Website Building Channel
RSS Feed 411!
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.
Additional MommyEmpire
Website Building Channel!
Places to Get a Free Blog
(Downloadable PDF).
