‘Tis the season for gifts, and this is one that has been on my please-Santa-I-have-been-SUCH-a-good-blogging-girl list for a long time.
I love Google Reader. As evidenced by:
But it has a lot of negative consequences for readers and for writers. As evidenced by:
In short: Google Reader is great because it makes it easier to follow and organize blogs; Google Reader sucks because it strips away all of the design personality and punishes a blogger by not providing page views (and therefore, CPM advertising revenue).
But it seems Santa has come through, and he enlisted Kath Eats, Palindrome at Home and Side of Sneakers to bring me my gift just a SCOOCH early.
Enter: the Super Full Feeds for Google Reader extension for the Chrome browser.
(Note: sorry, Firefox friends…I spent a long time trying to find an easy add-on for you, and there doesn’t seem to be anything that’s beginner-friendly. If you’re familiar with using user scripts, you can try this: http://userscripts.org/scripts/show/9455 but it’s not as simple as downloading and installing, I’m afraid. Besides, Chrome is now the most popular browser, ya heard?)
Once you install the extension and refresh or reload your Google Reader, you’ll see some new options for viewing posts. The one that I’m now in love with is “link,” which allows you to view blog posts inside your reader EXACTLY as they are out of the feed catcher.
(Readable and feed give you the content-only look that you’re used to with Reader.)
Not only can you see the post content, you can see the header, sidebars (including ads!), social media buttons…
You can comment directly from your reader, without having to click through.
Now, normally, I urge readers to click through as often as they can, so that the bloggers that work so hard on this great content get the feedback via your comments AND the advertising revenue. (I, like many of you, sometimes get lazy and just get all my posts via RSS and never “pay” the blogger…)
But, this seems to solve all of the problems. You get the benefit of having all of your content in one place, and the blogger gets credit.
I will say — this is what I ASSUME to be true, but most ad networks track views using something called java script, and I’m not 100% sure that page views in Google Reader count. I’ve emailed the extension developer to get some clarification, but haven’t heard anything yet. It’s probably something we bloggers will need to take up with our networks — to my knowledge, these views count, but it would be a shame to have the ads seen without us getting credit.
The extension also adds a tab called “super settings,” which help you have even more control over what you see and how it’s displayed in your reader.
I’m pretty excited about this new tool, and I’d love to know if you’d consider using it. Would this make you more likely to comment on blogs, since you could do it from one place?
About Katy
I actually downloaded Chrome a long time ago but never used it because I didn’t like it – however, you just convinced me to use it!!
chelsey @ clean eating chelsey recently posted..things i didn’t blog about
Holy crap. I would TOTALLY use this. That is my only complaint about Google reader is that I cannot comment within it. That is awesome. Any glitches so far?
Mandy recently posted..It’s Complicated…
Downloaded it and am using it to comment right now!!!
maria @ Chasing the Now recently posted..Sunday Setup–12/5/11
Like Chelsey, I toyed with Chrome a while back, but this new application has me really trying it…hard to retrain myself, but I’m trying!
Lynna recently posted..Glory days…
I just downloaded the extension and am using it to comment on your blog. Very interesting function, but I worry about that click thru option – more because of the reader’s experience than the click thru for revenue. Not to romanticize blogging, but does it lose some of its shine by making it even easier to get content and now feedback? I don’t know…
Alicia from Poise in Parma recently posted..recipe: pumpkin (pup) pancakes
I installed this extension as soon as I saw Kath post about it. Love it!
Amanda recently posted..Banana Nut Mini Muffins
Ahhhhh currently commenting from Super Reader right now!! LOVE it!
I downloaded the extension last week, but I keep forgetting to use Chrome! I normally use Safari and I open the browser without even thinking! I sure hope they count!
Allie@LiveLaughEat recently posted..Recipes ‘n’ Christmas Trees
I’ve never used Chrome OR Google Reader. I just bookmark sites and go to them daily. That’s bad huh?
Lindsay @ Lindsay’s List recently posted..christmas may commence
this has been on my blogger wish-list for a long time too! as soon as i saw heather’s post about the extension, i installed it!
i love it already. it’s definitely changed how i read blogs for the better!
sarah (sarah learns) recently posted..short & sweet
I would like to be able to comment via Google Reader, but I don’t want to do it if I have to navigate site design now, as well. If a blog chooses to do this, I will most likely unsubscribe.
Carly (Swim, Run, Om) recently posted..stress/boredom eating
I installed it as soon as I saw it on KERF. Love it! So much easier to comment now, and sometimes I like to read the comments even if I don’t leave one.
I always thought that my Reader subscriptions counted towards page views and I was really disappointed to find out they don’t. That’s really bad for the blogs with smaller audiences like some of the ones I read.
MaryBe recently posted..Groaning,But Not Moaning, Table
Fantastic extension! Just another reason why I <3 Chrome. I'm commenting right now through Reader! It will definitely be interesting to see what they say with regard to getting the CPM pageviews this way… I mean, clicking on the "Link" tab does cause the site to have to load for a second, so hopefully it counts. Either way, this makes it SO much easier to comment and get the benefit of peoples' aweesome layouts! I will be spreading the word!
Gretchen @ Honey, I Shrunk the Gretchen! recently posted..Much Ado About Nothing
Totally made my Monday!
Andrea @ Run, Eat, Date, Sleep recently posted..Seniors First Turkey Trot 5K Recap
That is exciting. I will have to update my reader to do that right now.
And so weird going through reader to read this post and seeing my header. LOL
Tina @ Best Body Fitness recently posted..Parties to Pancakes
Tina, it’s even weirder to see the title of my guest post!
I’m currently downloading Chrome right now so to get the extension.
Bianca @A Healthy Gourmet Lifestyle recently posted..Thank You, From the Bottom of My Heart
I have never really cared for Chrome, but I might try is just for this extension. I currently use the Google ‘Next” button, which serves the same purpose of allowing you to actually visit each new post in Reader, thereby being counted. It probably takes a little longer to load, but I love it.
Debbie recently posted..I Made it to Yoga Class!
When I first heard about this extension I downloaded it right away BUT I don’t know if I’m just not getting it but I cannot figure out how to use it. I do not see the option to view it as a link. Any ideas???
Kristin —
Did you close and re-open Google Reader? You may even want to clear your cache.
After that, make sure you actually click on a post (it’s in the post view, not on the main dashboard).
Thank you! I got it now!
Katy, I adore you for all this nifty advice. thanks times a mil!
Alyssa @ Life of bLyss recently posted..Reduced Sugar Snickers Cookie Bars
I am DEFINITELY more likely to comment now that I can do it within GReader. I’m a recent Chrome convert, and I have to say, I’m loving it!
I haven’t used Google Reader since the first time I tried. I hated how I couldn’t easily comment on the blogs and how they looked. For now I’ve been opening up each individual blog page as saved in my favorites tab. But this would certainly help me catch up easier.
Amber K recently posted..Christmas Cheese : Can You Handle It?
I LOVE this new reader–I’m commenting on your post in my reader right now!! The question is, how do I get my readers to use it? If I hadn’t seen it written about by other bloggers, I wouldn’t know about it.
Lisa @ The Splattered Apron recently posted..First December Weekend
The new google reader has made it SO much easier to comment! I love it, and have been commenting so much more lately!
Kate @Pastafreerunner recently posted..The Black Hole
This was the best Christmas present! I’m so glad you posted about this as the one reason I get comment-lazy is due to not being able to comment through the Greader! I’ll be switching to Chrome if only for this reason!
Megan @ On the Road Again recently posted..The Birthing Class: A Cautionary Tale
This is awesome! Just switched over to Chrome and I really like this feature! Thx for letting us know!
Lexy @firelitesfire recently posted..Lite Your Fire Monday’s
Wow – doing this NOW!! Thank you for the continuous pearls of blogging wisdom
And totally weird to see my blog. Ha ha.
Michelle recently posted..Sinning in Sin City
I keep meaning to download chrome but always forget, I will not forget now this is great news!
Whoa – I just did it. I’m commenting in Reader. This is life-changing. Thank you!!!
Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table recently posted..Pumpkin Protein Bars
The Husband is always trying to get me to use Chrome but I’m so used to Firefox I haven’t made the switch. I downloaded it to give this Reader add on a shot.
Honestly, not as exciting as I’d hoped. Most blogs are too wide for all graphics to fit into the screen space allotted – not exactly harmful to my reading, but annoying to my OCD side! Also, when I commented on a few blogs it redirected me to the blog and left me there. The redirect didn’t open a new tab so I lost my Reader tab. Again, more of an annoyance than a full problem but I’m thinking I’ll stick to Firefox and clicking through to blogs I comment on.
Heidi Nicole recently posted..An entire mountain in 2 hours…
This is great! And, yes, I’d be far, far more likely to comment if I didn’t have to click through and wait for the page to load. What can I say? I’m a lazy reader.
Dawn recently posted..Start Now
Dawn, I don’t think that’s lazy! I think that’s incentive for technology nerds like me to continue to find or develop solutions to make it easier for you
Not working well for me, once I scroll past a post to the next post in link view it switches back automatically to feed – then because less space is taken up by comments it jumps posts. I’ve tried refreshing, logging in and out and looking for help in the Google forums… I have full entry content enabled. Could is be an issue with the new “look” Google rolled out? Strange.
Toni — Hmmm…have you tried uninstalling and reinstalling the extension? That’s a bizarre (but probably super annoying) problem.
If a blog chooses to do this, I will most likely unsubscribe. That’s really bad for the blogs with smaller audiences like some of the ones I read. I keep meaning to download chrome but always forget, I will not forget now this is great news!
Wilda Slater recently posted..Cancer Tattoos Tumblr
This sounds awesome as long as bloggers get credit for it. Otherwise that would be really sad for those that rely on blogging income (despite the convenience for the readers).
Elina (Healthy and Sane) recently posted..DIY kitchen art
i’m clicking over just to say yes! this dedicated firefox, google reader, rss user would definitely comment more. i read blogs in the small down time minutes at work, mostly, or from my phone, which makes clicking over to comment not always feasible. this is great if it’s as good as it sounds!
best.tip.ever.
This is actually why I stopped using Google Reader…or rather before the addition of being able to comment. I switched to Bloglovin’ because I was able to comment right through it and not have to click through to anything.
Maybe I’ll check out Google Reader again. But I do love Bloglovin’.
Sara @ Run Around Sara recently posted..Week Thirteen: Disney Princess Half Marathon Training
Everytime I come to your blog I learn something helpful! Thank you for this and yes I would like to start using this and yes it would sure make commenting easier. I rarely comment now because of the time it takes to click through and living on the road had its connectivity issues.
*Falls over from shock…picks self back up* I’m loving this!
Like Chelsey, I toyed with Chrome a while back, but this new application has me really trying it…hard to retrain myself, but I’m trying! Thank you!!! I just downloaded the extension and am using it to comment on your blog.
Alfreda Silva recently posted..Many Mops