RSS: How to set up an RSS reader (and how RSS can supercharge your life, save you time, and how to get started)

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What exactly is RSS...?

RSS stands for Really Simple Syndication.

Notice how it has the word 'simple' in it's name? That's there for a reason!

RSS simply means this: Content posted on a blog or news site can be pushed to you, instead of you going to look for it.

A bit like subscribing to a newsletter, but you get the fresh content in an 'RSS Reader' (not your inbox), and you can subscribe to anything where you see the orange RSS logo on the left. So you're not confined to just newsletter subscriptions. You can subscribe to almost anything.

Step 1. 

The first thing you need to do is get an idea of the Big Picture. How RSS and Google reader will work for YOU.

So here is a very handy video explaining it in plain English.

Video: RSS in Plain English

A short explanation of RSS and how it helps you save time reading the web. This video comes in an unbranded "presentation quality" version that can be licensed for use in the workplace. http://www.commoncraft.com/store-item/rss_plain_english

curated content from YouTube

Step 2. 

So what you need to do now is to sign up for an RSS reader.

I use and recommend 'Google Reader'. It's easy to use and understand, and you can customise your Google homepage to display the latest items on your reading list. So it's very useful because of that.

So go to google.com/reader and sign up (if you don't already have a google account, register for one). Once you've signed up for google reader you will be taken to a page that looks like this:

This is what Google Reader will look like when you first get there. With a nice welcome video too.

Step 3. 

So now that you've got yourself your RSS reader, you now need to start subscribing to some of the blogs you want to keep up with. So I will use one of my own blogs, SquidooCool.com, as the example.

First, click here to open SquidooCool in a new window/tab. This is just the example, but you can use any blog you can think of.

See the address bar?

What you need to do is copy the web address to your clipboard. So hightlight the web address, right click it, and click 'Copy'.

It's shown in the picture below.

Hightlight the web address, right click it, and click 'Copy'.

Step 4. 

Almost subscribed

Now, head back to google.com/reader.

You need to look on the left hand side of the google reader page and look for the link I've highlighted in the image below. Click 'Add Subscription', right click in the box that pops up, and Paste the blog link into the box. Now click save.

Congratulations. You have just subscribed to your first blog using RSS! :)

Look for this on the left of the Google reader page!

Step 5. 

Getting your feeds on your homepage:

Now that you've subscribed to a blog, it's time to make your feeds more accessible. Head to your google homepage. And look to the top right corner for 'igoogle'. Click the link, and you will see a page that will become your personalised google homepage.

The link is here:

iGoogle is your personalised homepage

Step 6. 

Now to add the Google Reader Widget to your iGoogle page

Now that you're on your iGoogle homepage, and you've subscribed yourself to at least 1 blog, you can now add the Google Reader widget to your iGoogle page.

You can do this by clicking on the link shown in the picture below (make sure you're signed into Google first):

This is where you click to add widgets to your homepage

Step 7. 

Now add the Reader widget

On the page the 'Add Stuff' link takes you to you, do the following 3 things:

1. Type 'reader' into the search box.
2. Add the widget titled "Google Reader (labs)"
3. Click Back to iGoogle homepage.

These 3 steps are shown here:

Follow the 3 steps above, and you will have your feeds on your iGoogle homepage!

And you're done! 

That's it!

You can now subscribe to as many blogs as you like, and when a blog is updated... it will show on your Google homepage! So every time you open your web browser or visit your homepage you will be able to see at a glance if any of your favourite blogs have been updated.

So go wild, subscribe to cool stuff, and post a comment below if this has helped you!

Thanks :)

P.S. 

Here's what you will finish up with!

A google homepage, with a little box which functions as your inbox to the WEB.

Just like the pictures below.

This is what your reader widget will look like, listing your new posts

And when you click one of the latest posts open, it pops up in a nice big speech bubble right there on your homepage!

Reader Feedback 





Lensmaster

littlesunflowers_com wrote...

That's excellent, just what I was looking for - thanks so much

ReplyPosted February 08, 2009

Lensmaster

twodogs2 wrote...

Thanks for breaking it down into steps I could understand.

ReplyPosted February 01, 2009

Lensmaster

MarcoG wrote...

Blummin great lens! 5* and a favourite from me! And that first video is AWESOME!

ReplyPosted September 25, 2008

Lensmaster

motorpurrr wrote...

Oh my gosh! Thank you soo much! I had no idea that existed. Oh man that's cool! I always wondered how to work those symbols. I thought they were like Digg or something. You are great and explain the things that people need to know.

ReplyPosted May 05, 2008

Lensmaster

Wanderingsalsero wrote...

Great! Now I finally know what to do with that intimidating looking pageful of code I see sometimes see when I click on an RSS subscribe button. Thnaks.

Art
the Wanderingsalsero

ReplyPosted May 04, 2008

Lensmaster

titanium_knights wrote...

Thank you Thank you!

ReplyPosted April 30, 2008

Lensmaster

CherylK wrote...

Very well put and easy to understand. I'm going to work on this right now! Thanks!

ReplyPosted April 23, 2008

Lensmaster

ms-giggles wrote...

I had know idea what a RSS was! I'm going to set mine up write now. They say there's know stupid questions, so here goes..How does this help my lens.
Thanks Beth

ReplyPosted April 18, 2008

Lensmaster

LaraineRose wrote...

Thank you for your help once again. 5 stars and favr'd.

ReplyPosted April 17, 2008

Lensmaster

Gizelle wrote...

Great teaching! You really are a wonderful teacher. Thank-you for another lesson well laid out, great content and guaranteed to expand my knowledge of Squidoo!

ReplyPosted April 02, 2008

Lensmaster

FoxMusic wrote...

Thanks for breaking it down to the nuts and bolts, Great Lens

ReplyPosted March 24, 2008

Lensmaster

kiwisoutback wrote...

Thanks for explaining this in plain english!

ReplyPosted March 10, 2008

Lensmaster

CarlaClayton wrote...

Thanks, that was exactly what I was looking for.

ReplyPosted March 09, 2008

Lensmaster

The_Book_Garden wrote...

Great tutorial! Will be using it very shortly!
I'm loving finding out about RSS and using it on my lenses!

ReplyPosted March 09, 2008

Lensmaster

writertiff wrote...

Ah, so THAT'S what it's all about. Okay! Gotcha. All set up and done. Thanks, Lewis! You rule, you know that?

ReplyPosted March 07, 2008

by MrLewisSmile

Hello! My name is Lewis. I wrote this page as a guide for everyone who wants to keep up with loads of different sites around the web.

And I want it t...

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