RSS: Not Just Another Initialism

By Ivor Goligher


RSS is one of those phrases that is tossed around online, but a lot of people don't know what it means. Standing for Really Simple Syndication, user's sign up for the RSS feed of a site, and then get alerted whenever an update is made. It sounds like a, well, really simple process, but can it be used to increase web traffic?

RSS provides an easy way to get your content to your subscribers quickly and reliably, whether it is a blog post, video file, audio file, etc. However, for all its benefits, RSS has a few drawbacks that should be reviewed. Limited security, the inability to properly track your feed's consumption, and the lack of consolidated feeds are just a few of RSS's limitations. There is an alternative, however. It's called Smart RSS and it's quickly on the rise with companies as the reevaluate their stand on RSS publishing.

Another approach is to outsource many of these mundane tasks, or train an assistant. This could be someone locally, or you can go virtual and hire someone as a VA. Building linkwheels in this way will save you time and money. The best part is that all of the above strategies are considered best practice for SEO, and done properly will not jeopardize search engine placement, nor be considered in a bad light for search engine indexing.

When you send out an RSS feed to people, you include a summary of that page, plus a link to it. That link is small and portable, and it's easy for your RSS subscribers to copy into other forms like their own blogs, websites, or Facebook accounts. And remember, the more you are linked to, the better you will be on your search results.

Since RSS feeds get updated whenever content is updated, this is a simple way to keep linkwheels fresh with unique content. It is as simple as using an RSS feed from one site embedded into each successive site in your linkwheel. This is along the lines of how some social content services update "statuses and posts" across the fabric of social networks.

Map out this combined strategy in a diagram on paper, or using mind mapping software to see if it make sense for your SEO strategy and then test the system. You can include any sites that have an RSS feed, including popular sites like Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube.

All of these methods take time, and experts agree that RSS should only be used to keep your readers informed, not as an SEO gimmick.




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