I’m overloaded with favourite sites to keep up with, sinking fast in a wealth of fantastic reading material I can never realistically hope to get through. I’m drowning in a sea of blogs.
From expat blogs to travelogues, personal journeys to writing adventures, there’s so much good stuff out there and not enough time in the day to read it all.
When I started blogging, I followed everyone who followed me and then some. I subscribed to blogs by email, followed blogs through my Blogger account, and made a mental note to regularly check on those blogs I hadn’t followed by other means.
My email subscriptions went through the roof because I’d signed up to anything and everything half-decent, I couldn’t remember the blogs I needed to pay a visit to, and my Blogger account rapidly spiralled out of control.
Photo credit: MA1216 (Flickr Creative Commons) |
I now generally follow other new blog posts through Twitter. When a tweet flashes up from a favourite blogger, I’ll click through and read the post. If I get a comment on a post of my own by a fellow blogger, I’ll also often head over to their site, my memory triggered by their actions.
All this feels a bit ad hoc to me and it isn’t working out.
To become better at managing my reading material, I’ve tried focusing solely on email subscriptions but all I find is an inbox inundated with blog post summaries every morning. And I fear getting many more emails, I really do.
I’ve had to unsubscribe from some blogs and then re-subscribe to others I prematurely unsubscribed from. It’s almost impossible to reciprocate the comments I get on ISOALLO and Twitter is a beast in itself to manage. Then try following a blogger who posts 2 or 3 times per week and it’s game over.
I’ve not experimented with RSS Feeds or Google Reader or Triberr or any other way of organising my reading material for fear of adding yet another social media application to my growing box of gadgets.
I need a better way to keep up with my favourite sites and a means of ensuring I don’t sink further into a quagmire of reading material that can only add noise to an already overloaded daily schedule. I don’t want to miss the excellent words written by those star bloggers and I want to comment, give my support to their efforts and contribute to the online conversation.
There’s also an illogical fear within that says if I don’t spread myself around and give back some of the love so willingly given to my own blog, I’ll lose valuable readers who are avid bloggers themselves.
So help me out. Tell me what you do.
How do you keep up with your favourite blogs? Google reader? Email subscriptions? RSS feeds? What works best for you?
Melissa Shearer says
Not gonna lie. I’m terrible at keeping up with other people’s blogs. I have a small select few that I read semi-religiously… others I’ll read if I see a tweet or fb post about it that looks like it might interest me. I honestly try not to subscribe via email cause i get enough stupid junk mail mixed in with real emails that I don’t know if I could manage with more sifting through.
Russell V J Ward says
You sound like me. I’ve got a few that I read regularly but, even then, it might take me a week or two to get up-to-speed with them and by that time the authors have posted on 3 or 4 occasions so I spend half my morning reading and commenting. Maybe it’s just a ‘being organised’ thing? Do you think it affects your readership by not getting out there and sharing the love regularly and widely across the blogging world?
Aidan Larson says
It’s just one more thing I use to make myself feel guilty! Or at least that’s how it sometimes seems. I’m so happy to hear you have the same problem and worries about not reciprocating by commenting. I usually read many more posts than I have time or ability (commenting on an iPad is an exercise in futility) to comment on.
One thing that has helped me is to list my favorite must-reads on the blogroll of my own blog. I have them set to update with each new post and so when I see something new over on my sidebar I click through and have a read.
I also use Google Reader but again, there’s all that guilt when someone I love’s blog has more than 3 unread posts!
Too much good stuff. That’s a nice problem.
Best of everything,
Aidan
Vegemitevix says
Sorry I don’t have any advice. I do what you already do. Follow those who remind me on Facebook, Twitter and email me. I subscribe to a couple but not as many as I should, and I always go back to a blog commenter’s blog and return the favour. BUT I’m drowning with you. If I truly commented on every single blog I love I just wouldn’t ever find time to write my own blog. Wish I knew what the answer was, but for the moment I’ll share my life raft with you…hokay?
Zooadventurer says
Google reader all the way (with Reader app, not the web, no way) neatly ordered in all different maps, the important not to miss ones on top.
Jack Scott says
Beats me. I spend about an hour each day sifting through. I call it my admin. At least I have the time but I know the quality of my comments isn’t always up to much.
Kelly HTandT says
My gosh, if you find the answer then please share! I’m new to
o the blogging game and finding so many great blogs to read that i honestly stopped living my life just trying to keep up. But a mountain of laundry beckoned, unpaid bills threatened, and my dear husband pleaded, so I took a reality check! I mostly keep up with my favourites through blogger. I dont tweet, I figure thats just another medium that I don’t have time to manage.
Johanna Castro says
Me too! I sometimes feel as if I do more reading and commenting and keeping up with other blogs than I do writing on my own. As you say, it’s a Catch 22 situation, because if you start drowning in a sea of information and don’t keep up, or don’t return the love, then your own blog start sinking into oblivion and you have no idea why. I don’t know the answer, my method is also very ad hoc, and I think as the blogosphere boundaries keep on changing you have to remain flexible, keep reading those that reciprocate and keep on looking out for new talent too.
MommaExpat says
So I’ve had a lot of success using BlogLuvin as my blog reader. I just log onto it when I can and all of the blogs that have recently posted are there for reading. Often I only read the ones that call out to me, and then mark them as read when I’m done. This way I am only seeing new posts rather than individually clicking on someone’s site and there hasn’t been an update. I also “like” blogs through my HJ Underway FB page and if there’s a new post that speaks to me, I’ll read it through there.
Judy Rickatson says
Do you have a link? I just looked it up and there seem to be all kinds of Reader apps. Thanks.
Perpetual Tourist says
Hi Russell, I keep up with all my favourite blogs using Google Reader and RSS. In my opinion this is the reason RSS was invented. I have an iPad, and use an app called Feeddler that is connected to my Google Reader account, and which allows you to organise blogs and favourite sites in a neat way. I use the free version, which has most features of the full app. RSS is the way to go.
Michelle Garrett says
I could have written this post, it sounds solike me. For a while I tried the email sub thing but it completely overwhelmed my inbox, an now I only have a few left (like yours!) in email. I want to move from email to a reader but need to find the right one. And I keep the last few email subs to remind me to add them to a reader when I get one organised. I try to comment on the sites of people who comment on mine, I also comment on new sites if relevant to a comment, but over the summer I just barely have time to post on my blog let alone comment enough on others! Its tough, as you say you need to comment on others for them to return the favour, but we all know we all struggle with it so I just do what I can when I can and am grateful for the comments I get when I do!
Adventures says
Go easy on yourself. There’s only so much time, especially if you want to do things like write, work, raise your children, have a decent marriage and 30 seconds to yourself each day. I have a small number I read religiously (ahem, ISOALLO), even if, like you, it might take me a few days or a week to catch up. I prefer email subscriptions as I can see them all there, am reminded of who I’ve been neglecting, and can read a few when I’ve got a spare 5 minutes. I’ve learned the lesson that you don’t have to subscribe to every blog you come across, nor do you have to read every single post you receive. I try to limit my ‘catch up’ time to 20-30 minutes each morning across FB, Twitter, email, then another 15 minutes during the day and a quick check at night. Google+ I check every few days. If I read a post on one social media venue and comment, I may like/RT/+1 on another. I tend to follow people who follow and comment regularly on my blog, in part because through commenting you become connected and engage each other beyond ‘nice post’. I think we owe it to ourselves and our blogging community to help support each other, but we can’t be slaves to the process. Where do I read lots of new stuff? Twitter. I’m using FB more for blogs I tend to follow more regularly.
Emma Caroline Lewis says
Don’t stress! I have done much the same as you and “cut back” quite a bit. But I always read my favorite blogs because I feel you and a few others are my online “friends” – I am loyal!! I don’t worry about my inbox, but that is usually where I pick up blogs – I can also sort emails into folders which helps I think. I also generally read and respond to those blogs who reciprocate with me…
Sara says
I know how you feel! I’m pretty fussy about what I read (hence why I’m here) because I don’t have time to read everything. I follow blogs in my wordpress reader, through facebook and a couple through email. I hate my email getting cluttered up though, which is why I prefer the reader.
Africanaussie says
Yes it can get a bit overwhelming – I have found I enjoy following blogs on my reader – and every day I scroll through to see what interests me (good reason to have a great title to your posts!). Life is up and down and everyone knows that – your readers will still be there after a break π
Russell V J Ward says
Hokay, let’s share that life raft together then because I also cannot keep up with the blog love. So how do you manage to go back to every blog commenter’s blog to return the favour if, say, you get more than 20-30 comments? That’s where I’m struggling. I’d like to but find it near impossible.
Russell V J Ward says
I heard that using a Reader app was the way to go (and better than the web). I might give this one a try. Thanks for the suggestion.
Russell V J Ward says
Yes, would be good to know. I found the same thing. Might be worth trying a few of them out, Judy?
Russell V J Ward says
I started with an hour each day but it seems to have blown out to 2 or 3. I call it admin too (I got that from you) but my wife’s wised up to it. My boss at work is also starting to wonder what I’m up to. Taking the time to read, digest, make a useful comment, follow up later on – multiply this by 5 blogs a day and your time disappears. Beats me too.
Russell V J Ward says
I will do, Kelly. Same for you too!
It’s amazing how much time you can spend just browsing blogs. What did we use to do before the advent of blogging? I’m sure there was something else. Sounds like a need to take a reality check too but, before I do, I just have to check out a few favourite blogs π
Russell V J Ward says
Ditto for me, Johanna. And if you’re not writing your own material, what’s the point?
Russell V J Ward says
Interesting. I’m going to have a look at this. I think my problem is that I tend to browse people’s blogs looking for updates and new posts when it would be better to capture new posts in one place and read them there. Can you comment on the post through BlogLovin or do you then have to go onto the site directly? Thanks for sharing this little tidbit of blog handling joy π
Russell V J Ward says
Thanks Sara (and I like that you’re fussy!). I hate my email getting cluttered up too, which is why I started to unsubscribe from so much. It sounds like using a reader is the way to go. But first I’ll need to remove some of the 150 blogs I’m following through Google π
Russell V J Ward says
Good point! I shall never have a dull title for my blog posts again π
Russell V J Ward says
Thanks, Emma. And the feeling is mutual, even if I could be much better at sharing the blog love with my online pals. You know I’m there reading your work even if I don’t always have time to leave a meaningful comment! π
Russell V J Ward says
I’m my own worst enemy, Linda. I do beat myself up over it if I haven’t stopped by a favourite blog for a week or more. And then the horror kicks in as I realise I have 3 or 4 posts to catch up on through the one site and only five minutes to do it in. I just can’t keep up with the prolific bloggers out there!
But point taken. There’s only so much time and I’d rather share it wisely and work to build a true community of friends and acquaintances and likeminded souls, rather than pepper a bunch of ‘great post’ comments all over the Internet. Interestingly, I’ve lost a few noticeable commenters whose blogs I didn’t always reciprocate on. Not sure what I make of that as it’s near impossible to get to every blogger that’s been to here but I suppose that’s the way it goes in blogland. Thanks for sharing your views π
Russell V J Ward says
Thanks, Aidan. Let’s share our guilt together then π Maybe the bloggers out there who post more often than others (say, 3 times per week) don’t expect the same numbers of comments so we shouldn’t feel bad if we don’t join in. Like you, I find it futile to try to comment on everything I read, most of it very good, but we shouldn’t complain – it’s a nice problem to have!
Russell V J Ward says
Lol. We sound so similar. I’ve kept my last few email subscriptions with the very same thing in mind i.e. when I eventually get round to using a Reader. It’s funny but I really noticed the effect that the northern summer had on blogging in terms of comment numbers and amounts of blog posting across the board. Looking forward to having you all back for the approaching winter π
Aisha Ashraf says
Like you, I followed many, many blogs – some because they had stuff I thought I’d browse later (then forgot), others were a reciprocal click and yet others were beautiful or inspiring. I was following in three ways: some on Google Reader, some on WordPress and some via email.
It was only a matter of time before this became a blogpost pile-up of paralysing proportions!
This post has pin-pointed the reason for my relative silence over the last couple of months, though I can safely say, with hand on heart, that I’ve read all your stuff – just not always promptly, or had the time to comment. You’ve fared better than others. I found I reached a point where I was compromising myself and I had to redefine my priorities then ruthlessly prune the excess. I follow on Facebook to reciprocate the favour, market myself and keep updated with my handful of favourites. I follow on Twitter only if it’s relevant to my material or of genuine interest. My Google Reader is my blog wardrobe. Bulging with old loves, impulse likes and an entire blog-following history, I try to clear it out periodically, my inbox is reserved for the unmissables. I figured my priorities are:
Time to write – If I’m reading too much, I’m not writing. While reading is fundamental to honing good writing, you don’t find this grist for self-development on many blogs. I found myself deleting some updates without even opening them and these are the ones I have “unfollowed”. I’m a loyal reader but the content needs to “give” me something (info, entertainment, inspiration, etc.), otherwise what’s the point?
Keeping that creative fire burning – Nothing snuffs out the flame quicker than doing something because you “have” to. inspiration for a blog post comes from anywhere – it’s a fickle, flighty creature that never lingers in one place. But you can be almost certain it won’t arise out of something you are reading just to tick it off the list. When it feels like this, it’s a signal that things need reassessing.
Paramount, is my family. The day will come when my kids are no longer clamouring to spend time with me – I don’t want to reach that point regretting the times I let slip by. Life’s there for the living and that’s where the best inspiration lies. An evening spent watching a movie with your other half isn’t going to negatively impact you – their resentment at your inflexibility if you don’t, probably will.
And don’t forget, your reading tastes and interests change over time. Blogs change over time. Your all-time-favourite may not hold the same attraction a year later. Like friends, blogs and their readers can grow apart. It’s a necessary part of development – fresh blog-blood is what keeps you from stultifying. The only thing affecting what you write should be you – don’t write for your readers, the stats, your Klout score or any other of that transitory shit – write for yourself, be honest with yourself and you won’t be disappointed.
Russell V J Ward says
Not much more I can add to that, Aisha. Agree on every count. It sounds like your experience has taught you to be brutally honest about what you have time for and what you want to gain from the material you read… and you’ve taken action to address that.
I think I may print out your comment and post it somewhere prominent to remind me why I do what I do when I’ve been absent from the electronic airwaves for a while. It all comes back to balance, doesn’t it? For without it, we’re lost.
Thanks for sharing your views and for not culling this blog from your list of must-reads. ISOALLO lives to see another day π
Dan says
Like you, Twitter is my source of keeping tabs on a blog. If there is something new, but most importantly, interesting to you now, you can quickly open the page or leave for later.
RSS feeds or emails are ok initially, but when you reach critical mass, you end up unsubscribing them. You can always check out previous blogs when something later catches your eye.
Russell V J Ward says
Hey Dan, thanks for the comment. I tend to agree regarding the RSS feed issue. Over the last few days following comments made on this post, I’ve revisited Google Reader and other apps. The problem is I oversubscribed initially and now face the task of unsubscribing from a lot of material. This may be a longer term work in progress so, for now,Twitter is still my one true friend.
purplekat99 says
I love posts like this because it always interests me how other people read blogs. I can only tell you what I do and it works really well for me.
I use Google Reader. I subscribe to anything that even slightly peaks my interest. I don’t have the internet at home, so when I get to work in the morning, I open my reader and on a week day I usually have about 200 stories to read. I scroll through my Reader, “starring” all the stories I want to go back and read later. (FYI, a solid 100 are just various pictures of cute and funny animals from various tumblr accounts I follow, so I just look and scroll through those really fast) and within 20 minutes, I am essentially done for the day. Then, whenever I have time during the day, I click the “star” and go back and read and comment on the ones I am interested in, deleting as I go and occasionally bookmarking in Google (see a trend here?) stories that may interest me later, putting them into certain categories.
I like Google because I can use and access it anywhere, instead of doing it old skool and saving it on one computer and not having access to it.
That is just what works for me, good luck on whatever method you choose!
Vegemitevix says
Taking this idea further Melissa, what do you think makes a blog unmissable for you? Just wondering..
Vegemitevix says
I do find Disqus helpful, for example this is how I came back realising that you have answered my comment. If you get more than 20/30 comments as you have here, I would take a look at each comment and review whether it needs a reply. Some people do comment on popular posts simply to ‘be seen’. Cynical I know, but true. On the other hand I do feel less inclined to follow a blogger if they aren’t reciprocating and feeling the blog love…
Russell V J Ward says
Disqus is very helpful. Haven’t looked back since moving over. I meant how do you go back to each commenter’s blog, not their comment, and share the love? That would take a while to do but I can see the value in doing it in order to put yourself about in the blogosphere.
Russell V J Ward says
For what it’s worth, for me it’s the content. If it’s well-written and creatively done so, I’m drawn in. If it’s a brain dump or a bit of a prattle about that particular day’s gripes, they’ve lost me. I’ve got enough stuff like that going on at home to fill my day, no need for more π
Russell V J Ward says
Thanks for this comment. It’s great to see how it works in practice for you. A lack of internet at home hasn’t held you back at all! As for me, I’ve gone back to Reader and am learning to re-use it do organise myself. It’s working… so far.
That said, I’m forever keen to learn about other ways to manage my blog reading time… π
Sean Rasmussen says
Let’s say all bloggers follow the “quality” on writing their blog posts, but most of these blogs are not juicy enough to be read fully. Another essential part of blogging is the way a person writes and how he manages to captivate the reader on how he wants to express something to a certain degree. I’ve seen and read a lot of blogs in my life and there’s only a handful out there worth your time. I think experience and dedication are what keeps a successful blogger from everyone else.
Regards,
Sean Rassmusen
Russell V J Ward says
Hey Sean, thanks for the comment and your take on good blogging. All valid points. I agree that experience and dedication show through when you sift amongst all the many blogs out there. It keeps a great blog from being average.