When my son Tim first enthusiatically told me about RSS feeds when they first came out, I didn’t get it.  He was very impressed and went on and on about why they were so cool.   I still didn’t get it.  I was trying to understand what they were, and why they helped.   I was like, I can send out an email to a group of people, I can do a newsletter, RSS sounds complicated, why do I want to do anything with feeds?

I did the google thing, if you don’t know what something means, just ask.   Lots of info came up, didn’t help, I still didn’t understand, it was like reading a foreign language.

RSS feeds continued to come up.    And then I’d see those little orange icons sprouting up all over the place, mulitiplying.   When I started blogging, I was pleased to see that little orange icon pop up, means that RSS feeds were already on my blog.   That was a good thing, and I could trust those who understand RSS to know what to do with it.  

So that was a start, then another Ryzer, Deepak Morris,  shared how he bookmarked the feeds of blogs he consistantly read onto his toolbar,  how it saved time.   Some blogs you want to keep up with all their posts, yet going back, time after time, looking for new posts can be time consuming.   One of the articles I read said it was like having your newspapers, magazine delivered to your door vs going to the store to pick up the latest issue, not knowing when the lastest issue is coming out.

So even if you don’t have your own blog yet, you can set up your own RSS reader,  add the feeds for your favorite blogs, and those that are experts in your niche, heck you can even add feeds for ezinearticle categories.     I’ll have to admit, I’ve been slacking in this department.  Falls under too busy chopping down trees with a dull ax that you don’t take time to sharpen the tool.  

This weeks assignment is to learn a little about RSS feeds and then do something to help your business with RSS feeds.   As we are each at various levels from “I don’t even know what a feed is” to experts,  pick from the list of suggested homework assignments or make your own.  Feel free to share your experience.

• Learn more by reading an article:
  • What Is That Small Orange Icon Labeled RSS or XML? 
  •  Feed The Need - 5 Ways To Use RSS To Boost Your Business Or Organizational Success
    by Soni Pitts, one of our WIN members that is a well known blogger and article writer
  • What Is RSS Feed and Why Would You Use It?
  • RSS & How to Use It Explains how to set up a rss reader at bloglines
  • RSS For Rookies
  • 10 Reasons to Put RSS on Your Site!
• If you don’t know, see if your blog has an RSS feed.  If you don’t have one, get one.  I believe most Blogger, Wordpress accounts have rss already installed.
• Set up your own rss feed reader.    I will be setting up Bloglines for myself this week.  There are several different methods that can be used.
• Not everyone understands RSS feeds, set up a subscription where those who prefer email notices of blog updates can sign up for such.   It took me just a few minutes to set this up with my Feedburner  Account.    If ya’ll need more info on how to do this, let me know.   Feedburner is not the only option, just the one I choose.   Quick and easy.
• Subscribe to the Winning Ladies Blog or anyother blog by a WIN member, RSS or email, your preference. 

Keep blogging!

Heidi Caswell

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