Online Business Website Building Tips and Resources

What is an RSS feed and what is the point?

 

An RSS feed could be one of several information syndication programs. It began as an acronym for Really Simply Syndication. While the term RSS has come to be a blanket term for a number of different program versions and solutions, the end result is virtually the same for all of them. An RSS feed allows users to subscribe to syndicated updates of news sites, information reels, and blogs. Basically, the RSS feed will let you know when new information has been posted at a site that you like.
 

 

While trying to wrap your head around all of the coding differences in the various RSS programs can be maddening, you won’t need to spend a lot of time worrying about this unless your area programmer is trying to build your own news aggregator. For most of us, the RSS feature is already built right into your template by your blog host. If you are looking for RSS news feeds, most sites also have link built right into the page. You simply need to download an aggregator and plug in the links. You can drive traffic to your own blog or news site by making your readers aware of the RSS feed that is available.
 

 

This is can be valuable to you in several different ways. First, if your blog provides information that calls people to action, whether it be a job board or an invitation to dinner, then they need to know as soon as possible that you’ve updated. With the alert from the RSS feed, they will know very quickly that you’ve done so. While most internet users would love to spend all day checking the various blogs and home pages that we enjoy or find useful, we often just don’t have time. Utilize an RSS feed to streamline your blog surfing. With the updated alerts in front of you, you won’t waste time visiting sites or blogs that haven’t had new information posted since your last visit.
 

 

From a business perspective, this tool can be very useful. As updates and changes are made within your particular market, you need to be the first to know. In today’s fast paced business environment speed is everything. You need to be the first to know and the first to react when something changes. An RSS feed can alert you to changes as they are happening and will put you in a position to beat your competition to the punch. Don’t get left behind just because you didn’t have up to date information.
 

 

Maybe the best way to think of RSS feeds is to look at it like you are building your own news page. Imagine that the newspaper showed up at your house every morning with just the content in it that you requested, written by the authors and reporters that you like. That is what an RSS feed can give you. Now image that the newspaper updates itself automatically whenever one of these writers or reporters put out new information. That is what an RSS feed can give you. It is your own virtual news source, fully customized and available to you twenty-four hours a day.