An idea for you and your business – From Jim Connolly
With the advent of the Internet, there has never been more information available to you. Although this has created an unbelievable number of opportunities for you and your business; it has also created a problem:
THERE’S JUST TOO MUCH INFORMATION OUT THERE!
So, how do you make sure you get the information you need – without missing anything important or wasting your precious time, trawling through stacks of websites?
RSS
RSS (Really Simple Syndication), is a simple tool that allows you to receive all your important Internet content in one place! If, for example, you like to keep up to date with the new posts on this blog, RSS will send you my posts once they have been written! No need to keep checking back here – you will automatically receive all my new stuff and can then read it whenever you like!
OK, I clicked the RSS button – now what?
Most Internet Browsers have their own built in RSS reader. Firefox uses something called Live Bookkmars and Internet Explorer has it’s own built-in RSS reader as well. So, once you have clicked the RSS button on this blog or any other website that provides an RSS feed, you can simply look in the RSS section of your browser and get the latest from all your favourite sites! The only proviso here is that the site or blog needs to offer a ‘feed’ – almost all blogs do and all news websites. Pretty much every regularly updated website offers ‘feeds’ these days.
Are there any other benefits to RSS?
Oh yes! There are news sites like Google News, which will let you receive news stories about your industry or local area as soon as they break, via RSS. This is a GREAT tool for competitor analysis! You can even set it, so that whenever someone posts information about you or your company, you will be the first to know!
The benefits of RSS are massive! This article from Mark White clearly explains everything you need to know and points to some useful resources. However, none of this will help you unless you decide to start using RSS! If you want to save time and become the best informed person in your industry or profession, you really need to start using RSS!
Are you an existing RSS user?
If so, please leave a comment here and let us know how RSS has helped you or your business!
I have seen that RSS logo so many times and never used it before – until now! Once again Jim, you have mastered the art of making something that used to seem really hard, sound really easy. You are also my first ever subscription. Thanks Jim!
Hello Jacqui,
Thanks for the comment. I am glad you found the post useful. Enjoy RSS and let me know how you get on!
Great post Jim, and very timely. I started using RSS through Google Reader a month ago and it’s my new best friend. Such a huge time saver for keeping up on my favorite blogs and podcasts. I suggest using the PostRank filter to see what posts are most popular, terrific way to see what types of information people like so I can use that knowledge when posting to my own blog. Not to copy what others are doing, but helps me be a better blogger over time.
I was inspired to start using RSS when I read a MarketingSherpa survey that found that while only 16% of the general public uses RSS feeds, 71% of B2B technology buyers (the customers of some of my clients) assign at least some value to their RSS use. I did a survey of 300 B2B tech company websites and found 70% of them offer no RSS feeds and are missing a valuable opportunity. Wrote a report with tips on RSS strategy and resources, it’s at the link I provided if it could help anyone.
I use Google Reader for my RSS feeds and I’m experimenting with FriendFeed. Have you used FriendFeed? I think it can be a potentially powerful new Web service. It has the ability to aggregate your web services across the Internet.
Hello Kim,
Thanks for the comment and the link. (You can see what Kim is referring to by clicking on her name in her comment.)
I also use Google reader for my RSS and find it really valuable. Like you say, it saves stacks of time and is really flexible too. I also like the comment you make about how different kinds of people are more likely to use RSS. It’s of equal value to everyone, yet it seems businesses in the ‘tech industry are still the people to use it. Of course, these are by definition the ‘early adopters’ of all things ‘tech.
Thanks Kim!
Hello Allan,
Thanks for the comment.
I have used friendfeed – it was recommended to me by Robert Scoble; who I regularly chat with on Twitter. I think it’s less intuitive than some 2.0 services but I know that it can also be extremely useful too.
I will have another crack at friendfeed during the week and let you know how I get on.
[...] The easiest way is via RSS (you can find out about RSS here.) [...]
Like your blog!!
Kudo’s!
Glad you like the blog Frank!
I think I’d be lost without RSS, I was introduced to it by a tutor during my studies at university and it’s fantastic.
I use bloglines (always tempted to move to Google Reader, but it would be too much hassle) to keep abreast of developments across journalism, the web, communications and marketing.
RSS is great because it allows me to keep up with lots of subjects easily.