Use Google Reader to follow Craigslist: How to

Recently I was looking for a new (to me) sailboat and Craigslist was an obvious site to visit.  Living in Charleston, SC I visited the local Craigslist often but soon realized that I needed to expand my search.

The natural path is to bookmark Craigslist sites for Myrtle Beach, Charleston, Columbia, Hilton Head, and so forth then surf to each site daily while the babies cry, the spouses stew, and the dinner burns.

Wouldn't be great to visit one location where you could see all of the boat listings from half a dozen cities?

There is.  It's called RSS or Really Simple Syndication.  Proficient web users have used RSS readers for several years but I find that a significant number of my friends are unfamiliar with them.

Lost you yet?  Grab another adult beverage and I'll attempt to walk you through the process.

Note to techie readers.  Yes, I know there are alternatives, yes there is much more.  Yes there are easier, but not necessarily clearer ways to subscribe.

This post is for my neophyte friends.

For this to work, the website guru needs to add support for RSS - most frequently updated sites have RSS feeds - usually indicated by this icon or a Subscribe button.  In neither case will you need to type in your e-mail address.

On your end, you need a reader.  I use Google Reader - it's free and works.  You won't need to download anything to your computer.

If you already have a Google account, simply add the reader.  If not, sign up for free Google account, then add the reader.

Follow these steps to add Charleston's Craiglist Boat section to your Google Reader.  Then repeat for each other Craigslist site.

1.  Navigate to the appropriate web page then mash (or click) the RSS icon.

Note: I use Firefox as my browser so if you are using Chrome, Safari, Internet Explorer or other browser, the RSS icon may be located in a different area.

2. The next screen pops up

I've suggested the Google Reader but you may select another one.  Press Subscribe Now.

3.  Besides the Reader (and dozens of other apps), Google allows you to create your own home page.  For now, press Add to Google Reader.

4.  On the next screen - your personal Google Reader - you'll see this box near the top.  Let's see, you've already said you wanted to subscribe by pressing the icon, then Subscribe Now, then add to reader but them damn programmers (I'm proud to have been one) want to know once again if you want to subscribe.  Assuming you haven't broken your mouse clicker by now - click on Subscribe.

5.Over to the left of your Google Reader you'll find the Subscriptions area.  I subscribe to several feeds, but notice the craigslist | boats in ... (10) in bold below.  (The 10 indicates there are ten new posts on this particular Craigslist that I haven't read.)

6.  Roam around the Google Reader and you'll find an area called Feed Settings.  Use this to customize the view.

Final result - I have subscribed to three Craigslist boat sections and organized them under the Boats folder.

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Throughout the day, without any action on your part, Google will scan the sites to which you have subscribed (as outlined above) and update the lists.  It isn't necessary to keep the reader open.  When opened, it refreshes itself.

Hope this helps.

For more detailed description and videos, try these sites.

Of course this works for following any website (like this one) or your favorite blog.  You'll soon discover which sites have scores of postings each day - too many to read - and simply unsubscribe from with the Google Reader - Feed Settings.