The world of blogging has grown into an industry. It is both a source of information and fun. You can find blogs about every topic imaginable, from family news to crafts to the latest developments in your profession. With all this information at your fingertips - how do you keep up on your favorite blogs, without having to remember countless URLs or having to make frequent visits to check for updates?

RSS Subscriptions, of course!

What is RSS?

RSS stands for "Really Simple Syndication". What it really means is a way to subscribe to a blog, the best and easiest way. All of your subscriptions (blog feeds) go to the same place, where you can read any new articles without having to remember any web addresses or surfing around numerous websites.

Think of it as a newspaper containing the newest articles from your favorite authors (blogs). And the simplest way to get your daily reading material.

How do I find this RSS?

Any self-respecting blog will display an RSS button, which comes in many flavours

but always comes back to the same basic design.

Simply click on the button and choose your preferred RSS Reader. Then log-in to your reader, which will let you know if there are any new articles.

Wait...RSS Reader? What's that all about?

What is an RSS Reader?

Basically it is the "newspaper" I mentioned earlier. You have your own account, your subscriptions are listed and marked, if they have any new posts. All you have to do is scroll, read and relax. That's right, scroll through new articles, read the ones that sound interesting and enjoy.

There is a number of RSS Readers, I use Google Reader which works nicely with Gmail and can be easily added to your iGoogle homepage. There are numerous others, like Bloglines and My Yahoo.

Signing up for an RSS Reader is as simple as getting an email account. Pick a login name and password and you're good to go.

If you'd like to read more about various RSS Readers check out these two articles:

20 Free RSS Readers Reviewed by Ross McKillop
and/or
Top RSS Readers by Brian on Why RSS?

Do I have to get an RSS Reader?

Actually, no you don't. Some blogs offer subscription via email. I don't like my email cluttered with anything that doesn't require my immediate attention, so I opt for the RSS Reader when I have some time to catch up on my favourite blogs.

Now you are ready to begin hassle free blog reading. So go on and get your daily dose of inspiration, read up on a topic of interest or keep connected with friends and family.