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Hello, my name is Janice and I do not use Bloglines.
There. I said it. Admitting I have a problem is the first step to recovery, right? So I had to come forward and admit that I have been too disorganized and busy to get started with Bloglines.
I tried a couple months ago. I went and set up an account. I read the site. I added some of their recommended blogs to try it out. And then I never went back. I know. It is pathetic and stupid.
As I hear of all you saving time and never losing blog addresses because of your faithful Bloglines habit, I felt too ashamed to admit my problem. I knew I needed Bloglines, but I just couldn’t make it through the difficult, early adjustment days. I am too set in my ways.
So I am going to try it out for real this time. I am going to give it a chance to work for me.
But I still have some reservations and questions.
Would you all mine if I asked you some Bloglines questions?
- Do you select to have the entire post showing or do you just the use default option when subscribing to a blog?
- When you are checking your blogs via Bloglines do you tend to comment less?
- Do you click over to the actual blog only when you want to leave a comment?
- Do you use the Bloglines Subscribe Button?
Because I like to see each blog’s unique design and I try to always comment, I have wondered if I will like Bloglines. How do you deal with these issues?
Or have you decided against Bloglines and chosen a different feed reader?
Or are you like me, and still visiting blogs the old fashioned way?
I am looking forward to your input.
Oh – and one more thing. Since I am currently setting up my Bloglines subscriptions, leave me a comment and tell me to add you!
I make no promises that I will remain forever with Bloglines. I only promise that I will give it a try and that I will ultimately find myself a blog reading system that works for me.
eph2810 says
Well, Janice – I stand with you here and admit “I do not use bloglines!” – There it is out. Although I have a button on my blog and on LWG, I don’t use the service. I am the old fashion kind of gal… I bookmark the blogs I like to visit in my Firefox browser. I know that is the thingi in my browser to subscribe to blogs on line – but haven’t done that either.
BTW – guess what I have posted – yup a Tackle post :grin:.
Have a wonderful night – I am off to bed right now…
Erna says
Back again . . . I signed up with bloglines. Hmm . . . I’ll let you know how it works out. I do like the idea of not having to check blogs often but I think I’ll still see the actual blog by linking on the blog title. It’s more homey and inviting that way. Just my two cents. 🙂
Erna says
Hello, my name is Erna, and I do not use bloglines either (chuckle). I’m glad you started this discussion as I had been thinking of using bloglines and had someone comment today that they couldn’t add me to their bloglines. So, I might just sign myself up and add a link to my site. I think it would be nice for my family members who would like to know when I post without having to click on my blog everyday. I tend to post every two days though, so it’s not like they’ll click back in a week and see nothing. :0)
Heather says
I use bloglines bt am not a huge fan other than it gives me an easy way to check on who has posted. It wasn’t very intuitive to set up. I also use Morning Coffee through Mosilla for those who don’t have feeds set up. I use bloglines because I don’t have time to check every site I read for content. My favorites are in my Morning Coffee. I glimse the bloglines for each, then if it looks like it is worth a read I open it in a new window.
Gina says
I love bloglines because I’m able to see when my subscriptions update and then I can skim the title posts. I have to confess there’s no way I could read all my favorite blog posts all the time, and homeschool, and keep up my blog and work on my novels, so blog lines helps me skim the post and if I want to read the rest I click over and comment. It’s such a time saver!
I also put bloglines on my title bar like it recommends so it makes subscribing easy! I guess the only downside is I can see how many people are subscribing to blogs, and I tend to get a little anxious about my dozen subscribes and it puts the focus on getting mor subscribers instead of just blogging about what I love!
tanyetta says
Do you select to have the entire post showing or do you just the use default option when subscribing to a blog?
default.
When you are checking your blogs via Bloglines do you tend to comment less?
yes
Do you click over to the actual blog only when you want to leave a comment?
yes
Do you use the Bloglines Subscribe Button?
yes
tanyetta says
I love bloglines. It tells me when my fav bloggers has updated their site and keeps me from clicking on blogs that haven’t updated in a while. hope your find what works for you. i have this site on my bloglines too 🙂
Polly says
I use FeedDemon, and really like it. It was recommended to me by a friend. Like you, I have an account on Bloglines, but have only used it a couple of times.
mumsgather says
Oops! On your question 4, I answered wrongly before. Yes, I do sub with bloglines and I divided my subs in my sidebar into 3 ie “Mama’s on the blog”, “Papa’s on the blog” and “Others on the blog”. Love it because its so easy to update my link list using bloglines. My sidebar links is automatically updated each time I subcribe to a new blog feed or edit it.
Dee says
I do use bloglines and LOVE it!! It enables me to see when there are new posts. Now – I do like seeing the individual designs and layouts of the blogs – so when a new post is added, I go directly to that blogsite. I just like that I don’t have to visit each site each day IF there are no new posts.
I also use the Sub with Bloglines button on my bookmarks…another time saver. As for commenting – I don’t think I have commented any less on blogs since beginning with Bloglines.. if anything, I feel less pressure, because I know that with a quick click (also – I have the Blogger notifier) I can see which bloggy friends have posted and from there – go read them!
Hope this helps! ! 🙂
Fiddledeedee says
Janice, I’m so embarrassed, but when I first read your post, I had no idea what bloglines was! I’m so green. But I’ve been hearing about it. And I see it on my feeds page. So, I’m doing research on it and I want to give it a go. It sounds like a good way to save time. So, add me when you figure it out. This comments page has been very very helpful.
Kailani says
I can’t imagine blogging without Bloglines. I don’t use it to actually read blogs, just to inform me when my favorite blogs have been updated. I have 107 subscriptions so it saves me a lot of time not having to check each blog manually. It’s great!
Maria says
I too use bloglines — and love it — I use the default and have a sublink on my blog but don’t know how many use it — I also use the handy Sub with bloglines bookmark on my firefox toolbar all the time.
As far as commenting — I am just not commenting much anywhere (except W@H which I am not as much there either) because I went back to work. — I do tend to click over to the blog to read in its entirety. However I love the fact that bloglines tells me which of my over 100 feeds have updated so I don’ thave to check every one…….
Barb says
Without bloglines, I think I would have given all this up. I follow 96 blogs. Yeah, I do. And I don’t want to delete a single one of them. I also don’t want to visit 96 blogs when only 20 have done a new post since my last visit.
So I use it because you can’t imagine how much time it saves me and it makes staying on top of all the blogs I follow soooo much easier.
It doesn’t matter to me whether the entire post or just a snippet shows. If bloglines tells me someone’s done a new post, I go to their blog, read their new post and almost always leave a comment.
Strangely, I still do the cut and paste thing when I want to add a new feed. I never remember to look for a bloglines subscription button but that’s probably because I don’t usually scroll through people’s sidebars. That’s probably because my own sidebar is so simple I don’t think about sidebars a lot. When I’m meeting someone new to me, I sometimes look at everything just to get an idea what they’re interested in.
I think once you get it set up and get comfortable with it, you’ll wonder how you ever did without it.
Sarah says
I am a huge bloglines fan!!
1. Whole post
2. I tend to comment about the same, perhaps more.
3. I go over to the other post often but not always. To comment, look at pictures or check out a new design. I really like to read the post in bloglines as some colored text I have trouble reading.
4. I have not used the subscribe button but I should!
Thank you bloglines for all you do!!
Michelle in MX says
I use the default, but I’m gonna change that right now.
Yes, I comment less.
Yes I do click over to the original blog to make a comment
I haven’t figured out the whole Blogging button, but I have a button on my toolbar that if I like what I see I click it and it adds it to my blogline.
Heidi says
I have been thinking about bloglines too lately but I haven’t done it yet either.
Thanks for this post it’s been great for me to read about other’s insights I sort of like the “old fashioned way” if I can say that since I’ve only been blogging since June so it feels new to me!
Debi says
I couldn’t live without my Bloglines. Like so many others have mentioned it helps me to know when people have updated so I’m not clicking through to blogs that haven’t posted anything new. I go with the default feed, some come through full while others are short. I can usually tell if I want to read more. I’m quite the lurker so Bloglines doesn’t really deter me from commenting. I will click through to the actual blog if I want to comment or read the full feed.
Another reader that I’ve been using lately that is similar to Bloglines is Google Reader. I’m enjoying it quite a bit and am subscribing to some blogs via Bloglines and others via Google Reader to shake things up a bit (and not have so many in one place). For me the RSS feeders help me to have my blog organized and save time. Best of luck to you in whatever you decide to do.
Kristen says
I love bloglines and it has greatly improved my blogging life because I can always see when my favorite have new posts, I don’t have to run through my favorites every single time. I usually initially read the post in bloglines and if I want to comment, I then open up the whole blog. I do use the sub with bloglines button because then it automatically adds it to your bloglines. Also, if you choose so, it will just automatically add those blogs that you subscribe to to your blogroll on your blog. i love, love, love it!
Carrie K. says
I LOVE Bloglines! I used to do all my blog reading the old-fashioned way, but wasted so much time clicking on blogs that hadn’t been updated. I choose to have the whole post displayed, but that is only because there are a few “news” and “kids lit” type blogs that I read sporadically and don’t usually comment on. For my regular blogs – homeschooling, mommy blogs, writer-blogs – I just use Bloglines as a way to know when there is a new post. I click on the Blog title (and I have it set to open each one in a new window). That way I get to look at everyone’s pretty designs and leave a comment. I am able to read a lot more blogs on regular basis this way. My husband’s not sure if that’s a good thing, though! lol
3under5 says
I can’t figure it all out. I am way behind, too. You’re not alone. But when you do figure it out, be sure to add me. 🙂 Maybe it will inspire me to get to figuring it out, too!
Nikkie says
I love Bloglines. I don’t know how I lived without it before.
1. I use the default option.
2. I do not comment less 🙂
3. I always click over to the actual blog to read the post and comment.
4. I use a subscribe button.
mumsgather says
To answer your question:
1. Do you select to have the entire post showing or do you just the use default option when subscribing to a blog?
– entire post
2. When you are checking your blogs via Bloglines do you tend to comment less?
– yes
3. Do you click over to the actual blog only when you want to leave a comment?
– yes
4. Do you use the Bloglines Subscribe Button?
– no
Some comments of my own:
I love bloglines! It saves me so much time. Plus its easier to update my links. One word of caution though. I’m going crazy reading blogs because everytime I finish reading one, another is updated. Its neverending!
Kilikina says
1)Do you select to have the entire post showing or do you just the use default option when subscribing to a blog?
I try to show only the heading. That way I can see someone posted something, then you can press the PLUS + sign to see the post. But what I usually do (this helps with #2) is that I use it to see when someone posted. Then I click directly on the title of their post or their blog. That way it brings up their individual blog (like you mentioned) and plus I can comment.
2) When you are checking your blogs via Bloglines do you tend to comment less?
Not really. But it helps me to still read and keep up instead fo marking (all read) b/c it’s faster then I don’t have to comment if I’m behind. That’s what I did the last week with me not blogging.
3)Do you click over to the actual blog only when you want to leave a comment?
See the answer to number one. I usually do it anyway to HELP me to comment.
4) Do you use the Bloglines Subscribe Button?
I don’t even remember. I think so. For other people, but when I go to a blog I want to subscribe to I usually use the shortcut link in my favorites they give you that just adds it. Then I don’t have to search the site for the button
Maggie says
I use bloglines to tell me what blog has been updated. Blogs that have been updated since my last survey are in bold. I usually click on the Blog title in the bloglines pane and go to the actualy blog. This saves me time in that I don’t open up un-updated blogs.
Ruth says
Hi, My name is Ruth and I DO NOT use bloglines.
Call me “old fashioned”, call me, “lazy” or call me, “stuck in a rut”. I tried it and I ran into a couple “newbie” glitches….I never took the time to figure out. So far the “old way” works alright for me.
But …maybe….I might become a blogliner in the future. But today, I’m Ok with where I’m at. (Maybe call me “comfortable” 🙂 )
Susanne says
Well, 50 lashes with a wet noodle for you!! :VD
Seriously, if you use bloglines for nothing less, it’s saves a ton of time just to see if there are new posts up. I love it for that alone. I used to run through my whole list several times a day just to see if people had yet posted something. Now I can see at a glance without all the time it takes to go to everyone’s site. I like to see the whole thing displayed even though I do comment always at my most read sites. I’ve got my sites catagorized because I just don’t have time to read everyone every day, some I read several posts in one sitting when I’ve got an extra chunk of time. So bloglines really does help manage time better.
I don’t have the subscribe button on my site. But I have it in my favorites column on my computer. That way if I come across a site I really like and would like to subscribe to then I just hit that button and it immediately takes me to bloglines subscribing rather than having to reduce windows and bringing up others. Again a time saver.
I’ve gone back the old fashioned way a couple times just because I still have a “favorite sites file” on my favorites list but after a couple times of that I’ve never done it again. Go for it. It dosen’t take long to set up and if you don’t like it after a couple weeks you can always let it go
KellyC says
Janice – this is a great discussion and I’m very interested in reading the responses. I’m an avid user of Bloglines. I’ll try to answer your questions the best I can.
For me, it saves a lot of time. I do not comment on every blog, only the posts that I have something to say. But this is generally the case for me. And my schedule will become significantly more hectic in the near future, so will become even more true.
I use the abbreviated display. I can usually decide in the first paragraph whether it’s something I click through to. There are certain blogs I click through to every day, but Bloglines allows me to get to know many more bloggers than I normally would. I lurk a lot. But time is a precious commodity these days…
I have a “sub to bloglines” bookmark on my Firefox bookmarks, so it’s really easy to sub to a new blog.
I have a button on my sidebar so that others add me as well.
But I know that my readers use other blog-readers than Bloglines, and I hope someone comments on those. Firefox live and Yahoo are to feedreaders I see on my feeburner stats alot. But I don’t know anything about them.
Hope this helps – I’ll be back to read more!
Kari says
I *LOVE* bloglines! Sooooo helpful in keeping up with my favorite blogs and bloggers with my limited amount of time to spend on the computer!
1. Do you select to have the entire post showing or do you just the use default option when subscribing to a blog?
*Entire post!
2. When you are checking your blogs via Bloglines do you tend to comment less?
*More…because I have more overall computer time to do so…but then, I have painfully slow dial-up!
3. Do you click over to the actual blog only when you want to leave a comment?
*Depends upon the day and the blogger! I like writers who “talk in italics” like me. *grin* So I often click over because that kind of formatting doesn’t show up in bloglines and it really can change the feeling of the post.
4. Do you use the Bloglines Subscribe Button?
I have one on my site…not sure if anyone uses it or not. What I *do* use faithfully is the “Subscribe with Bloglines” bookmarklet in my toolbar! One click and I can easily add someone’s blog to my bloglines, if their feed is enabled!
Because I like to see each blog’s unique design and I try to always comment, I have wondered if I will like Bloglines. How do you deal with these issues?
Bloglines gives me a heads-up to know there are new posts…and I can read the first several sentences to see if it is something that grabs me or not.
As a homeschooling mama of two active children with a slow internet connection, I find bloglines a HUGE help in allowing me to keep up with favorite blogs and still having time to explore new ones!
In Christ alone,
Kari
Would love to be “bloglined” by you, if you like 🙂 But I do generally use a lot of italics and such, which don’t show up in bloglines!
http://www.HealedWaters.com
Janna says
Hi Janice,
I like bloglines but haven’t tried anyone else. As far as whether or not I’ve selected to have the whole post showing, I’m not sure what I have done! 🙂 However, some of the bloggers have elected to only send “snippet” feeds rather than the whole post to these subscription services.
Do I comment less because of bloglines? I don’t think I comment less. My commenting is usually dictated by my schedule, which has been hectic of late.
I still like to click on the individual blog to see the pretty sites/personalities of them, and you can do that through bloglines. What I do like about the subscription service is that it keeps me from stopping by blogs that haven’t posted that day, thus saving time, I believe.
I use the bloglines subscribe button on my blog. I don’t know if it has enticed any people to subscribe, but it is there.
Hope this helps. Good luck with your endeavor!
Janna
Barbara H. says
I went over to Bloglines, too, and set up an account but haven’t figured out much more beyond that. I like visiting blogs the old-fashioned way, by clicking on them from my sidebar.
I suppose it could save time to go through bloglines because you wouldn’t waste time clicking on a blog that doesn’t have new posts. But over time you kind of learn who posts every day or only once in a while, so there are some I check out every day and some only occasionally. If one that I don’t check every day has had more posts in the meantime, it’s not hard to catch up.
Adventures In Babywearing says
I do it the old-fashioned way!! I have never tried bloglines and don’t plan to right now. So far this way is still working for me just fine!
cmhl says
I like http://www.blogarithm.com as well– it is a little easier. to be honest, I have some through bloglines, some through blogarithm, just because it isn’t so overwhelming..
Would you all mine if I asked you some Bloglines questions?
1. Do you select to have the entire post showing or do you just the use default option when subscribing to a blog?
— snippit
2. When you are checking your blogs via Bloglines do you tend to comment less?
— yes
3. Do you click over to the actual blog only when you want to leave a comment?
— yes
4. Do you use the Bloglines Subscribe Button?
— hmmmmm, on “my” site?? I’m not sure…. I used to, but then like you mentioned, I noticed that my traffic went down b/c people weren’t coming there to read it..
Janice says
Gotta love the irony – tonight as I am trying to get organized and add subscriptions, Bloglines goes down! Good grief. Oh well, a little temporary inconvenience will not deter me. I am committed to my Bloglines attempt.