In the age of social media algorithms and “recommended” content, it is easy to feel like you’ve lost control of your digital life. You miss updates from your favorite bloggers, get buried in newsletter spam, and waste time scrolling through noise to find the signal.
Enter the RSS Reader.
RSS (Really Simple Syndication) is a technology that allows you to “subscribe” to any website. Instead of visiting twenty different sites to check for updates, the updates come to you in a single, organized dashboard.
Here is how to get started and take back control of your information stream.
Step 1: Choose Your RSS Platform
The first step is picking a “reader”—the software that will aggregate your feeds. Depending on your needs, there are several industry leaders:
- Feedly: The most popular choice for professionals. It offers a clean interface and powerful AI features to help filter out fluff.
- Inoreader: Best for power users who want advanced filtering, search, and automation rules.
- The Old Reader: A great choice for those who miss the social sharing aspects of the classic Google Reader.
- NetNewsWire: A fantastic, free, open-source option specifically for Mac and iOS users.
Step 2: Find Your Favorite Feeds
Once you’ve signed up for a reader, it’s time to add content. Almost every website has an RSS feed. Look for the standard RSS icon (a small orange square with white radio waves) or simply copy and paste the URL of the website into your reader’s “Add Content” or “Follow” bar.
Pro Tip: You can even follow YouTube channels, Reddit threads, and podcasts via RSS to keep all your media in one place.
Step 3: Organize with Folders
As you begin following more sites, your feed can become cluttered. The secret to RSS success is categorization. Create folders based on your interests:
- Daily News: High-frequency sites you check every morning.
- Tech & Gadgets: Industry updates and reviews.
- Long-form/Blogs: Personal blogs or deep-dive essays for weekend reading.
- Inspiration: Photography, design, or hobbyist sites.
Step 4: The “Read-it-Later” Integration
To truly master your workflow, pair your RSS reader with a “Read-it-Later” app like Pocket or Instapaper. If you see a long article in your RSS feed but don’t have time to read it now, save it to your offline list to enjoy during your commute or in the evening.
Why Start Today?
By using an RSS reader, you are opting out of the “attention economy.” You choose the sources, you choose the order, and you ensure that you never miss a post from the creators you actually care about.