What is RSS?


RSS stands for Really Simple Syndication, and it's a way of keeping up to date with the latest content of your favorite web sites. Instead of having to check the sites you enjoy to see if there are any new articles, you subscribe via RSS and let the latest content come to you. You don't need to give away your email address and you can unsubscribe any time.

Most sites that regularly update their content offer you ways to subscribe using either RSS or email. Email is a great option for those who aren't familiar with RSS. If you subscribe to Accelerate Me using the email option, you will receive an email notification whenever I post a new article. You can unsubscribe at any time, and your email address won't be used for anything other than updates (I can't vouch for other sites that use this option though).

The downside of email subscription comes in when you follow more than one website or blog. It can quickly inundate your inbox when you have multiple emails flying in from multiple sites and blogs per day. This could get pretty overwhelming!

Here's where RSS comes into its own. You save a lot of time by not having to go to your favorite sites to check if there is any new content. All your favorites are collected together for ease of reading. You can eliminate the constant distraction of emails coming in by checking your RSS feeds at a time that's convenient to you. Or, you can leave your reader open and be alerted the second the RSS is updated. The choice is yours!


How to Get Started


Option 1:


Download a free RSS reader:

Windows -- RssReader
Mac -- NetNewsWire

Once you're set up, here's all you have to do... Right-click (control-click for Mac users) on the "Subscribe via RSS" button on any page of this site, or any blog or news source that interests you. Select Copy Shortcut ("Copy Link to Clipboard" on a Mac), and paste that URL into your RSS Reader.

Option 2:


Alternatively, if you prefer to use an RSS service like Google Reader or My Yahoo (or any other service at all), simply hover over the Subscribe button in the left-hand sidebar and select your favorite service from the list. It looks like this:

This is what the Subscribe Button Looks Like

You can even sign up to one of these services from there. If you haven't already done so, test it out and subscribe to Accelerate Me . com now. Happy RSSing!




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