A lot of us have heard of RSS and use it, but how many of us know what the acronym stands for? How many of us really know exactly how it works and understand its advantages? It’s definitely produced great benefits for users, and the RSS story begins with its birth as an aggregator of information on the internet. It serves as a major channel for quick access to our favorite data and makes our lives easier, eliminating time consuming searches.
RSS stands for Really Simple Syndication or Rich Site Summary. This is how it works. It functions using a number of standard web protocols and feed formats. It can publish content in nicely structured XML files for syndication. The XML files produced are called RSS Feeds. The RSS function allows automatic syndication of data, from all kinds of sources, presenting it in an XML file to ensure different machines and programs can process it.
Okay, now what does that mean in simpler terms we all can understand? RSS puts all the set up needed in place to pull your favorite information that updates regularly into one, easy-to-access and well-organized place for you. What you have is pure automation for bringing you things like new blog entries, news headlines, audio video and more. As long as the site with the originating data is RSS equipped, you can use RSS feed readers to subscribe. Then, the feed reader checks regularly for new information and downloads it. You’ll know if a site includes RSS. Just look for this symbol:
The RSS Story Headlines: Most Sites Offer RSS Feeds
It’s great not having to go to all your favorite sites and manually checking for their updates anymore, since RSS was created. What a timesaver! You can sit back, grab a cup of coffee and relax while accessing just one interface for all of them. That’s the RSS story in a nutshell.
A WordPress site can easily be made RSS capable. In fact, WordPress automatically generates an RSS feed for posts and comments, while adding a meta tag in the source code. The meta tag helps feed readers to quickly find the feed. The RSS story presents an image of a robust, indispensable and time saving tool.
Note that since RSS has been around for awhile, some may view it as outdated, and another format was created called Atom. Atom never eclipsed the pure efficiency and convenience of RSS. Most sites offer RSS feeds vs. Atom.
Prostyle Development provides a whole suite of robust, indispensable and time saving tools, bundled with WordPress web site, branding, digital marketing and SEO development and consultation. We connect you across all relevant channels, the social media landscape and most importantly, with your audience. RSS feeds are just the beginning. We provide all the robust, efficient solutions and tools at Prostyle Development to make everything you do online a success story . Let’s talk about your success story.