Have you ever noticed that you can look at your own work and miss something so blatantly OBVIOUS to the rest of the world? I do it all the time.

The theme template I am currently using here has a little RSS feed button to make it easier for you to subscribe and stay up to date with what’s new here. However, it was so tiny and unusually placed, I’d bet most of you have missed it. Thanks to a few of my blogging friends, you can now find the subscribe links easily - check the top of the right hand column. See that fancy pink chicklet?  Hopefully that will make it easier for you and all of my new readers to find the subscription method that works best for them and subscribe.

Why would you want to subscribe instead of just bookmarking the site? Well, it all depends on personal preference really. If you bookmark all your favorite sites, you have to remember to go back to each one individually. If you subscribe to the RSS feed of your favorite sites, you can get everyone’s updates when they occur and view them all at once in an RSS reader or get them in your email inbox.

How is this different than subscribing to an enewsletter? The great part about subscribing via RSS is that you don’t have to share any of your information with the site’s owner. It allows you to monitor your favorite sites on your own terms.

The absolute BEST explanation of RSS that I have seen to date is the video by Common Craft called RSS in Plain English. If you are even the slightest bit confused as to what RSS is all about or need to explain it to someone else, this is the only video you need - and it takes less than 4 minutes!

If you are having trouble seeing the obvious on your own site and need another set of eyes, ask a friend - chances are, they will be willing to help you out. Or better yet, ask Easton! Easton at Business Blogwire has offered to give anyone who asks 5 free tips on their website as part of his blogging birthday. I have been lucky enough to be the recipient of Easton’s advice on more than one occasion - and it is all good.  What are you waiting for? Go ask him, now - right after you subscribe to Casual Keystrokes!