RSS Explained in Plain English

RSS (Really Simple Syndication) is a method of delivering web content to users that does not necessarily require a web browser. If you want RSS explained in plain English, then read this article to gain a greater understanding of this technology.

Users can be updated as soon as new content is added. RSS is most commonly used on blogs and news sites. Website owners can then syndicate the RSS feeds so other sites can publish the content (sometimes just the titles of the new content is published).

RSS has countless benefits. It lets regular web users keep up to date with your content. Some people are simply too busy, or they forget to check their favorite websites regularly.

RSS lets them subscribe to your feed, notifying them when your site has been updated. They can then either read the new content in their RSS reader or click the link through to your website. It is up to you to decide whether you will deliver the full content to their reader, or just the title and summary of the new post or article.

RSS feeds can increase your traffic significantly. Just by letting your readers know that your site has been updated, you can bring people back over and over again.

To ensure that people click through to your site, make your RSS titles compelling and exciting. By also generating curiosity, people are more likely to visit your site. That is why summary RSS feeds are ideal in many situations, rather than full feeds.

RSS feeds should be a part of your search engine optimization and traffic generation strategy and as such, you should endeavor to stick to your SEO strategy as much as possible.

If you are using a blog platform like Wordpress for your site then no work on your part is required to generate a RSS feed. Wordpress automatically creates a feed and provides a subscribe link in your navigation. There are also many Wordpress plugins that control and customize RSS feeds.

To receive an RSS feed, users just need a feed reader. Many email programs, such as Mozilla Thunderbird, now offer RSS feed readers. Some other popular RSS feed readers include:

Amphetadesk
FeedReader
NewsGator

To add a feed to your reader, simply find the URL of the RSS feed on the website or blog you want to track. Sometimes the URL will be given to you; other times you may need to right click on the RSS icon and select "copy link location" or similar command.

Then simply paste this URL into your reader Add Feed window and the 10 latest news feeds will automatically downloaded (webmasters may choose more or less than ten).

In addition to software there are also internet based feed readers such as Google Reader, Bloglines, Feedbucket, RocketRSS Reader, and My Yahoo. Whichever method your users prefer to use, they will reap the benefits of RSS feeds and updates from your site as they happen.

Now that I have explained RSS to you in plain English, you can begin using it as part of your marketing plan. RSS provides visitors with an excellent way to track new content on their favorite websites. On the other hand, webmasters will love being able to syndicate their new content to many readers, whilst gaining potential traffic and increased earnings from their site.