Blog it Forward.

Tips from the new kid on the blog: streamlining your blog reading.

So dudes, I've been blogging for a wee 4 months now... my blog is just a baby compared to the experience some of you have.

But what a cool journey it has been so far. This little space has allowed me to reflect on daily life--stitching together photos, stories, thoughts, and lessons-- giving my mind a virtual manuscript.

do you love blogging *this* much? heh

When I first started I had so many questions:

how do I make this blog grow and create a reader base? How do I foster those connections, How the heck do I read and comment on all these cool blogs and still update mine with meaningful content??

ahhhh!

So after loads of learning, I wanted to 'blog it forward' to this awesome community that has gathered. I will share a two part post about some things that I have found really helpful. I may be the last girl to the party for some of these ideas, but here are a few life-savers that I want to share with my fellow bloggers.

Today's tip is to streamline blog reading, because we all read lots and lots of blogs:

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1. Subscribe to your blogs in google reader

(i know, i know "duhh...") Hang in there, #1 leads to #2- which you will love.

If you're already a google reader pro you may pass go, collect $200 dollars, and skip to #2!

-if you don't have a google reader account, you can sign up for one at www.google.com/reader [Do it, it will save your bloglife.]

-Most of my fellow blogspot-ers will already have an account, and the blogs you follow should be listed there.

-Once you have your account add your favorite blogs to your reader by following the blog, or subscribing to the RSS feed, which looks somthin' like this:

In the RSS feed, you will choose to subscribe via google reader:

Finally, visit www.google.com/reader and enjoy your chronological list of favorite blogs. This list updates as you read the blogs, so you never have to visit the same blog twice, just to see the same ol' post!

The only thing that I don't like is that viewing blogs in google reader is like renting a movie instead of going to the theater; sure you get to enjoy the convenience, but you don't get the feel of the full been-there-done-that experience. That's where the next trick comes in!

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2. Put the "next" button in your browser (you'll fall in love.)

-Sign in to google reader and click here.

-Hit the "goodies" tab.

-Scroll down until you see the "next" bookmark.

-Click on this and drag it up to your toolbar. Now you got the money, baby. Mine looks like this:

Now... sit back and enjoy!

As you browse through your favorite blogs, simply hit the "next" button. It will take you chronologically through unread blog posts that are listed in your google reader (but this way you don't have to look at the drab google reader format, you can see the actual blogs!)

You will see the new posts of the blogs you are subscribed to, so your viewing and commenting are streamlined. And who doesn't like efficiency?

[Ok, class dismissed! That's enough learning for today... come back soon for part 2 of Blog it Forward!]