The Google Plus comments integration with Blogger is turning quite some heads now, and a lot of bloggers have gone ahead and implemented it...
The Google Plus comments integration with Blogger is turning quite some heads now, and a lot of bloggers have gone ahead and implemented it. This seems to be one of the biggest improvements in Blogger over the recent past. And at first glance, it looks pretty slick, with a clean and solid implementation. It makes things really easy, especially for bloggers who can track the conversation more easily. At the same time, readers can contribute right from Google Plus, without needing to open the blog. However, upon closer inspection, it seems that the new implementation isn't without its flaws.
It has been some days since this feature came out - plenty of time for us to play with it. And there do seem to be some disadvantages of using this new commenting system. These might manifest themselves later on, if not immediately.
Disadvantages of using Google+ comments on blogger
Firstly, to use this feature, users need to use their Google account ID, which can be a bit of a problem for readers who are using alternatives.
But the real problem lies in the fact that this commenting system is dependent upon the URL of your blog. If you change the URL, for example when you are migrating to another domain or re-branding, you will not be able to migrate these comments, and they will be deleted! Unlike Facebook Comment API, Google comments aren't stored on any app accounts. This means that migration is not an option, and that, you'll lost all your comments should any such thing happen.
Another big disadvantage is the increase in Page Load Speed. It takes some time before all the data is fetched from Google. Usually, this isn't noticeable, but try loading your blog on a slow dial-up connection, and you will see those comments appear much later.
Some people have also reported that the comment statistics are no longer accurate (or sometimes visible).
All in all, it's a pretty good package, but Google really needs to spend some more time with it. If you have problems, or have suggestions, please feel free to comment in the section below. Cheers :)
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