I get this question a lot... "Juli, what is an RSS feed and why do I care?" To which, I answer... "You care, because this is one of the best ways people can share information today" No longer do you have to scour the Net for information, when you find a reliable source you can bring new information right to you by simply taking a moment to set it up.

RSS stands for Really Simple Syndication. RSS feeds include news, video and audio and it is a way for publishers to provide current content to busy subscribers without pestering them to return daily to their website to obtain it. An RSS feed is a format to deliver updated and ever changing content to the end user based on their interests and preferences. It is a way to stay informed in a non-traditional way.

The neat thing about RSS Feeds is that the reader defines what and how the information is received. It is completely customizable. You no longer have to track down the latest blog post from your favorite emagazine, blogger or news source. The information comes to you, nicely packaged and ready to read.

As an end-user I use RSS feeds by subscribing to news sources and other sites that I enjoy. I have my feeds dumped directly into my email inbox in the morning. I quickly glance through them to see what I am interested in reading and skip over what I am not. It's practical, quick, and easy to stay informed. I also subscribe to security feeds. This way, I never miss a security patch release date because email is the first thing I do in the morning... even before coffee!

As a publisher I use RSS Feeds to push information into cyberspace for my subscribers. I do this for both with my personal website and my professional websites. Several months ago, ACES started a weekly blog. With that we created an RSS feed for the blog so our clients and prospects can receive our information and stay current and in-touch with ACES. Subscribing is easy, and only takes a few minutes. (Need more information on how to subscribe to our blog? Get instructions here.)

As you read this, you might be thinking, "great, another way for companies to over market to me!" While that can be true when signing up for enewsletters, an RSS feed is a little different because you control the subscription process. The publisher of the feed has no control whether or not you receive the information. They cannot subscribe you. You have to do it. This also means, at the point you no longer want to receive the feed you simply remove the subscription. An RSS feed puts you in control!

In the future RSS feeds will be commonplace among Internet users. If you're interested in getting your feet wet try subscribing to the AMT₂ Blog. We think you'll enjoy reading it! For instructions on how to get started, we've made that easy also, just click here! Happy RSS'ing!