ConverStations: Getting Started Reading Feeds

After a workshop, I send a series of emails as follow-up. This is one I sent today:

In this example, I'll be showing how to subscribe to a feed using either GreatNews or Bloglines. Both tools are free..

In most feed aggregators, news readers and browsers, there is a built-in auto-discovery process that will recognize if a page has a feed and give you the option to subscribe. Both GreatNews and Bloglines have this feature.

However, this can cause some confusion as many sites (especially blogs) will offer multiple choices. If you're using auto-discovery process, pick one of the choices discovered. I read feeds. I don't write feeds. If RSS 2.0 is available, I pick that. Why? Flip of a coin. Both work fine from my perspective as a reader. (A message to FeedBurner Users: Are Your FeedBurner Feeds Autodiscovered?)

If the auto-discovery process gives you a headache (it did me when I first started), here's a three-step process I recommend:

When you find a RSS/Feed/XML/Atom button (or link) on a site, copy shortcut (In WIN: right click>copy shortcut, or on a MAC: control-click>hold mouse button down>copy link)
Paste the URL into your feed aggregator (whichever tool you use).
Subscribe.

But so many icons and buttons...which one to choose? For now, any one of them (I will always prefer a feed published by FeedBurner or an icon like you see on this site).

Many times, the Feed button is orange. Sometimes, it’s in the form of a link that says RSS or ATOM. Sometimes, it’s a blue button. Sorry.

Copy the shortcut using the three-step method above. And paste it into your feed aggregator.

For GreatNews, here’s an image of what that looks like (images for Bloglines follow):

When the pop-up opens, paste the shortcut in:

Here’s the images for Bloglines:

Then paste the shortcut into Bloglines:

By reading feeds and remembering to Search Once and Subscribe, you’ll end up knowing more in less time - and that translates into money (saved or earned). However, at first – just like anything else – there are some growing pains.

If you're a feed-reading guru and can add to this, please chime in. If you're a feed-reading rookie and have a question, comment below so we can learn and earn together.