I have tons of blogs that I follow and I love them all! What I need help on is how to keep up with everyone! There are so many different ways to do that and I have been doing it my way forever that I was wondering what the best way is. Does that make sense?
My way ~ go to my Dashboard ~ never close it down and then read from there ( there meaning the right side) but it seems to be messing up lately. Now when ever my computer shuts down I can only go back about one day so if I have missed a day then I probably missed someones blog post. Yesterday and today, I've been going on my left side of my Dashboard and pulling one blog up at a time and reading that way. This can be time consuming because I can get caught up in reading several posts on one blog.
I know some of you go through Google Reader but I've looked at that and it seems confusing and I can't figure how to comment through that.
I would really appreciate any suggestions! Plus do those of you who work outside the home read blogs every day or just a few times a week. Do you set a time limit? I really really feel that I am spending more time ...........well I know I am .....reading blogs than reading the many books I have on my list.
As far as posting I only post when I have something I want to share so I don't have any problems with posting ...........just the reading part.
54 comments:
i just use reader...go no secrets...i do know the issue though...so many, so little time...smiles.
I just go to my dashboard and read from there too, but I have noticed lately that one or two aren't showing up....no idea why. I'll be interested to see what other people suggest for you, because I'm not much help.
I have nothing on my dashboard and it say's I am not following anyone...which is bunk because I have so many I couldnt count, I wish I had as many follower's has I have followed....no clue. What is reader? Love,Debbie
I use my dashboard too. I don't think you can comment from reader, only when you actually go the blog can you comment so I think that is a pain. I just go to reader and read today's post or if I want to check on special blogs, I go the left side. I don't know of any other way to read! I'm a hit and miss blogger anymore between the new job title, school, family problems, I feel like I'm snowed under lately. I used to blog and comment almost every day. Now days it is about once a month it seems.
I use my Google Reader. Just click on the title of the post to open it up and leave a comment. It's still faster than using the dashboard. Also, I subscribe by email to many blogs.
There's never enough time to do everything. I make sure to save time for my books every day.
I have my left side set up to show a blog as it comes in. That way I only have to go to the ones that posted, unless I want to go back and read some comments. Works for me.
I do the same as Coffey. I have listed all the blogs I visit on my left sidebar and as soon as they update, it alerts me, then I go read. It does take a lot of time, I will admit. I've been terrible about posting lately because of two things....nothing interesting going on and also short on time.
I use google reader, it's not that hard to type in each blogs full address in the "Add Subscripton" part at the top.
Then whenever they update you can see it in google reader ... click on their updated post and yaaa... you can read and comment like normal.
I use google reader. It's been the easiest way for me to keep up with everyone. When I go through the posts on reader I click on the individual post to go to the actual blog to leave my comment. The other thing that I find helpful using reader is that I have a hard time reading white font on black background. It really hurts my eyes. So I can read the post in my reader and then just go to the blog to leave the comment
I try to read posts every day otherwise I have way too many to try and get through and I start feeling overwhelmed. I don't have any set amount of time I spend just whatever I feel like doing.
I use google reader. It's been the easiest way for me to keep up with everyone. When I go through the posts on reader I click on the individual post to go to the actual blog to leave my comment. The other thing that I find helpful using reader is that I have a hard time reading white font on black background. It really hurts my eyes. So I can read the post in my reader and then just go to the blog to leave the comment
I try to read posts every day otherwise I have way too many to try and get through and I start feeling overwhelmed. I don't have any set amount of time I spend just whatever I feel like doing.
I use my dashboard too. Have it list all blogs I read. Then click on each one til I am back to where my last post was. Then read them one after another. DAILY
I use my dashboard, although as you said, I noticed that recently it isn't showing all posts anymore and I don't know why.
As for keeping up, I wish I had an answer. I just did a post about it, and it's tough finding the time to read and comment because well, it's so time consuming.
Gayle I just use my dashboard, I don't know I can't seem to keep up with them all. I try but even with me not working I have started limiting my time on the computer...I hope everyone understands. I have no idea how people do it with a lot of followers. hugs to you and a hello.
I have a blog roll on my blog. As the blogs I follow update, I can see if I want to go there and read it.
My job allows some free time for me to read blogs there. If I am particularly busy at work, I don't usually get to all my favorite blogs. I read through my blog roll, see who has posted something new and if it sounds interesting, I head over to the blog.
I don't usually have time to read blogs at home so if I am busy at work, I might miss something good.
Yeah, I'm with Amy. I follow over 300 blogs. Crazy, but I believe in returning a follow. I do my best to keep up with and comment on blogs of folks like you who do the same for me. So, those are the blogs on my blog roll. For me, it's about the two-way relationship. I go through my blog roll for updated posts. If I have time, I next go through the google reader.
xoRobyn
I use google reader on the computer and on my phone. I just click on the title to go comment ...when I comment. I'm bad about that but I do read most all the blogs I follow. I read all of your post but don't always comment. Also on my phone I can't comment all post...they have to have pop up like you or it won't let me.
Play with google reader, you will like it and not lose a post. They stay til you read or click mark as read.
Oh I'm no help at all. I visit all the blogs of people who comment on my posts, and then I'm off visiting blogs they follow that look interesting. I can't remember the last time I checked the list of blogs I follow, so I've just stopped adding people. Often, though, you know the same people so if I'll see something that I haven't visited for awhile commenting somewhere else I always pop over to say hi, which I'm going to do right now over at Cinner's blog!
And it was so great to see you 'round my blog again - I'd just been thinking about you a couple days before you commented!
I have a "Blogs I follow" section on my blog. It shows me when people update and their last post title. It really helps me. To put it on, I went to Page Elements and Add a Gadget. There you can choose a Blog List. I love it! Good luck!
I actually start in my email. I read and comment on everyone who read and commented on mine first. And then, if I actually have any time left I comment on my faves.
And Im ALWAYS behind so Im thinking this may not be a good system. lol
I follow 85 blogs at present, and fortunately not everybody posts daily. I keep a small number on my blogroll on the side but not everybody is there.
Reader is my friend, because I see the latest posts in order, and I read them all but only click on the title to go to the post if I want to leave a comment. If I get behind because of not checking for the day, I leave fewer comments and scroll through, only pulling up a post I simply MUST comment on!
I use reader. I read the ones there and when there is a post I want to comment on I click on that post and do the comment thing and go back to reader. I am so glad you are feeling better. I hope you are totally over the flu. How long did it take? Some people are going on a couple months and some are going to the doctor it is taking so long. Hugs to you.
It is really hard to keep up with all of the blogs that I would like to read each day, but I would not get anything else done if I did that. I read the blogs that read me, and occasionally visit other ones. Not ideal, but I have to do other things. I know exactly what you mean!
I have the same issues. I love to read my favorites but haven't found a way to flow from one to the next.
It's impossible to keep up. It really is, but I never liked the dashboard. I like google reader because it can show only the posts you haven't read yet, not all of them like the dashboard does.
But don't stress yourself about reading everyone's every blog post. People understand!
I usually read from my dashboard. But lately the dashboard seems to run out of room so I switch to Google Reader. It does present everything in order, and clicking on the headline takes me to the actual blog so I can comment if I want to.
The real problem is that all this reading and thinking and commenting just takes a lot of time. I've had to cut back on the number of comments I make because otherwise I'd be up all night!
I put my favorites on my blogroll so I never miss them or I subscribe via email. Then you are always up to date! :)
I try several ways. Visiting after comments and trying to keep up in my 'favorite blog list' but it's hard to be as good a blogging friend as I would like. Some weeks are so much busier than others and some weekend I don't even have time to turn the computer on. 'sigh' We all do our best! :-)
Hugs,
Coreen
I struggle with that too. I have so many blogs I enjoy reading I can't ever get to them all!
What a GREAT question to ask ! I am off to read all of their suggestions! Thank you!
Have a pretty day!
Kristin
I have no idea what google reader is. I went to DESIGN and added the gadget on my right side for blogs I follow. The top list is the one I view the most. On the selections for the blog roll you can choose how many blogs in the roll. Don't limit youself, put the biggest number.
With the blog roll, I can see who recently posted and I click on the link and read it.
I set my settings in comments so all comments come to my gmail account. I recently changed this on my second blog and now I am not missing comments made on earlier posts.
If you have any questions, email me at my gmail and we can figure it out or you can give me your phone number and I will call you so we can get it straightened out.
I too feel overwhelmed with the blogs I follow...I have no way to know how many...but I do my best. At first I wrote responses to comments both in the comment section and returned email...now I mostly do it in returned email...unless there is a discussion with everyone, then I respond in the comment section.
Whew! Hope some of this makes sense...I have a headache...
You certainly are an amazing commenter and follower.
I don't have a system really. I sort of start with one blog. Then I see who has left comments there, and I'll go, "Oh, Gayle has posted, I'll go see what she's up to," and so on from there. I usually blog hop for a couple of hours a day. And yes, you're right, I haven't read a book since last summer! Mind you, I think textbooks knock the good out of ya...
Thanks for being such a great bloggy friend Gayle! Your comments and your support really do make me smile all the time.
I currently use Dashboard, but I don't follow all that many blogs any more -- I barely have time to write my own posts, as you are undoubtedly aware of.
Still, I've heard of Google Reader, but never tried it. Given the comments that folks have made, I just might try it and (hopefully) follow some more blogs! :-)
thanks for your kind words about Koda :)
I use Dashboard but I have a lot of journals in my favorites that I just get to when I can; I think we can get buried in reading blogs if we aren't careful and let other things slide, sometimes we feel like we need to read every single day when in reality with our real life friends we might just talk once a week. Something else that works is people put a list of blogs they are following on their blogs and it shows who updated when and then you can just go and read the ones you want when you have the time to read them and limit the time for whatever works for you. Just don't let it become an "obligation" if you know what I mean; it should be fun, not overwhelming :)
betty
I find it difficult enough to have free time to write my blog let alone read and comment on all the ones I follow. I try to write at least once a week and comment on the blogs of whoever comments on me. Its the best I can do at the moment!
I use reader too. And that is the only way I can possibly keep organized. But, I can't comment on every post. I just try to get around to everyone on a fairly regular basis!
I've never figured out how to use my google bookmarks or any of that stuff and must depend on visitors to my blog so that I can click back.
Hey, my brain can only hold just so much brilliance, and the rest gets written on post-it notes and get lost.
Gayle, Thanks so much for stopping by my blog; I feel special.
I actually just moved to Garden Grove from Norwalk. Lived there for 12 years and although I never had considered moving there, found a great house to raise my kids in. The house is right off Imperial Hwy near Studebaker Road.
Oh, and regardin your question: I just look at the dashboard and sporadically choose what I'll read. I do have my favorites that I rarely miss but even that gets difficult at times. It's tough to keep up with everyone...just not enough time in the day.
Marie
It's an issue as you continue to add blogs to read. I use the dashboard although I've got an rss feed & google reader. I just never go to them.
I continually cull my followed blogs. If I find I'm not going to a blog after a long while, I "unfollow" it because what's the difference? It kind of takes the pressure off. I have noticed many blogs, particularly those with large followings whom I've followed a long time, are receiving less & less comments. I also note that, if I go to a new Blog of Note, they don't seem to automatically pick up hundreds of followers now. I think it's an exponential reaction.
I don't know how anyone could possibly keep up with all the blog reading. I am doing good to keep up with the folks that link to my party and my blogroll.
Hmmm. Well, the other day I tried adding a blog and it wouldn't let me because I follow too many. Evidently they cut you off at 300. So I had to go in and click around and delete any blogs that I was following that no longer existed or hadn't posted in a long time (I chose to delete those that hadn't posted in 9 months to a year).
There is no way I could read or comment on every blog post on every blog that I follow every time. What I do is go to my dashboard periodiaclly and comment on some until I get tired, or if someone posts on my blog I sometimes click their name and comment back on theirs.
I do have google reader but never use it. I do sometimes feel guilty because I know some blogs I follow I comment on more, some I never comment on at all, but I do try to hit my dashboard like I said periodically and do some commenting.
PD
I don't have any helpful answers...but I enjoyed and learned from the comments here (o:
I got benefitted reading post and comments.. Thanks..!
I use my dashboard. I do not get to all of them as often as I wish. I usually read late at night and I am an insomniac. That said, I really need to go to bed cause grandson is coming at 4AM. I should at least have a couple of hours of sleep:)
Great topic, Gayle.
I try visiting and commenting first on the blogs of whoever comments on me and then I use my dashboard.
As I see many bloggers use Google Reader. never used it though. I think I should but really don't know how it works.
It's impossible to keep up with all the blogs I follow and I don't know how anyone could possibly keep up with all blog reading.
Alas, blogging it's so time consuming.
Hope you have agreat rest of the week.
B xx
I just started using the google reader and it is much easier. Plus it is easy on the eyes, no issues with some crazy backgrounds and fonts getting into the ways of the words. I like your background though.
Good luck,
- a new reader
Well i sometimes use my blogroll but most of the times i just go from my dashboard too... I don't know any better way eihter...
Good luck and let me know if you find the right answer!
Thanks
Leontien
I know exactly what you mean. So many blogs so little time. I don't use Google Reader or the Dashboard. I keep a list of the blogs I read on my right sidebar and at the bottom of my page. this way I know the most recent post from a blogger and work to keep up on the latest news that way. And I have a handful of blogs on my Google homepage that I'm "checking out" before I add them to my sidebar.
All that said, it's very time consuming. What I finally had to do when I'm behind and reading older posts is to comment on the most recent, not all the posts I missed, even though I've read them.
Not sure that helps, but it's how I roll.
Happy reading, jj
Just do what you can and don't feel guilty about it.
Take care and have a great weekend :-)
~Ron
*******
Hi Gayle,
Thanks for the visit to my blog about the ducks in my pool. You said you love to see Wild things. You might wanna come by my house sometime, early morning, I look perty wild about that time. ;-)
Marie
Oh Gayle, I walk around guilty constantly due to being behind in my reading. Then spending too much time reading when trying to catch up. It's never ending. Let me know if you figure it out.
Looking for an answer too.
Clicking on Dashboard shows all the blogs I follow, so I just scroll up and down, pick one, and voila!
I do that for as much time as I have to blog.
Sometimes I go to the right side and read the most recent post of whoever is at the top of the list.
Like many of your readers, time is limited. It's unfortunate if people are offended because you don't read their blog every day or comment.
Do we call all of our friends on the telephone every day? I don't. Does that hurt the relationship. Not mine...not with true friends.
I'm always glad to hear from you and other bloggy friends, but I do not expect that you have to read everything I post. It's just good to know that we're both around and can check in when we can. :)
I use google reader and in it I have a folder called "must" of all the blogs I want to absolutely make sure I visit regularly. In order to comment on the post all you have to do is click on the post title and it will take you to the actual post.
I like it because I can read a bunch of posts before clicking over and leaving a comment.
As far as having enough time to keep up, can't help you with that. I'm always behind. Can't help it. Just do the best yo can and remember it's supposed to be fun, not a chore.
I open my dashboard and hope I get to everyone. It doesn't always happen, but when I'm blogging, I try to visit people at least once a week (note - I take breaks from the blogging world because I can easily get sucked in and read blogs for hours and hours)
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