RSS is a technology that is being used by millions of web users around the world to keep track of their favorite websites in an easy way.
In simple terms, what RSS technology does is to get websites to tell you when they have updated their information. Then it 'collects' these updates for you and stores them in a suitable place for you to read, at a time when it is convenient for you.
It saves you time and helps you to get the information you want quickly after it was published.
RSS stands for ‘Really Simple Syndication’. Many people describe it as a ‘news feed’ that you subscribe to.
The best analogy is that of a 'subscription’. It’s like subscribing to a magazine that is delivered to you periodically but instead of it coming in your physical mail box each month when the magazine is published it is delivered to your ‘RSS Reader’ every time your favorite website updates its information.
How to Use RSS
You first need to get is an RSS Reader - which will allow you to read the RSS feeds you subscribe to. I use Google Reader and it works very well, as it looks like an email inbox which makes it very easy to read - here is a screenshot:
There are many feed readers going around with a variety of approaches and features - however a good place to start is with a free and easy to use web based one like Google Reader.
As you subscribe to feeds you’ll see that unread entries from the sites you’re tracking will be marked as bold. As you click on them you’ll see the latest update and can read it right there in the feed reader. You are given the option to click through to the actual site or move onto the next unread item - marking the last one as ‘read’.
The best way to learn how to use Google Reader is to simply subscribe to some feeds and give it a go. Both have helpful help sections to get you up and running.
Web Site RSS Buttons
When you have been on different websites, you may have noticed a lot of little orange buttons and widgets appearing like the one here. They come in all shapes and sizes.
There are plenty more - but any time you see any of these buttons or anything like them it means that the site you are viewing almost certainly has a feed that you can subscribe to.
In most cases it’s as simple as either copying and pasting the link associated with the button into your RSS Reader or clicking the button and following the instructions to subscribe using the feed reader of your choice.
Once you’ve done this and have subscribed to a few feeds you’ll begin to see unread items in your Feed Reader and you can start reading.
Make sure you start by clicking on the big orange button to the right, to subscribe to the feed from Sirona Social Media today!
Once you have started using RSS to collect all the websites and blogs you like reading, you will wonder how you ever coped without it!
