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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This article may be used freely in opt-in
publications and websites, provided that the resource box
is included and the links are active. A courtesy copy of
the issue or a link to any online posting would be greatly
appreciated send an email to sharon@notepage.net
.
Additional articles available for publication available
at http://www.small-business-software.net/free-website-content.htm
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