Free Website Content
RSS Technologies
It is difficult to have a conversation
about technology these days that does not involve RSS.
In the age of the Internet, communication is expected
to be instantaneous. RSS offers instant real-time distribution
in an on demand world.
What is RSS?
RSS is a standard format for syndicating information
or content over the Internet. Once a visitor subscribes
to an RSS feed, they receive the new information each
time the feed is updated.
RSS Does Not Equal Email
RSS is not email, nor is it designed to be a replacement
for email. RSS is a supplemental communication channel
that can be used to deliver content. Email newsletters
have had an increasing problem with spam. Email open
rates have plummeted, filtering systems have become
increasingly complex and with the complexity and volume
even "approved" messages have been unable to get through.
RSS feeds are opt-in, and in most cases
subscribers need not provide any personal information
to subscribe. RSS is simply an alternative method to
communicate with your audience.
Use RSS to supplement email. RSS technology
is a great supplement to email communication, it will
allow you to avoid spam filters and quite possibly reach
a new audience that is leery of providing personal information
to subscribe.
RSS does not have the problems that are
inherent to email marketing. Email filters, do not prevent
the message from going through. RSS does not have any
costs associated with list maintenance. With RSS, the
sender is known, compliance with the CAN SPAM act is
not an issue. RSS is 100% opt-in, there are not any
worries of misdirected email or customers not receiving
the information due to spam.
RSS and email are not mutually exclusive.
While it is true that there are significant benefits
to RSS that are not inherent to email communications.
RSS has not yet reached the tipping point. Therefore
it is best to offer both RSS and email as options to
customers.
RSS Does Not Equal Blogs
Many assume that RSS is only for syndicating the contents
of blogs, nothing could be further from the truth. Blogs
and online journals have rocketed to popularity in the
last few years, and many bloggers use RSS as a means
to distribute and syndicate their blog posts. Subscribers
receive information each time the blog is updated. However
this is NOT the only use for RSS. RSS can deliver any
kind of content, including forum posts, discount coupons,
newsletters or press releases. Blogs are just one type
of information syndicated by RSS feeds.
Blogs may be syndicated using RSS, but
do not assume that content found in an RSS feed is from
a blog.
How is Podcasting Related to RSS?
Podcasts are simply RSS feeds that contain audio content
in the enclosure field. Over the last year the term
podcast has expanded to include RSS feeds that contain
videos as well as audio files. Podcasts use the RSS
specification to deliver the rich media.
In the short time RSS has been around,
many misconceptions have been formed for a surprisingly
simple concept. RSS is simply a standard for syndicating
information (any type of information) on the web. Users
opt to subscribe the information in an RSS feed.
About the Author:
Sharon Housley manages marketing for FeedForAll http://www.feedforall.com
software for creating, editing, publishing RSS feeds
and podcasts. In addition Sharon manages marketing for
NotePage http://www.notepage.net
a wireless text messaging software company.
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copy of the issue or a link to any online posting would
be greatly appreciated send an email to sharon@notepage.net
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