Right now 2% of web users are employing some kind of RSS news reader software, whether web based or PC or Mac-based. These RSS-reader programs basically aggregate headlines and article summaries from all RSS-providing online sources which a user selects. These "online sources" have to employ an RSS feed creation program of some kind to produce their regular "feeds." A user employing an RSS Reader can essentially "corner," on a regular basis, most every bit of published information that pertains to a respective subject.
Being the hardcore blogger that I am, I too have wanted to incorporate RSS or "Really Simple Syndication" in to a blog. I figured that sometimes I mention stuff on Usedcarsalesman.com that has to do with media and or technology and a few people might be interested in getting a regular feed on it. Thus, began my still on-going quest to piece together the business of RSS feeds: their creation, transmission, storage and consumption.
Early on I realized Blogger provided Atom-type syndication built in with their free blogging service. And, I have happily employed it (of course, there are still a few grey areas that I need to fill in). But, of course, that was not good enough for me; I wanted to be like the larger, grown-up sites out their like BlogMaverick.com or WilWheaton.net, that make skillful use of RSS. So, I went ahead and picked up "FeedForAll" software which is basically another feed-creation platform; but, this has presented another series of seemingly undefined grey areas for which I need appropriate definition. But, on I persevere, using chat rooms, discussion boards, tips from other bloggers more experienced than myself to sort out the deals with RSS.
So, why do I bother, why do I care? Because, I kind of believe that there is going to be growth in the numbers of people using RSS to get their information. This is not a new belief; analysts have been suggesting that RSS is "the new email" for the last 2-3 years. Right now it's used by 2% of web users, which reminds me of the limited number of people on the web in the early and mid-90s; but, this figure could very well grow to 50-60%+, just as grew the number of web users and broadband users over the last 10-15 years.
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