RSS Feed Services for Websites and Blogs
Today, websites continue to "anchor" the Internet. Websites and search engines are remain essentially "married to one another" (in spite of social media). This is first because websites remain the primary means of "finding and providing" information on the Internet. More importantly though, search engines generate massive revenue from paid ads that are based on website content. Thus, websites and search have too much invested with one another for any drastic changes to occur. As a result, you need web marketing; specifically inbound marketing and SEO (search engine optimization) to position your site for optimum ranking on the free "search engine results pages" (SERP's) of the major search engines (Google, Bing and Yahoo!). If you have a new site, you might also consider PPC (pay per click) advertising for the first few months - since search engines intentionally drag their feet before ranking your site. You also should consider the value of using newer technologies to optimize Internet content distribution. One of these technologies in continuous growth (and with excellent future potential) is RSS (noted by this  icon, or, this  icon).
What is an RSS Feed?
RSS (short for "Really Simple Syndication"), is basically another way to distribute and share current articles, news releases, research, case studies, and other headline-type content. If you've been to a site that provides news and headline summaries, then you've seen RSS in action. For an example, see the Feed we've put on the left column of this page (and some other pages)... It comes from the Associated Press.
For RSS, there are sites that actually "aggregate" (collect) RSS Feed data onto a special page with exactly the information you want to release. For others to receive what you publish, you need to provide your content to these sites, and then they subscribe to the Feed. Then they'll be able to read its text and/or video using standalone applications (Feed Readers) on various operating systems browsers, that decipher the Feed. Readers are available for Windows OS, Mac OS, Linux, and other platforms. If you "search" using your favorite search engine for "RSS aggregator" or "RSS syndication" you'll get more information. and, unless a Feed channel is copy-protected, you can even embed a special code within a website (as we did) or blog, and watch the best-of "whatever" comes rolling through onto your website or Feed Reader.
You can view RSS Feeds through email reader programs (like Microsoft Office Outlook), through a computer browser, and even on some 3G/4G web-enabled smart phones. So, you can see that a lot of potential exists for RSS Feeds - either through home computers, mobile laptops and/or 3G phones! People do love getting Feeds on cell phones too. They do it everyday (as you probably do - without even knowing). Feeds enable you to obtain the latest news and weather forecasts and even "real-time" weather radar. And since there are many feed channels to choose from on most phones (let alone computers), you can keep informed of literally anything - if it exists in Feed form.
When you consider that businesses are always looking for new ways to get information out through new marketing channels, then RSS feeds need to be on your radar. Just like search engine "seek and find" is so critical today, it may be that the growing number of content collection and distribution sources on the Internet for 3G phones will make RSS just as important for content distribution for text and video!
Here's an Example of How We Can Setup a Website or Blog for RSS Feeds
RSS is a web content distribution method that enables website, blog or other pertinent information to be sent out internationally in real-time over the web. For example, have you ever heard of "Google Alerts"? This is a service where articles or information you want to know about are sent to you via email - the moment they are published! Well, that's one good example of RSS at work. Another relates to 3G and 4G smartphones. They use RSS (and SMS) Feeds heavily and their use is skyrocketing. Blogs can also be setup so posts (including video) can be sent out via subscription Feeds. For an example, look over our "Website Design and Internet Marketing Solutions" blog. See how we've setup feeds to various sites using RSS (at the top left side of the page).
As we mentioned above, the actual Associated Press Feed on the top left column of this page was first subscribed to, and then we put on this page using required code. This enabled us to let you see what they do with their own Feed. It also allows you to see what you could do with your own Feed on your website. It also is a nice feature to have constantly changing content on your website. So now let's take a closer look at how our RSS services can directly serve you.
To the right is a sample of an RSS Feed we put together as a demo. The heading provides the "name" of the Feed' "topic" (called it's "channel). This feed ultimately could be setup for delivery to some 3G phones, mobile laptops, and home/office computers. The link at the end of the example that says, "more", takes you to the full version of the Feed (setup for a 3G-sized phone screen). The subheading link does the same. And if you click on the RSS or ATOM icon links, you'll be taken to their feed subscription site, where you'll see the "full story" displayed in full size. But no matter how you setup an RSS Feed, just think of what "having one" could mean. You could inform clients about a new service, a new product, a new audio and/or a new video - anytime and instantly - right from your own website or blog!
But, it's nearly impossible to implement your own RSS Feed using essentially ANY web design company. Why? Well this is because coding RSS is not easy (even for good programmers - let alone everyday users). BUT NetSpeak Solutions makes it easy to generate and submit RSS content by using a "click-based" application interface. The interface allows publishing of your own RSS Feeds without understanding the bulky code that's required!
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Some Additional Comments on Blogs
It should be noted that a blog is a little different than a Myspace, Facebook, YouTube Channel, Digg or Twitter social media networking service. Blogs are, in fact, closer to a website than social media sites. Per Wikipedia, a blog is a type of "site", usually maintained by one or more individuals, that includes regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in reverse-chronological order. The word "blog" can also be used as a verb, meaning to maintain or add content (e.g., "to blog").
Blogs primarily provide commentary or news on particular subjects. But some are more like a personal online diary. A typical Blog can combine text, images, and links (to websites or other blogs), and/or include other media related to its topic. The ability for a reader to leave their comments in an interactive fashion is an important part of blogs. As such most are primarily textual - although some do focus on art, photography, video, music, and audio content.
However, be cautious about the latest blogging software (WordPress), that let's you use its many PHP templates for free. Why? Well, because although you "can" use the software to contain pages like a website, it is VERY bulky and not picked up by search engines like most other website designs. Also, most people use WordPress right "on" the WordPress site (as a sub-domain). This means you DO NOT OWN THE CONTENT OF THE SITE - WORDPRESS DOES! This is a VERY important distinction to understand. The best thing to do to avoid this, is to get a hosting account and load WordPress on a hosting server. But if you don't know how to setup a MYSQL database, then you'll need a website design and marketing solutions agency to help you anyway!
Still, many blogs are setup to more easily incorporate RSS. And NetSpeak Solutions can help you to modify launch and then use our Internet marketing solutions services so it can do nearly as well as any standard "website design"! Read on for more about blogs and blogging.
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