RSS, Feeds, Aggregators

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

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

RSS

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

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

Feeds

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

Aggregators

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

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

The main advantage aggregators they allow you gather all your feeds one place, read them without having navigate all over place.

Adding Your Feed

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

What's The Advantage?

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

The Future RSS

So what store us with RSS? I don't have a crystal ball but some things are plain see. The future RSS bright yet at same time likely be mired specification wars, mainly due Microsoft's insistence they rename RSS 'web feeds' 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 at http://www.microsoftmonitor.com/archives/009849.html

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

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