You can once again use RSS feeds to have all Google Alert notifications delivered to your feed reader of choice. Google Alerts has reactivated the option, which had disappeared following the shuttering of Google Reader a few months back. Coupled with the usual email digests, this returns to you the RSS option that was favored by many who wanted to keep their inboxes decluttered.

Google Reader was the vehicle of choice for catching all feeds. When it was discontinued, Google Alerts followed suit in removing the RSS feature. It’s difficult to pinpoint the exact reason but as a message on Google Alerts simply said:

“Google Reader is no longer available. To continue receiving Google Alerts, change to email delivery.”

This was actually a bad omen because Google was on a spring cleaning drive with several of its services on the chopping block. According to Internet chatter, Google Alerts itself wasn’t performing to its full potential, hiccupping with its updates. As in the case of Google Reader, Google Alerts-like alternatives (e.g. Talkwalker) positioned themselves to grab a chunk.

Now, you can go back to Google Alerts and set up the feeds. Log into Google Alerts and create your alert with a search query. In the next screen, click on Manage Alerts and select Feed as the option in the Deliver To menu. The other option is your email address you used to log into your account. Save the alert. The feed option is now visible as a RSS icon. Copy the link and paste it in your feed reader.

How do you view the return of the RSS option? Are you using Google Alerts or did you switchover to an alternative service when the RSS option did a vanishing act?

Source: The Next Web