Today I had a client write to me and tell me that their RSS wasn't working and someone had called it to their attention - and she had no idea what it was or why it might be useful for her. So I thought I'd turn her inquiry into a blog post. (Thanks, dollface!)
Definition: RSS stands for Real Simple Syndication. When a television show or radio show is syndicated, it means the material is being made available to multiple stations. Similarly, syndicating your web content means you're making your content available for multiple outputs - in a standardized format. (Say what?) In other words, a summary of your most recent content will be available to anyone who subscribes to the feed - so they can read it in the way they like to read other feeds they subscribe to. People can read it in their own time, and be notified when there's new content.
When you're not using RSS feeds, and there's a blog or information you want, you have to bookmark the site and keep visiting it to check and see if it's been updated. Well, not anymore, buddy! Subscribing to an RSS feed means you'll know right when the new info is available. And so will your readers!
Reading Feeds: Reading feeds is pretty easy. First thing you need is a feed reader. I use Google's reader - which is available to everyone at reader.google.com - but I've used Netvibes too in the past because you can design it yourself and make tabs and stuff. Basically, in both readers, you can make sections, sort of like a newspaper. Mine has a graphic design section for the design blogs I read, and a social media section for the social media stuff I read, and a humor section for the comics I like. (I like The Oatmeal, which is friggin' hilarious.)
Once you've signed up for a feed reader, you then visit the blogs you like and click on the RSS button. It will ask you where you'd like to read the blog and you choose. Then you can organize your feed reader however you want! It's super easy. You don't have to be tech-y to do it, at all.
If you don't want to set up a reader, you can usually subscribe to blogs via email. This means that when they update their blog, the new post will come to you as a new email. This greatly increases the number of stuff in your inbox, but perhaps it's easier for you to handle than setting up a page. Pages you can visit whenever you want, emails come in and sit in the box.
One advantage to remember using a reader is that usually they have options to share the posts you're reading on Twitter, your Facebook page, LinkedIn, and so on. So if you get a brilliant blog post in email, there may not be a one-click way to share it. But try both and see what you like the best.
Why You Need to Read: Reading blogs will actually make you smarter and more successful! How?
1.Reading other blogs in your niche helps you stay informed about what's going on in your industry. This is how you'll get smarter! 2.Reading other blogs helps you see what your competition is up to. You can either keep up, or maybe find someone to collaborate with, or get new ideas. 3.Reading and commenting on other blogs will get your name out there and make you more well known.
Maybe you'll get a new client out of it. Then you'll be more successful than you were before! Shazam!
Why You Need to Syndicate: There are about 1001 blog posts out there about why your business should be blogging, and an equal number of reasons why it's a great idea. But to sum it up for the purpose of this post:
1. Creating syndicated content provides peers and clients a way of keeping tabs on you - and if they want to, you should give them a way to do it! 2. Creating syndicated content, that is, writing about what you know about, makes you look like a genius. At the very least, it makes you look like an expert. At the very, very least, it helps you look like you know what you're talking about. 3. Creating syndicated content helps other people share it with the people they think will benefit from your information. And if they want to, you should give them a way to do it!
How to Use an RSS Feed to Increase Results in Search Engines The Benefits of Using RSS Feeds What Is RSS? Or What Does That Orange Radar Thingy Do? Choosing an RSS Reader
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