Keeping It Simple (RSS)

Because of the nature of my work, I run across a large number of websites that I want to keep track of for future reference.  In fact, I have well over 100 site addresses tucked away in various folders in my “Favorites” file.  Within this collection of sites, there are a few that I reference on a regular basis.  But even with this smaller list, I still have a hard time keeping up with all the content posted each week.

    

By setting up an RSS feed for this smaller collection of sites, I can quickly scan the contents to see which blog posts I need to read.  RSS stands for “Really Simple Syndication” and is a method for collecting and organizing web content from blogs, newspapers and websites.

   

In this edition of My Two Cents – 60 Second Web Update, I give a brief overview of RSS.  While you may or may not be familiar with these feeds, they are offered on a number of web sites that you visit regularly.  In fact, look to the right of this post and just below the daily cartoon you will see a square orange icon.  This is the RSS symbol.

    

    

    

Using an RSS feed to syndicate information is not just for blogs and podcasts – it is quickly becoming a standard ecommerce marketing tool.  “If you are interested in great electronics deals”, explains the Wal*Mart website, “you could subscribe to our Rollbacks feed for electronics.  Then whenever we roll back the price of an item, it is automatically added to the feed and it will show up when you view the feed, or it can show up as a short headline in your RSS reader that will link to the appropriate Walmart.com page.”

      

Take a look around your favorite sites and check for the RSS icon.  You’ll be surprised how often you’ll see it.  Best of all – it’s FREE. 

      

Until next time,

    

Dan