Feed Readers de-mystified

I wrote all these instructions for a friend and thought I'd pass them on. I find using a feed reader and getting feeds from web sites I'm interested in to be a big part of how I use the net. Plus I'm hoping you'll read my blog!

So what's all this about RSS (Real Simple Syndication - and it's true!) Feeds? Basically having a feed reader (called an aggregator) and subscribing to feeds can keep you in touch with information and people you are interested in. You pick the content. You can add and delete sites at will so you can hone the content over time. Basically whenever you boot your feed reader you can expect to see content YOU are interested in. So it's a bit like opening a birthday card everytime you boot up.

Feed readers exist on the net. You do not need to download anything to your hard drive. And they're FREE.

Below are instructions for getting Google Reader. I chose this one because it's what I use and it's easy.

Here's how it works. It's a couple of step process all of which are easy.

1. To use Google reader you must have a gMail account. It's free and you don't have to use gMail as your email program. You just have to have an account. In the Google search box type in gmail and they'll give you directions. Make sure you note your new user name and password.

When you sign up for an RSS "feed" you tell your reader (in this case Google Reader) to note whenever new content comes up on a page. Notifications for any pages you're receiving the feed from are stored in one central place: Google Reader. This is not like email notifications which can flood your inbox. You only see the new content when you go to Google Reader. You control when you look at the new content by choosing when to go to Google Reader. To receive RSS Feeds you must sign up for a reader. No biggie


2. Get a Google Reader account. In the Google search box type in Google Reader and follow the directions. This account will be your personal reader page. When you log in using your gmail user name and password it will automatically bring up YOUR page with all YOUR specifications.

Bookmark YOUR google reader home page. That way it will always be easy to find.

FOLLOW THE TWO STEPS ABOVE AND THEN WE'LL GET YOU A COUPLE OF FEEDS.

Now:
3. Sign up for RSS Feeds. Web pages who's information changes daily often have an RSS Feed icon. It's a little square icon in the URL bar and usually orange or blue. Sometimes it's on the page somewhere instead. In the page itself it's usually an orange square w/ RSS in it.

(Unabashed pitch coming up...)

Here's how to sign up for my blog:
Here you are at maybethinking.com
See the little square on the right side of the URL bar? Click on it and if there's a pull down menu: choose RSS. That will lead to a page which has two choices: Chose ADD TO GOOGLE READER.
You have now told Google Reader that anytime new content appears on maybethinking.com to let you know.

Once you click on ADD TO GOGLE READER you are taken to the Google Reader page. You're done. You have signed up for a feed.

How will you know when there are new items to read?
When you go to the Google Reader Homepage you bookmarked, headlines and a snippet of copy will appear for any NEW content. Check it as often as you like-once a day, twice a day. Whenever. Remember-the only content you're going to hear about is from web pages you have chosen

Once you get going you can start making folders to keep the feeds straight. Some of my folders are fun, work, photography etc.

Now look for another site you're interested in. If you read web sites that change their content often; CNN, Vanity Fair, Scientific Gardeners etc. they may well have feeds. Usually you will find feeds on sites who's content changes daily. Find another site and sign up for it's feed. Keep in mind, if you find you aren't interested in the site's content you can easily delete the feed.

Now, in the Google Reader page you should see about 10 stories per feed you signed up for. When you sign up for a new feed the reader will display the 10 most recent posts. If you see a headline that interests you click on the headline and you will be taken to the original page. Read the story then go back to the reader. At the bottom of the reader page are two buttons: Previous Item and Next Item. Use the Next Item button to go down the list of headlines. Every time you go to the next headline it becomes marked as read. That's the way the reader knows you've seen it.
And once it's marked as read it goes away.

So the next time you open the reader (by using that handy bookmark), the items you have already seen will not be there. Only NEW content will be displayed.

It's a great way to keep up with stuff you're interested in.


OK - that's my $.02 worth. Check it out. And don't be afraid to sign up for feeds. You can always delete the source if you decide they rarely have anything of interest to you. It's a honing process. I'm always adding and deleting feed sources.

Let me know how it goes.

Michele