RSS IT!!!

What is RSS?

RSS, which stands for Really Simple Syndication, is a way to distribute content to a large number of people.

What is RSS good for?

There are so many websites out there with so much information that is being updated regularly that it would be a full-time job tracking down all of the changing information. Therefore, RSS is a great way to be notified of new and changed content. RSS is even more helpful than old fashion e-mail notifications which can get messy and often get confused for spam.

How does RSS work?

A website author maintains a list of notifications on their website. This list is called an RSS Feed. Those who are interested in the changes can check this list. Then it is up to computer programs called RSS aggregators that can automatically access your RSS feeds and organize them for you. RSS feed and aggregators are sometimes referred to as RSS Channels or RSS Readers.

What info does RSS provide?

RSS gives basic information that is made up of a list that is given in order from newest to oldest. Each one is given a title and a short description of the information. While sometimes it is just a summary.

RSS aggregator programs example:

How can you find out if a website has an RSS feed?

Nowadays most website do provide an RSS feed but sometimes locating that link can be a little tricky. There are certain things to look for that can make it a bit easier for you, such as: an orange button with the letters “XML”, “RSS”, or even a link that says, “Syndicate This”.

This is how it looks to tech savvy individuals….



There are other uses for RSS…

Not only is RSS great for keeping updated on changing information but it awesome for some other uses too!

*Notifying you of a new product in store
*Listing and notifying you of newsletter issues (e-mail too)
*Weather alerts
*And notifying you of additions to databases or new members in a group