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RSS Feed ~ How to Subscribe
RSS Feed … it’s likely a term that you’ve heard of but not many of us understand what it is or how to subscribe to the blogs that we enjoy. LOL.
So what is an RSS Feed?
An RSS Feed according to Google in their Feed 101 information:
“Feeds are a way for websites large and small to distribute their content well beyond just visitors using browsers. Feeds permit subscription to regular updates, delivered automatically via a web portal, news reader, or in some cases good old email.”
If you visit a blog and you enjoy their content you can look to see if they offer an RSS Feed subscription. If you subscribe (either through a feed reader or through your email) you will be notified each time they update the blog. That way you won’t have to bookmark the site and check back every so often to see if they’ve updated their blog.
How to Subscribe
As I mentioned, if you visit a blog and you enjoy the content you should consider subscribing to their RSS Feed. You can either subscribe through a feed reader or through email delivery. This way you will be notified every time the blog has been updated. If you subscribe through a reader you will see the updates each time you check your feed reader. For example I use iGoogle as my homepage and there I have set up feeds to some of the blogs I follow.
By using iGoogle as my homepage and by setting up some of my favorite blogs in my Google feed reader I am able to take a glance at the newest post titles for each and then I can read the ones that interest me (see image below). I actually prefer having email subscriptions to the blogs I follow and that way the updates arrive in my inbox whenever there’s been new content added. Not all blogs offer the email option and it’s usually just a lack of set up knowledge on the blogger’s part.
You might have noticed the big orange arrow that points you in the right direction to subscribe to my RSS Feed. To the right of that arrow you have two choices for subscribing … either through a feed reader or through an email subscription (image below).
When you click on the “RSS Feed” option you will be taken to a page where you can choose how you want to subscribe (image below). It will give you some options for different feed readers or an option to subscribe through email.
If you click on the “Get Money Making Ideas ~ Suzanne Franco delivered by email” or on the “Email Subscription” button next to the orange arrow in my opt-in box it will activate a pop-up box (image below) where you can enter your email address. You will then be sent a confirmation email and you will need to click the link in the email to actually activate the feed delivery.
It’s really pretty simple to get subscribed to your favorite blogs through RSS Feed and I hope this has cleared up any confusion about how or why you’d want to subscribe. With that said … go ahead and subscribe for my RSS Feed right now!
Did you know how to subscribe to your favorite blogs? Do you prefer using a feed reader or receiving updates through your email? Do you have any questions about RSS Feeds or about how to get signed up for my RSS Feed? I’d love to hear your feedback and your questions. *SmiLes* Suzanne
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16 Comments
Dennis Edell
on 13th Oct, 08 06:10am
573 ?!?!?! Good Golly
[Reply]
Suzanne
on 13th Oct, 08 11:10pm
@ dennis ~ I saw your comment so early this morning (on my blackberry) that I must have gone back to sleep and forgot about it. LOL. I have a bunch of google alerts set up and they “gather” there … I usually see them in my inbox and don’t usually make it to that page to clear them out. For anyone who doesn’t know about google alerts it’s a great way to keep up with certain phrases or names … you can get an alert whenever it’s found on the internet. I’ve found out about others blogging about me this way and I’m able to go thank them right away … pretty neat huh? *SmiLes* S
[Reply]
Dennis Edell
on 14th Oct, 08 08:10pm
Ah ok, so they are not ALL blogs you read LOL
Thanks for the alert reminder, I’ve been meaning to set some up.
[Reply]
Navjot Singh
on 16th Oct, 08 12:10am
Thanks for the linkback. Appreciated.
[Reply]
Suzanne
on 16th Oct, 08 01:10am
@ navjot ~ you are quite welcome! well deserved and … any time! *huGs* Suzanne
[Reply]
Danny Brown
on 20th Oct, 08 09:10pm
I used to use the RSS feed all the time for keeping up-to-date with blogs, but it got too easy to forget to check on them all the time…
So, I cleaned out my RSS feeds to just include the blogs I really want to read, and I’ll subscribe via email now more than RSS. That way I know that I’m not missing anything – additionally, I can then store a particular post to read when I have more time, so I can really digest the information.
[Reply]
Dennis Edell
on 20th Oct, 08 11:10pm
I can’t stand readers for just that reason…it’s always an email subscription for me.
[Reply]
Suzanne
on 21st Oct, 08 04:10pm
@ danny and dennis ~ I too prefer an email subscription and that’s a great idea to go through the blogs in my reader and see which ones offer an email subscription and switch it over … not all offer it though. I get both of yours through email … thanks!
*SmiLes* Suzanne
[Reply]
Sarah Collins
on 24th Nov, 08 08:11pm
I’m your latest subscriber! I’m not sure how to pick up the freebie, but my vote is in!
[Reply]
Karen
on 24th Nov, 08 09:11pm
Thanks, Suzanne! I not only subscribed myself, but posted the information to several writing/editing groups where you might garner more subscribers. Good luck in the contest!
Karen
http://cfs-facts.blogspot.com/
Karen’s last blog post..IACFS/ME Newsletter
[Reply]
Kathy Kattenburg
on 24th Nov, 08 11:11pm
Good luck, suzanne!
Kathy Kattenburg’s last blog post..Thought of the Day
[Reply]
Kathy Kattenburg
on 25th Nov, 08 01:11am
Suzanne,
I tried this before, but I’m not sure I’m subscribed. I got an email from you saying I should subscribe via email. When I tried to reply to your email to me, it got bounced back to me. So please just consider this my subscription to your feed, and please reserve a spot for me in your boot camp.
Thanks!
Kathy Kattenburg
Kathy Kattenburg’s last blog post..Thought of the Day
[Reply]
Tiffany Braxton
on 25th Nov, 08 01:11am
Hi Suzanne,
Your blog is awesome, and I can see that you are truly enlightened:) I did subscribe to your blog via RSS Feed, and I am interested in a free seat in your Blogging Bootcamp, as you offered. Please let me know all the particulars for the bootcamp.
Thank you.
Tiffany
[Reply]
Cadry
on 25th Nov, 08 05:11am
AwEsOmE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
[Reply]
Hanna Kebbede
on 25th Nov, 08 10:11am
I subscribed to an RSS feed of your website – thanks for your generous offer to share tips on
[Reply]
Codrut Turcanu / Easy Article Writing
on 26th Nov, 08 04:11am
I don’t put too much focus on RSS alone, a real opt-in list is what makes a blog powerful because you could follow-up with your subscribers and broadcast other messages with readers.
FeedBurner can’t do that
[Reply]