In the first part of this article we discussed the three
compelling features of RSS that will lure the mases of
content seekers.
Namely, embedded video, 100% deliverability and spam-free
information management.
But, before any of us permanently trades in our email
account for an RSS Reader, a few things need to happen.
Until then, we will be doing double-duty... checking both
our Inbox and our latest feeds.
WHAT RSS NEEDS BEFORE IT KILLS EMAIL
1. RSS Content Clients (like Outlook for RSS) As it stands,
messages which are sent via RSS are usually composed inside
some sort of blog or other similar content management
system and published to the world. All the folks who have
requested the RSS "feed" then receive that message into the
RSS reader they check whenever it is convenient for them.
Generally speaking, the entire group of subscribers gets
every message.
Now, imagine a software application that works like an
email client such as Outlook that allows you to create a
message, format it, add video and audio and then send it to
just one (or a selected group) of subscribers via RSS...
All without having to publish that content to the world.
This would be the silver bullet solution to all the woes of
email.
2. RSS to One or Selected Groups One of the current appeals
of RSS at present is the fact that one can subscribe to an
RSS feed anonymously. They are ensured of receiving only
messages from that person or website (which is hopefully
run by a person) and nothing else. Neither the website
owner or the RSS service knows anything about the
subscriber. This is a good thing and something that will
continue to make RSS valuable.
However, at some point, a more personal RSS option should
appear which allows the subscriber a choice. In the future,
when someone chooses to subscribe to an RSS feed, they will
have the option of sharing personal information with the
publisher, perhaps just their name and a few selected
interests.
They will be glad to do this for two reasons.
1. It will allow the publisher to send only content that
matches their desired interests. (this is actually already
possible but very few take advantage of it)
2. It will allow for private RSS communication between
individuals and groups with all 3 benefits listed above -
embedded media, 100% deliverability, spam-free.
WHAT KILLER-RSS WILL LOOK LIKE
In this new more advanced world, you will have our own
personal RSS address. Not connected to a business or blog
content, just to you personally. Yes, you may be
thinking... "just like my email address".
When someone wants to hear from you, they will go to some
fancy Web 2.0 service and subscribe to your personal RSS
feed. They will sign-up for their own personal RSS feed and
then subscribe to yours, providing you with their name (if
they are a friend) and perhaps their interests if they are
a business contact.
When you want to send them, and only them a message, you'll
open up the fancy wysiwyg editor provided by the cool Web
2.0 service mentioned above, create a message and publish
it.
Sounds like email right? Exactly...
The difference is, you publish the message not to your
public blog but to a private space on the net and to your
friend's RSS reader.
So, your friend checks their RSS reader, sees your name on
their list of subscriptions, notices that you have
published a message to them (and maybe a few other friends)
and either reads the message in their reader or in the
private space online.
So, as this shift occurs, what we are calling Killer-RSS
will be viewed as an upgrade to typical email services with
the added benefits mentioned above.
What do you think, will RSS be the email killer. If not,
how do you see the RSS - email relationship working out?
Visit Web2Center.com to join the dialogue.
----------------------------------------------------
Peter Lenkefi publishes social marketing and blog promotion
tips at http://Web2Center.com .
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