So, unless you’ve been hiding under a blogger-rock, you’ve probably heard that Google Reader will be shutting its doors on July 1st, 2013. Needless to say, everyone is rather pissed.

But, the show must go on. And, to be honest, this shutdown doesn’t have me in a meltdown. There are a lot of Reader alternatives out there, if you know where to look! Here are a few suggestions for those of you still trying to decide:

My Feedly subscriptions, “magazine” style

Kick it old school: RSS feed readers

Back in the day (read: 2009), I used to use a great RSS manager called FeedDemon (read about its demise here). It was brilliant – like a bloggy newspaper. Then, Google Reader went out and bought them and, though they “kept” the original software, I ended up stuck in Google Reader somehow.

But now there are a bunch of new alternatives out there now: like Feedly and The Old Reader.

Personally, I am liking the look of Feedly. I was already using it on my iphone, and have since discovered that its Google Chrome and Firefox versions are just as super shiny. It is a super sleek, customizable way to read your feeds, and gives you lots and lots of reading-style options. Do you like your blogs magazine style? Image heavy? Text only? Feedly gives you those options. If you are interested in migrating over to Feedly, click here for a few tips!

The Old Reader is also pretty nifty. You do have to do a bit more clicking in order to get your google reader feeds imported into it, but it isn’t all that hard. You just need to export/import your RSS subscriptions, although there is quite a queue at the moment as we all start rushing about trying to find something new to use. Still give it a shot! I’ve been playing around with it and really love how “in control” of my feeds I am.

Bloglovin’ page for Dead Book Darling.

Go new school: Bloglovin’, pulse, Flipboard

For all you hipsters, there are a tonne-and-a-half of sites out there delivering that Pinterest-style look. I am not, admittedly, a big fan of most of them… but whatever keeps you reading! Check out: Bloglovin’, pulse, and flipboard (only for iphones/Androids).

Bloglovin’ is my favourite of these services so far. It is one of those sites that – up until now – had been primarily used by beauty and fashion bloggers. It is very, very visual. It’s sleek and shiny and, well, pretty much everything Google Reader wasn’t. That said, I am not its biggest fan. As you have to have an “account” to follow your favourite blogs and to include your own feed on the site*, I feel rather like I’ve joined the blogger version of facebook. I prefer my readers a bit less social, to be honest.

But who knows – maybe it will grow on me.

* I feel like I may be wrong about that… correct me if I am?

We’re all still here!

Don’t hate me, but I’m actually kinda looking forward to the end of Google Reader. I am hoping it will help wean people off of GFC and Reader, and on to niftier platforms. I, for one, will be using Feedly and The Old Reader (I am still playing the field a bit). Whichever you choose, never fear – all your favourite bloggers are still here!

Author
Recent Posts

Kay

Your ghost host at Dead Book Darling

Kay's been blogging about urban fantasy, young adult and werewolves since 2009. She's a firm believer in the many uses of the towel, the science of deduction and other fandom in-jokes. To support her book-buying habit, Kay keeps up a day-job as a science journalist (so feel free to ask her about Physics).

8 Comments

Marina Antunes on March 20, 2013 at 11:21 pm

Great to see your picks. I tried Feedly for a few days and LOVE the way it looks but discovered, rather by accident, that it doesn’t like a number of my feeds. Don’t know why, I’ve opened a ticket, but I’m trying NetVibes at the moment and seems to be working well.

My only complaint with The Old Reader, which looks fantastic, is that it’s sloooooooow as molases. I cycle through 400+ feeds daily. The last think I need is to be waiting for 30 seconds for a feed to load.
- Dead Book Darling on March 22, 2013 at 3:09 pm
  
  I really like the way Feedly looks as well, but I have found the same problem with certain feeds (namely, my own!!). Not sure what to do about it. Am also annoyed that I have to continue to subscribe to things through Google Reader… hopefully that subscription process will be easier one Reader is gone!
Jesse Owen on March 21, 2013 at 1:47 pm

I’ve been using BlogLovin now for just under a year (I think) and I quite simply love it. I think one of the reasons it appeals to me is the daily emails it sends out – complete with pictures from the posts.

Google Reader used to feel like it would swallow me but BlogLovin digests it nicely 🙂
- Dead Book Darling on March 22, 2013 at 3:10 pm
  
  Ok, perhaps I should give it another go. I admit, I haven’t spent all that long on the site! 😉
Dazzling Mage on March 21, 2013 at 7:31 pm

I’m using Feedly right now. It needs a little getting used to, but I think we’re getting along splendidly.
- Dead Book Darling on March 22, 2013 at 3:11 pm
  
  Good to hear! I am still getting used to it myself, to be honest, but I really want to love it and rather think I will!
kay - Infinite Shelf on March 23, 2013 at 7:42 am

I gave Feedly a reluctant try, and immediately fell in love with it. It is so sleek and lovely to use! I’m already forgetting about this Google thingy thing.
I love Blogloving too, I just don’t find it as convenient to use.
- Dead Book Darling on March 24, 2013 at 6:19 pm
  
  Actually, I first discovered Bloglovin’ because of YOU! You’d set up an account way-back-when and I gave it a go (still not in love though!)
  
  Feedly is pretty damn lovely, though I’d like to “de-link” it from my Reader account… there must be a way, but hell if I know how! *returns to googling for solutions*