Google recently announced that their beloved Reader service will be no more after July 1, 2013. This came as a shock to many who have used it faithfully since 2005 to organize favorite websites and blogs for easy reading. After the initial panic subsided, various replacement services began to rise to the surface. While many can do the job, we think Feedly has emerged as the clear leader. It’s user friendly, pleasing to the eye, and most importantly, it offers a seamless transition for past Google Reader users with this simple process.
The Feedly site currently boasts 500,000 new users in the wake of Reader’s demise, and their focus on customer service is made apparent by their disclaimer that they are doing all they can to keep everything running smoothly despite the heavy traffic. Another perk is that user experience remains largely within the user’s control; subscribers can opt for a text-oriented view that recalls the Reader experience, or they can choose a more image-friendly view that is reminiscent of a magazine. The headline view is quick and efficient for hurried readers, and the magazine view works well for those who have the time to enjoy image-based posts.
Feedly makes it easy to share things via social media, and it hosts a Twitter connect that allows readers to see what their friends are recommending. Their mobile app is just as visually appealing as the desktop site and also offers different view options to customize the user experience. Google Reader fans will appreciate that Feedly uses the same keyboard shortcuts, along with an option to star – now “bookmark” – favorite posts.
Marketers can take Google Reader’s demise as an opportunity to import their feeds to this updated service, clean them up, and search for new industry blogs to follow. Thankfully, Feedly makes it easy to add new favorites – an easy way to stay on the forefront of the B2B marketing conversation.
What will you transition to after Google Reader shuts down?
Photo credit: Feestdagen
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