Are you looking for an efficient way to follow blogs without filling your inbox with e-mail subscriptions? Look no further than FeedDemon, the desktop RSS reader. I’ve been using it for months now, and I love it. I’ve mentioned it before in previous posts, but I think it’s time for an update and some tips on how to use it.

Before we get into the how-to, I want to mention this. A Christian friend was horrified that I would use a tool with the word “demon” in its name. I looked up “demon” on the Merriam-Webster site, and the fourth definition is probably what the creators of FeedDemon had in mind: “one that has exceptional enthusiasm, drive, or effectiveness.” I have to admit that nothing about the name was a put-off for me, but I felt I had to mention that.

FeedDemon is a desktop program that you can download FREE at FeedDemon.com. There are two versions. “FeedDemon Lite is free ad-supported software which contains a subset of the features found in FeedDemon Pro. Features available only in the Pro version are listed here” (copied from FAQ page).

To use FeedDemon effectively, you must have a Google Reader account. FeedDemon syncs with Google Reader so that you don’t have to worry about losing your marked or unread articles. If you already use Google Reader, skip down to the Further Information section for tips on using the reader. Here are some pointers on getting your Google Reader set up.

• If you already use Gmail, you do not need to create a new account. Look for the link to Reader at the top of the Gmail page once you’re logged in.
• If Blogger (Blogspot) is the only Google service you use, go to Google.com and log in with your Blogger username and password. Once logged in, click on More and you’ll see a drop-down list with Reader toward the bottom. Click on Reader, and you’re there.
• For those who are not familiar with how feed readers work, take minute to check out this beginner guide on how to set up Google Reader. Or, you can start with the Google Help Forum.

In the next post, I’ll share my favorite features of FeedDemon and provide information on downloading and setting it up.

This is the first of two posts on how to use FeedDemon desktop RSS reader to minimize your time and effort following blogs.

Further Information:

Google Reader: Cut the Time You Spend Reading on the Web

YouTube video (8 minutes) on how to use Google Reader