Google Reader and Webmaster Tools

ATTENTION: Google reader needs to be replaced!

Google Reader, and the Webmaster tools are invaluable ways to gather information about your website. Having one central Google account also allows you to benefit from a centralised administration accout that all team members can use when working on the website or social media.

Create a Google Account

Sign up here, or use an existing one. It should not be a personal account, but one to be shared within the smaller team.

Google Reader

http://www.google.com/reader

Google reader is one of the the most useful ways to accumulate information from the web in a structured manner using RSS feeds. It has some great tools, like "starring" articles you are interested in, tagging articles in feeds and then making your starred/tagged articles public in a new aggregated RSS feed that can plug into your website.

This allows you to quickly scan read the days news on water (for example), tag those articles that are relevant to your region and publish them on your website instantly. The articles could come from gwp.org, the toolbox or any other website.

Google Webmaster Tools

https://www.google.com/webmasters/tools

This is the most important account to create. The webmaster tools provide you with information on your website that you might not otherwise be able to find.

Most importantly it will help you prepare your backlink report when designing a new site.

When you sign up you will be asked to prove you own your domain.To do this you will need to get FTP access to your website (ask your existing webhost for this information). Please contact GWPO with this information (or your contact information at your current webhost) if you need assistance with this.