Most bloggers spend a ton of time online, time that needs to be used as wisely as possible.  Speed shouldn’t simply be a factor of accomplishing something.  It should be the ability to use time more wisely, combining tasks, in order to have more time promoting and creating content for your blog.  A little known (or used) ability of most browsers including Firefox, Internet Explorer, Safari,and Opera, is the ability to add frequently visited sites or bookmarks in a bookmarks bar or through a keyword.

Firefox

While a bookmarks button has its uses, the keyword tool within Firefox has become extremely time saving.  Previously, to access GMail, Google Reader, or any frequently visited site, I would either have to find the shortcut button or else type in the address.  By using a short keyword, you’ll be able to navigate to a website using any words you’d like.  It also comes in hand when needing to open multiple tabs and not having to find the actual bookmark and speeding up “tabbing”.

Other tools: Use the bookmarks bar to add frequently accessed sites.  Additional configurations can also be used for forums and sites without “pretty” URLs.  [Mozilla.org]

To utilize: Right click a bookmark, click “Properties”, then add your shortcut key under “Keyword”.  Type the keyword into the URL bar, and the site will auto-complete.

Firefox Shortcuts 

Internet Explorer

In Internet Explorer, there is less support for easily finding the bookmark that you need on the spot due to the unmovable navigation bars.  However, you are still able to add favorites in the favorites bar and create shortcut keys.

To utilize: Right click on the site you have bookmarked, then click “Properties”.  Under shortcut key, designate the CTRL + ALT + KEY that you wish to use.  As previously stated, Internet Explorer is not user friendly for quick access to bookmarks.

Internet Explorer Shortcuts 

Opera

In terms of speed, Opera has several tools for bloggers to maximize the shortcut abilities of their browser.  First of all, you can use Speed Dial for quick thumbnail-response to the top nine (user-configurable) sites.  In addition, there is also a bookmarks bar (personal bar) which can be used to keep bookmarks.

Searching is also made easier by inputting “g” for Google or “y” for Yahoo! in front of any search from the address bar.

To utilize: Right click on the site you have bookmarked.  Under “Nickname”, define the shortcut key that you want to use.

Opera Shortcuts 

Safari

Safari has the ability to render pages faster than most other browsers, but again lacks any real way of speeding up the ability to quickly get to pages on demand.

In terms of bookmarking, you are able to use a bookmarks bar, bookmarks menu, and an auto-click feature, which opens all tabs within a particular folder.

Safari Shortcuts 

As always, it is more important the usability and functionality you receive from each browser and the tools that you can addon to them.  I have not covered all the abilities to make browsing quicker, such as auto complete or the different levels of bookmark management.  However, Firefox and Opera score the highest in the ability to quickly launch a frequently accessed site using as little time as possible.