Ever see this symbol before? This post is not about RSS (Real Simple Syndication) or how it works. It’s about the the computer literate folks I encounter every day who are not utilizing the power of RSS feeds to simplify their lives.
Unless owners of sites block their feeds, any website with dynamic (frequently updated content) has a feed. The feed updates and syndicates changes, i.e., new blog posts, updates, news articles, for anyone to grab.
So when I am discussing a particular blog or site with someone who just surfs to it occasionally, I always ask if they “subscribe”. I am often met with a blank look when I tell them they can automatically receive updates every time their favorite blogger posts, or their favorite news outlet adds a new story. You can subscribe to the feeds for sites you enjoy through a piece of aggregation software like Google Reader, and like magic, receive all the latest updates for everything you like on the web.