RSS Feeds: What They Are and How You Can Use Them

No doubt by now, you’ve been to at least one blog, and you’ve seen the “RSS” button. The letters stand for “RDF Site Summary,” but we jokingly refer to them as “Really Simple Syndication.” But what are RSS Feeds, really, and how can they work for you?

RSS Feeds allow your readers to read your blog without visiting it every day. Readers don’t always remember to check a site at the appropriate times. Having a feed will ensure that they get your posts in their Feed reader.

Another benefit of having a Feed is that you can be featured on web pages you ordinarily might not be on. Squidoo, for example, has a module for grabbing niche-related RSS feeds. People who want to add content to their Squidoo lenses or other web pages often use these kinds of feeds to keep their content fresh and up to date with minimal effort.

Anyone who reads these pages will know your name and how to reach your blog. So not only do you have the chance of getting more subscribers, but you can also put product links in your posts and make the occasional one-shot sale.

Feedburner is a simple way to set up your feed, and it lets you show category-based advertising to your readers. Yahoo Publisher Networks has a contextual ad program for RSS Feeds (think Google Adsense, but for your readers instead of page visitors). There are plenty of ad networks that can help you monetize your feed–and don’t forget the value of placing product/affiliate links in your blog posts as well!