Free Website Content
RSS Benefits
Benefits to RSS
Benefits to RSS
RSS streamlines communication between publishers and
readers. Since RSS has had a popularity surge, webmasters
have been experimenting and using RSS feeds to deliver
content in new and innovative ways. Typically, RSS feeds
contain news headlines and content summaries. The content
summaries contain just enough information without overwhelming
the reader with superfluous details. If the reader is
interested and wants additional information they can
click on the item in the feed, accessing the website
which contains additional details. RSS readers aggregate
multiple feeds, making it easy for individuals to quickly
scan information contained within each feed. Feeds are
generally themed, allowing users to opt-in to feeds
that are of interest.
The big benefit to RSS is that individuals opt-in to
content of interest, totally controlling the flow of
information that they receive. If the quality of the
content in the feed declines, users simply remove the
feed from their RSS reader and they will not receive
any additional updates from that source. The RSS reader
acts as an aggregator, allowing users to view and scan
multiple content streams in a timely fashion.
RSS is a great supplemental communication method that
does not burden the publisher with maintaining lists
or following strict privacy guidelines. RSS feeds are
compiled according to the user's choices, removing any
burden that is placed on publishers of email newsletters.
Publishers no longer need to be concerned with spam,
privacy policies, and age guidelines.
Publishers using RSS as a communication vehicle are
able to create keyword-rich, themed content, establishing
trust, reputation, and ongoing communication with current
and prospective customers.
What Kind of Information Can be Delivered in RSS
Feeds?
Blogs Feed
Many blogs are catalogued in an RSS feed, with each
blog entry summarized as a feed item. This makes it
easy for visitors to scan blog posts for items of interest.
Article Feed
Articles are often placed into feeds to alert readers
when new articles and content are available. The feed
entry is typically an article summary or introduction.
Readers can then ascertain if the article is of interest
and read further.
Forum Feed
Many forums now have add-ons that allow participants
to receive forum posts via RSS. The RSS feeds often
will show the latest discussion topics; if users are
interested they simply click to enter the forum to participate
in the discussion. As the topic is updated they will
see new entries in the RSS feed.
Schedule Feed
Schools, clubs and organizations will often use feeds
to communicate meeting times, places and events that
might be occurring. The RSS feeds are often used to
publicize events, notify the community of schedule changes
or meeting agendas.
Discounts / Specials Feed
Retail and online stores have begun using RSS feeds
to deliver their latest specials and discounted offers.
Some online retailers have taken this a step further,
allowing users to create their own feeds based on keywords
or phrases.
For example, this service will generate a URL than
can be entered into a news reader. The feed is updated
each time an item is added to Amazon that meets the
specified criteria or keywords - Amazon Search Feed
- http://www.oxus.net/amazon/
Ego / News Monitoring
Companies or individuals interested in receiving headline
news based on a specific brand or keyword can use RSS
feeds to monitor news sources.
For example, users can use the following tool to create
a feed that will allow them to receive filtered news
from Google News. They will only receive items related
to a specific keyword or phrase they setup - http://www.justinpfister.com/gnewsfeed.php
Industry-Specific RSS Feed Uses Include:
Technical professionals in specific industries have
also developed RSS feeds as way to market, promote or
communicate within their specific industries. In many
cases, this has expanded their reach and increased communication
with current and prospective customers and clients.
RSS feeds can be used by realtors to communicate the
time and location for open houses, announce new property
listings or promote decreased mortgage rates. Content
feeds can also be used by universities to communicate
sports scores or event schedules. Computer service professionals
can create feeds to notify clients of potential security
breaches, virus risks or outbreaks. Ultimately, RSS
is molded to meet the communication needs of many sectors.
Consider how RSS can benefit your business and supplement
your communication needs.
RSS feed creation tool for publishers interested in
creating fresh content - FeedForAll - http://www.feedforall.com
About the Author:
Sharon Housley manages marketing for the NotePage http://www.notepage.net
and FeedForAll http://www.feedforall.com
product lines. Other sites by Sharon can be found at
http://www.softwaremarketingresource.com
, and http://www.small-business-software.net
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