Okay, I know that to some RSS may sound like generic computer mumbo-jumbo, although it does stand for “Really Simple Syndication.” What RSS does is takes the content from sites and puts them in one convenient place for everyone to view.
So, I figured I’d do a quick tutorial of Google Reader. I use Google Reader because I can access it from any computer. If you’ve got a Google account, you’ve already got a ready-made RSS reader just waiting.
Step 1:
Go to http://reader.google.com and log in.
Step 2.
Go to a site you’d like to receive feed from (I picked English Fail Blog), and find the RSS button. Most blogs have either a button (like the one pictured) or a text link to a RSS page. Best places to look are in the content bar and on the bottom of the page. (Yes, sometimes they can be a little bit tricky to find.)
Step 3.
Next you have to add it to Google Reader. There are a couple different formats for these pages, but just find the option for Google Reader
Step 4.
You want to click “Add to Google Reader.” Unless, of course, you want it on your homepage. But since this is a Google Reader tutorial, I’ll assume that’s what you want to accomplish.
Step 5.
And, you’re done! Wasn’t that easy? Or should I say, really simple? You can see your feed listed in the sidebar, with the number of unread posts next to it. (Feeds with unread posts are bold.)
You can view all your unread items by clicking “All Items,” ironically enough.
These are just the basics. Google Reader has lots of other cool features if you poke around it a bit.
And, if you’re looking for some feeds, here are a few of my favorites:
