Welcome to the Potted Guide to RSS

Information comes at us all day, every day “Getting information off the Internet is like taking a drink from a fire hydrant” (Mitchell Kapor) Image Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/will-lion/2595497078/sizes/o/

We want that information. And we want it. Now! “There’s no patience on the Internet” (Lee Siegal, author of Against the Machine: Being Human in the Age of the Electronic Mob, in an interview with BBC Click” Image Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/will-lion/2618968915/

The web is full of a myriad of stuff. Some of it useful. Some of it not.

And it’s all available, 24/7

Question

How do you know when new content arrives on the sites you want to read?

You have to go to each site you like and check

Which is okay initially…

But the more interesting sites and resources you find… the more there is to check…

… and it can quickly get overwhelming!

… and information overload strikes!

So, what can we do about the overload?

Can we make the web come to us?

YES!

Just think ‘RSS’

‘Really Simple Syndication’ – the web brought to your virtual door

Instead of you having to go and check all of your sites

RSS makes the bits of the web you want, come directly to you

And delivers them neatly to one location

Where you can read them at leisure

Sounds great! So, how do you use RSS?

The good news is that there are just two steps

Step 1

Set up a ‘home’ where your fresh web content can arrive

There are lots of virtual homes out there; from Google Reader to Bloglines, Newsgator, My Yahoo, Netvibes etc. The choice is yours. Pick the Reader that suits you.

Signing up to one of these services is generally free and is normally extremely straightforward

Having acquired a Reader, you’re ready for Step 2.

Subscribe to the sites you want to keep track of wherever you see the RSS logo

RSS Logo – which generally looks like an orange square shape

It may just appears as the word ‘RSS’ or it may be the logo…

… but once you know what it does, you’ll start to see it everywhere you go on the web!

Then, all you need to do to check for new content is to go to your Reader

… and it’ll be there waiting for you

Here’s an example. This is what RSS feeds look like in Google Reader

It may look rather complicated…

… but the key areas are the subscriptions area to the left

And on the right hand side…

The new content which appears ready for you to scroll through, read and share. Different Readers have different options available, and it’s worth exploring what your Reader can do!

We live in an age of information

… and RSS helps give you back control over that information!

“Overall, 53% of online users are consuming content outside of a publisher’s site – through the use of widgets, RSS readers, social networks and mobile devices” (Richard MacManus describing a Universal McCann report) Image Source: Flickr, http://www.flickr.com/photos/will-lion/2782028407/sizes/o/

Why not have a go today?

Why not have a go with RSS feeds today? See what lands on your virtual doormat. I’m Sarah Horrigan and this has been the Potted Guide to RSS. I hope you’ve found it useful!

The Potted Guide to… RSS

The Web is full of stuff…

All available 24/7

Question

How do you know new content is there?

You have to go and check

Which is okay initially…

But the more you find… the more there is to check…

… and it can quickly get overwhelming

Information overload strikes!

What can we do about the overload?

Can we make the web come to us?

YES

Think “RSS”

“Really Simple Syndication” – the web brought to your door

RSS has this effect…

It makes the bits of the web you want, come to you

And delivers them neatly to one location

For you to read when you choose

So, how do you use RSS?

There are just two steps…

Step 1.

Set up a ‘home’ for your fresh web content

There are lots of ‘homes’ out there: www.google.com/reader www.bloglines.com www.newsgator.com

www.google.com/reader Signing up is easy…

Step 2.

… subscribe to sites wherever you see the RSS logo

It may just be the word “RSS” or it may be the logo…

… but once you know what it does, you’ll see it everywhere!

Then, all you need to do to check for new content is go to your Reader…

… and it’ll be there waiting for you!

An example. RSS feeds in Google Reader…

We live in an age of information

RSS gives you back control!

Why not have a go?

The Potted Guide to… RSS ~ The End ~ Sarah Horrigan, 2009