Recently, Google has announced that Google Reader will be retired as of July 1^st of this year.  According to the official Google Reader blog, usage of this service has declined and Google has said they want to focus on fewer products to ensure better user experience.

Through my social media for public relations class, I have grown to love Google Reader and its amazing research powers, pulling in all the information I need to do my assignment and stay current in this area.  It has been my own personal research assistant since I set up my account, and I am truly sad to see it go.  Rest in peace.

But it’s time to stop mourning.  With death comes rebirth of new readers and existing alternatives.  For those of you who want to transfer their Google Reader data, you can use Google Takeout to download a copy of your files.  Russell Holly explains How to Painlessly Export Your Google Reader Feeds.

Here is how you export your data:

1. Go to google.com/takeout
2. Sign in with your Google account
3. Click “Choose Services” and select “Reader”
4. Once your stored information pops up, click “Create Archive” at the bottom of the page.  Google will download it to your computer.
5. This will be a .zip file.  Inside this you will find .json files that contain lists of people you follow, followers, notes, likes and other data.  Subscriptions will be under .xml files.  These are the most important because almost all other RSS feeds have an import feature where you can use that .xml file to restore all your subscriptions.

Now that you know how to export your data, you need somewhere to import this information.  I compiled lists that I found from Forbe’s Five Great RSS Reader Alternatives to Google Reader and LifeHacker’s Google Reader is Shutting Down; Here are the Best Alternatives.

Here are some other options to choose from when finding a new reader:

1.  Cloud-Based News Readers:  These are web-based RSS feeds, which are similar to Google Reader.  This would be the best option for those of you who want to read your feeds on multiple devices.

• NetVibes – offers a Google Reader-like interface, one of the most popular web readers
• NewsBlur – simple, fast, more sophisticated interface that is still similar to Google Reader, can read your feeds on any computer, have Android and iOS apps that will sync your feeds
• Feedly – popular, different than Google Reader, interface looks more like a newspaper
• The Old Reader – design is based off of Google Reader’s, most closely resembles it, but there is no mobile interface
• Digg – product doesn’t exist yet, was released on their blog that due to Google’s announcement their already-in-progress plans will become a priority to build a reader

2.  Desktop-Based News Readers:  Your other option is to choose a desktop app.  The upside is that they offer more features.  The downside is that they all sync with Google Reader.  So unless the developers find a way to sync with a different service, you will only be able to read the feeds on the device you used to subscribe to them.  For example, FeedDemon, a Windows app, has already announced their death along with Google Reader.  So as of now, your options are:

• Reeder – for Mac only, it isn’t free, must pay for it, beautiful design, is plugged into Google Reader but announced on Twitter that it would survive the shutdown, lets you download articles for reading offline
• Android or iOS-based feed readers

Google Reader doesn’t disappear until July so it might be a good idea to try out a few of these alternate readers to see what works for you.  Who knows, maybe by then, there will be more options, features and services available.