What is RSS?

RSS

RSS stands for Really Simple Syndication. It's a standardized format that lets websites publish updates in a way that computers can read and organize automatically. Instead of visiting dozens of sites to check for new content, you subscribe to their RSS feeds and receive everything in one place.

Think of it as a personal news wire. Blog posts, podcast episodes, news headlines, and product updates all flow into a single feed reader the moment they're published. You choose what to follow, and no algorithms decide what you see.

How RSS works

Every RSS feed is an XML file that lives on a website's server. This file contains structured information about recent content: titles, summaries, publication dates, and links to the full articles or episodes.

When you subscribe to a feed using a reader like Feedly or Inoreader, the reader checks that XML file at regular intervals. New items appear automatically, organized chronologically with the latest content at the top. You scan headlines, click what interests you, and skip the rest.

The format strips away design elements entirely. Your reader displays content however it wants, giving you a consistent, distraction-free experience across every source you follow.

RSS vs. email newsletters

Both deliver content to you, but they work differently.

Email newsletters land in your inbox alongside everything else. They compete with work messages, promotional emails, and spam filters. You give up your email address to subscribe, and the sender controls when and how often you hear from them.

RSS feeds stay separate from your email entirely. You subscribe anonymously using just a URL. Content arrives the moment it's published, not on someone else's schedule. If you stop wanting updates, you unsubscribe instantly without worrying about continued emails.

RSS works best when you want to follow many sources without inbox overload. Email works better for relationship-building and personalized communication, which is why email marketing remains essential for businesses connecting with customers.

Common uses for RSS feeds

• News aggregation: Follow multiple publications and scan headlines in minutes
• Blog monitoring: Keep up with industry blogs without bookmarking dozens of sites
• Podcast distribution: RSS powers how podcast apps discover and download new episodes
• Competitor tracking: Monitor what competitors publish without visiting their sites
• Research alerts: Subscribe to academic journals or Google Scholar alerts via RSS
• Social media alternatives: Some platforms still offer RSS feeds for profiles or hashtags

How to find and subscribe to RSS feeds

Most websites don't prominently display RSS anymore, but the feeds often still exist.

1. Look for an orange RSS icon or a link labeled "RSS" or "Feed" in the footer or sidebar
2. Try adding /feed or /rss to the end of a blog's URL
3. Use your browser's view source function and search for "rss" or "atom"
4. Paste the website URL directly into your feed reader, which may auto-detect the feed

Once you have the feed URL, add it to your reader. Most readers let you organize feeds into folders by topic, making it easy to separate work reading from personal interests.

RSS for marketers

RSS might seem like a tool for content consumers, but it serves marketers too.

Content distribution becomes automatic when you offer an RSS feed. Subscribers get your posts without relying on social media algorithms or email deliverability. Some readers even let users set up email notifications for specific feeds, bridging the gap between RSS and inbox delivery.

Content curation gets easier when you monitor industry feeds. You'll spot trends, find shareable articles, and stay informed about what competitors publish. This research feeds directly into your own content strategy.

Automation possibilities open up when you connect RSS to other tools. Services like Zapier can trigger actions when new items appear in a feed, automatically sharing posts to social media or adding them to a database for later review.

Setting up an RSS feed for your site

Most content management systems generate RSS feeds automatically.

WordPress creates feeds at yoursite.com/feed by default. You can customize what appears in the feed through Settings > Reading.

Other platforms vary. Check your CMS documentation for feed settings, or look for plugins that add RSS functionality if it's not built in.

Once your feed exists, promote it. Add an RSS icon to your site, mention it in your email signature, and include the URL in your social profiles. The people who subscribe via RSS tend to be highly engaged readers who genuinely want your content.

FAQs

Is RSS still relevant in 2024?
Yes. While mainstream attention shifted to social media, RSS never disappeared. It remains the backbone of podcast distribution and serves readers who prefer algorithm-free content consumption.

Do I need special software to use RSS?
You need a feed reader. Web-based options like Feedly and Inoreader work across devices. Some browsers and email clients also include basic RSS support.

Can RSS feeds include images and media?
Yes. Feeds can include images, audio files, and video. Podcast feeds, for example, use RSS enclosures to deliver audio files to podcast apps.

How is RSS different from web push notifications?
Push notifications interrupt you with alerts. RSS waits quietly until you check your reader. RSS also works across any site with a feed, while push notifications require each site to implement them separately.

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