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How to Use Google Reader to Quickly Find and Share Content

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how to use Google Reader for sharing

These days continuously sharing great content with your social media fans and followers is pretty much a requirement to maintain a social online presence.  By sharing good content (other than your own), you build credibility with the people who follow you.  After all, don’t your fans and followers deserve something more than just the occasional sales pitch?

Okay, so as online business owners it’s easy to understand why we need to share content.  The real question is:  How can we do it efficiently?  With the bucket-loads of blogs and Web 2.0 sites out there, finding good quality content to share can be a real “time suck” not to mention overwhelming and exhausting.

Google Reader to the Rescue

If you know how to use Google Reader properly, it can be an excellent time saving tool to help you find the most up-to-date content for social sharing or even curating for your own blog posts.  After all, why should you have to search for content when it can be delivered to you?

If you’re not familiar with Google Reader, or feed readers in general, just know that feed readers allow you the ability to subscribe to your favorite RSS feeds.  If you follow 20 different blogs for example, you can view updates for all 20 blogs in one central location.  In addition to blogs, you can also subscribe to social profiles, Google alerts, Craigslist searches, forums, etc. pretty much anything that has RSS enabled.

Before you can get started subscribing to feeds, you will obviously need a Google account if you don’t already have one.  You should be able to sign up right from www.google.com/reader.

So here we go.  As usual you have your choice of video, text or (better yet) both.

Video 1 – Finding and Adding Feeds

Video 2 – Organizing Feeds and Sharing Content

Finding and Subscribing to Feeds

When looking for feeds to subscribe to, make sure you select feeds from good quality sources that are in or at least similar to your niche.  Select feeds that your target audience will enjoy reading.

If you are looking for feeds in the internet marketing niche and want to save a lot of time, then feel free to subscribe to these feeds that I have pre-bundled for you.  You can view a list of the included blog feeds for each bundle at the end of this blog post.

If you’re not in the internet marketing/make money online niche, or you just want to build your own subscriptions, here is a non-exhaustive list of sites to find quality blog feeds:

Subscribing to a blog feed is easy, or at least it should be.  Look for an orange RSS rss_icon icon on a blog you wish to subscribe to.  Most sites have one but some don’t.  If you can’t find the RSS icon, sometimes it works to add “/feed” (without the quotes) to the end of the site’s main URL.  If it works correctly you should see a XML version of the site.

Just copy the feed URL and then click the “Subscribe” button in Google Reader, paste in the URL and click “Add”.

Google_Reader_Image1If you want to make quick work of the process of subscribing to feeds, do yourself a favor and install the Chrome Reader extension for Google Chrome.  This gives you the ability to subscribe to and manage feeds right from Chrome’s browser bar.

In addition to blog feeds, why not subscribe to the social feeds for the people you follow the most?  You can add the feeds to receive updates for anyone’s Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, YouTube, Ezinearticles, etc. profiles.  Just don’t be a social stalker.

If you’re wondering where to find the RSS feeds for social accounts, check out this article by Derek Armson of APD Internet Marketing.  He put a lot of time and research into finding these feeds so leave him a nice little comment while you’re there.

Organizing Your Feeds

Once you get a good number of feed subscriptions it can begin to get really messy if you don’t keep them properly organized.  I suggest organizing your feeds into different categories right off the bat.

This can be easily done by creating folders named after your categories.

Just click the little black arrow to the right of the desired feed and select “New folder”.

Google_Reader_Image2Since feeds can be organized in multiple different folders, it might make sense to create a separate folder that combines all the feeds together in every category.   This would allow you to browse, search and sort all feeds at once.

As you browse through your feeds you may occasionally come across posts or articles that you would like to revisit at a later time.  When this happens, consider tagging these posts with “Revisit”.  This will give you easy access to them later.  Otherwise they may be difficult to find if they are buried among the stream of updates.

Just click “Add tags” at the end of the post and assign a name to the tag.  Just remember to tag future posts that you want to revisit with the same tag name.

Google_Reader_Image3If you’re wondering what the difference is between folders and tags, folders are for organizing feeds.  They will automatically update when a new post is published.  Tags are used for categorizing and organizing individual posts.

Finding Content to Share

Okay, so you’ve done a whole bunch of work.  You’ve added dozens if not hundreds of feeds.  You’ve organized them into different folders and you are floating down a rapidly flowing river of never-ending content.  Now what?

I like to begin my quest for content by changing Google Reader to “List View”.  This minimizes the posts so that only the headlines will be visible.

Google_Reader_Image4I then select my desired folder and sort by “newest”.

This is the best way I have found to find the most recently published up to the minute content.  Just simply browse for headlines that sound interesting.

Google_Reader_Image5You can also sort the list by the “oldest” posts.  This lists all of the posts in reverse order starting from 30 days prior.  This is very useful if you are generating a list of the best blog posts of the month for example.

You also have the option to sort the list by “magic”.  This means Google Reader will sort the posts based on what it thinks you enjoy reading.  It uses information about your past reading behavior and your history for starring and sharing content.  So make sure you “star” the items that you really like.

In addition to sorting and browsing, Google Reader also has many different search options available.  By clicking the drop down menu on the right side of the search bar, you have the ability to search all items, read items, starred items or recommended items.  You can also search individual feeds or folders.

Not all Google search operators will work with Google Reader but you can still use:  “ ” (phrase search), the vertical pipe | (or), and the * (word wildcard).

Sharing the Content

At this point you should be finding a lot of good content that your fans and followers are going to love you for, but what is the most efficient way to share it?  After all, this article is about improving your social media workload, right?

Well, if you’re a Google Plus user, you have it pretty easy.  Just click the “G+ Share” button at the end of every post.

Google_Reader_Image6But what if you want to share it to Facebook, Twitter, or somewhere else instead?

Easy enough, just go to Reader Settings.

Google_Reader_Image7Then click the “Send To” tab and check the boxes on every social site that you want the ability to share to.  You can also create a custom link if you would like to send content to your blog for example.

Google_Reader_Image8Now go back to Google Reader and you will see a “Send to” option below the posts that will allow you to send the content to any social site that you have enabled.

Google_Reader_Image9So that about wraps it up.  Hopefully this article helps to lower your social workload so you can spend more time focusing on other things.

Yes, it’s true.  It can take a bit of time up front to subscribe and organize all the feeds but if you’re willing to make that initial time investment then you will more than make up for it in the long run.  Besides, if you are in the internet marketing niche then you have NO EXCUSES because I have already done the hard part for you.  Just subscribe to the feed bundles below.

If you know how to use Google Reader for any other cool little tricks then I would love to hear about it.  Leave a comment below.

Justin’s Feed Bundles

Save yourself a boatload of time by subscribing to these feed bundles.  Click the category titles to subscribe.  Feel free to add or remove your own feeds as desired.

General Internet Marketing Bundle

Affiliate Marketing Bundle

Blogging Bundle

Make Money Online Bundle

SEO & SEM Bundle

Social Media Bundle

Traffic Generation Bundle

WordPress & Web Design Bundle

The Whole Shebang Bundle

 

Filed Under: Google Reader, Social Marketing Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Comments

  1. Wanda Rawlins says:
    November 27, 2012 at 10:07 am

    Wow we what a wonderful compiled list Justin -Thanks buddy for sharing with us. This should be some really up to date reading going on.
    Wanda Rawlins recently posted..The Dos and Don’ts of Social Networking – Successful Social Media StrategyMy Profile

    Reply
  2. Keith Everett says:
    November 27, 2012 at 10:27 am

    Great post Justin, lots of great quality information..

    Keith

    Reply
  3. Jan says:
    November 27, 2012 at 10:50 am

    I’d be lost without my Google Reader, I use it daily… and I learnt something new watching your vids! Brilliant post, I’m off to check out a few of these blogs I don’t have in my Reader now.
    Jan recently posted..New Facebook Guidelines: Updated Statement of Rights and ResponsibilitiesMy Profile

    Reply
  4. Flavian Barrett [GroWithYou] says:
    November 27, 2012 at 11:43 am

    There is a lot of useful content in this post… plus very useful resources where to get even more information… Thanks for sharing this Justin… It looks like you put a lot of effort and time in this… I personally use Google reader to find and share new content… that’s definitely a great tool!
    Flavian Barrett [GroWithYou] recently posted..KompoZer Tutorial – How To Resize Your Page Width and Set the Background ColorMy Profile

    Reply
  5. Michael Dunner says:
    November 27, 2012 at 11:46 am

    What an Awesome post you have created and a post that I will take note of and share.
    I will in future post of my own try to emulate such high quality content.
    I will use your Blog as a Guide to how one should create awesome blog posts.

    Reply
  6. APD Internet Marketing says:
    November 27, 2012 at 1:32 pm

    Incredible post Justin, this is real true quality information to help people save that valuable commodity time in their online business… And many thanks for the mention – much appreciated.
    Cheers
    Derek

    Reply
  7. Paul Levy says:
    November 27, 2012 at 3:49 pm

    Great post Justin – awesome content which any business, person or organization who has an online presence should read
    Paul Levy recently posted..Are You Creating Real Value?My Profile

    Reply
  8. Cher says:
    November 27, 2012 at 5:32 pm

    Wow Justin, that is one amazing post, I even signed up for more tips :)

    Great stuff
    Best wishes
    Cher
    Cher recently posted..Elderberry ~ The Healing Benefits Of This Magical Natural MedicineMy Profile

    Reply
  9. Commodity Tips says:
    November 28, 2012 at 5:32 am

    Google reader is a powerful tool for contains and very useful resources where to get even more information available in google reader .it can be an excellent time saving tool to help you find the most up-to-date content for social share marketing by this community.and i am happy share great contents of google Reader.
    Commodity Tips recently posted..HomeMy Profile

    Reply
  10. Anne says:
    November 29, 2012 at 6:51 am

    Morning Justin, wow, great post and just what I needed. Tried and struggled with Google Reader but this has made the process so much easier to understand. Thanks also for the list of resources – must have taken you hours, appreciate the time these things take. Cheers Anne

    Reply
    • Justin Young says:
      November 29, 2012 at 8:13 am

      Thank you Anne for your comment. Yes it did take some time but many of the feeds in the list are ones that I have added over time. The most time consuming part was categorizing each feed into the different folder categories. That’s why I recommend if you are going to use this method to start creating folder categories and begin sorting right off the bat.

      Reply
  11. Wanda Rawlins says:
    December 1, 2012 at 6:58 am

    Just made a post on my website Justin-about your post google feeds. http://www.wandarawlins.com/

    Reply
  12. Drupal developer London says:
    December 1, 2012 at 10:30 am

    I am very much pleased with the contents you have mentioned. I enjoyed every little bit part of it.
    It contains truly information. I want to thank you for this informative read; I really appreciate sharing this great.

    Reply
  13. Greg Chirinian says:
    December 1, 2012 at 10:58 am

    What a great article .The feed bundles are the icing on the cake Great work Justin

    Reply
  14. ZK says:
    December 1, 2012 at 10:27 pm

    Awesome tutorial on using google reader :) and thanks for the mention

    Reply
  15. Samuel says:
    December 2, 2012 at 7:18 am

    Hey Justin,

    Humbled by the fact you included my blog up there. This is a great post worthy of sharing. Great job man! Just keep this up and you will see significant growth in your blog.
    Samuel recently posted..[Podcast # 8] Interview With IM Press Release Generator Justin MandelMy Profile

    Reply
  16. Lorii Abela says:
    December 3, 2012 at 10:04 am

    This is a great compilation of almost everything! This is indeed useful. Nice one.

    Reply
  17. Kristi Hines says:
    December 6, 2012 at 11:04 am

    This is an impressive post and list.. thanks Justin! Also thanks for including Kikolani in the blogging section. Great selection of blogs to subscribe to!
    Kristi Hines recently posted..$10 eBooks from ProBlogger for 10 Days OnlyMy Profile

    Reply
  18. R says:
    December 7, 2012 at 5:39 pm

    I use Google Reader everyday and I had no idea there were so many great bundles with relevant information! Thanks for sharing.
    R recently posted..Calif. Public Health Warns Against Eating Wild MushroomsMy Profile

    Reply
  19. Ana Hoffman says:
    December 10, 2012 at 10:16 pm

    Definitely a lot of legwork here, Justin – thanks for putting the bundles together and, of course, adding TGC to the mix.
    Ana Hoffman recently posted..What are Skimlinks?My Profile

    Reply
  20. Gerri @ Ninetynineways says:
    December 11, 2012 at 3:53 am

    I used to struggle to find good content to share and then earlier on in the year, I discovered just how powerful of a tool Google reader is in that respect. I am on it just about everyday not only sharing content but keeping up to date with all sorts of industry news. This is a post I will be sharing!
    Gerri @ Ninetynineways recently posted..The Content Marketing Strategy Burger [INFOGRAPHIC]My Profile

    Reply
  21. Bruce Frazer says:
    December 11, 2012 at 6:45 pm

    Hi Justin.
    I just wanted to say Thank You for this fantastic Post. There are very few people offering good quality content and this is one. I have downloaded all the bundles and will share them with my subscribers.
    I also want to find a way to repost this article on my site also, with full links to you of course.
    I will remain in contact with you.
    Thanks for the great effort.
    Bruce
    Bruce Frazer recently posted..Advertising on FaceBook? Is This The End ?My Profile

    Reply
  22. TToshiba Burton says:
    December 28, 2012 at 9:54 am

    This was a very helpful video tutorial you put together, I’ve heard about others using Google Reader before and I didn’t get any further into it but thanks to your tutorial I’m definitely getting mine set up.
    TToshiba Burton recently posted..More Clever Ways To Twitter More Followers & Get Your Content Shared On Facebook!My Profile

    Reply

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