To be profitable you need to know a bit about what is going on in the blogosphere. You can keep track of what is going on by reading blogs in your niche. A good way to keep track of blogs you like is by using a feed reader.
I first learned about blogs when a friend called me on the phone and told me about one she read. I bookmarked it in my favorites and fell into the routine of checking it every day. That blog linked to other blogs, and soon I had a folder full of blogs that I checked fairly often. It soon got annoying when I would click through and there was no new content.
Then I discovered feed readers and life has been so much better. 
I could open one page and easily see which blogs had new content and which did not.
First I used Bloglines because one of the blogs I read had a Bloglines list in the sidebar. That worked well for about a year. Then Bloglines had some issues and I switched to Google Reader.
It’s easy to set up an account for Google Reader. After you set it up visit your favorite blogs and look for the RSS button. You can usually add the blog to your reader that way. If you can’t find the RSS button, highlight and copy the url, go to your Google Reader and click “Add a Subscription,” paste the url, and it will tell you when it picks up the feed. I was able to quickly import the blogs I kept track of through Bloglines by clicking Settings then Import/Export and following directions.
Through that same Google Account you can set up Alerts, Adsense, Analytics, and a Calendar. You can set up or link your Blogger account so you are able to leave comments on Blogspot blogs with no place for a name/url.
Take a couple minutes and work on your Google profile. Add a picture and links to your blog/business at least. Just remember that whatever you share in your profile will be shared with the whole world.
What feed reader do you use? Do you like it?
I’m including this video by Lee LeFever just in case there are any of you who have not seen it.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0klgLsSxGsU
About Jendi
I use Google reader and love it. I need to clear some of the blogs out of it because I have way too many saved in there.
Thanks for the tip on the Google profile. I had no clue that was there so I worked on it a bit and just got it started. Linked to it above. The only thing I don’t care for is that it’s using my email handle for my profile name but oh well, I’ll deal with it.
Great post!
I don’t feel that I’m quite here yet. I’m still fumbling around in chapter 1 I think.
Your post is extremely helpful as I “bounce around” in the blogosphere. At least now this is in the back of my mind so when I’m ready for it, I’d know where to go to get ideas.
I use google reader as well. Mine was super full just 2 days ago because I hadn’t hit it.
I try to hit it once a week and then it’s so much easier to reply to posts that are up-to-date. But I’d let it go for about 3 weeks and there were hundreds of unread posts.
It’s so much easier than going to each blog in my bookmark section like I used to.
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I enjoyed reading your blog!
Kas
Kasandria Reasoner´s last blog post..Freebies!!!
I use both Google & Yahoo for feed readers. Google is for my personal reads, and Yahoo is for business related feeds. It’s the only way I can keep things straight! I still get some email updates for the ones that are in my Top 5 – the ones I HAVE to stay on top of every day. Talk about FULL!!!
If my readers could read to me aloud while I clean or rock my girls to sleep THAT would be perfect!!!
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I just found your blog somehow…sad…I’m not sure how I got here. LOL. Anyway, I love it! I subscribed and followed on Twitter. I really like your format and variety of information. Thanks, I’ll definitely be back!
I am a Google Queen. Well not necessarily but Google is my central station for my business.
Felicia – I Complete Me´s last blog post..Celebrity Mom – Lisa Rinna
The google reader is fabulous! It is such a time saver! I just discovered it about a month ago. I love it!