How to Become a Google Reader Ninja
Photo: weesen
I'm a big fan of Google's RSS reader Google Reader, spending on average 1-2 hours per day with it. However, I know there are always new tips and tricks to learn about GR and today I want to share five of my best moves to get you started on becoming a Google Reader Ninja.
1. Make an appointment with your RSS reader
When I'm out spreading the message of RSS love, I often hear that there is no way to find time to catch up on RSS reading. While I generally think this is a matter of prioritizing (my experience shows that a LOT of people spend 10-15 minutes once, twice or even three times a day surfing their favorite news, sports, gossip, you name it-sites), I do have a ninja move to teach that has helped me a lot: make an appointment with your RSS reader.
The appointment should be in your calendar and it should be recurring every day. It doesn't have to be long – 15-20 minutes will do – but make sure to set that appointment up.
2. Don't fear the "Mark all as read"-button
You started using Google Reader by adding a few blogs and news feeds? Maybe you didn't have time to do the daily reading for a few days, and when you logged in again your reader screamed at you: "there are 1000+ unread posts in here!" This made you so scared you didn't want to go back to your reader, ever again.
This is where my second Google Reader Ninja move comes to resque: don't fear the "Mark all as read"-button. That's right – dare starting from scratch. The RSS reader should always be a support and if the unread items are making you uneasy – let go of them.
3. Prioritize among your feeds
Google Reader allows you to create folders for your feeds. However, the folders are actually tags (they simply look like folders) which makes it possible to place a feed in several folders (i.e. tags). The most straight forward way of creating folders is by e.g. topic, area or client which I recommend you to do.
However, when you have added 20, 30 or 40 feeds and are turning into a power user you will soon feel that the amount of feeds are piliing up. You need to prioritize, and you should do this ninja style. Create new folders (tags) with a priority status, e.g. "important", "sometimes" and "dispensable". This way you can keep a different focus depending on what folder you are reading.
For me this means that when I am low on reading time I can open my "dispensable" folder, take a quick look and then click the magic button.
To be a true Google Reader Ninja you also need to continously reconsider what feeds deserve to be in what folder. If you feel your "important" folder is getting full a bit too often – don't be afraid to move two or three feeds down a notch in the prioritization order.
4. Use the shortcuts
Google is great at creating shortcuts for their services and Google Reader is no different. My fourth Google Reader Ninja move is a list of really handy shortcuts which will save you lots of time and reaching for the mouse.
- j,k – next or previous post
- r – refresh
- v – opens up the post in its original site
- shift-a – mark all as read
- s – star a post
5. Add a real ninja to your Google Reader
You now have a few tricks to make your life less information overloaded. The fifth move is done by the real Google Reader Ninja. When in Google Reader, press the good old Konami haxxor key combination up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, B, A. Enter, the real Google Reader Ninja.
You are now on your way to become a certified Google Reader Ninja. However, if you have questions or your own ninja moves to share – please do in the comments!
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Comments to this article
These are great tips! I love the shortcuts, hadn't used them before.
u - hide the sidebar, for Ultimate Reading Pleasure.
space - next item, and when you've read all items, next feed.Great article. I will definitely be using the 1st tip - setting that appointment. I already use the labels.
@Fruitfulvine2 glad you like it! Setting an appointment has helped me a lot in my RSS reading.
Gotta love that Konami Code trick!