What is RSS?
RSS (Really Simple Sydndication) is a format for delivering regularly changing web content. You may already be using RSS and not even know it. When you check out pages like My Yahoo or My Google you are able to set up different news updates that you like to receive from different news sources (feeds). If you are already doing this-then you are already using RSS.
What are the benefits and Reasons for using RSS?
Why are folks turning to RSS? Simply put, RSS is a time saver. RSS allows internet users to check many news sources quickly from one hub. Many internet users currently take advantage of resources like Google Reader, Bloglines and My Yahoo to house all of the feeds they like to follow and when one of them gets updated they are notified immediately (as long as their connection is working). It allows you to easily stay informed by retrieving the latest content from the sites you are interested in. You save time by not needing to visit each site individually. You ensure your privacy, by not needing to join each site's email newsletter. The number of sites offering RSS feeds grows everyday and includes familiar names like Yahoo News.
How do I read an RSS Feed?
Feed Reader or News Aggregator software allow you to grab the RSS feeds from various sites and display them for you to read and use. Some of the more popular feed readers are Google Reader, My Yahoo and Bloglines, but there are many more.
After you find a site you like and want to try out this technology-sign up. Most of the feed reader sites are amazingly simple to use and signing up takes just a couple minutes.
After you decide on a Feed Reader, start adding feeds. Feeds are on almost all blogs and news websites. Look around on sites you like for an icon displaying acronyms like RSS, XML or RDF. Click on those suckers and the rest is elementary.
Other Options
Some sites even allow you to subscribe via email. These email subscription services alert you to when new content is available on the websites you are following. You can also follow websites by bookmarking them in your web browser or joining social bookmarking websites like Digg, Stumble Upon and Reddit. These websites allow you to bookmark content you like on an account that you create solely for bookmarking purposes. Be warned though, social bookmarking websites are addictive and sometimes harder to navigate through than your own personal Feed Reader.