If you aren’t using RSS to get the latest updates from your favorite websites and blogs, it’s time to start! Instead of visiting numerous different websites hunting for new information, RSS (Real Simple Syndication or Rich Site Summary) brings new content directly to you, allowing you to stay up to date without wasting time.

The first thing you need to do to take advantage of RSS is to set up a RSS reader (also called an aggregator) . Some popular web-based readers include Google Reader Bloglines, My Yahoo!, and NewsGator. When visiting a website you want to keep current with, look for the RSS or XML icons . By clicking the icon you can subscribe to the RSS feed with your reader.

For a quick overview on how to use RSS, watch RSS in Plain English by commoncraft:

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