A reader recently commented that it would be handy to be alerted, rather than having to check, whenever a new post appears on my blog. As many of you know, I’m a big fan of RSS. For the uninitiated, RSS, or Really Simple Syndication, is a technology that enables you to subscribe to a Web site in order to be notified whenever new content is published. RSS content is called a “feed,” and can be read using software called an “RSS aggregator” or “feed reader.” As you might have guessed, this Web site supports RSS.

There are several ways you can subscribe to my RSS feed, which automatically delivers each new headline and blog posting to you in full.

To subscribe using an RSS aggregator or feed reader application:

• Click the orange “XML” button that appears near the top of this blog.
• Copy the URL of the page that appears from the browser address bar (http://feeds.feedburner.com/QuietRevolutionInEmailMarketing).
• Paste the copied URL into your existing RSS feed reader. Or, if your RSS feed reader appears as a one-click button or in the drop-down list on my RSS feed page, you can select it there to use the one-click feature to add my feed.

If you don’t have an RSS feed reader, you can choose one of the many free Web-based news readers offered on my RSS feed page, or search the Web to find one you like. Once you’ve signed up, simply follow your feed reader’s instructions for how to add a feed.

RSS has also been integrated into Gmail, iGoogle and Outlook 2007. To subscribe directly from these applications:

• In Gmail: Click “Settings.” Click “Web Clips.” In “Search by Topic or URL” box, paste the URL of the RSS feed. Click “Search.” Click “Add.”
• In iGoogle: Click “Add Stuff.” Click “Add RSS Feed.” Paste the URL of the RSS feed.
• In Outlook 2007: You can find the instructions for adding RSS feeds to Outlook at this Microsoft Office Online Web page.

You can also install any of the popular RSS-to-email programs, like Attensa, that add feeds right to your email inbox or a sub-folder of your choosing, or sign up for one of the services that forwards feeds to your email inbox without having to install any software, like SendMeRSS. These applications monitor your RSS feeds, grab new posts and send them to your email program like email messages.

If you’re not yet using RSS, I encourage you to give it a try. It’s a fabulous way to stay up-to-date with all your favorite news, blogs and any other Web sites you follow that offer updates via this exciting and convenient technology.