Geek 101: RSS Feeds

Posted on 03.22.08 in Tech Stuff Blogging and there are 10 comments.

Note: Several of you who use Google Reader have had issues with my RSS feed.

I think I’ve fixed the issue. Please unsubscribe to whatever feed you are currently subscribed to and please re-subscribe using this link (or any feed link currently posted on my site.)

(If you still have issues, please email me and let me know. Thanks!)

What is a Feed (RSS/ATOM)?

Feeds are an easy way for you to stay up to date on all your favorite websites.

You simply use the “feed” link located on the site and enter it into your “feed reader.” Your feed reader then checks those sites regularly to see if there is any new content.

You DON’T have to visit each site! The information comes straight to your feed reader.

What Is A Feed Reader?

Many web browsers such as Internet Explorer 7, Firefox and Safari have built in feed readers. There are also online feed readers such as Bloglines and Google Reader.

Try It Now!

Simply use your browser or sign up for Bloglines or Google Reader and then add The Secret Life of Kat to your reading list and you’ll get the latest posts delivered straight to you.

Once you have an account you can just click on the appropriate icon below to add this feed.
Subscribe to The Secret Life of Kat

Recommend A Blog Or Three

Now that you’ll save SO much time be not having to visit every blog to see if it’s been updated, you’ll need some new blogs to fill that time (because you wouldn’t want to actually do something practical with your newfound free time, right?)

A few of my new favorites are:
Take A Step. Towards Your Dream , a blog by a very witty and funny girl named Annie who is following her dream of becoming a writer.

Conversion Diary, a blog whose subtitle is, The Diary of a Former Athiest, it’s very interesting, insightful AND funny.

And if you’ve ever wondered what would happen if a doctor and a professional dancer met on Myspace, dated and got married, my sister in law has a new blog to tell you all about it. 

So, what are three of your favorite blogs?

The Comments:

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I am not sure that the problem is fixed.  I still am having trouble with you in Google reader, even with re-subscribing.  I can read it, but it takes forever to load.

I’ve had you in my Google Reader for a long time and have never noticed a problem with feeds coming through. I’ve always used the Feedburner feed.

I read a hodgepodge of blogs...tv blogs, book blogs, thoughtful Christian blogs, mommy blogs, writer blogs,and the rare person I know in real life blog, etc.  I wouldn’t know one to recommend.
I like Annie’s blog. 
I have to say that since I started using google reader, I have found a million more blogs to read.  For example, I now have all these romance book review blogs in my reader.  I don’t even read much romance but the writing style of the bloggers is so excellent that I just can’t stop myself from wanting to know when they’ve posted some new wonderfully snarky review.  And once you have one romance book review blog in your reader, google will JUST KEEP RECOMMENDING THEM.  Ha.  it’s the same reason I have all these emergent/emerging whatever pastors blogs in my reader.

Kat:

Hope you don’t mind, this may not be the place for it, but here goes. 

My daughter’s best buddy has a dad that is really into motorcycles.  Last night he was hit by a car and had his leg severed.  This is a great dad who is 30 years old, named Chad.  Everyone please say a prayer for him.  Its a terrible situation.

You are too sweet.  The blog love is very mutual.  Thanks for the shout-out.

Jeff,
I emailed a couple questions to you. I hope you don’t mind.

C-Hammer,
Thats good to know...it’s definitely a bug that I’m having a hard time tracking down. Thanks for the info.

Amy,
Yes, isn’t it funny how RSS feeds are supposed to save us time, but really, they just allow us to read MORE blogs and spend MORE time reading them.

Deemus,
This is most certainly a great place to post that. Thanks for sharing. I just spent a few minutes praying for Chad, his family and everyone affected. Thanks for sharing.

Annie,
The friend/book character - tomayto/tomahto thing the other day had me rolling. That was so witty. Good stuff. When you’re a big time author or famous blogger, I’ll be glad to say I knew you back in the day…

I was having trouble with google reader updating your blog. It would wait and send 6 to 10 at a time. That’s why I’m just reading this post. I changed to the feedburner feed. I’ll let you know if I have any more problems.

i haven’t had a problem with the googlereader either, although i concur with clint that there are either none or 5 from you at a time..
ok, here’s a RSS question for you (since you are obviously the educated one in the bunch)… if i check my sitemeter (which shows the hits i’ve gotten for the day), does it include people who read from google reader if they don’t actually click off of reader onto the blog itself? or is it only people who actually click onto my blog and NOT through reader? does the question make sense??
thanks

Clint,
I hope it works better for you know. Please do let me know if you have any trouble and I’ll try to fix it asap.

Randel,
If you resubscribe I *think* it should update my posts in a more timely manner.

No the stats in your sitemeter account do not include RSS feed readers - unless they’ve clicked through. If you use Feedburner, you can then add the number of subscribers you have to your total visits for the day to get an idea of how many people are reading your posts.

The only issue I saw in Google Reader was that I wouldn’t hear from you for a while, then all of a sudden I’d see like 10 in a row.  I’d think to myself, “Dang, how does she post that fast?” I re-subscribed using your FeedBurner feed, so we’ll see if that fixes the issue. 

PS--Nice concise explanation of what an RSS feed is and does.

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