Business Blog Wire

In Part 3 of this continuing series on monitoring the blogosphere, we’ll discuss how to set up search feeds to save you time and bring you instant updates on news that interests you in the blogosphere.

See also:
Part 1: Why and How to Monitor the Blogosphere
Part 2: The Best Free Tools

Here is a simple recipe for setting up search feeds in a feedreader:

1. Go to a blog search engine and search for something.  For example:
- Search Technorati for corporate blogging
- Search IceRocket for "Mike Sansone"
- Search Google Blog Search for "business blog"

2. Convert the search results into an automatically updated feed and coyp the resulting URL.  For example:
- In Technorati, click "Add to Watchlist" (you need a free Technorati account first); then right-click on "View in RSS format" on your Watchlist page and copy the feed URL
- In IceRocket, right-click on "RSS 2.0 Feed" at lower right and copy the feed URL
- In Google Blog Search, right-click on one of the Atom/RSS feed URLs at lower left and copy the feed location

3. Import the search feed into a feedreader.  For example:
- In NewsGator Online, click "Add Feeds" at top left, choose the "URL & Import" tab, paste in the feed URL from step 2 and hit "Add Feed."
- In Bloglines, in the "My Feeds" tab, click "Add," paste in the feed URL, and hit "Subscribe."

You’re done!  Now all you have to do is check your feedreader regularly for new search results to automatically appear.  You’ll save time, and time is money.

If you want more detailed instructions, feel free to contact me at easton (AT) knowmoremedia (DOT) com or leave a comment below.  I can’t recommend more highly the value of getting search feeds piped to you automatically.

In Part 4, we’ll look in more detail at one of the best blog search tools.

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