How to Sign Up for RSS Feeds

RSS is translated as Really Simple Syndication or Rich Site Summary. Which ever term you use, it's a way for Internet users to receive updates on chosen topics that appear on websites. This can include everything from headline news to your favorite singer's tour dates. Think of it as Tivo for your computer. An RSS document can be called a feed, a web feed or a channel, and the RSS document can contain text, video or audio.

Log on to a website you like to visit on a regular basis, but usually not daily. If you visit a site daily, an RSS feed may be overkill since you're there already reading the updates. The idea is to sign up for RSS feeds for websites that interest you but don't have new information on a regular basis. This might be a blog or a favorite author's website that gets updated sporadically, such as weekly or less often.

Check the website to see if it has an RSS feed available. Not all websites have an RSS feed subscription service. If the website does have an RSS feed, it is usually found at the bottom of the website's home page. There will be an RSS icon or the letters RSS.

Click on the RSS icon or the letters RSS. This will take you to the website's RSS page.

Read the instructions on the website's RSS page. Click on the RSS icon on the page or follow the specific directions provided for that particular website to subscribe to its RSS feed.

Install a news reader that will display the RSS feeds you sign up for. Free RSS readers are available, including Google Reader, NewsGator and RssReader.

Use Firefox as your RSS reader. A live bookmark that updates with the new content you sign up for is added to your computer's bookmarks.