RSS Feeds: What are they and how do I use them?
RSS Feeds: What are they and how do I use them?
RSS feeds have been around since 1999! However, don’t feel like you have been “out of the loop” too badly. RSS feeds became popular in 2006. If you are not familiar with RSS feeds, then this will open up a whole new side of the web!
Why Should You Use RSS feeds?
Good, informational websites are updated often. When a website updates or adds new information, you often have to hunt for the information. Why not have that information delivered to you the moment it is posted? Enter RSS feeds.
You can set up multiple RSS feeds and view them all. All of the current, updated information is sent to you automatically. Simply scroll down your RSS reader and click on articles that interest you. When you click on an article, you are sent to that website to the exact article.
How Do You View RSS Feeds?
Not every website has RSS feeds. This website has one. If you are using Internet Explorer 7, you will notice the orange button is lit up. If you use FireFox, the icon is at the end of the field where you type in web addresses.
So, how do you use RSS Feeds?
1) If you have Outlook 2007. The latest version of Outlook is set up with a RSS feed folder where you can set up a feed in the same way you set up an email folder.
2) Google Reader. If you use iGoogle for your homepage, you can include a list of your favorite RSS feeds on your homepage.
3) For more information on setting up a RSS feed, see this article.
