Apr 29, 2008
Simple, step-by-step instructions to start using RSS with Google Reader
I wrote a how-to about Google Reader.
My goals:
1. Convince you RSS is wonderful.
2. Have you subscribing to blogs within 5 minutes.
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Thanks Aber, this gives me a little more understanding. It’s kind of like having a list of favorites and then being notified when new stuff is posted, right? I still have a couple of questions though.
1) Do you still have to go to that Feed website?
2) Do you have that Google page as your home page?
3) Does you Sitemeter record these as visits?
4) If so, only when they are marked as read, or just automatically.
5) How can I add the reeder feed feature to my blog.
6) Lastly, do you know if you have to have a certain speed to do this? Here in Africa things are a little slower than there.
Jan,
1. No. You only need to go to Google Reader. From there you can read all the content of as many blogs as you want. You can also click through from Google to the actual site, if you want to.
2. No.
3 & 4. If I understand correctly, every time someone refreshes their feeds, it counts as a visit on the blogs that their feedreader is checking for them.
5. You have a blogspot blog, no? I’m not sure how to advertise your feed best on those. But the functionality is there. (People can click on the icon in the address bar.)
6. You don’t need a fast connection. It’ll just take a while longer to refresh. It’s actually better for a slow/incinsistent connection, because once Google has checked all your feeds, you can read them offline.
I have a worpress blog – how do I add the RSS feature to my blog so that others can sign up to for this feature if they want to.
My kids keep telling me I am technically challenged – I love it, but I am a mom with 5 kids – it is not always the priority.
dave needs convincing. he doesn’t see the need, even though i can probably scan 100 blogs that are actually updated in the time it takes him to click open 20 that aren’t.
admit it, dave. ADMIT IT!
Corrie, there are 3 possibilities.
1. Some templates have a “feeds” widget that you can simply drag into your side bar and voila! (dashboard > design > widget)
2. In that same widget page, you can create a text widget. Write whatever you want, add whatever image you want. Then link these to the URL of your feed. You can get this address by clicking on the orange button in your address bar and then copying the URL that comes up.
3. Get your kids to help!
Is posting longer articles on your wife’s blog and Justin Taylor’s blog your strategy for breaking the 22 word limit? :)
In part, Dustin, but mainly it’s a well-established method of shameless self-promotion.
Yep. Google Reader is great. I’ve been using it for about a month now. The only downside is that every morning I have some 25-50 blog posts in my Reader inbox! It’s a bit daunting at times.
Danielle,
Dave’s good point is what he says about commenting.
It’s ridiculous to say it doesn’t save time, though. It takes me 5 minutes max to see if there’s anything interesting at over 100 sites.
Can you do that, Dave? Huh, can you?
Thanks, Abraham!
[...] Simple, step-by-step instructions to start using RSS with Google Reader [...]
Thanks Abraham – your directions are much easier to follow than anything on the web. I was able to get the Google reader done in less than five minutes and added the RSS feature to my own blog in about the same amount of time. My children will be proud!
You have just made my son’s nap time seem SO much longer! yippee! Thanks for the info on Molly’s blog about Google Reader it is helping me use my time more efficently!
Thanks, bro. Very clear and helpful.
I am no longer part of the 94% of internet users that fail to take advantage of RSS. Thanks for the tips!
Even after setting it up, I still keep finding myself running over my list of blog favorites and then saying, “Oh, yeah! I can see it all in one place!”
Thank you, thank you!
Plus there’s the bonus of finally being able to show my 17 yr. old daughter a thing or two last night! Props!
Abraham,
Thanks for showing us this. I’m really enjoying it and my husband was quite impressed with my tech savvy until I showed him your instructions.
My only complaint is that it’s totally taken away my ability to waste time online. I used to surf around looking at various blogs; now, I check my email, check the Reader and I’m done. I’m sure God’s used you to help me to stop wasting time on the internet (something I’ve been trying to do!), so I really am grateful, but the time-waster in me is being greatly deprived.
Isn’t it funny how I can ask God for help in something and still be ungrateful when He gives it? Oi.
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