Want to save a lot of time on your computer every day? Let me introduce you to Google Reader. I use it to track updates on a number of websites each day. I get to choose what sites I subscribe to, and Google Reader lets me know whenever any of those sites has new content. No more surfing from site to site. All the content comes automatically to me.
Ever wondered what this orange icon with the white radio wave-like symbol was all about? That’s an indication that the site you are visiting has an RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feed available. If you have signed up to use Google Reader, you can just click on that button anywhere on the Web and you’ll have the opportunity to subscribe to the content. It’s simple…really simple.
Now, are you ready to give it a test-drive? Let me give you two easy steps to get started.
1. Register for a Google Reader account.
2. Come back to my site and click the “subscribe to RSS” icon.
That’s it. Now you know why they call it “really simple syndication.” Here’s the best part, you can also subscribe to other websites using your same Google Reader account. Let me recommend these RSS feeds (clicking on them here will subscribe you if you have your Google Reader account set up already):
- Wayne Cordeiro
- Kevin Martineau
- Pete Scazzero
- Anne Jackson
- Pete Wilson
- Jan Owen
- Tony Morgan
- Church Marketing Sucks
- My Personal Blog
Well, you get the picture. You can subscribe to just about anything you’d like to know about using Google Reader and RSS feeds. The best part? It’s all FREE! I just saved you time and money.
There are other tools that do the same thing; however, Google Reader is a great place to start. Let me know how it works.
Another easy way to connect regularly is to subscribe by email. When you do that, every time Pastor For Life has a new post, you get it delivered in your email inbox. While I personally use Google Reader to follow my feeds, if you’re only following a few, this might be your preferred method of staying connected with us.
For you RSS veterans, what’s your favorite feed aggregator? And, more importantly, what’s your favorite feed?
HT: Tony Morgan