The post-Google Reader era: here's where I'm headed

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:

Kick it old school: RSS feed readers

My Feedly subscriptions, "magizine" style

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.

Go new school: Bloglovin', pulse, Flipboard, etc.

Bloglovin' page for Dead Book Darling.

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!