How to Subscribe to BloggingTricks or Other Blogs
What the Heck is RSS? And why should I care?
Good questions.
RSS is a simply an Internet technology standard that allows busy people to receive updates to web-based content of interest.
You can read what Wikipedia has to say about it if you want more info, but basically, thatí's the essence of an RSS feed. You subscribe and then receive new content automatically in your feed reader.
If you actually want to know the technical details about how RSS works, visit the XML site.
What the heck is a feed reader?
You may already be using a form of feed reader, and not even realize it. Many web-browsers have built-in feed readers. If you use personalized home page services like My Yahoo or My MSN, you have got RSS capabilities built in. That is how syndicated content like news, weather and stock quotes appears on your personal page. You can also add content from any blog or other site that uses RSS to provide updates.
Other web-based tools are dedicated feed readers. One of the most popular web-based feed readers at this point is Bloglines, and it's also free and easy to get started with.
If you use the Firefox browser, you can also receive RSS feeds from your tool bar by using the Live Bookmarks function. The next version of Microsoft's Internet Explorer will add this feature as well.
Finally, there are desktop-based feed readers. These function somewhat like an email program for feeds. Examples include Newsgator and Feed Demon.
If it sounds complicated, it's really not. And things will get even easier when the next version of Microsoft Outlook integrates feed-reading capabilities. So, you'll have the same convenience that email subscriptions offered in the old days, without any of the terrible consequences of giving out your email address to potentially unscrupulous characters.
Sounds good. So how do I subscribe to a Feed?
First of all, look for the subscription or feed options (some bloggers make this difficult for some odd reason). You might see a variety of buttons (amusingly called chicklets).
If the site you want to subscribe to uses FeedBurner to aid in the subscription process, you'll likely see the standard RSS icon. Clicking on the icon takes you to a page that gives you a choice of feed readers. You can select your favorite and you're good to go from there.
Sometimes there will be a chicklet for your particular reader right on the blog that will take you to the appropriate subscription page. Bloggingtricks has a bunch of them in our side bar.
Finally, you may also see little orange buttons that say XML or RSS. Often these chicklets will take you to a page that looks like code gibberish. In this case, you simply cut and paste the page URL from your browser window and manually paste it into your feed reader subscription function.
Hopefully this last method will soon disappear, never to be seen again.
And here's why you should care. Unlike getting website updates or ezines by email, RSS feeds give you absolute, 100% complete control over the situation.
You don't have to reveal your email address. If you want to stop receiving content, you don't have to request to be ìtaken off the list.
One click, and poof - the subscription is gone.
Plus, since there's no email address involved, there's no way a publisher can sell, rent or give away the means to contact you.
That's right - no more spam, viruses, phishing, or identity theft. And best of all, no reason to put yourself at the mercy of the publisherís intentions.
You wont need to suffer through the legalese in the privacy policy (if there is one) looking for loopholes that will send you deeper into inbox hell. No more setting up dummy Hotmail accounts "just in case."
Again, if you don't like the content, you can make it disappear as fast as you can change a TV channel...with just one click.
In summary: RSS solves BIG problems.
RSS is being adopted at a phenomenal rate, because it's a good thing for everyone.
The benefit to readers is obvious. And it's good for publishers too, because we want to make sure that people feel comfortable subscribing, and that our message is not nuked by an overzealous spam filter.
If there's anything here that is confusing, or you have a question, please contact me and I'll be happy to help! You can call me at 253-851-5542 or email info@bloggingtricks.com.
Thanks to Copyblogger for a helping hand with part of this tutorial.