It wasn’t that long ago that I was an enthusiastic Google Reader user with more than 300 feeds. Not that I read all of them all the time but it was a collection of blogs put together over time that struck me as interesting and/or necessary.
Over the past month or so, however, my Google Reader account has been collecting dust but it wasn’t until recently that it even dawned on me this had happened.
Why the move away from Google Reader To be honest, Twitter has replaced it. Most of the news and blog posts that I find interesting are being delivered to me on Twitter.
Here’s why Twitter is better than Google Reader:
1. It’s an easier format. Rather than scrolling from blog to blog, Twitter streams at you on a continual basis – kind of like the old CNN news ticker – so if you see anything that catches your eye, you can check it out.
2. You can customize the content being presented to you by following people who share your professional, personal or political interests. In some respects, you’re creating a TwitterRoll (sort of a like a blogroll) of like-minded people that you trust to deliver interesting things.
3. You can easily communicate with the people who are delivering you the news on Twitter. If you see an item that you like or find interesting, you can quickly send that person a message and get a conversation going with them and other people.
4. Following lots of people on Twitter is easier than the same amount of people on Google Reader. Since the news continues to scrolls by, you may miss something but there’s something new coming along soon – kind of like watching a parade. If you don’t check your Google Reader account for awhile, it’s painfully obvious by the number of unread blog posts that you’re way behind.
8 Comments
Mark, I've experienced the very same thing. Here's another reason: twitter acts as a filter. Only the very best posts tend to bubble up.
There are also the retweeters out there – people who link to interesting stuff they've found online. In each industry or niche, there are a couple of smart people doing just this. Find them, and you've got a pre-vetted reading list.
Two things have happened since I've been using Twitter. I no longer use Google Reader and I'm finding it equally difficult to blog. I used to update my blog at least 3 times a week. Now, it hasn't been updated in 30 days, yet I'm on Twitter daily.
Twitter has killed my blogging mojo
Besides that Twitter is a mix between content I would like to read and content wich is interesting but I didn't know I would like to read.
I actually use Tweetdeck and TwitterFeed as my Google Reader w/ a dummy account that sends me all my feeds .. works great!
I like both, but then I've been slow to get it together with Google Reader, so it's still relatively new to me. It IS possible to keep up with the corner of the blogosphere in which you're interested, Virginia.
I think Twitter works well for the highly literate and for fast readers. For the dyslexics seeking information, I think it might be a bit much (for some reason I have a lot of dyslexic – and many left-handed – friends).
The other thing that helps with the 'tsunami of information' as you called it (you *did* invent that phrase, no? I've been crediting you with it everywhere so now's the time to 'fess up if it's not yours) is to favourite the Tweets you want to go back so you can read the articles later.
I don't think the two are comparable really. I see the value in both & twitter certainly won't be replacing my google reader anytime soon
(I wouldn't have found this post if I'd only checked my twitter just now!)
Hi Mark, like you Twitter has become my primary news source. That said, I do think every Twitter account should come with a years supply of either Ritalin or Adderall. If I didn't already have ADD — I sure do now.
I like both. and EventBox is trying to accomodate me; though these are early days.
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[...] Four Reasons Why Twitter is Better than Google Reader | Twitterrati I actually still use Google Reader quite a bit for certain Business related feed reading and resources, but I do agree that links from Twitter are great, which I pass to delicious and feed to my site. (tags: delicious googlereader bookmarks links twitter) [...]