What is Your favorite RSS Reader?
The reason I’m asking is because I’d like to hears some feedback from you on what RSS reader you are using to read your favorite blog updates? I have a suspicion that many readers don’t even bother using a free RSS service, because they might not know what to do with it. I have been trying myself rather unsuccessfully to grow my RSS subscribers and it really sucks to be honest not seeing a growth there.
I’m hoping to achieve two things with this post.
Create awareness
Start a Discussion on your opinion about the need for RSS subscriptions.
I want to create awareness for those who never even considered using the RSS button. In case you don’t know what this is, have look at the top right hand side of my blog. When you click on it, it will take you to another page with options on what reader to choose.
Personally, I use Bloglines and by clicking on the little 
icon, it will bring you to yet another page to sign up with Bloglines or else sign into your account and add the blog to your list. Alternatively you could also add it to 
I know that many people prefer Google reader to Bloglines. I’m just fine with Bloglines so I don’t see the need to change.
The benefits of this is that I don’t have to manually navigate to my favorite blogs anymore. This saves me literally about 30mins/day. I can now simply log into my Bloglines account and browse all the new blog post updates. Once I see something I’d like to investigate further I click on the link and it will take me to that site.
Discussion: I want to know from you, what it is that will prompt you to subscribe to a particular blog at all? And for those that haven’t used RSS before the question is why?
And might I take this opportunity to ask you to subscribe to my RSS Feed. It would certainly make me a very happy person to see that number increase.
Anyway, that it’s folks, signing off for now.
Monika
About the Author: I'm a passionate freelance writer and problogger. To further build my business I'm also in the process of building my own niche empire which pays me residual income.
GnomeyNewt | Sep 20, 2007 | Reply
I used bloglines too! Ever since I discovered their beta for the newer version I’ve been hooked because of the 3-pane window option. Plus I can read my feeds on any computer anywhere, that helps a lot.
I think I subscribe to any blog that has me interested in any post they’ve written. I feel them out for a while and about once a month I go through and I clear anything that I’ve noticed I haven’t been reading that much. Some blogs that I’ve unsubscribed too, I’ve returned later to their blog to check up on every once in a while.
I’m always amazed when I see my RSS subscriber count because I can’t imagine anybody wanting to read what I’m writing about. I guess my topic is not that far out there, but a newer blog I am wanting to start will be quite interesting. What I’ve been doing is just trying to keep on the same path that keeps visitors coming back and provide them with that type of content. One of the weeks I sort of got ‘lazy’ and I did loose traffic and subscribers so I’ve tried to stay on my toes at all time to keep it going.
geekwriter | Sep 21, 2007 | Reply
Well you are doing fantastic anyway and I have also become a regular reader over at your place Sarah.
I’m like you, when I find a blog interesting i hit the subscribe button and it’s so easy to stay up to date with what matters to me.
If it wasn’t for RSS feeds I’m not sure what I’d do…maybe extend my day by another 2 hours.:O)
Monika
Carlo | Sep 28, 2007 | Reply
I personally like a stand-alone program. I used SharpReader before finding out about Snarfer.
geekwriter | Sep 28, 2007 | Reply
Hi Carlo,
Nice to have you here. I never heard of those two before, but I’m sure there are many readers out there that provide us with what we are looking for.
It’s great to hear about others like the ones you mentioned as it can help somebody else make a decision.
Thanks for the tip.
Monika
Madhur Kapoor | Sep 29, 2007 | Reply
My fav is Google Reader . Though i havent tried many others .
Vincent Chow | Sep 29, 2007 | Reply
I use Google Reader.
geekwriter | Sep 30, 2007 | Reply
Hi Madhur and Vincent,
Thanks for the mention. You guys all tempt me to try Google Reader now since it is getting so many votes.
Monika
Carlo | Oct 1, 2007 | Reply
Yeah, maybe I’ll try that one too.
geekwriter | Oct 2, 2007 | Reply
Hey Carlo,
I had a look at Google reader and it does look good. The layout is very simple and easy to navigate and now I have to make the decision about whether I want to stay with Bloglines or hop over to Google instead.
MMhhh..
Monika