Help! What is RSS and the Orange Button?

I’m going to explain this in the only way I know how - in the really simple way (how I understand it).

RSS stands for Really Simple Syndication.

In a nutshell RSS makes it possible to read all the updates on a blog (web log, like an online diary) or website without having to visit each individually.

You do this using a feed reader (there are lots of different kinds) - the updates from a blog or website using rss are called a ‘feed’, think of it like it is feeding you information, or content.

I use Newsgator to read my feed. If you want to set up an account just click the link and sign up. It’s free.

Once you have your account you need to add sites. If you find a site you like (ie littlemummy.com!) you can add the feed by clicking the orange button (scan the front page of a site for this, mine is on the right hand side) or a button that corresponds to your particular feed reader. There are other ways to add a feed, however, this gets a little more technical, if you want to read more on RSS this is a good place to start.

If you think that RSS doesn’t sound like your cup of tea many websites offer updates by email, this means that every time new information appears on the blog or website you will receive an email. This is fine if you only have one or two, beyond that it is easier to sign up to newsgator or similar.

To sign up for email updates simply input your email address in the box on the right hand side and click subscribe.