Exactly what is RSS?
You probably have seen RSS several times in the course of
your internet surfing. What is RSS? RSS is a XML file
format for syndicating content and news on the web. RSS
stands for Really Simple Syndication or Rich Site Summary;
syndicating means republishing an article that comes from
another source such as a website.
Simply stated, RSS is a means of publicizing updates about
any website. It may or may not include a summary and/or
photos of the latest posting. Other than content, you can
also attach multimedia files, like videos or pictures.
Those that do provide summaries (thus Rich Site Summary)
allow any user to skim through the article so that they
could decide later on if they want to access the website
source. The RSS feed usually contains the title of the
update as well as the link to the website source.
How exactly does RSS work?
To be able to use RSS, you first have to download software
(content management system), so that the XML format can be
read. The title and, excerpt of the article, and a link to
the full article are shown.
For users to access a particular RSS feed, they need to use
an aggregator or a feed reader of some type. An aggregator
searches for updates on RSS-enabled webpages then displays
it. It can either be a standalone program or a web browser
extension, depending on your operating system.
What exactly are the benefits of RSS?
1. It gives you the latest updates as soon as it comes out.
2. It gives the power of subscription to the user.
3. It saves on surfing time by helping the surfer to decide
on which items to prioritize when reading or browsing the
net.
4. It can be used as a powerful advertising or marketing
tool.
5. It cuts down on the clutter in your inbox.
6. It is spam free and since RSS does not make use of your
email address to send updates your privacy is kept safe
from spam mails.
7. Unsubscribing from an RSS feed is hassle-free.
What exactly are the drawbacks of RSS?
1. Since it is a new technology, many sites still do not
support RSS.
2. Graphics and photos do not appear in all RSS feeds.
3. Some users prefer receiving email updates over an RSS
feed.
4. Publishers cannot determine how many users are
subscribed to their feed and the frequency of their visits.
5. RSS feeds create higher traffic and demands on the
server.
6. The identity of the source website can be confusing.
How exactly do I start using RSS?
Basically, there are two things you need: an RSS feed and
an RSS aggregator or reader. The RSS feed comes from an
RSS-supported website. There are also websites that provide
a list of RSS feeds of different websites. An RSS
aggregator is used to read the RSS feed from the source
website. It scans and collects data on latest RSS feeds
from the worldwide web.
An aggregator comes in two forms: a downloadable or online
/ web-based aggregators. Some aggregators may require
payment, while some aggregators are free of charge. Both
versions allow you to customize or choose which RSS feeds
to enter. Paid aggregators are usually chosen by more
experienced users and they usually allow more freedom in
customizing feeds.
1. Choose an RSS aggregator to use. For beginners,
web-based aggregators are usually recommended since they
are usually very user-friendly
2. Look for the RSS or XML button on the website you are
interested in. It contains the RSS code you need to enter
in the aggregator. Copy this code. Syndic8 provides a
directory of websites that support RSS.
3. Paste the code (which contains the URL of the website)
in your aggregator. There is a space provided for pasting
the code.
After you have done these three easy steps, you can start
reading the RSS feeds coming from the website. New postings
appear as they are published real time at the source
website.
RSS and Internet Marketing
The original idea of RSS came from Netscape, where their
intention was to provide a means for users to customize
their personal homepage to contain links to websites that
interested them. Very similar in fact to bookmarking
websites.
RSS used in internet marketing was an unforeseen
development to RSS technology developers. Today RSS is fast
replacing email marketing and newsletters. Since users are
given the freedom to add RSS feeds to their aggregators,
those who are interested in particular products and
services available in the internet can now be notified real
time. Marketing becomes much more specific to interested
people and is no longer a hit-and-miss operation.
Those who intend to use RSS for marketing their products
and services should consider linking up with various email
account providers, (e.g. Yahoo, MSN, Google mail);
networking websites (e.g. Friendster, Multiply, My Space,
Hi5); websites of newspapers and television network
websites (e.g. New York Times, CNN) for medium to big-scale
companies.
Other ideas, also look into networking websites as well as
personal blog websites (e.g. Blogspot), websites of clubs
and organizations that would probably make use of their
products or services e.g. a fishing supplies store can look
for the website of their local fishing club for possible
RSS marketing.
Clearly, RSS is an innovation in information management in
the worldwide web as well as in online marketing. We can
expect better RSS technology in the not-so-distant future
as its popularity increases among users and website owners
alike. RSS feeds can give your website more traffic than
through usual web hosting. More web traffic to your site
means more people seeing your products. Add strength to
your marketing strategy. Make RSS feeds to your site and be
prepared to sell.
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Debbie Ray, owner of http://www.the-website-doctor.com ,
http://www.cheap-legal-help.com ,
http://www.profitwithinternetbusiness.com and
http://www.total-german-shepherd.com is a lifelong dog
owner, website designer, teacher and internet business
owner. Let me teach you more.
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