Organize the web, simply

Are you inundated with the news and information being sent to you? Do you still manually jump from Web site to Web site because you can’t afford to miss the latest news or competitive information? Now it’s easier than ever to have all this and read Web sites like you read e-mail.

RSS, often referred to as “really simple syndication,” is like TiVo for the web. It allows you to view the information you want, from the sources you select, when you want it, in the format you choose. RSS is a format for syndicating news and content from Web sites. It’s not just for news, as almost all regularly released Web content can be distributed and updated using this technology.

You can download easy-to-use, free or low-cost RSS readers that allow you to view content from the sources you select and read the most current headlines and summaries organized the way you want, all in one place. Many resemble e-mail clients and are as easy to use. Some are built into e-mail clients or Web browsers.

I suggest you try the new and improved My Yahoo. It is one of the easiest websites to personalize and now offers a simple way to add syndicated RSS feeds to your desktop by just entering the URL or name of your favorite Web site. If your favorite site offers RSS, then presto, you are your own publisher. Look for the little white-in-orange XML button () on sites you visit.

These technologies are something your company should consider offering on its Web site as they are relatively easy and inexpensive to deploy. And for users, it will help with the information overload you face daily. In addition to Yahoo, here are some of my favorite RSS readers: NewsGator, Feedster, Pluck, and Firefox. All of these will also allow you to search for sites that offer free content feeds. Just go to your favorite search engine and enter the one you want to try. Install it and or use on their site and voila! Instant personalized content. It’s really that simple!

WTN makes RSS feeds of its news available on its Syndicate WTN page.

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Mike Klein is WTN’s editorial director and can be reached at mike@wistechnology.com.