I'll admit, as much as I love all this, the technical part of it has come slower for me. I am too busy to figure out how to do this and that (all things I want to do) to enhance my site and my ability around blogland. I have improved along the way by asking a few questions here and there, but mostly by trial and error.
Because I bestow Friday Fuzzies each week, I have mentioned several times my HUGE list on my computer where I keep track of who I need to visit. Once given a FF, I try to slide them over to my sidebar in the following weeks. That way, I can simply go to my site and then visit all of them. Thus allowing me to decrease the size of my other list.
See where I am going here?
Are y'all out there rolling your eyes along with "tsk tsk tsk"?
FINALLY, some sweet soul (who I have momentarily forgotten who, but will acknowledge as soon as I remember!) had mercy on me and let me in on the BIG SECRET!
WELL.GOOD.MORNING.GOOGLE.READER!WHERE.HAVE.YOU.BEEN.ALL.MY.LIFE!
SERIOUSLY! No more guessing. No more clicking unnecessarily. No more wasted time.
All my peeps are there with one click and I can know INSTANTLY who has a new post (or two!). I only click on those with a new post and then mark them "read" once I am done. Their site is not highlighted again until they post again. This is brilliance in action!
I have had a few that Google Reader won't add. Again that is technical stuff and I will have to worry about it later.
And although I need to tweek a few more things so I can streamline my time even more when it comes to reading, commenting, and posting, I am so thrilled with my new found discovery.
One word of caution though. It can be very easy to just read the new posts quickly and move on (especially if I can read the whole post without going to a person's site to finish the story) and I have found myself doing that more than I like. I am a firm believer in commenting as much as I can when I visit people. I know how it makes me feel to know, really know, people are reading what I write and I want to make others feel that way. (hint, hint all you lurkers or those who I visit a lot!) So lately, I have made a conscious effort to take the time to comment even if it takes a few extra steps to their "house".
Google Reader works for me!
How to:
1. Go to Google
2. Click on "more" in the tool bar at the top of the page
3. Click on "reader" near the bottom of the list
4. Sign in with your Google account. So worth getting an account just for this!
5. Then simply start adding sites to the "subscription". I usually keep two screens up so I can grab an url and then add them to my list quickly.
For more great tips, go to Rocks In My Dryer!
18 comments:
I really like google reader for this reason. But I do have to remember to comment too.
Great post. Readers and feeds are so much easier and faster. Glad you mentioned about comments too.
Stacey,
I use Bloglines and it has made it so much easier to keep up with all my favorites. But I have to really remind myself to comment too because it's so easy just to breeze through them. I've even debated going back to the "old-fashioned" way of doing it just so I keep up with commenting. But then common sense prevails and I realize I've just got to force myself to go that extra step to leave my thoughts and appreciation.
I'm currently using the Feeds feature on IE 7, but have heard about Google Reader. I may give this a shot. Thanks!
Google Reader is my reader of choice as well. It is particularly nice for the blogs that do not update as frequently! Then I don't forget about them in between postings!
Thank you for sharing that! This would work so well for me. Much better than just bookmarking everyone!
And I know what you mean about comments, they keep us bloggers all inspired to keep sharing!
I LOVE GOOGLE READER. Seriously. Oh, I figured out how to add some of those blogs who won't add!
Go to my organising blog and in the search button on the top type "google reader". I posted in Feb/ March on it - having problems with the computer so can't open new browser to get the post for you :)
Organising queen
Great tip! I've never heard of Google Reader before :o) I'll have to try it!
I have just stumbled upon this myself and I must say, it is quite addicting!
THANK YOU! This is just the post I was hoping for!!
Great tip! It will remind me where I need to go . . .
Great tip! I'll have to start working on that this week.
Thanks for sharing!
Google reader is fab! I agree about the commenting though, it makes it easy to just pass through without interacting. I have mine set to only show the first part of my new post, that way people know if there's a new one but still visit and comment.
I love this feature! I use it on long car trips!
Ohh, I am heading over there now. Thanks for the tip.
Sounds great!
Worth a try.
Have a great week!
I am ALL ABOUT Google Reader, too, but like you I have to remind myself to stop by and comment from time to time. But it really does help me stay connected even when I don't have time to comment!
i agree - i *heart* google reader. i just have to keep myself from adding too many...and yes, going back to comment... it's also cool cuz i can read on my blackberry! thanks for visiting me...come back soon.
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