10 Steps to becoming an RSS user

Here are the 10 simple, painless steps to becoming an RSS user:

1. Decide whether you want to read your news online (with a “server-side” or “web-based” newsreader) or on your computer (with a desktop newsreader). Some thoughts:
   • Online newsreaders are web sites that let you read RSS feeds from within your web browser. They are good for people who have frequent or constant Internet access, who use more than one computer, need to read news while on the road using other computers, or reading news via public terminals. They also offer more options to Mac users and other non-Windows users since there are fewer desktop newsreaders for Macs.
   • Desktop newsreaders download the news to your computer, and let you read your news inside a dedicated software program. They are good for people who want to read news even when they’re not connected to the Internet (for example on their laptop on an airplane, or at home with a dial-up modem that shares a phone line).
2. Choose a specific newsreader — either online or desktop. A few options (click links for detailed instructions):
   
   • Bloglines (online)
   • Pluck (online or desktop versions)
   • Newsgator (online or desktop versions)

   For descriptions of these newsreaders and a few other options, check out CNet’s review of some of the leading RSS readers. (RSS monkeys: add your favourite newsreader to this list by adding a comment to this page with a link to your own step-by-step instructions.)

3. For desktop newsreaders: download and install your chosen newsreader software OR for online newsreaders, setup your account (which typically involves activating your account by clicking on a link in a confirmation email).
4. Launch your desktop newsreader or login to your online newsreader account.
5. Create a bookmarklet for your web browser so that you can easily add RSS feeds to your reader (this option is usually under “tools”). This bookmarklet is a shortcut that you add to your browser’s bookmarks bar so that you can subcribe to RSS feeds with a single click
6. Now you’re ready to subscribe to some news feeds. Go to some of your favourite blogs and news sites (maybe the ones you have saved in your browser’s “favourites” bar) and subscribe to their feeds, OR
7. Use my my public list of Bloglines subscriptions to get started:


• If you’re using Bloglines: Click on a particular folder or feed title in the left-hand sidebar to preview the latest news items it contains. If you find a feed that interests you, click “subscribe” in blue button bar on the upper-right-hand side of the page.
• If you’re using another newsreader, use its “import OPML subscriptions” option, and input this URL to import my subscriptions: http://www.bloglines.com/export?id=AlexandraSamuel (Note: Some newsreaders will require you to import a file that’s on your computer, not online; in this case you’ll need to save my OPML file to your computer by right-clicking or control-clicking in the window that opens when you click here. Then upload this file via your newsreader’s “import subscriptions” option.)
8. Once you’ve got some subscriptions set up, go to your newsreader’s main feeds page to read the news as it comes in.
9. Make sure that you check your feeds regularly so you stay up-to-date. Your best bet is to add a bookmark for your newsreader to your browser’s bookmark bar, or (my approach) make your newsreader account into your web browser’s home page (you can set your home page in your browser’s preferences).
10. Figure out how you can make newsreading work even better for you by learning more about RSS.

Reprinted with permission from RSStocracy.