Starting Over with RSS Readers
A while ago I wrote a post explaining RSS feeds and how using RSS is like creating a newspaper with only the writers that you’ve chosen to read.
As part of my New Year’s resolution to get more organized, I decided to pare down the RSS feeds that I subscribe to and create a “newspaper” that fits my daily needs. To do that, I’m going to delete almost all the feeds that I currently subscribe to, and then look over several of the feed readers, to see which one(s) I like the best.
So how does an RSS reader fit with StumbleUpon or even within the broad scope of social media? It makes life simpler. Seriously. Let’s say there are 250 people on SU whose pages you like. You can add 200 of them as friends and then just keep checking the others, or you can subscribe to their “reviews and blog” which sends everything they add to their page to your RSS reader.
How about with Twitter? Did you know that you can get your twitter chat in an RSS reader? Even better, you can use Twitter tracking to follow certain terms that you’re interested in. Perhaps, like my sons, you’re a Pokemon fanatic and want to see what people are saying. Sending “track Pokemon” will send you all updates that mention “Pokemon.” Then, when you decide Pokemon is passe and Sonic is where it’s at now, you can “untrack Pokemon” and “track Sonic” instead.
Want to keep track of what’s hot on del.icio.us? Afraid your next door neighbor is going to bookmark more sites than you? Want to stay abreast of the sites people send you? RSS reader to the rescue.
And of course, there’s the traditional use, of using RSS to keep track
of your favorite blogs…for instance, this one. 
Want to keep up with my posts? Click on the RSS icon here, the RSS message at the top of this post, or the RSS icon at the side.
So do I have your attention now? Good. Then I’m off to delete the RSS feeds I currently receive and start looking at new ones. Do you have a site you think I should consider adding to my list? Add the link in a comment, along with a short description. If I like the site, I’ll add it, and when I’m finished, I’ll post a list of the sites I’m following, in case you’re interested in seeing who I choose.
