The Use of RSS and Aggregators by Sharpy

Really Simple Syndication (RSS) is a tool useful for saving or retaining new information on websites that you visit a lot or websites that are important to you. RSS utilizes an XML code which checks continuously the content or subject matter of a certain website in search of new information then transmits the information by way of feeding the information to your subscribers.

RSS feeds are generally being used in blogs or news sites, though any website wanting to broadcast and publish information can utilize them. Once new information is sent, it will contain a headline, a summary, and either a rundown or a brief review of the news or story. The user will need to click the RSS feed link to read further.

To accept RSS feeds, a feed reader is needed. This is called a feed aggregator. Aggregators are freely available online, and all that is needed is a bit of searching. You should be able to locate a certain interface that best interests you. What’s more, RSS feeds can likewise be read and retrieved from mobile phones and on Personal Digital Assistants(PDAs.

Once you stumble across a website that you want to add into the aggregator, the process can be achieved in two ways. Almost all sites offering an RSS feed will display an “RSS” or “XML” logo in their pages and with one click, it promptly adds that particular feed to one’s aggregator. Some aggregators however, require you to copy and then paste the URL of the feed into the program.

Whichever the method you use, you can be certain that the feed will be available as soon as you have added it, likewise, in a matter of seconds, the next update may arrive. Should you no longer want to read updates from a particular site, you may simply remove the feed from the aggregator.

Through e-mail subscriptions, you can read newsletters. RSS feeds on the other hand, can be more convenient in keeping up with newsletter updates since they are prompt and available in an instant; you no longer have to wait for a scheduled time to obtain a news summary. Plus, the news will never be detained by a spam filter.

RSS feeds are used every day by people that understand and appreciate the accessibility of fast reports and news that can be readily read and they generally only read updates that they find interesting.

Aggregators

Aggregators are popular in the use of feeds, and come in having several kinds. Web aggregators or portals as they are sometimes called, create this view which is made available in a web page. Nowadays, aggregators have been incorporated into e-mail programs, and other forms of dedicated software.

Aggregators offer a whole host of special features, such as combining more related feeds in just a single view, hiding certain entries or statements that have already been read, and classifying entries and feeds, into specific folders.

Why make a feed available?

Your site visitors can read your latest update without even having to visit your web pages. While at first, it may seem corrupt, it will in fact enhance the visibility of your site. This is because subscribers can easily keep up with your site, allowing them to view it any time they want to, whether on the train, in the dentists waiting room or at the office. Also, RSS feeds keeps your site in the mind of your readers, as they get notified each time you update your site.

For instance, every week your website broadcasts a new feature. Without a feed, your subscribers will have to remember to go to your site to see if you have updated with something new. That is, if they remember to and they can spare the time. However, if you supply a feed for your subscribers, they can just open their aggregator and it will immediately provide them with a link and a description of updates at your site.

Which format is best?

Syndication can be very confusing as it utilizes a variety of formats. However, this can be easily solved as in general, syndicated libraries are used by aggregators which conceptualize a particular format that a feed is in, in order that they can utilize a specific syndication feed.

With this knowledge, the format is just a matter of personal preference. RSS 1.0 is far reaching, and practical should it be integrated into Semantic Web Systems. RSS 2.0 is very easy to create by hand and Atom is an IETF Standard, which brings consistency, stability and a natural community to support its usage.


Steven W Sharpe has been building websites for many years and runs a number of successful websites. He is the owner of http://www.articleland.co.uk. Further articles about this subject can be found on his website at http://www.articleland.co.uk/categories/Internet/

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