Blogger now allows bloggers to associate with their personal Google + for wider reach. Once you enable Google +, it shows " This blog is associated with your personal Google+ profile".
If you have not enabled Google +, simply click on the Google+ tab in your Blogger Dashboard and proceed. It will advise you that you will now be known by your Google+ user name rather than the classic Blogger profile. If you agree, you may proceed.
While it is true that there are advantages for enabling Google + for wider reach and connecting with new audiences, here is what I don't like that much -
the Google + Comment integration.
After I enabled Google +, there is an option to use Google comments on my blog. It replaces the classic blogger comment template with a nice Google+ comment form. But here is the thing - as per my tests, only Google+ users can comment. If you are not logged in as a Google+ user, you are asked to login or in other words, open a Google+ account if you don't already have one.
  • I enabled Google+ comments.
  • I logged out of Google account.
  • I then accessed one of my blog page
  • I can see the comment form, I click to add a comment.
  • This opens a pop-up window to sign-in to Google account.
So, comments can be made with only Google account users. Also, if a user who is not signed in to a Google Account and views your blog page, the Google + comments section shows "No Comments Yet". This is mis-leading.



What is good with the classic Blogger style comments is the options to post a comment...
  • I disabled Google+ comments
  • I then accessed one of my blog page
  • I can see the classic comment form, more options to comment -People can comment using Google account, AIM, Anonymous, WordPress etc.
  • Another advantage is when readers click on blogger profile, they see the blogs you manage (if you have enabled that view). It is not easy to find that in Google +

  • Pros of the classic Blogger comments:
    A reader can comment anonymously.
    More account options - Google Account, Name/URL, Wordpress etc.
    Comments can be managed.
    Notified of new comments in Gmail.
    The blog admin has more control on the comments
    Pros of Google + comments:
    When a Google+ leaves a comment on your blog, that is also shared on his Google+ profile page. So that is a good publicity on your behalf. So may be it will increase hits.
    Cons of Google+ comments on Blogger:
    Enabling Google + comments on Blogger also disables the "comments" manager page from the Blogger dashboard.
    The blogger admin is not notified of new comments, based on my experience at least. So it is hard to track new comments.
    The blogger admin cannot manage the Google+ comments - there is no option to delete comments on a blog by the admin. Though Google+ handles spam well, this is a big drawback.

    Looking at comment history on my blog, there are quite a number of anonymous comments and also with "name/URL".

    Any-hoo, I want to experiment if there is any improvement in interactions with Google + enabled. So, Google+ for some time. :)

    Is it good or is it bad for you?

    Update:
    Going back to Blogger version for more control on the comments.