Are you seeing those little orange RSS and XML feed chiclets all over the web and feel like you're missing something? Well, if you're not digesting feeds on a daily basis these days, it's like not reading the morning paper with your coffee. Feeds allow you to subscribe to the updated content of a site. As small business moves online, it's crucial to be aware of the latest in your industry, technology, and general business trends. Google Reader, redesigned and elegant, makes it easy to get started with the wonderful world of feed reading.
Use Google Reader to:
1) Subscribe to and read the feeds of your choice
2) Easily track which feeds you've already read
3) Star and share key items
Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done
Get Google Reader to Start Subscribing to and Reading Feeds
Click the Google Reader link below. If you have a Google account, you can sign in to Google Reader with it, or you can create a new account.
I recommend: Here's where you get Google Reader.
Import Feeds from Other Feed Readers
If you have already been reading feeds on Google Homepage or another feed reader, you can import them all into Google Reader through saving them as an OPML file.
I recommend: How to export subscriptions from another feed reader to Google Reader.
Add Feeds from Your Favorite Sites
Now comes the fun part. Go to a site that offers a feed whose content you'd like to subscribe to. Many sites will offer you the option of choosing to add their feed to Google Reader. To make things even easier, Google Reader allows you to drag a "subscribe" button up to your browser toolbar, which allows you to just click when on sites that offer feeds to add the feed to Google Reader. You can also subscribe to pre-packaged feeds that Google Reader offers.
I recommend: For example, here's how to subscribe to
Small Business Trends:
1. Scroll down until you see the orange rectangular feed icon and text saying "Subscribe to Feed" in the left column.
2. Click the orange icon, and you will see
the blog content in its feed format. 3. Now, click where it says "Subscribe with Google."
4. You will reach the
Add to Google page -- there choose the "Add to Google Reader" button.
5. Once you add a feed, you can place it in a folder and add tags to it.
To keep up with the Work.com community --
subscribe to the Work.com Community Blog feed.
Manage Your Feeds
Google Reader allows you not only to categorize your feeds, but mark them as read, star them, and share them. Items you share can be displayed in a widget you can put on your own site, so others can see the best of what you are reading. It's really cool!
I recommend: See the Work.com Community Blog's new feature created from Google Reader:
Small Business Feeds to Read!
Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide
- To see updates at a glance, you can add Google Reader to your Google Personalized Homepage
- You can read your subscriptions using a "next bookmark" you drag to your browser toolbar - clicking on it will take you to the next unread item, marking it as read in the process.
- If your phone has a data connection, you can access Google Reader from it by pointing your mobile phone's browser to: www.google.com/reader/m. This is a great timesaver for busy entrepreneurs!
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