Maximize Your Medium Experience: The Power of RSS Feeds
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Chapter 1: Understanding RSS
For a long time, I have been a strong proponent of RSS as it serves as my main avenue for sharing information with my audience. It is also the primary way I consume various media, including blogs, podcasts, and videos. RSS keeps me connected with my favorite writers on Medium, and honestly, I wouldn’t consider any alternative at this point.
Let’s delve into what makes RSS so appealing.
Section 1.1: What Exactly is RSS?
RSS, or "Really Simple Syndication," provides a straightforward method for receiving updates about new content, either through an RSS reader or via email notifications. Depending on your choice of reader and the setup of the creator's RSS feed, you may either enjoy the content directly within the reader or be directed to an external link.
Many contemporary websites offer RSS feeds, with some actively promoting them—look out for the RSS icon. Alternatively, you can often uncover a site's feed by appending ‘feed’ to its URL, like this:
While I won’t dive deep into which feed reader is the best, popular choices include Feedly. Personally, I favor simpler options like Newsboat, and several email clients like Thunderbird also provide RSS functionalities.
Regardless, I suggest exploring the available software to find what suits your needs best.
This video, "How to GROW your audience and income on Medium [FREE Masterclass]," shares strategies for leveraging your Medium presence effectively.
Section 1.2: Why Choose RSS?
When it comes to navigating the vast internet, RSS offers several benefits compared to newsletters or other platforms. You can subscribe to content without the need to register or provide personal information, eliminating the hassle of opting out of newsletters or deleting applications when interest wanes. Simply remove the unwanted feed.
With RSS, there’s no need to sift through bookmarks, web interfaces, or deal with intrusive ads and cookie prompts to locate the content you seek. A well-organized RSS feed can act as your central hub for engaging with web content—effectively becoming an "everything app."
In essence, RSS prioritizes privacy, security, convenience, and personalization, making it a superior choice compared to newsletters and modern web interfaces.
Chapter 2: The Connection Between RSS and Medium
Did you know that Medium provides an RSS feed for its users? Each of your favorite writers and publications has one. You can learn more about this in Medium's official guide.
To access a writer's feed, simply enter their username in your browser's address bar like so:
For example, to follow my feed (wink-wink), you could type:
Or for publications, use:
Additionally, you can find feeds for topics you follow by entering:
The second video, "How To Get Your RSS Feed From Your Medium Blog," provides insights into effectively utilizing Medium's RSS capabilities.
Section 2.1: My Experience with RSS and Medium
Although Medium does implement a paywall, which limits access to stories within your RSS reader, you can still follow the link to read them on Medium’s site or app. Regardless, RSS remains my go-to method for engaging with Medium.
Why? It boils down to my preference for the interface of my RSS reader over that of Medium.com. As a reader, I prefer not to deal with algorithm-driven suggestions. I dislike navigating through menus or scrolling past images to find what I want. I simply want stories from the writers, publications, and topics I follow, presented in a straightforward, chronological format. My RSS reader delivers just that.
While it may seem like I’m critiquing Medium, that’s not my intent. I appreciate the diverse ways Medium allows readers to access content. Since I prefer not having stories clutter my inbox, RSS serves me best. It could also be the ideal solution for you.
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