| RSS - or what is now known as "Really Simple | | | | services that enable users to personalize web pages, |
| Syndication" - is a file format that is incorporated by | | | | refreshing them each time the page is accessed or |
| Internet users in their websites to allow for 'web | | | | each time a person logs in to the service. |
| syndication', making their web content available in a | | | | ·Plug-in aggregators/readers - these make use |
| format that can be universally understood by other | | | | of either web browsers or e-mail clients, which allow |
| people. | | | | users to view RSS feeds while inside an existing |
| In essence, RSS is a 'mini database' that contains | | | | program. |
| headlines and descriptions (a summary or a line or two | | | | Having an RSS-enabled website provides Internet |
| of the full article) of your web content, including | | | | users (especially those who are website owners) with |
| hyperlinks that enable users to link back to the full | | | | the following benefits: |
| article of their choice. | | | | ·Allows users to generate up-to-date news |
| RSS websites - that is, websites that contain RSS | | | | and postings, as information and content in the RSS |
| 'feeds' (articles or postings) - typically have colorful | | | | readers or aggregators are automatically updated |
| graphics to indicate to users that the specific web | | | | each time the RSS feed is 'refreshed'. |
| content is available through RSS feeds. These | | | | ·Allows users to have control over the |
| graphics are usually depicted by orange rectangles | | | | information that they wish to view or receive, as they |
| that are usually marked with 'RSS' or 'XML'. | | | | can remove a feed of their choosing any time they |
| With its increased popularity, RSS is now being | | | | want to. |
| adopted and used by more website owners or | | | | Aside from these benefits, RSS websites are also |
| publishers. Today, numerous resources are now | | | | useful for people who conduct their business in the |
| available that aid Internet surfers (and even beginners | | | | Internet, particularly in Internet or Online Marketing. RSS |
| as well) on how to set up and use RSS. | | | | can be an effective marketing tool for your website, |
| Setting up RSS feeds and adding them to your | | | | especially in the following fields: |
| website can be a simple process that does not involve | | | | ·E-mail marketing and publishing |
| a lot of time or any money. Listed below are some | | | | ·Search engine marketing and optimization |
| simple and basic steps that you might want to follow: | | | | ·Business blogging |
| 1. Have your web content and/or news in an RSS | | | | ·Internet advertising |
| feed format, such as XML (appropriate and | | | | ·Digital public relations |
| 'ready-made' feeds are also available from other | | | | ·Branding and e-commerce |
| sources). | | | | In addition, RSS can 'power' your website, providing |
| 2. Click the orange graphic - this is the RSS feed icon. | | | | you with the following: |
| Take note of the URL of the RSS feed; this will be | | | | ·Valuable, updated, and relevant resources for |
| displayed in the address bar (for Internet Explorer). | | | | site visitors and potential clients - RSS is ideal for |
| 3. Input the feed URL on your RSS feed creation | | | | websites that contain (and syndicate) a lot of |
| program. | | | | information that has to be changed or updated |
| 4. Click on the "Generate Feed" button. This will | | | | regularly. |
| generate the RSS code for your web content. | | | | ·Search engine optimization for the website. |
| 5. Enter the RSS code in the appropriate place on | | | | ·Increased traffic for the website - your |
| your own website. | | | | website can 'harvest' and display information from |
| Having created an RSS feed for your website, next | | | | other sites, driving more traffic to your own website. |
| comes the task of publishing your web content and | | | | ·A wide selection of 'channels' for content |
| news and having them displayed on other sites and | | | | distribution, such as PDA's, cellular phones, voice mails, |
| headline viewers. This is made possible with the use of | | | | and email ticklers. |
| RSS readers or aggregators. | | | | ·A reliable way to have your web content |
| RSS readers or news aggregators are used to view | | | | delivered to Internet users and potential clients - RSS |
| particular web contents. RSS readers contain the | | | | ensures that your site is viewed by the people who |
| collection of 'feeds' or RSS files from content | | | | are interested in them, without having them blocked |
| providers, and they are generally classified into 3 types: | | | | and 'cleaned' by ISPs or Spam filters. |
| ·Desktop RSS readers - also known as | | | | These are just some of the advantages that RSS can |
| standalone desktop application, they generally 'run' in | | | | give your website (and your business). The possibilities |
| the background and are similar to an e-mail client, | | | | are endless, as more and more comes up almost |
| collecting the feeds and refreshing items automatically | | | | everyday. Do not be left behind - take the advantage |
| as they are updated. | | | | of the marketing and publishing power of RSS. |
| ·Web-based aggregators - these are online | | | | |