RSS feeds are a means of delivering valuable information that is constantly updated and self-curated.
RSS feeds were a popular form of news and updating before social media gained traction as a powerful marketing tool. Though they declined in popularity following the rise of social media, RSS feeds can and still are being used today to keep audience members updated in real time about their favourite sites and businesses. While some claim that RSS is dead, the truth is that it is actually being subtly integrated into the way we use the internet and subscription services.
RSS is an abbreviation for ‘Really Simple Syndication’. RSS feeds are syndicated web pages, brought together through a user’s choices and preferences. RSS feeds are essentially a way for subscribers to stay up to date with their favourite brands, businesses, and other news sources in a form of news aggregation. These feeds can save users a lot of time. They take away the need to check sites for updates because they notify the user when a listed site has updated.
How can RSS feeds be used?
RSS feeds can be used for a number of different purposes, including but not limited to the following:
News Updates
RSS feeds can help you stay up to date with your favourite news sites so that you stay consistently informed. The number of news outlets listed on your feed is up to you. You can even filter the content you are notified about so that only the most interesting, relevant news updates reach your screen.
Personal Interests
Niche topics that spark your interest can be added to your RSS feed, once you find a website that specialises in such information. You can simply add that site to your feed and be notified when they post new content that meets your interests. This could relate to a celebrity, or an organisation you believe in, or even local businesses. If there is a site, you can add it to your feed.
Cost-cutting
If you regularly purchase online, RSS feeds can be a valuable tool to stay up to date on deals and offers. Very often businesses have flash sales or promotional offers that you don’t want to miss. If you add these sites to your feed, you can be notified immediately when something changes, giving you the best chance at securing the best deals.
Benefits of RSS Feeds
Controlled Content
RSS feeds are not merely a thing of the past. Social media today is awash with hundreds of thousands of daily attempts to grab our attention. Despite algorithms, many of us see content that is highly irrelevant and unlikely to inspire engagement. RSS feeds offer a break from the likes of Facebook and Twitter because they allow users to specify the content they want to see.
Convenience
RSS allows a user to access an article or blog post directly without having to navigate the website to find it. Even sites that have an easy to use design can bury content so that it becomes harder to find. With niche content specified, RSS users can get what they want, quickly. Articles are not lost among the rest of a sites personally irrelevant content – they stay on the feed until the user decides to remove them.
Sure, users can find your content by going to your website and navigating your archives, but this is time costly. For those who read your content regularly, distributing that content through an RSS feed can save those readers a lot of time with this automated notification system.
Using RSS Feeds as a Marketer
Above we looked at how RSS feeds can be convenient and easy use tools for users to stay updated on businesses. As a marketer you can use RSS feeds in a similar way, but instead of subscribing for personal interest, you can subscribe to blogs that cover industry-relevant news.
You can also subscribe to industry leaders and your competitors’ blogs to stay updated on their latest news and developments.
To save valuable time, categorise your feeds into different topics so you can take a little bit of time each morning to get a general view of where to go next.
RSS is also an excellent tool to help you with social media monitoring. They allow you to keep track of social media mentions, comments, and replies to your business. With such quick access to these categorised updates, you can establish a reputation as an authentic source of real-time knowledge.
So, are RSS Feeds worth using?
RSS feeds are useful. They are simple and free to use, meaning there are no risks involved in developing one, If you want to make it easier for your audience to know about your latest updates and development, and for you to keep updated with competitors and industry leaders, then try out an RSS feed for your business!
