I recently realized that I have about six ways to follow blogs I am interested in: I can add them to my Google blog feed; follow them on Facebook, Twitter or through Networked Blogs; subscribe through email; or subscribe through an RSS feed. Or any combination thereof.
Amazingly enough, I use every method listed above to try and keep up with everyone, some with much greater success than others. In the beginning, I was certain that using the Google feed would be the easiest way to stay on top of everything, but I was dead wrong. I need to be signed in to access my blog feed, which is awesomely easy when I wish to write something or reply to comments I get, but since I don't have the brainpower to post something every day, I'm not signing in and thus, not seeing new posts on my Blogger feed.
It turns out that my two favorite methods of following blogs are the two I thought I would dislike the most: Facebook and email. Being an unrepentant Facebook junkie means I always see new posts from fellow bloggers, since I'm one of those people who check FB more than once a day. Plus, I've noticed that a few other bloggers utilize Facebook in the manner I do, sharing articles of interest and brief insights that may not be worthy of a post of their own, but are still worth passing on to like-minded people.
Email subscriptions have turned out to be quite handy as well, as they let me go back and read posts when I have time to do so, without having to dig through a slew of other items to relocate them. I can easily sort my email by author or date and dig in when there's time to read and respond if I so desire.
All of which leaves me curious as to what your favorite methods are for following the blogs you choose to follow. Have you found one method better than another? Is there another way that you organize your favorite blogs for maximum reading pleasure that I left out? Some incredible method that I haven't named, but should know about? Inquiring minds want to know...
9 comments:
Facebook works best for me, except for my niece's blog as it's private. But, when I see a post of hers on FB, it reminds me to go check her blog for updates!
I use the Blogger reading list, but that's because I always have than open (hawking at views and followers). The problem is that I can't organise blogs in any way (I have different niches represented there).
Facebook is ok with its Networked Blogs, but very few people use it as syndication. Facebook pages are good too.
We actually use Google Reader the most. We have a Google email account so we check our email and then stay signed in for Google Reader! We recently started using Google Chrome's Feedsquares, which is basically Google Reader but in a visual map style.
Interesting responses thus far. Three people use three different methods :)
I'll be curious to see what other people have to say as they wander by.
You have just about named all the ways to follow a blog. I do all of them. Mostly I go to the Cat blogoshere and do most of those, some I get by email, and some are on my reader list on Blogger and I always go to the blogs that leave me a comment. I also have a list of blogs on my blog that I like to visit and so I go to most of those. Thanks for visiting our blog.
I'm making a transition from Google Reader to Google Chrome + Feedly. Not a big facebook or twitter user.
I use Google Reader, but like Elizabeth, have slowly transitioned to Feedly.
FB is great...I'm another one of those users who check regularly. I use FB to post items that I wouldn't necessarily blog about.
I like to use and view Twitter, but am not on it regularly enough to catch new posts.
My Google Reader can get overwhelming though! Yesterday was crazy for us and when I finally sat down last night, there were almost 100 unread posts. Yikes!
I couldn't follow blogs at all if not for Google Reader. I have a bit of an email problem and get overwhelmed when my email box gets too full so subscriptions don't work for me.
I also check in on some blogs when they comment on my posts or I see them on blog hops.
I started a post on this topic over at the dog blog tech support discussion board. http://www.dogblogtech.proboards.com/ I think most people were too busy keeping up with their blogs to reply. :)
This is first I've heard of Feedly. I'm going to have to check it out. Thanks!
-Chandra at Daley's Dog Years
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