Many months ago, I started printing off monthly calendar sheets. I use these to schedule my blog posts. It also helps to have theme days, like Midnight Monday, Wordless Wednesday, Saturday Song and Sunday in Proverbs. Some of you participate in themes and memes.
I use my Web browser (Mozilla Firefox) to bookmark my favorite blogs in folders. I open an entire folder (5 to 10 entries) in separate tabs. When I’ve read through the blogs in a folder I open the next and continue until I’ve made my “rounds.”
Lately some of my friends have stopped posting as regularly as they used to do. I would visit those blogs each day only to find nothing new. Yesterday, I spent the morning with Google Reader. I used the reader to subscribe to the blogs I like that are not updated daily. I then removed those from my Firefox folders. Reader will tell me when they are updated, and I can go and read the new material. Any ideas on how I can more effectively use Google Reader?
For over a year I was very active in EntreCard. Later, I tried Adgitize. Both of these brought readers, but they also required me to visit a lot of sites each day. That took a lot of time. Several months ago I dropped EC and later removed Adgitize. They are both good, but they are not for me. Readers are down, but I don’t mind.
I write for family and a few friends. They are the ones I have in mind as I compose each post. If you drop by from time to time and leave a comment, you are one of those friends.
Rebecca, A renovation project certainly takes a lot of one's time and energy. Ultimately, It's worth it. I just spent an hour doing NewsFox research. I'll probably want to check that further at some point. Thanks for the tip.
Marilyn, My older son has used Google reader for some time. I had folders set up in FireFox favorites and would visit each blog–about 50 of them–that way. Good pointer on folders. Thanks.
Vanilla, Thanks my friend. I'm watching your blog for new posts.
I won't testify to my "organization," but I will be here when you post. That is, if my computer is on. :>)
I wouldn't be able to keep track of my blogs without Google Reader. I'm surprised you recently started using it. It's a life saver if you have a lot of sites to keep track of.
I would recommend that you create folder within Google Reader if you have a lot. For example, I write for multiple sites and need to keep track of lots of different sites to stay current. I have folders for News, Technology, Pop Culture, and Blogs. I further break down my blog folders blog type – eg. Parenting, Food, Craft, etc.
Oh dear, guilty as charged. I haven't updated my blogs as much as I should. My house renovation has me in a tizzy these days. Sorry. 🙁
I use NewsFox reader for checking for new posts. I visit the blogs directly to comment.
Meghan, I check each day to see what you are doing. I'll have to check iGoogle. I'm not familiar with that–yet.
Lin, That's why I made changes. The slow summer traffic is a theme. Many times, I just want to forget about the computer and go outdoors and play. Or work. Or something.
Jo, That sure beats the burn and peel routine. It takes about 4 hours to mow the grass. I've got a lot of it. The back of my hands look almost black when I come in the house. Okay, some of it is dirt and washes off . . .
Dawn, I'm finding the reader to be very handy. I saved at least a half hour with it.
Pricilla, Organized, is that another word for OCD? It no doubt is exactly that. Using the reader seems a wise thing to do.
You are very organized. I just go down my google reader and hope I have time.
Time?
I use google reader and sometimes my blog list. Between them I usually catch up with everyone. But it's true… with the warmer weather readership usually drops off and picks up again in the fall.
I use my dashboard but it really is not an efficient way to do it!
Like Lin, I am spending more time outside the house! I am working on my tan and yes I use an SPF 50 or higher but I am still getting pretty dark!
I need to find a better way to organize my visits. Currently I use my Blogger dashboard for some, google reader for others, and two different bookmark icons for all the blogs I read. And lately, there isn't enough hours in the day to get through one of those folders! Ugh.
I think everyone is taking some time off this summer as my comments are way down. It's okay, I'm guilty of doing the same thing and I'd rather we all live lives outside the house if we can.
My blog is woefully behind. I do visit yours most days but have to make more of an effort to say, "Hey, Neighbor!".
I use iGoogle set as my homepage and have it loaded with my favorite sites. I can see at a glance which have new content.