RSS means Really Simple Syndication and Rich Site Summary, depending on who you ask. Users can subscribe to an RSS feed to get any updates to your site, every time you make a change or add more content. This means users don’t have to keep going back onto your site, every day for instance, to get updates. The user can simply see the changes in their browser or favorite RSS reader and click to view the most relevant articles to them.
These customers receive their updates without fail, and with little to no work on your own part. This means you don’t have to worry about organising mailing lists or generating content for emails.
RSS is good for your search engine ranking also. Syndicating your site so others can publish your content will generate genuine and relevant links back to your site, which will ultimately show favorably in your search engine rank.
But I WANT people to visit my site!
True, but your customers are busy people and we should value their time. Besides, it’s unreasonable to believe your visitors will return daily. This way you can keep informing them of changes without having to rely on them remembering to return. They will just return if they see something interesting.
Visitors can get a RSS feed from your site without having to supply any personal details such as their name or email address. Most people don’t like supplying this information for multiple reasons. Some non web-savvy users don’t know their email address or even have one. Many hear horror stories about data on the internet and are scared to do anything unnatural to them. While those experienced browsers try to avoid supplying this information from previous experience of junk mail and unsolicited contact.
I’m losing out on a mailing list this way.
Yes you are. But it’s not to say you can’t have a regular newsletter sign up as well. Those who have come to trust you can sign up without fear.
Okay I’m sold, so what do I need to do?
Nothing.
If you have your site based on Wordpress, we can get an RSS to generate automatically for your visitors to link to. They will receive any news updates or article you write.
If you have an OS Commerce based site, we can arrange for an RSS feature to be available so your customers can receive data such as new products or latest deals.
Actually there is one thing you must do…
Keep updating your site! Having an RSS feature is of little use to anyone if you don’t keep on top of your site.
Really want to get the most from your RSS?
Get involved with Feedburner. Feedburner is a great way to help advertise your RSS feed and in turn your website. It has lots of features such as getting stats on your subscribers and giving the user additional content such as receiving it via email if they want.
Also, inform your customers what RSS is. Many don’t know. They may just thank you for it. That can only be good!
