RSS Round-Up: Whats Happening with Simple Syndication?

Have you been following the explosion of RSS -- Really Simple Syndication -- activity online? Seems this new method of "getting the word out" is picking up steam. Why? Partly because of the Davids, and partly because of the Goliaths. The "Davids" -- the little guys -- are able to deploy the technology since it is easy to use and usually is a feature of Blogging software (Blogging is another emerging trend -- for more articles on Blogging, visit WebFadds.com). You just click the option and send your RSS feed (broadcast your articles) out to subscribing sites. And the "Goliaths", the likes of Yahoo, Google, MSN and others, are all catering to it in various ways. Let's look at some of the latest ways this is playing out...

Microsoft joins the battle with an RSS Service

Information week reported in March 2005, that Microsoft is now testing an RSS technology that will allow users to choose the RSS feeds they want to see. They are doing this to keep up with (Microsoft always seems reactive, rather than proactive as a company) Google, Yahoo, and Ask Jeeves who already offer similar services.

You can review the test site at the super secret test site -- www.start.com/1/ (well... it was published in the Information Week article).

So, Microsoft Enters the Game? Ho hum for Microsoft, as they lag once again, in leading the wave. But, this is an indication of how seriously this Goliath is taking RSS, and you know where that leads... direct into the next release of Windows software.

Poddcasting, RSS, & Attachments... Oh My

Now here's a high octane way of using a combination of syndication feeds, and "Podcasting" (think of Broadcasting, but doing it from your computer to other devices like Apple's iPod) to get your message out. Maybe that's why one entrepreneur using this method, Steve Wirrick, calls his stock insights, sent via an audio attachment to an RSS feed, "High Octane Trading." You can read more about it (and get the feed) at Mr. Wirricks site (www.stevewirrick.com), where he describes it as, "a dynamic audio learning tool that takes advantage of a grassroots media revolution called, podcasting."

How to listen: To listen to a Podcast (and there are others -- check out iPodder.org), you need a free program called "iPodder -- Cross Platform podcast receiver"... get it at http://ipodder.sourceforge.net/index.php.

RSS meets PodCasting: Power to the people! Most people are just waking up to RSS syndication as a means to distribute the written word. They forgot about attachments. Watch this technology... with a free method of creation, and distribution, Radio could be set to learn from PodCasters what Print & TV journalists already understood from Bloggers -- the power is shifting. What are you going to Podcast?

BEEP... your RSS Feed is Calling...

RSS feeds on your cell phone -- who'd have thunk it? Now there's a service called "Feed Beep" which allows you to sign up and receive your crucial feeds, from employment information to medical, to Auctions. Looks like a start-up, and it appears to be free (for now) -- see www.feedbeep.com/.

Can You Hear your RSS Feed Now?: Great. Now that noisy guy at the theater can also get calls about his eBay auctions. What next? The service also sends feeds to your Pager. Hmmmm. What could be so important? I'm not sure, but it looks like we're destined to find out. But wait a minute... what about PodCasting RSS feeds to phones -- your phone becomes a Radio receiver. Hmmmm.

Let the Whole World Know your Schedule...

There's a Beta site ("Beta" simply means they're still testing it, and it's not quite ready for us Alpha people) up now where you can create an RSS Calendar. You set up your event calendar, create an RSS channel, then family and friends can view your calendar. Take it for a spin at RSSCalendar -- www.rsscalendar.com... it's free.

Calendar to the World: The site states you can share your Calendar with unlimited users. Hmmm. How is this different from calendars you can set up on Yahoo, MSN, etc.? Now, those who are too lazy to check a link you give them at those sites, can be force fed your calendar in their RSS Reader. OOPS... those same lazy people, will also have to go get and install an RSS reader (just do a Google search to find free RSS readers you can use). Fat chance if they are too lazy to simply link to a static calendar you might already have set up. But... if Microsoft builds this technology in... then... well! And, that takes us full circle on this edition of the RSS Round-up.

Scott Frangos is a writer, designer, and eCommerce marketer with over 20 years experience in Advertising. He has taught eCommerce, HTML, and Business courses at the college level in Portland, Oregon, and currently is Managing Partner of WebFadds.com. He also enjoys canoeing in the Pacific Northwest, with his wife and partner, Pepper. You can subscribe to the WebFadds.com RSS feed at: http://feeds.feedburner.com/Webfaddscom

---

Blog or Ezine? Top 7 Reasons to Blog Now!

Many of my small business clients ask me: "What is... Read More

3 Reasons To Publish An E-Newsletter AND A Blog

With spam filters on high alert, delivering a newsletter by... Read More

Who needs T.V. News, Newspapers and Radio News?

T.V. and radio News got you down? On-line current events... Read More

Simple Syndication (RSS) -- Wheres The Payoff?

How RSS really does pay off...Have you heard of RSS... Read More

Snob-Bloggers: You Just Might Be A Snob If You Publish A Blog

You Might Be A Snob-Blogger If?According to Jupiter Research, about... Read More

RSS more effective than email

Long have I been proclaiming the effectiveness of RSS as... Read More

Bloggin for a Reason

For some it's just a fun thing to do, while... Read More

How To Build Traffic To Your Blog

With the growing interest in blogging as... Read More

Gathered Statistical Data Announces that Blogs will Dominate the Internet in Less than a Few Years

... if not months to come.At a distinctive and stable... Read More

How using RSS will attract and maintain visitors

There are nowhere near the amount of webmasters using RSS... Read More

RSS Meets the Needs of Direct Marketers

Contrary to general opinion, RSS meets the needs of even... Read More

Just Tag It!

Tags - Revolutionary or Just Folly?Just another trend or something... Read More

RSS ? Will It Really Become Mainstream?

I am not one to have New Year's resolutions, but... Read More

How To Create A Blog

A blog is an online diary or as some people... Read More

You Are Losing Money If Youre Not Using RSS Feeds On Your Website!

(An RSS primer can be found near the bottom of... Read More

Bad Blogs Have Got To Go, Blogging Could Be Really Cool If Done Properly

There's a lot of blogs out there on the Web,... Read More

10 Benefits of Being a Blogger

I have been a blogger since September 2004 but only... Read More

Article Marketing For Bloggers - 4 Tips To Build Traffic For Your Blog

Bloggers blog. That's what they do. A blog is short... Read More

Is RSS Here to Stay or Gone Tomorrow?

RSS is totally hot. We have seen it everywhere, from... Read More

Why I Use Bloglines as My Default RSS Reader

Choosing a decent RSS reader to browse and read your... Read More

Blogging for Dollars

Blogging for dollars might sound like the latest game show... Read More

Easy RSS for Bloggers

Do you need help adding RSS feeds to your blogger?... Read More

Blogging Your Way To Success Part 2

(Continued from Blogging Your Way To Success Part 1)By now,... Read More

Tips for Better Blogging - Promote any Product or Service

People start blogs for all kinds of reasons. Ego. Political... Read More

Using RSS Feeds to Set Off a Traffic Explosion

RSS, or Really Simple Syndication, is the perfect answer to... Read More

Top Ten Reason to Publish an Ezine AND a Blog

Blogs are the hottest thing going these days when it... Read More

Shorten Your Blogging-RSS Learning and Submission Curve

A blog is a frequent, online publication of comments, web... Read More

Top 9 Reasons Companies Should Blog

Below are the top 9 reasons why companies should blog.1.... Read More

Top 10 Ways to Get People Online to Read Your Business Blog

There are many advantages of running a blog, on top... Read More

The 7 Steps to Promoting Your RSS Feeds on Your Website

RSS gets 100% of your content delivered, but it's no... Read More

How Bloggers Are Making Thousands of Dollars From the Google Adsense Affiliate Program

There is no doubt that the Google Adsense program for... Read More

Displaying RSS Feeds on Websites

Displaying RSS RSS offers webmasters a unique opportunity to display... Read More

It Really Is Simple RSS

I have 'Googlebot' coming to my site every day since... Read More