RSS, Feeds, and Aggregators

When you work online all the time, immersed in bits and bytes, hands automatically resting on the keyboard, where the lingua franca is a mish-mash of acronyms and abbreviations - it is easy to forget that the average person has no clue what we talk about. It can be very daunting for the Internet neophyte with all these terms, technology and hardware. That's why I wrote this. Because I don't want people to be afraid to either ask (via comments on this thread) or to click/use buttons they don't know or use.

Way back when I started blogging (6-7 months ago!), I was a complete n00b in these blogging terms too. Now while I'm not exactly the lead programmer at RSS central I do know a thing or two, but when I really think about it I'm only just paddling at the moment so maybe I can help others get into the paddling pool too!

RSS

Really Simple Syndication, let's break it down into the real basics. It is essentially a broken down look at the web page/site, stripping all the presentation and layout, and removing all the neat graphics and cool toys that generally clutter webpages. What's left is an RSS file (in XML format).

Surprisingly out of 1,000 blog readers (who are themselves a small elite minority among Internet users) 66% have not even heard of RSS and 23% said they understood but did not use it. Where do you stand?

Feeds

This is just a another way of writing what RSS can do. Feeds are a blog's (or site's) method of syndicating content, arranged concisely in an XML format and, as mentioned above, stripped of any extraneous presentation. The "feed" comes from aggregators requesting that RSS file to display as content for their subscribers (feeding their need for your well-written articles!).

Aggregators

It's a straightforward description for what it is: it aggregates RSS feeds from whatever source you tell it. These are also sometimes called "newsreaders" although this term is falling out of favor.

There are two types: software and web-based. Software has a following - see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_news_aggregators#Desktop_news_aggregators, but web-based is beginning to draw more of the usage. Rapidly expanding online aggregators such as http://www.bloglines.com/, or http://my.yahoo.com/ are leading the way. With blog traffic up 31 percent since the beginning of the year, readers will need a way to sort through the blogosphere, and aggregators are that way.

The main advantage of aggregators is that they allow you to gather all your feeds in one place, and read them without having to navigate all over the place.

Adding Your Feed

You will have noticed button labeled RSS, often times they are orange rectangles (they are also labeled XML). That is the feed button - clicking it will show a lot of XML code. Note the URI, copy it. Then go to your aggregator, software or web-based, and paste that URI as the feed address and save. That will allow the aggregator to know where to fetch the feed and it will do it automatically from that point on.

What's The Advantage?

A big advantage to RSS is that you, the subscriber, is in control. Let's say you go to xyz.com and look for an article on Blogging software. You find it, but there are advertising banners, fly-ins, pop-ups, and then just as annoying you have to click three or four times to go to the "next page" with yet more of the same. With a feed (and appropriate aggregator) you get just the article (content) without all of the extra stuff.

The Future of RSS

So what is in store for us with RSS? I don't have a crystal ball but some things are plain to see. The future of RSS is bright and yet at the same time likely to be mired in specification wars, mainly due to Microsoft's insistence that they rename RSS to 'web feeds' for the upcoming IE7 release. You can read more about this hotly debated subject at http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/76104/microsoft-defends-rss-rebranding.html and at http://www.microsoftmonitor.com/archives/009849.html

There is no doubt though that RSS is here to stay. It has become an integral part of the blogosphere, a method of aggregating large amounts of content from hundreds of blogs into one place. From a blogger's point of view RSS is essential to building and keeping an audience. Wary of clicking on subscriptions, Internet users finally have a way to grab your content (updated every day, right?) when they want it. For the blogger they now have a way to syndicate their articles, sharing them among other sites who publish those articles. Those who syndicate get content, and the blogger gets exposure.

Richard Dows is a web designer living in Florida, working on small businesses, blogs, site design, and more. You can find him working on his own blog at http://www.thex.com/rd/ or writing and participating in others like http://www.balancednewsblog.com/ and http://www.thex.com/webstandards/

---

RSS Meets the Needs of Direct Marketers

Contrary to general opinion, RSS meets the needs of even... Read More

What Is The Orange XML or RSS Icon I See More and More On Web Sites?

This question does not have a one sentence answer! If... Read More

RSS - How to Promote and Profit From Your Feed

Let me ask you three questions to get you thinking.... Read More

Why Use RSS?

So why use RSS? Well, I can find a whole... Read More

Real Estate Marketing with RSS

RSS (Really Simple Syndication) is an increasingly popular marketing method... Read More

Top 10 Reasons to Start Blogging

"What's blogging?" you ask."Where have you been?" I reply...just kidding,... Read More

Blogging Dollars in 7 Hours or Less

Need to make money fast, but you don't want to... Read More

Blogs: The Hidden Ace Up Your Sleeve

If it wasn't for my blog, I wouldn't make any... Read More

How To Make A Cool Xanga

A xanga is something akin to a blog. It all... Read More

Blood Test for Your Blog?

Are you contributing to one of the estimated 36.1 million... Read More

What the Heck is a Blog?

Everybody is talking about blogs. They are everywhere: on the... Read More

Snob-Bloggers: You Just Might Be A Snob If You Publish A Blog

You Might Be A Snob-Blogger If?According to Jupiter Research, about... Read More

The Key To Marketing With Blogs

I've spent months answering questions from marketers about blogs and... Read More

What is an RSS Aggregator or RSS Reader?

I keep hearing about RSS, XML and RSS feeds. I... Read More

5 Secret Benefits That Bloggers Love And Enjoy

1: Building Trust RelationshipsBlogging allows bloggers to share their expertise... Read More

RSS Feeds Have Revolutionized the Internet

RSS feeds have revolutionized the Internet for one very good... Read More

How to Use Blogs for Free Targeted Traffic

One of the Number 1 traffic building secrets is adding... Read More

Making Money With Your Blog

I've sure you've heard before that it's a possibility to... Read More

Promoting Your Business Using Blogs

Internet marketing using blogs has quickly gained a lot of... Read More

Top Ten Reason to Publish an Ezine AND a Blog

Blogs are the hottest thing going these days when it... Read More

RSS, Feeds, and Aggregators

When you work online all the time, immersed in bits... Read More

Blogs Are About Getting to Know Yourself Better

I still consider myself to be a blog writing novice... Read More

An Appeal To The Bloggers!

Blogging is smart an art. Blog sites are the nicest... Read More

Improving Your Customer Relationship Management by Blogging

Before I address the following questions:* What is a blog?... Read More

Blogs As A Marketing Tool

Blogs are the biggest things to happen to the Internet... Read More

Blogging: A Profit Making Internet Option

Blogging is a relatively new form of communication, closely related... Read More

Is a Blog Right For Your Business?

Lemmings are cute, but dumb. If you tell them... Read More

Seven Sizzling Ways to Turn Targeted Traffic Towards Your Blog!

Blogs are an unbelievable way to achieve success on the... Read More

How Yahoos Recent Facelift Can Mean More Traffic To Your Site

It even surprised me. Yes, even though I have... Read More

5 New Internet Marketing Opportunities Through RSS

When it comes to new internet marketing opportunities for your... Read More

Article Marketing For Bloggers - 4 Tips To Build Traffic For Your Blog

Bloggers blog. That's what they do. A blog is short... Read More

What the BLOG?

Blogs Are the NEW Secret Weapon for Reaching Your Tarket.... Read More

Blogging Advice - Give Your Readers What They Want

Web gives a lot of exposure; weblog stabilizes the exposure... Read More