Using Google Reader and Gmail together for productivity
December 12th
Daniel Pataki
Productivity
12 comments already, the latest by Tort King, why not join the discussion?
I have found that Google Reader and Gmail used together is the perfect tool for bloggers, or anyone who reads a lot of stories and wants to remember/cover them. While using Google Reader if I read something I want to write about, either here or in my upcoming personal blogs, or I just want to remember to get back to it, I don’t like to take the time to go to the site, bookmark it, organize that and so on.
Instead, what I do is, I just email myself the story. I have a Gmail account as well so the exchange is pretty much instantaneous, I now have my favorite stories in my inbox. Now this is the way to do it if you just read a few posts a day, but what if you actually need to organize this. Read on to take a look at how I organize all my info from Google Reader. I will utilize two methods I have posted about, Folders4Gmail and using the “+” sign to organize and filter Gmail email.
Our first step is to install Folders 4 Gmail, see the post on how to install it. Once that’s done, you should be able to create a folder structure. Let’s head on to the labels section in the settings and create a label named “stories” (I will of course allow you to choose a different name, I’m nice). In my case I save stories for two reasons, I either want to try something out, or post it on Hack Your Day, my personal blog or one of the blogs where I guest write (gHacks, MakeUseOf). I would create two additional labels accordingly, “stories/post”, “stories/try”.
- for all emails sent to “name+poststory@gmail.com” skip the inbox, and assign the “stories/post” label
- for all emails sent to “name+trystories@gmail.com” skip the inbox and assign the “stories/try” label
We’re ready to start reading posts! When you arrive at one you like, click the email button below the item and you will see a form to send an email. For email just type the applicable address (eg: name+poststory@gmail.com) and send it off. If you want to be super productive and organized, you can also change the title to “0001 – subject” so you can keep better track (I do this, now combined with my Moleskine).
When you take a look at you emails you should see new items under the posts, inside the story label. You have just organized some info very well, yay! I have also created a “stories/archive” label. When I posted/tried what I wanted I remove the original label and add the “stories/archive” label. This way I am left with a searchable database of all the things I posted about and tried.
Great tip Daniel!
I just tried it and it worked
just fine!
Thanks!
~Linda~
Thanks Linda!
It’s been working for me really well too because once you set it up it’s really easy to use
Great tip … however, I just wanted to point out that folders4gmail isn’t necessary in order to implement this … you can just create two different Gmail labels (to read and to try, or something like that). But otherwise, good stuff! Keep up the good work! I linked from the Zen Habits tumblelog.
Hi Leo!
Thanks for the comment and for the link, its an honor to be linked to from your blog. You’re absolutely right, I think I mis-phrased the whole post from that standpoint. The reason I use the folders 4 Gmail is it looks better organized, but it’s far from necessary
Thanks Dan,
wow, this is very useful and welcome to the MUO family.
Great stuff Daniel, keep up the great work. All the guys over at AskTheAdmin.com read your feed and love it.
Can anyone tell me how I can use Gmail WITHOUT the annoying CALENDAR and READER? I do not need these two, and do not want to see them every time I check my mail.
You can’t hack gmail. That is b.s. My computer guy said it isn’t possible. ticketslayer@gmail.com LOL