I had my first known experience of using RSS technology this week. I was looking through the BAPP blogs and realised that everyone's blog has 'subscribe to posts' very faintly at the bottom, and so I clicked on one! A message popped up telling me I would need to download an RSS application to allow me to proceed and directed me, via a link, to the app store. As I didn't really know what I was doing (and as is my usual practice in these times!) I chose the free application with the highest rating. I don't know who's rating these applications, but whether it is accurate information or not I choose to base my application purchases on this as I've decided it's a little better than a blind stab in the dark and if it turns out to be awful, it was free! Try another one.
After I'd downloaded the RSS, I realised just how easy it was and, I THINK, what it does. I couldn't believe I hadn't used one before. Then I remembered until now, there has only been one blog I even semi follow. Esther Walker's Recipe Rifle. This link takes you to a favourite post of mine. The blog as a whole really is terribly entertaining and also very frank and honest. She writes freely of the stick she has received due to her blog and how this has or has not affected her (amongst a lot of other subjects!)
At first I thought that my discovery of the RSS bot might render my idea of everyone having a subscribe via email option pointless (I have noticed that a few of you have all already added this to your blog - swift work!) and I was a little bit deflated - I thought my idea was a really good one! So good in fact I decided to tell you all about it. After further thought, which I have to be honest about, I didn't know was happening inside my head, I came to the realisation that it was still a good idea.
I think subscribing via email and subscribing via RRS both have their uses:
Subscribing via RSS allows you to collect a list of all the blogs you wish to follow and alerts you immediately if someone adds a new post to their blog PROVIDING you are on your computer. I am yet to discover if there is an application you can sync with the RSS technology on your laptop and an application on your smart phone.
However using 'subscribe via email' allows you to refer back to what has been updated at a later date. Once you have looked at the notification the RSS bot sends you, it's gone. The email is there for constant reference.
Both are working well for me for different reasons. When I am at the computer everything comes through the the RRS application and when I am away from my computer I am still able to keep up-to-date on the go with my email notifications. In addition to this, I am able to see when someone comments after me on a post.
I've also been thinking about replying to blog posts via email too when the opportunity arrises, giving me a reference of what I have done. Hopefully these things will help me become more efficient in both my blogging, and the participation of others.
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