, I'll put it in Reader and then forget to "follow".
I too make an effort to confirm that I am indeed following. :)
People who enter my contests must follow via the "follow" button either on Blogger or Google Friend Connect.
Great topic. :)
Go figure. I've been following your blog for ages in Google Reader but I just clicked on the login button for your Google Connect and I wasn't a follower.
ReplyDeleteI notice this happens a lot when I enter giveaways and I never know what to do when they ask if I'm an old or new follower. Most I've followed for awhile in my reader but since I normally don't look for sidebars I don't end up following in Google Connect. So I think that's more of my fault.
I swear every day there is a new thing to have to check for. Am I following in my reader, Twitter, google connect, etc. I have a hard time keeping up. I even found people whose posts I've been commenting on aren't in my reader. I've just been relying on Twitter to know when they have a new post up. That was a surprise.
The same thing has happened to me! I checked to see if I was following a certain blog that I know I do follow but I was prompted to sign up. I think that when Google Friend Connect was updated it may not have included the old followers!
ReplyDeleteWell, really to be honest, that's why I don't require anyone to "follow" me or jump through any hoops to enter a book contest. Frankly, I don't have the energy in making sure the "rules" are followed. Not that there's anything wrong with doing that, I tried it once, but then felt like I was bribing people just to get followers, which brought out all kinds of guilt in me, LOL.
ReplyDeleteSo don't worry about following/tweeting/facebooking/whatever-ing to enter any of my contests....just enter. And if you stop by every once in a while just to say hello, well that's icing on the cake for me! :)
I follow everyone in Google Reader because that's what works for me. I don't see the point in making sure I'm an official follower. And I don't even consider entering a giveaway if they require it. I read a blog because it fun and I like the blogger and I want people to read me for the same reason. If a blog wants to make it work to enter I'm not interested. But that's just me.
ReplyDelete