Google IG Tips

Ronda's friend Beth had a post about her Google IG page and it made me want to share how I keep up on my favorite blogs. I have a tab on my Google IG page that is devoted entirely to the blogs I like to read. That way, when someone updates their blog, I can see in one glance on my homepage that there is a new post to read! It doesn't get any better than that.

1. First step is getting a Google Account. Chances are if you have a blog, or post to a blog at Blogger, you might already have an account. If you have gmail, you for sure have a Google Account. Go to Google IG and try to sign in with the username and password that you use for Blogger or Gmail and see what happens. If you have to create a new account, it's not a big deal, just go to Google New Accounts and set one up.

2. Once you get your Google Account, you can set Google IG as your home page.

3. I have a separate tab just for my blogs. It looks like this:

4. On your Google IG page, you'll see a Home tab and an Add a tab link on the left side of the page below the Google search box. Click Add a Tab. You'll be prompted to name the tab, and offered the option to have it filled with gadgets that are automatically chosen based on the tab's name. Just uncheck that box.

5. To add a blog to your Google IG page, first go to the blog and find Subscribe to: Posts (Atom) at the bottom of the page. Click it.
   a. If you are using Mozilla Firefox you can select Google from "Subscribe to this feed using" drop down box then click Subscribe Now.Select Add To Google Homepage
   
   b. If you are using Internet Explorer, click on the Subscribe to: Posts (Atom) but don't click "Subscribe to this feed." Instead you are going to copy the URL (address that starts with http://). On a PC, right click on the address and select Copy from the quick menu. On a MAC, hold control down on the keyboard and click on the address and select Copy from the quick menu. Back at your Google IG page, click Add Stuff on the upper right side of the page.
   Along the left side of the page click on Add RSS Feed (you don't have to know what that means) this is where you are going to right click or control click and paste that address you just copied. Don't forget to click Add.

6. Now you can customize the gadget by clicking the little down arrow on the upper right corner of the gadget. I like mine to display 3-5 items. You can also drag and drop the different gadgets where you'd like them on the page.
   

Once you get your gadgets all set up on a page you can just share the entire tab with your friends so they don't have to go through all the pain and suffering of setting it up. Let me know if you'd like me to share mine with you :o)