The demise of google reader

If you're a regular blog reader like me then you'll probably have heard that google reader will cease to exist as of 1st of July this year. I'm not especially sad to see the reader bit go as I use Bloglovin' instead anyway, but I will be sad to see my Google Friend Connect followers go.  I know I've only got 24, but I really appreciate each and every one! So if you would like to continue following me after 1st of July or you aren't a follower already then read on to get my take on the various options for blog following sans google reader.

Bloglovin

This is my favourite and the main feed reader I've used pretty much since I started blogging. It's come on leaps and bounds since I first joined and they really seem to listen to what people want from a feed reader. It has great functionality as you can organise blogs into folders really easily keep track of what you have and haven't read, but what really sold it for me is that you view posts in their original (pretty) contexts with the bloglovin' banner at the top to navigate. There's also a great little phone app so you stay up to date on the move. You can find my profile here -

Hello Cotton

This one seems fairly popular with a lot of craft bloggers, but I have to admit I still don't really 'get' it. It seems a great site for discovering new blogs and content, but I feel it's more aimed at discovery and the social element of blog reading as opposed to the organisational side which I feel I need, although I know a lot of people love it. You can find me here -

Feedly

I've heard a lot about this recently as the main opponent to Bloglovin' so I though I'd check it out.  It seems more customisable than Bloglovin' and is a great organisational tool, but I wasn't particularly keen on posts being displayed within the reader as opposed to in their original location so you don't get to see any of the surrounding blog design, but I can see why a lot of people like it.

Email, Facebook and Twitter

As always you can still follow me via email if you sign up on my sidebar or you can like my facebook page or follow me on twitter to get regular updates.

Thanks for reading and apologies for the long post. I hope to see you again soon!

Blog Clear Out (ahem)

I follow too many blogs. Way too may. It really is an illness you know, at the moment there are 85 blogs that I'm subscribed to and 31 posts waiting to be read. That's quite frankly shocking. And you want to hear the scary thing? I read every single one of them. Every. Single. One. I refuse to ever click the read button, unless it's a post from my blog of course.

So what have I done about it? I've made myself a spreadsheet. Yes, a spreadsheet I hear you exclaim. This girl is clearly studying for a Psychology degree and has been drilled in statistics to within an inch of her life. That and she is quite obviously a geek and proud of it. What can I say? I love a good spread sheet, I think they're pretty.

What's in my spreadsheet? Well, there's the date I last reviewed that particular blog's place in my blogroll, it's name obviously, the category I've filed it under in my bloglovin' feed and which social networks it's a member of, complete with usernames. It's a mini blogland database if you will. I'm thinking of making a blogroll mark 2 to include ravelry and etsy/folksy shops as well and maybe a bit of colour coding. With the help of my trusty spreadsheet I shall be able to keep an eye on the blogs I read, and hopefully weed a couple out from time to time?, and be an all-round more organised and happy bunny.

See - I told you it was an illness! Some people collect teapots, some collect anything with a frog on (Grandma) and some people collect small model elephants (Great Aunt Gendy). It appears I collect blogs. Well I suppose there are worse things to collect, at least they don't take up any physical space, only virtual, and they require little to no dusting...

Ok, well maybe I haven't really managed a clear out, but I have at least created some order. That's enough to keep me happy for now. And maybe some of the contents of that little spreadsheet of mine will make it into a little blogroll page in my navigation bar. Maybe. At some point in the future.

Anyone else fancy coming clean about how many blogs they read, Blog Readers Anonymous style? All are welcome, no matter how shocking the revelation.

Happy Friday,

aLittleBlonde

Edit: I've just realised that Blog Reader's Anonymous' acronym would be BRA. Haha, I rather like that. Perhaps that's an idea for a regular feature for some time in the future?