Google Reader in Plain English

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I read approximately 200-plus blogs a day. It takes less than 20 minutes. How? Simple. I use Google Reader. Using this simple tool, I subscribe to blogs I find interesting. When one of these blogs has a new post, the content instantly appears in Google Reader through the magic of RSS (“real simple syndication”).

You don’t have to understand RSS or the underlying technology to take advantage of it. Simply set up a free Google Reader account and start adding your favorite blogs. Here’s a short video to get you started.

If you can’t see this video in your RSS reader or email, then click here.

Please note: I don’t read every new post that appears in Google Reader, but I scan through them all and read the ones that catch my eye. This is how I keep up with 200-plus blogs a day.

A 4-Star Rating

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Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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  • Walt

    I do the same thing (although with fewer blogs) using my Thunderbird email program. Where's the advantage in using Google Reader? Besides, I'd rather not give Google any more of my business than necessary (I even use Bing far, far more than Google these days).

  • http://twitter.com/joannesher @joannesher

    I LOVE my google reader. Do the same thing–I even have my blogs divided into categories (must-reads, second priority, and when I have time) to help me remember which I want to be sure not to miss.

  • http://www.andyrowell.net/ Andy Rowell

    I do the same thing. This is why people need to have informative, brief, catchy blogpost titles.

  • Mark

    @walt, the advantage of an on-line service like google reader is that you can get your feeds from any PC once you log in – the subscription info is "on the cloud" – whereas with a thick client like thunderbird, if you change PCs you have to import your settings or set them up again. I'm sure there are alternatives to google such as yahoo…

  • http://amothersangst.blogspot.com Fran

    Thank you for reminding me! When I switched to “Chrome” I neglected to set Google Reader back up. I just played catch-up on some blogs I’d been neglecting.

  • http://twitter.com/LMilesW @LMilesW

    I too use Google Reader but via the Feedly plugin for Firefox. It's like reading a newspaper only better and make the multiple blogs seem a lot less daunting than just Google Reader alone.

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/totai totai

    Have you tried using Feedly? It's a skin for Google Reader and is the best tool I have found for RSS, with built in Twitter linkage, recommendations, connectivity to Gmail for ease of sending articles to people and more. It is a Firefox add-on, but I have found a workaround to making it work in Safari. Highly recommended, it changes the RSS experience for sure!

  • Monica

    I do the same thing using netvibes. It's so malleable and easy to use, and Firefox even has a button for adding feeds. It makes it easy to keep up with many blogs. Really happy with that.

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    Find your Potential customers in google plus generate your aff program income
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