What is RSS?
April 07, 2008
While browsing the web, you have probably noticed that on many websites, usually next to news, articles or press information, there is an icon like this 
with the letters RSS next to it.
RSS stands for Really Simple Syndication, and is a great way for you to keep abreast of what’s happing on your favourite web sites. An RSS document is usually referred to as a “feed”, “web feed” or “channel”.
To Read RSS feeds, you’ll need a “feed reader” or “aggregator”. These are, usually, free pieces of software, which display all of the RSS feeds that you subscribe to. The way that it works is that each time a website that you have subscribed to is updated, your feed reader / aggregator will display the new content in summary, with a link back to the relevant piece of content on the originating web site.
If you are a website owner and you regularly publish new information to your site in the form of news, articles or press releases, RSS is a great way to keep your site visitors coming back. RSS is more anonymous than subscribing to an email list, as the subscribers don’t have to leave any details to receive your feed. This means that people who may not have subscribed to your email list because they don’t want to give out their email address might subscribe to your feed. As we all know, keeping in contact with your target market by any means is so important.
If you want to start receiving RSS feeds, you can use any of the following pieces of software:
- Apple’s Mail program
- Google RSS reader for Mac or Windows – http://www.google.com/reader
- Attensa for Mac OSX – http://www.attensa.com/products/readers/mac/
- Attensa for Windows – http://www.attensa.com/products/readers/windows/
If you would like to offer RSS to your site visitors, call Gareth on 01482 308845.
