A recent study by Yahoo! indicates that only 12 percent of Internet users are aware of RSS, and only 4 percent knowingly use it. This is unfortunate, because my experience is that once people begin to use RSS, they are hooked.
RSS is simply a way to receive news and blog headlines in a single place, enabling you to create a truly customized experience as an information consumer. If you want a more technical explanation of RSS, go here.
To date, My Yahoo! has had the highest awareness and use of any RSS-enabled product. Now, Google has introduced an RSS reader that is superior in many respects to Yahoo’s. (Keep in mind that it’s in beta mode, so they’re still working out the kinks.)
For those of you who’ve never tried RSS and would like to, here’s a very basic guide to getting started with the Google Reader:
1. If you don’t already have a Google account, you can quickly sign up for one by clicking on “My Account” at www.google.com and following the directions.
2. Go to www.google.com/reader.
3. After you’re signed in to your Google account, click on “Your subscriptions;” then, “Add a feed.”
4. Type in a feed url. Feed urls are not the same as site or blog urls; you can generally find the feed url highlighted on the site by a link or button labeled “RSS” or “Syndicate.”
5. Click “Preview” to see the feed in Google Reader; then, click on “Subscribe.”
To get started, enter these urls for a few PR-related feeds you may find of interest:
– Latest U.S. News from PRWeek, one of many RSS feeds offered by PRWeek
http://www.prweek.com/us/rss/files/latestnews.xml
– Micro Persuasion, Steve Rubel’s widely read blog covering the impact of technology on PR (other great blogs are in my “Favorite Blogs” section)
http://feeds.feedburner.com/MicroPersuasion
– and of course, Media Orchard…
http://feeds.feedburner.com/MediaOrchard
See, wasn’t that easy?
You had me until I read your choices.
SB, I had such high hopes.
I was going to make a longer list, but then my fingers got sore. Got to give Steve his props, though.