Adding Followers Gadget in Blogger (post-GFC-retirement)

So, Google decided to retire most of Google Friend Connect's feature last year, though they have mentioned that they will continue to run the service for the 'foreseeable future'. The GFC Follower's gadget, that used to be available in the 'Add a Gadget' list of gadgets, has now been replaced with Google+ Followers gadget. For those of you who are still using GFC's Followers gadget, you can keep using it, until Google decides to pull the plug. But for new users, or for those of you who had your gadget accidentally removed, here's how you can add it back.

The Easy Way

Go to Dashboard - Layout - Add a Gadget (where you want the gadget to appear) - On your left, click on 'More Gadgets', and you should be able to find the Followers gadget there.

If you get an error that says "This gadget is experimental and is not yet available on all blogs. Check back soon", or if some other reason you can't readily add the gadget from the list of gadgets, try the method in the steps below.

The Alternative Way

Step 1:

Go to Dashboard - Layout - Add a Gadget (where you want the gadget to appear) - Look for HTML/Javascript gadget - Click on the plus (+) icon to add the gadget.

Step 2:

In the next window, just copy the URL (the address, as highlighted in the screenshot below) of the page. Once you've copied the address, you can close this window.

My URL looks like this:

http://www.blogger.com/rearrange?blogID=1782490369597539464&sectionId=sidebar-right-1&action=editWidget&widgetType=HTML&referrer=directory

Step 3:

Paste this URL in a text editor (such as Notepad, MS Word, or wherever you feel comfortable editing it). Next, find for the part that says 'widgetType=HTML' in your address, and change it to 'widgetType=Followers'.

My URL looks like this now, after making the change:

http://www.blogger.com/rearrange?blogID=1782490369597539464&sectionId=sidebar-right-1&action=editWidget&widgetType=Followers&referrer=directory

Step 4:

Copy this modified URL, and paste into your browser (preferably the browser that you were using early on, the on that is logged into your Blogger account). Hit 'Enter' on your keyboard, and voila, your Followers gadget is back.

If you get errors while adding the gadget..

Blog reader Adnan Güney suggested the following to beat the error - by changing your blog's title. I haven't actually tried it, but do give it a whirl and let me know how it goes. Go to Settings - Basic - Title - Edit - Add some extra characters towards the end of your title or change your title, then save it.