RSS - Real Simple Syndication
What is RSS?
RSS stands for Real Simple Syndication. This technology is changing the face of the internet.
In the near future it will be less likely that customer will directly visit your website than
they will subscribe to your content, called an "RSS Feed". You can provide information to
readers about your blog, your website,
or any other content that you deem publishable. You can even syndicate video,
music, and pictures. Typically each item in the feed will include a title, an article summary,
and a link back to the online article.
Benefits to your business
The number one reason for having an RSS feed it to provide fresh content (information) for your
customers. By providing the feed you're inviting your customers to return to your website to
find additional details about the article. Since RSS feeds can be dynamically generated from
your blog, the feed can provide fresh content for your hungry customers.
Another great benefit to having a Web Designs Unlimited blog with an
RSS feed is that when your content changes, search engine spiders will index the information
frequently which can really help your search engine rankings.
This automated delivery content through an RSS feed is a huge benefit to your company
because you don't have to worry about submitting your content to the search engines, using
the RSS feed, they will find you.
Summary of business benefits
- Provide fresh content to your customers
- Drive customers to your website
- Higher search rankings
- Provide a way for search engines to find your information
- Open up a new line of communication to your customers
- Publish important information easily
- Increase exposure to your company and your niche market
- Show your company understands Web 2.0
- Keep your company, products, and services in the customer's mind
Benefits to your customers
RSS immediately benefits your customers by allowing them to read just the articles
and information that interests them. It provides a link back to any relevant articles
and drives the customer to your website. In most RSS readers or aggregators, this link
is clickable allowing them to instantly come to your website or blog. Many aggregators
also provide mechanisms for your customer to filter the content to instantly find just
the information that they are looking for, this allows them to sift through large amounts
of information quickly and to easily locate your information.
Another great benefit, unlike email, it does not get deleted so the user can come back to the
content later if they choose. Most RSS readers are as simple to use as email programs, but the
content is stored on your server rather than in their email inbox. Web savvy user's may
ignore an email message might not hesitate to read your RSS feed.