A few weeks ago at a writing conference someone asked me what a blog reader was. I said it was a way to help you track and manage your blogs. It's also called an RSS reader.
"Why use it?" she asked.
"Time," I said.
I explained that I can skim through blogs much more quickly when they are all in one place. I can easily see with the bold formatting in my blog list which blogs have new content and how much. I can mark content that I've already read. Plus, I don't have to try and remember the addresses or names of my favorite blogs. As much as I hate to admit it, I can't remember as much as I used to.
What Kind of Reader Should I Use?
Bloglines
I tried Bloglines years ago when RSS readers were new. At the time, I traveled for work several times a year and liked the idea that I could check in on my favorite blogs from any computer, rather than relying on my bookmarks. I abandoned it shortly after because I found that:
1) There were really only a handful of blogs I kept up with. I could easily do a Google search for them if I wasn't at my home computer.
2) It meant having yet another login and password to remember. I can hardly remember a single login and password, let alone a dozen!
Google Reader
Now that I'm regularly reading at least 30 blogs, I'm using Google Reader. I like it because I have a Gmail account. This means that when I check my email, I have the option of checking my blogs as well. (One less login and password to remember!)
[Note: Google Reader was continued in 2013.]
Do you use a blog reader? If so, which one?