What is RSS?

RSS stands for Really Simple Syndication. Basically, it’s just a feed of information that people can subscribe to.

By default, WordPress creates an RSS feed for every post and every comment on your blog. Meaning if someone puts a comment on your blog, they can add the feed to their feed reader and they’ll be notified on any activity on their comment.

The great thing about RSS feeds, is that now days email clients are including feed readers, so you can add your favorite RSS feed to your email client and your feeds come in just like email.

For instance, I have a feed for craigslist, anytime there is a new job posted under the web category, I get notified in my email (or feed reader).

Basically a feed just keeps you notified of when a site changes, without you actually having to go to that site.

If your a smart blogger, you don’t include the full article in your RSS feeds, you do just a title and a teaser. That way, interested readers have to go to your site to read the full article.

Some advertising programs are now allowing advertising within an RSS feed.

Also the other great advantage to a feed, is you can import stuff right into your site via an RSS Feed. I was doing it on one of my sites, feeding the Google headlines right onto my site. Free content.

RSS feeds are great. You’re definately going to be seeing a lot of exciting stuff happening with RSS in the future.

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