Wednesday, November 12, 2008

What method do you use to read blogs?

I've been sort of stumbling around lately, trying to figure out a method to read my blogs. I've tried several ways, but none seem just right for me. So I wanted to ask you all --

What method do YOU use to read blogs?

I'm especially interested in hearing from those who were with AOL Journals, and are now at Blogger. Have you found a satisfactory method (or combination of methods) to read blogs yet?

The main reason this topic is important to me is because I want to find the blogs I like to read, and in a timely fashion, as they are updated.

But it's also important because, when I update, I'd like others to know about it, and read me. I am sure each of you feels the same way.

So, let's talk about this. I'm hoping it will help all of us.

I realize what works for you may not work for me, and vice versa. I think we should share our ideas and methods on the subject, though. It will help each of us find something that works. Both to read blogs, and have ours read.

Could you please leave a comment and let us know how you read / keep up with the blogs that are important to you?

Next Wednesday, I'm going to do another entry, after reading you all's comments.

After you've commented, if you have time, please check out my sidebar, and vote in the poll concerning this matter. Thanks!


Krissy :)

37 comments:

  1. I have marked my self as a follower of the blogs I read. The people I follow show up on my dashboad when they post. That way when I check the dashboard the newest of any of their entries shows up. Just like yours just did. I know there are some out there I'm still missing, but whether or not they have come over from AOL we'll probably never know. Now and then I see someone I'm missing on someone's blog list. I also have marked my settings so that when a comment is made I'm notified by e-mail. Seems to be the best for me right now. 'On Ya'-ma

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  2. I am the same as MA, the Blogs I follow show up on my dashboard, so I dont miss a post.

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  3. I use Google Reader and have for a long time. It's works great!

    Deb

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  4. I use the follower thing on Blogger as well. It is easy to use and it is right on my dashboard. Those that don't update on the feed usually send me an email. Like Lisa and Connie. I also have a list of blogs that I read on my journal/blog that shows updates if I am messing with mine...

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  5. I do pretty much the same. I become a follower, but the problem I have had is finding the old blogs I used to follow. I feel like all the eggs have been knocked out of my basket and now I'm hunting to try to find them all again.
    Lori
    http://lori-pictureperfectinhouston.blogspot.com/

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  6. I love the blog roll!! Sometimes I click in order sometimes no particular order at all or sometimes I'm looking for someone in particular... I love the dashboard too... I love that everything is all together right on your blog... except I finally decided to get email alerts for the comments... I'm really liking blogger... only snag I am finding is that some have changed their blog names or use their names instead of screen names and so even though I know everyone I read, I am not recognizing everyone, lol... on aol journals I had gotten used to everyone's journal look or name... so sometimes I click on a blog and scroll around or click on their profile, thinking, who is this again, lol.... however I notice on all the blogs I read it's all us Aol people, so I feel we are all still together as a family... wonder when we will start seeing other blog people popping in... :)
    Have a great week!!

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  7. Well, I personally hate every way on blogger. I don't like the dashboard. I've signed up for those alerts that are suppose to come from people's blogs, but they don't wonder if they know that. I preferred the old school way of email. That is the first thing I check when I sign on since that is the main way I communicate with my children and family. So IF I have an email alert you get read first. Then I go to my blog roll that you can add to the bottom of your journal, but you first have to sign on to be a follower of that blog before it will post updates on your roll. I'm no help on this matter I know.
    Take care, Chrissie

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  8. I use a combination of things, Krissy. In fact I was going to journal about this later this week when I explain why I didn't announce my new journal to a lot of people, but I'll give you a sneak preview. I follow a lot on Dashboard but have a lot in my favorites; I try to to hit all the journals I'm following at least every day or every other day.

    looking forward to your next post :)

    betty

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  9. I use Bloglines... but I think that is because I have used it forever. I didn't trust AOL alerts (for obvious reasons), and so have been following both AOL and non-AOL journals and news feeds and even cartoons on Bloglines. I think if I hadn't already been using BLoglines I would have gone with the Google Reader since when you click on Follow it is automatically added to Google Reader. Still, all I have to do is click the little orange doohickey in the address bar to add a blog to Bloglines.

    I do still always click on the Follow button... this way people know I read them.

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  10. use the dashboard Krissy

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  11. Great question and some of the replies I have NO clue that it means but I am going to learn.

    Blessings,

    Alberta Lori

    www.lorisletterbox.blogspot.com

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  12. Definitely "follow" all the blogs you are interested in - it gives you a blog list and also the alerts on the dashboard. The dashboard is great, just like AOL alerts, just all listed in one place. They pop up as soon as someone posts. I love the dashboard, but life has been too busy lately to keep up. I'm now in "read and return comment courtsey mode" for the most part, at least until things slow down a bit for me - but I can still skim over all alerts for the day within a minute or two to see if something that pops up looks important, like this this entry :-)

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  13. Hi Krissy..I use the dashboard and once in a while I will be nosey and check out some of the blogs listed on other peoples journals...and I signed up to get mail alerts for the comments.

    Melanie

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  14. I use the Blogger Dashboard all the time, Krissy. I just zip right through it but you have to make sure that you have added yourself as a follower to all your favorite blogs or they won't show up. So, first I click on the pictures of those following me and then add myself as a follower of their blog. Then bit by bit I've found others who don't follow mine and add myself as a follower of their blog.

    You have to be a follower to have the entry show up in your dashboard. I dont' care for google reader because I can't figure out how to comment from it. So, the dashboard is it for me. Love ya!

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  15. I am still trying to figure out what works best. I use dashboard, google reader and if they have a way to receive emails I sign up for that. The emails are the easiest. One thing I don't like about google reader is that too often I will just read the blog but then not leave a comment since everything is on there but then feel bad! :P) I figure I will get it in time!

    Janis

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  16. I'm with the multiple system approach. I "follow" a great number of journals and have them in my blogroll. Dashboard isn't quite so friendly, especially if your friends are into daily multiple entries, but it is certainly more informative than how I set up the roll.

    ;^) Jan the Gryphon
    http://gryph-wotd.blogspot.com/

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  17. Hi Krissy,
    I use my dashboard but I miss getting email alerts when people update their blogs. I did subscribe to A Year of CrockPotting which is on blogger. I get emails every day from her blog through Feedburner. I keep saying that I'm going to look into it but haven't had the time. If anyone knows anything about that please post.
    Jackie

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  18. I have blogs list and when you "right" It lets me know!

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  19. I've added the blogs I follow to the heading "Blogs I FOllow." Then they show up over on the side as people post entries to them. I've also added other friends of mine who have been blogging on Blogger all along. It makes it simple to keep up. As I come across another one, I simply add it to the list. Linda in Washington

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  20. I find it easier to read the blogs (Blogs I follow) in Blogspot. I find a lot to read by reading the ones that are listed by people whos journal I am reading. Or also the comments. I put the ones I like in my favorites, and I just do not have time to read them all....I also keep adding....

    Claudia

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  21. But, what is the google reader???? I do not know about that...
    Claudia

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  22. Krissy, let me know if you decide to join the blogathon so I can add you to the list :-)

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  23. Have you tried OUTLOOK EXPRESS?

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  24. I currently use Google Reader since I already use Gmail, Google Base, google analytics and so on. May as well keep it in the family!

    I check several times a day for new updates and delete the posts I’m not interested in. I find new blogs to follow from comments on the blogs I already follow. For instance, I found you on Problogger.

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  25. I used to use google reader, but now I'm too lazy to do even that. I just click randomly now, a lot, and hope I encounter the blogs I should be reading.

    Am adding you to the blogroll - thank you so much for visiting previously!

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  26. Seems to me link the link in the url with your name works fine in your comments =P

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  27. hi krissy. by following...just as i now did. added you to journals i follow. dont always read em mind tho. lol take care mort x

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  28. Krissy sorry to hear you are off to Hershey again.
    Will be keeping you and John in my thoughts and prayers.
    Wishing you a speedy recovery John.
    Sending hugsxx

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  29. I use my Dashboard Krissy - it's so much easier, you get to see who's posted lately, in the "Items" section, and you have all your blog links handy right there too. http://cathy-daretothink.blogsapot.com/

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  30. Google Reader is sooooooooo much easier to use!!

    I just add everyone I want to read and boom when I sign in it shows me whos updated and whos not

    -- Christopher

    http://cmarlow480.blogspot.com/

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  31. You are named in my 11-22 entry

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  32. I use the blog list on my journal-it has everyone in alphabetical order and when the last post was and what the title is and a snippet of the entry.-Sometimes I go to google reader-but I forget about that alot,LOL
    Hugs
    connie

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  33. Hi Krissy, I ran across your blog through Micky: http://www.blogger.com/profile/07940745178193985942

    I'm praying for you and your husband. It is so difficult to deal with health problems and so difficult when we are exhausted to regain that energy and passion that we love so much.

    For me, I track blogs I love through a few methods, one is dashboard which is a good way to keep track, another is a list of favorites I keep, and the third is as the Spirit leads. I don't necessarily follow all the blogs I love on a daily basis, but I find that if I let the Spirit lead, I get just what I need when I need it. So, sometimes I just search a topic I'm going through, sometimes I click on a comment left by someone on my or someone else's blog (hence finding you) and sometimes I read through all my blog friends posts for the day. I pray and move and God always shows up.

    Blessings to you!

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  34. I find google reader messy compared to bloglines. So, I use bloglines for all my non-AOL jls and google for the Aol now at blogger. But, I find that I always go to bloglines and read all those new entries. Google reader kind of defeats me the moment I open it up. I guess that is why I have not kept up with most blogs these day.

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  35. I hate the word BLOG and still use the word journal. I just check the Journals I am following, but I also like to clink on 'next blog.' found lots of new journalers I enjoy reading.
    Laini

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  36. Like Deb & Chris, I use Google Reader. There's no way I could possibly keep up with all of the blogs I subscribe to if I still have to visit them manually. But I do still visit many of them fairly often to leave comments...

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