A Nonprofit Guide to Getting Started with RSS

Submitted by webb on 2005, March 18 - 4:17pm.
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  1. Decide what type of aggregator you want to use
    1. web-based -- why would you choose this? recommend: bloglines (xplatform)
      1. You work on a variety of different computers
      2. You are usually connected to the internet
      3. You want to use an application -- browser -- that you already have on your machine
      4. You want to be able to access your information on public access computers
    2. mail client -- why would you choose this? recommend: Newsgator (need Mac and Linux recommendations)
    4. You live in Outlook
    5. You want to be able to easily email the information
    6. You store a wide variety of information in outlook folders
    7. You use one computer primarily
    8. You want to be able to use an application already on your computer
    9. You don't typically use public access computers
  2. stand alone application -- why would you choose this? recommend: Feed Demon; NetNewsWire (Windows only; need a Mac and Linux recommendation)
    1. The thought of more information in your email inbox makes you sweat
    2. You use a single computer
    3. You prefer using specialized applications
    4. You do not wish to add additional plug-ins to outlook (this can make it hard for you technical staff to support the application)
    5. You want to organize this type of information with a specialized application
  • Sign up for feeds of interest
    1. Point to an OPML file that would be of interest to nonprofits
    2. when you are on a website that has frequently updated information, check to see if they have a feed
  • Sign up for an account at PubSub, Feedster and Technorati
    1. Watch your url
    2. Watch the name of your organization
    3. Watch partners
    4. Watch key funders
    5. Watch bills or other legislative efforts that are of interest
    6. Watch topic areas
  • Share the information you find
      Set up a blog at blogger

    1. Post to your weblog
    2. Make sure you turned on the RSS option
  • Email your good interesting finds to people who will like them
  • Do this, every day, for 6 months. No excuses. Spend an hour.
  • Measure the results.

    So, an outstanding question is, what results should you look for?

    • ‹ A Brief Look at Blogs, Feeds and Aggregators - Presentation OutlineupBlogs and RSS resources ›
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    Mac & RSS

    Submitted by bobcampbell on 2005, May 10 - 7:39am.

    Stand alone aggregators for the Mac include NetNewsWire (and NetNewsWire Lite) and NewsFire. I've used both and been very happy. Ultimately, however, I settled on my bookmarks bar in Firefox. Many sites with feeds will leave a small icon in the bottom right corner of Firefox. Simply clicking on that icon gives you the opportunity to place where you want the feed to appear in your bookmarks. Fast, easy and much more efficient for me than a stand alone or email based aggregator.

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    Great!

    Submitted by webb on 2005, May 10 - 3:08pm.

    I'll update the article with your comments. thanks.

    (fyi, you can also update this directly by clicking the "edit" tab above the article. This will lead you to a text editing window and you can feel free to make changes)

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