Sunday, April 12, 2009

How To Explain RSS

By Samo Yanezic

When you are called upon to explain RSS feeds, what do you say? You may stumble around and hem and haw, or you may go directly to a site that will define it for you, but consider the ramifications of doing so. Unless you can explain RSS easily, you'll find that you are missing out.

If you, like so many people, are trying to draw attention to your site or blog online, chances are that you won't accomplish that goal unless you have set up an RSS feed for your site. When you think about just what an RSS feed can do for you, it makes perfect sense. In fact, it won't take long to realize that it is a very basic, simple way to get readers and attract traffic.

The first step that should come to mind when you want to explain RSS feeds is that you should know what they stand for. It is nothing very complicated; RSS is just short for Really Simple Syndication.

In this case, syndication simply means creating media and making it more accessible in several different avenues. Now, you should not mistake this to mean that you are changing media, although that can certainly be done. Think about it this way: the comics in the paper are syndicated. They are run in several different papers all over the country or even the world. You can bring this concept to your work and distribute it world wide as well.

Now that the term RSS feed has been defined, the next logical question would pertain to its relevance. Actually, RSS feeds have only gained importance over the last few years. As the internet has grown and matured, more and more people have created blogs and media sites. These sites are updated and checked on a regular basis, often daily. Many people have several sites that they manage, so webmasters are seeking ways to attract traffic to their sites, with as little pointing and clicking as possible.

Many people prefer the simple, the easy. They want one stop shopping and they really want it delivered to their doorstep. It is this desire that should be conveyed to new web marketers when touting the benefits of RSS feeds.

Once you begin using an RSS feed, you should understand what that means. Simply speaking, it means that the products you create will be zipped directly to someone's personal reading list. Instead of being burdened with remembering that they must click on your site or visit your blog to see updates and new content, all they have to do is go to their reading list. Essentially, your material is delivered directly to them.

Over time, your RSS feed will become a part of their daily routine, a way of life for them. Take a moment to think about this. Your products, your name will become a household word. It is well worth the time and effort to learn this, so think about how you can best make it work for you.

Setting up an RSS feed is surprisingly simple. If you already post to established online blogs like Blogspot or the infamous MySpace, then half your battle is won. Most of these types of sites have a way to set up an RSS feed automatically.

If this sounds like an avenue that could prove beneficial for you, take some time to research RSS feeds, learn the ins and outs and know just what impact it can have on your site. Then you are ready to roll.

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