What Is This RSS, XML, RDF, Atom Business?

It's been a long day at work you're no mood cook dinner or go out. Time count reliable pizza delivery guy. The order called he promptly arrives with smokin' hot pizza within 30 minutes promised. If were only that easy with a picky family where no one can agree same restaurant dinner. One wants Mexican, another wants Chinese, another wants a burger Mexican. Instead running three different places, you call a delivery service that goes all them brings you. What could be easier getting a meal without cooking or fetching it?

RSS, XML, RDF, Atom are food delivery guy Internet. The content they deliver mixed cooked elsewhere Internet just like meal isn't made your door step acronym fellows bring content you via software or an online application. Instead trying remember all places where you like go get latest news, all comes you once you order your food.

Click any those orange or blue RSS, XML, or RDF buttons you see unreadable text. Some readable, but reading between slow difficult. In this case, you've got raw ingredients content known a feed. To make easily readable, download a feed reader that can interpret (aggregate) ingredients or sign up an online service that can do same.

When software or application ready go, click orange or blue button (or "Syndicate This Page," or whatever along these lines) copy resulting URL from address box. Paste into application cook ingredients where it's delivered you ready your enjoyment.

Syndication a not a new concept Internet, but it's growing popularity more Web sites newsletters are churning content turn into syndicated files, which are fed into an aggregator. Think content that's ready travel anywhere needs go. Grab feed feed aggregator, another way bookmarking (or creating a favorite) a site because you wish come back again another time. But how often did you go back site through your bookmarks / favorites?

Instead schlepping from site site search information, I have all front me via aggregator. The feeds are sorted folders by topic easy finding. If I'm writing about latest virus or worm, then I open security folder with security-related feeds scan them. Scanning content through aggregators easier than a Web site because it's one folder with headlines maybe a short summary. On a Web site, you're only getting benefit that site's news no where else. The folder has news from over ten resources including blogs, news sites, newsletters.

Any content can be syndicated. It's a matter having backend process place, which dependent application used managing content. If a site doesn't have such resources, then there software entering content create a file with feed posting site.

Most aggregators have exporting capabilities so feed can be shared with others interested same topic. If you're interested my security feeds, I can export them into, most cases, an OPML file you can import into your aggregator.

Spam filters are preventing readers from getting newsletters or they get lost spam pool. Offering a feed newsletter a compromise. Readers can get content, only instead coming emailbox, comes through aggregator. It's a way around spam. Like everything else, has its advantages disadvantages:

Advantages:

• Filters can't stop newsletter from reaching its destination.
• The recipient will get - if server down, it'll download next time email can get lost.
• The feed can be syndicated providing more exposure your content.

Disadvantages:

• Rely readers open aggregators like they open email client, but some aggregators are built-in with an email client like NewsGator there are online aggregators like Bloglines, which can be your home page.
• Metrics won't be complete, but it's still there through links.
• Not pretty HTML-based newsletters.

If feed automatically created, what have you got lose? You're providing another way your readers get your content just like you can get pizza different ways: go restaurant, have delivered, or make at home. More applications are adding syndication capabilities, which make process effortless. Some have said they won't read something unless has a feed.

Syndication works better than bookmarks. With bookmarks, you click a site that might have security information arrive there find doesn't. So, back bookmarks click another site. Lather, rinse, repeat. With aggregators, there no jumping from site site. Scan headlines right there until you find what you need.

There was a time when we didn't have option have pizza delivered our doorstep. When we're too tired, we know we can rely delivery guy. In term content, expect see show up at your doorstep more often than pizza guy plus it's cheaper with cost only coming from software though there are many free options available. Syndication here stay should be added a company's communication toolbox rather than a replacement. Witness by watching RSS, XML, RDF, Atom out there.

Meryl K. Evans Content Maven behind meryl.net who increases conversion rates by writing editing content so organization can focus their core business. She editor-in-chief eNewsletter Journal Shavlik's The Remediator Security Digest. Visit her Web site at http://www.meryl.net/blog/.

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