What is an RSS Feed? How It Works and Why It’s Still Relevant

Scrolling and monitoring multiple online sources and sorting through non-pertinent information can be time-consuming and frustrating in a world dominated by social media algorithms and endless notifications.

Do you wish you had an easier way to get the right online content? Enter the Really Simple Syndication (RSS) feed. 

Though RSS has been around since the early days of the internet, it continues to be immensely useful for individuals in making content consumption a simpler experience. RSS feeds provide a straightforward and efficient method of staying updated.

In this post, we cover what is RSS feed, how you can use it, and why it remains an essential tool for anyone who wants a curated, distraction-free online experience.

What is RSS Feed? An Overview

An RSS feed is a web-based feed through which users receive automatic updates from their favourite websites or other online sources without manually visiting them. RSS feeds deliver content as structured Extensible Markup Language (XML) file formats making it easy to aggregate and read updates in an RSS reader. 

RSS has been around for a long time. It is estimated that over 73 million websites have used RSS before, while 36 million currently use it. 

How do RSS Feeds Work? 

RSS feeds act as a bridge between websites and users to deliver fresh content automatically. Here is how they work.

Website Publishes an RSS Feed

• The author of your favourite website or podcast creates an RSS feed that maintains a list of new updates or notifications.
• This feed is a structured XML file containing links, headlines, summaries, and timestamps of their latest content.

Users Subscribe to the RSS Feed

• Users can subscribe to the feed and add its URL to your RSS reader. 
• Many browsers have an inbuilt RSS reader, or you can add them as extensions. You can also download/purchase RSS readers like Feedly, NewsBlur, or Inoreader.
• You can add a new feed to the RSS reader. While browsing a website of your choice, you will see a small orange box with the letters RSS or XML marked on it. You can tap it and subscribe to that web page or link the URL to your reader.
• Alternatively, you may use your RSS reader to search for websites and add them to your feed.

RSS Reader Aggregates Content

• The RSS reader continuously fetches and updates content from subscribed feeds.
• RSS feeds can be customised, and you only receive what is important.
  

Why is RSS Still Relevant?

It is estimated that up to 181 zettabytes of information might be created annually by 2025. This makes finding the most appropriate content a big challenge.

Let us understand why the RSS feeder still holds its own in this digital age.

No Algorithm Bias

• RSS delivers content directly from the sources that users have subscribed to.
• The content is not based on any social media algorithms.
• The content is updated in real time, and there is no chance of missing updates.
• Users can categorise their feeds, filter content, and follow only the sources that matter to them.

Distraction-free Reading and Enhanced Privacy

• With RSS, no clickbait or ads distract your reading experience.
• Also, RSS does not track your behaviour or preferences like other aggregators.

A Powerful Digital Marketing Tool

• RSS feeds are often an under-utilised, powerful digital marketing tool.
• Business enterprises can automate content sharing, increase customer engagement, and streamline marketing efforts efficiently using an RSS feed.
• Businesses can incorporate RSS feeds into their business marketing strategy. 

Using RSS Feeds in Your Marketing Strategy

Imagine this! Businesses are in a digital race surrounded by competitors trying to outsmart each other at every turn. A secret weapon to stay ahead of this race and level up your content strategy, save time, and drive business growth would be RSS feeds.

Increased Content Distribution with Minimal Effort

• RSS feeds are dynamic tools for curating compelling content that resonates with your target audience.
• Content marketing helps maintain customer relationships, as over 90% of consumers expect brands to provide content.

Automated Email Marketing with RSS

• RSS feeds can be used to create automated email campaigns, keeping subscribers updated without writing new emails manually.

Improve SEO and Website Traffic

• RSS feeds can help drive organic traffic and keep visitors engaged by showcasing fresh content.
• Businesses using content marketing have conversion rates nearly 6 times higher.
• RSS can help you automatically share content on social media, keeping your audience engaged with fresh updates.

Monitor Competitors and Industry Trends

• RSS feeds can help marketers track brand mentions and competitor activity and get real-time industry updates.
• They also allow marketers to collect and share valuable industry insights.

Summing Up

RSS feeds remain a powerful and relevant tool for consuming content efficiently. RSS, with its control over content consumption, ensures users never miss important updates.

For marketers and businesses, it is a valuable automation tool for content distribution, social media marketing, and email campaigns.

However, if you don’t want to rely only on RSS but want a comprehensive online marketing platform, Crazy Domains is your best bet. We are an industry leader offering domain name registration, web hosting services, website-building, SSL certificates, and online marketing services.

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