Have your Blogger identity and Google+ too!

You can have it both ways.

Do you have privacy concerns about linking your blog to a Google+ account?

You can promote your blog on Google+ using a separate account not linked to your blog.

But associating your blog with a G+ account unlocks more options. And you can still keep the account hidden on your blog and stay as anonymous to your readers as you like.

Upgrading your blogging account to Google+ changes nothing until and unless you also "connect to Google+" by switching from your blogger profile to your Google+ profile.

So one strategy for continuing to blog anonymously, or with an institutional name, is to refrain from taking that step.

However, switching to your Google+ profile activates new options in your dashboard. It also reveals your real name, on your G+ profile, your posts, and your comments.

Photo: Jessica

Wait, didn't I promise you could keep your blogger identity?

You can.

The trick is to add your Google+ account to your blog as a sort of silent partner with administrative privileges. Hidden from your readers, but still present behind the scenes.

Here's what you can do if you use a hidden account to "connect to Google+."

• You'll be able to share any post to your circles from the Posts section and even share new posts automatically. The result is the same as if you had pasted a link to the post in a share from your Google+ profile.
• You'll be able to create a Google+ page for your blog. You can share to, and even blog from, that page (rather than your regular account) if that makes sense for you.
• Finally, you'll also be able to enable Google+ comments for your blog. In some ways this is the biggest trade-off of all, with the biggest potential reward.