How to Use Pocket to Save Time {Bloggiesta Mini-Challenge}

Bloggiesta Mini-Challenge

Updated March 15, 2014

Links are constantly catching my attention, saying OPEN ME, LOOK AT ME, READ ME!! But most of the time when I’m perusing Twitter or going through my feed subscriptions on Feedly, I don’t have time to read an entire article or watch a video right there and then. So what’s a vixen to do? Save it for later – in Pocket.

Pocket

What is Pocket?

Pocket (formally known as Read It Later) is an internet browser extension and mobile app that allows you to save links to read later. It syncs to your computer and your mobile device automatically and can be viewed anytime, even offline.


Why Use Pocket?

I am constantly finding interesting links on Twitter. There are book reviews I want to read, posts I want to comment on, book recommendations I want to check out on Goodreads, deals and freebies to grab on Amazon – you get the idea – but I’m not always able to get to them RIGHT NOW. At one point I was marking these tweets as ‘favorites’ but that soon got out of control. Then I was emailing tweets to myself and flooding my inbox.

And how often do you dread opening your feed reader because you know you’re going to see a mass amount of unread items to read? How many times have you declared feed reader bankruptcy and performed a bulk delete? With Pocket, it’s easy to go through my feed subscriptions and save the articles I’m interested in reading for later. Then when I have the time, I go through my Pocket and read them.

Note: Pocket is fully compatible with Feedly but not so much with Bloglovin. With Feedly, you can easily save items to your Pocket from the website and the mobile app. With Bloglovin, you can save items to your Pocket from the website, however there is no Pocket option in the Bloglovin mobile app.


How to Use Pocket

I’m going to show you how I use Pocket. Since the two main places I get links from are Twitter and Feedly, that’s what I’m going to demonstrate.

Chances are you’re already using one of the many Twitter apps that support Pocket. Even the Official Twitter app for iOS supports Pocket. And there are many news and RSS apps that support Pocket as well. I use the Tweetbot app for Twitter and Feedly to access my feed subscriptions so I will be using snapshots from these two applications in my demonstration. I will also include a snapshot showing how to save a link to Pocket on the Bloglovin website.

How to Save Links to Pocket

Save to Pocket from Twitter via browser extension

From twitter.com, click on the Pocket hyperlink:

Pocket on Twitter

Then you’ll see this confirmation message:

Pocket confirmation


Save to Pocket from Twitter via mobile app

From your Twitter app, press and hold the link and this menu will pop up:

Pocket in Tweetbot

Select Send to Pocket and you’re done.


Save to Pocket from Feedly website

From the Feedly website, click on the Pocket icon:

Pocket in Feedly

Then you’ll see this confirmation message:

Pocket confirmation


Save to Pocket from Feedly via mobile app

From the Feedly mobile app, click on the Pocket icon:

 Pocket in the Feedly app

You will then get a confirmation that it was saved to your Pocket.


Save to Pocket from Bloglovin website

From the Bloglovin website, right-click on the link you wish to save:

right click save to Pocket

And click Save to Pocket.


How to Access Links in Your Pocket

Via browser extension

Pull up the Pocket website:

Pocket

And there are all the links you’ve saved to Pocket. 


Via mobile app

Open the Pocket app and you’ll be taken to your queue:

Pocket


How to Get Pocket

First, you’ll need to sign up for a free account on their website. Once you’ve signed up, bookmark Pocket so you can get to your Pocket queue quickly and easily.

You can install an extension for your internet browser (Chrome, Firefox, Opera, Safari) or get one of the web based apps or desktop apps. This will help you save stuff to Pocket from your browser.

TIP: I prefer using the Pickpocket Chrome extension, as opposed to the Pocket extension. With the Pocket extension, when you click on the Pocket icon you get taken to your queue on the Pocket site. With the Pickpocket extension, when you click on the extension icon, all the items in your Pocket appear in a pop up.

If you have a mobile device, you can download the Pocket app. It’s available for iOS (iPod Touch, iPhone, and iPad), Android, Kindle Fire, Blackberry, and more. 

The Challenge

For this Bloggiesta mini-challenge:

  1. Go to Pocket and sign up for a free account.
  2. Install an extension for your internet browser (Chrome, Firefox, Opera, Safari).
  3. If you have a mobile device, download the Pocket app. (If you don’t have a mobile device, you can skip this step.)
  4. Save an item to your Pocket via the Pocket extension
  5. Save an item to your Pocket via the Pocket app. (If you don’t have a mobile device, you can skip this step.)

 

When you’ve completed the challenge, come back here and leave a comment and share your Pocket experience with us. Let us know how you like Pocket and how you plan to use it. And if you have any questions, feel free to ask them in the comments!

About Brianna: Supermom by day, naughty reader by night. Addicted to chocolate, Twitter, her iPad, her Kindle, and 99¢ Kindle deals. You can follow Brianna on Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, and Instagram.

77 comments:

  1. OMG I have never heard of Pocket---now I must get it :) Seriously it would be totally helpful in managing my "social and commenting hour"--I spend at least 10 min of it tracking down what it was I wanted to comment on!

    ReplyDelete
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    1. That is one of the ways I use Pocket as well - track stuff during the week and commenting during the weekend. I use Pocket on a daily basis and can't image life without it! LOL

      Delete
  2. Wow, we used to have the *exact* same method for keeping track (poorly) of articles and posts we wanted to read - favouriting, and then later, e-mailing to ourselves. You are right, you can lose track so easily this way and it also makes for a very messy system. I found Pocket a few months ago and LOVE it! It makes things so much easier and is a huge time saver too.

    One thing I have noticed is that the Pocket app takes up a LOT of space on my phone (Android) if I let it download all the articles so I can read them. So what I do is stop it when it starts doing this, and then I just read the articles on my computer.

    Overall, great post! I hope more people learn about this great service and use it :)

    ReplyDelete
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    1. One thing I have noticed is that the Pocket app takes up a LOT of space on my phone (Android) if I let it download all the articles so I can read them. So what I do is stop it when it starts doing this, and then I just read the articles on my computer.

      Thanks for mentioning this. I use Pocket on my iTouch and haven't noticed this but obviously an iTouch is different from an actual smart phone and Apple is different from a Droid as well.

      I'll read some of the stuff I save on Pocket from my iTouch but I do most of the reading on my computer. I like to see things in full size :)

      Delete
  3. You are my hero!! Seriously - how did I not know this existed?? (I have a long drawn out process for stuff like this... and this just cut my time in half!)

    -Jac @ For Love and Books

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  4. How did I not know about this?! You, my Vixen friend, rule!

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  5. This sounds like a fantastic app. I used to use Delicious, but now star posts in Google Reader. I know you said it didn't work for you, but I usually check my starred posts every Sunday.

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  6. Thanks so much for pointing out this app. I would often end up emailing it to myself (and it might get lost in the emails, not to mention I don't need more to wade through, lol). I have already downloaded it for Chrome and added the app to my Kindle Fire. Thanks again :)

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  7. Wow, that was easy. I just put this post in my Pocket, haha! Thanks TBV!

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    1. I just found out Astrid (which I am using for another challenge) also does this, but Pocket looks better.

      I'm using it on 2 mobile devices and my browser now. Great find! http://www.readnowsleeplater.com/2012/09/bloggiesta-2012.html

      Delete
  8. This is so cool! I've always been one to bookmark and then go back, but I'd always forget where the bookmarks for the stuff I wanted to comment on are. Thanks for the heads up! I added it to all of my devices. ;)

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  9. I had totally forgotten about this! I downloaded it to my pc and my iphone. I bet this will help me remember what I want to read and comment on later.

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  10. So, this is UBER COOL. I love that you can tag items too.
    I got sad for a minute, because I couldn't find the icon in Google Reader, but it's on the left side for me.

    Thanks, Brianna!

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  11. This is the coolest idea, and one that seems like it will actually be useful and practical for me to use. I've added it to my computer stuff and my iphone and now I feel like im all set!

    Thanks so much for sharing this with us! :)

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  12. Oh my, that is so practical! Sometimes, I have so many tabs that my browser is terribly show. Most of the time, I visit everybody who leaves a comment on my blog and I open their link while I scroll to the next comment. I will put their link in my Pocket now, so I can visit them later :D Thanks!

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  13. .. I'm not sure if my post was published. So again;

    I'm going to use it. Thank you so much, that's so practical! I always want to visit everybody who leaves a comment and sometimes I have so much tabs, my browser gets slow. Now, I can put them in My pocket :D

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  14. I've never even heard of this! Very cool. I usually star things in my Google Reader, or in Twitter if I want to go back to them. Or I'll take some notes about an article.

    This is a great idea!

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  15. I love the idea of this app, I've been unsuccessfully keeping track of links in all the ways you mention. I got Pocket on my mac but apparently it's not available in the app store for Belgium, where I live, so I can't get it for my iPhone and iPad. So annoying!

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    Replies
    1. Pocket experienced some technical difficulties during their last update (for iOS6) and I believe they have removed the app from the App store to fix the bugs. They resubmitted the app to Apple and I believe it's waiting for approval. Maybe that's why you couldn't get it? I hope it's not geo restricted.

      Delete
  16. This is absolutely Brilliant!! If I learn nothing else or get anything further completed from the Bloggiesta I am satisfied! It was so easy to sign up and add on my phone. I like how I can save something on my phone and read it on the computer, I hate reading on my phone but often times thats all I have available. I am so looking forward to using this app and program, thank you so much for sharing it!

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  17. I loved this and already started using on the mini-challenges. Great post and thanks for the help!

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  18. I signed up for pocket online and added articles through twitter, I couldn't find the I phone app :(
    Great Challenge
    Kai
    fictionstateofmind@gmail.com

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    1. There were some bugs in the latest update for Pocket and I believe they removed the app from the App Store to work out the kinks. Pocket has worked out the kinks and re-submitted the app to Apple and are waiting for Apple's approval. Hopefully it will return to the App Store soon!

      Delete
  19. I love this app already! I had this link of JK Rowling videos I wanted to watch and I favorited it on twitter but I knew it was only a matter of time before I forgot it. Thanks so much for this challenge! :)

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  20. I signed up online and transferred 5 articles through twitter, couldn't find the I phone app :(

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  21. How have I not heard of this before?! This is really helpful. I've added the mini-challenges and a couple of new book reviews I want to check out later on. Thanks for this post!

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  22. I downloaded Pocket onto my iPad, but it refused to load properly or let me do anything. I guess I will keep it online, or see if having the account first helps. Will let you know how it turns out :)

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    1. There were some bugs in the latest update for the Pocket iOS app. They've fixed the bugs and it's pending Apple's approval. I'll update here, in the general comments section, when I see that the app has returned to the App Store. You might need to delete and reinstall the app.

      I'm following @Pocket on Twitter for updates.

      Delete
  23. Oh wow!! I am finding out about AMAZING things in these mini-challenges. I just leave a millions webpages open if I want to go back to them later and then just open the laptop later that night to read them. This will be quite helpful!!

    Angie

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  24. Ohhh this is going to be HANDY, thanks! I can't seem to find the iphone app though..hmph. I'll keep trying! Also, how do I get this on Twitter. Am I missing something?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There were some bugs in the latest update for Pocket and I believe they removed the app from the App Store to work out the kinks. Pocket has worked out the kinks and re-submitted the app to Apple and are waiting for Apple's approval. Hopefully it will return to the App Store soon!

      Glad you got the Twitter thing figured out :)

      Delete
  25. Whoops, it is on Twitter! ;) Thanks again!

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  26. Okay, help! I have figured it on my computer, BUT the mobile devices (phone and Kindle Fire)I'm not figuring out! I downloaded the apps, but now I'm not seeing the pocket symbol or the link of which you speak. What am I doing wrong. It's on my mobile devices that I always want to save for later. Blah!

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  27. Okay maybe I figured it out now! I knew if I complained that would help me solve the problem! I have to hit the SHARE icon and then the pocket option comes up. Yes?

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    Replies
    1. Yes, touch the SHARE icon and a menu pops up. Click on READ IT LATER. Read it Later = Pocket ;)

      Delete
  28. Hey guys, little FYI. Pocket did an update to their mobile version and something got messed up. It isn't available in the Apple app store right now but they "hope to have this issue resolved as quickly as we can, and we apologize for any inconvenience." So hold tight, sounds like it will be back.

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    1. I was just replying to comments who were having problems that were related to this LOL

      Delete
    2. And when I saw that on their Twitter feed last night, I thought what great timing O_o

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    3. LOL, I saw that in my email box ;) Ah well, you can never have too much info right? I'm waiting for them to get it figured out because I think this is going to be the handiest of the handy! Thanks again for posting about it!

      Delete
    4. I just hope it gets approved and back in the App Store soon so people can start using it. I use it every single day. I'm constantly saving links! LOL

      Delete
  29. Thank you for this! lol It's going to be super helpful, I'm always opening links and then having a million tabs to go through. Then somedays I don't get a chance to read them all and have to leave my computer on so I don't forget. So should be fun trying this out!

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  30. I'd never heard of Pocket before. Wow, it's super easy to install and use. My only question is this - you talk about Twitter but I don't see an app to use off the computer, just mobile apps. Which one do you use?

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    1. I have a pic in the post that shows the little Pocket icon. The icon will only show up if (1) you have installed the Pocket browser extension and (2) there is a link in the tweet. And this is from Twitter's main website (www.twitter.com).

      If that didn't answer your question, let me know :)

      Delete
  31. Pocket is exactly what I needed, I just didn't know it yet! I signed up for Pocket, downloaded the app and added it to my Firefox. The first thing I've pocketed was a tweet link from my friend, Andrea. It's going to be sooooo much better than leaving posts marked as unread or starred when I'm going through my google reader! Thank you!

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    1. Pocket is exactly what I needed, I just didn't know it yet!

      I know, right?

      Delete
  32. This is pretty cool! Unfortunately, because of an update with the iOS app, it's not available in the iTunes store to download on to my phone right now. But, I'll definitely be putting it on when it comes available again. I did add the extension and put something in my queue from Google Reader. Not sure how to make it work with Twitter, though, because the Pocket thing you have in your screen shots doesn't show up in my Twitter feed. I'm sure I'll figure it out, though. Thanks for sharing this!

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    1. Let me know if you haven't been able to figure out using Pocket with Twitter; I'll walk you thru it :)

      Delete
  33. Wow, this is exactly what I needed to hear about Pocket! I've had it installed but wasn't using it at all, but this post made me realize that my method for keeping track of posts I wanted to read later (like starring in Google Reader) really wasn't working. Definitely incorporating this into my daily browsing!

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  34. It's going to take a little longer for me to start using Pocket. Apparently there is a little difficulty with Pocket right now and iPads. Hopefully it will be resolved soon!

    Here's my ¡Olé! ¡Vamos a Bloggiesta! I hope you will stop by!

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  35. Ooo... just got Pocket because one of my Bloggiesta goals was "clean out Google Stars." If I just move those posts to Pocket, I technically cleaned out the stars and can check off that goal right? ;)

    (Sadly, one of my other completed goals was transferring domain hosts, which means the blogs will be down for about a day while things get redirected. Oops. Had I known, I would have done that *after* Bloggiesta. Ah well.)

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    1. Totally works!! You check off an item off your list AND you complete a mini-challenge - win-win!

      Hope the transition smoothed out for you!

      Delete
  36. I did this one at the last minute. I seem to remember Read It Later but never got it. Pocket was a little tricky to figure out at first. I couldn't find the info I needed but I got it now. I'll use it to store links for my Friday posts.

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  37. Great idea! I signed up, added it to my favorites bar, and have already saved several posts to read later. Thank you!

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  38. This is awesome! Totally downloaded it and am now using it! :D

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  39. I am amazed I have never heard about Pocket before this and just signed up for it. I can use this for keeping track of research, reading and all kinds of other stuff. What a great find!

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  40. Oh my, how did I not know about this? This is just awesome. I have started using it with Google reader for posts I want to follow comments on. I lovely it.

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  41. The iOS app for Pocket is back in the App Store!!

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  42. Thank you so much for posting about this! I had never heard of Pocket before. I know have the extension for Firefox, on my iOS device and my Kindle Fire! I shall never miss an article due to lack of a bookmarking system again. :)

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  43. Thanks for the introduction to Pocket, Brianna! Well needed. I installed it on firefox...is it the little down arrow on the right side of the url line?

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  44. Whoops--ignore that question. Just figured it out when I logged in! :-)

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  45. Wow! Thanks for telling us about this! I just downloaded it and I know I'm going to be using this all the time now! :))

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  46. I bookmarked this awhile ago to learn. I just installed it on my Smart Phone and my tablet (both Android). Off to play. ;) Thanks for the tutorial on how to use it.

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  47. Oh my! You had to do it and post this post about Pocket! I swear it was MADE for me. I am always trying to remember where I saw what and when. I am stoked it works on my Ipod too!
    Thank you for the tutorial..

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  48. Yesss, Pocket! Big fan! And there's a desktop version now! :D

    Unfortunately it's on my bloggiesta goal-list for a very different reason: I have to declutter it ;_; Had too little time to read, now it's overflown! (And a mash-up between "Have to read this"/"This is a reference for a blogpost/Resource/etc")
    Got some sorting to do!

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    Replies
    1. It is very easy to fill Pocket. There are times when I look and there's 100+ items in my Pocket. LOL

      Delete
  49. I found this trough bloggiesta 2013. So far it seems like a super useful app, especially for round up posts. Thanks for the great tutorial.

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  50. I LOVE POCKET! I actually just discovered it a few weeks ago at grad school orientation. One of the professors did a whole video tutorial about how to use it because we're required to be up to date on current events (it's a public policy program). I absolutely love it! I'm so excited that other people are spreading the pocket love. Thanks for hosting!

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    1. That is really neat that your professor did a tutorial on Pocket. I use Pocket every day and can't imagine not having it.

      Delete
  51. Very handy MC! I use Pocket a lot, it was a mess before I had proper tagging. A few that helped me easily find what I need is "comment", "prompt", and just various subjects. And checking it regularly helps (^_^;)\

    I'd like to add that when you use android, you can use the share button everywhere to add to pocket! This goes for browsers, apps, twitter, images, everything! Just click share and "add to pocket". Same goes for Pinterest btw ;-)

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    Replies
    1. I don't even use tags. I'm missing out!! I need to look into this.

      Delete
  52. Great post. Just signed up AND for Feedly and Bloglovin as well. Thanks for the great advice!

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  53. Thanks for the great advice. Just signed up for Pocket AND Feedly AND Bloglovin'. Looking forward to this new way to track my "TBR" posts and articles! Thanks!

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  54. Just found this post and immediately downloaded this app. Yes, this is awesome! How many times have I left my browser open with like 10 windows because I want to reference or read later. Thank you, thank you so much!

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