RSS (for Really Simple Syndication, among other things) is a relatively new technology that allows anyone who creates frequently changing web content – news, blogs, current events, etc. – to deliver their messages to interested readers. no fuss, no fuss and best of all – no spam!

Currently, content-rich sites use RSS (mainly blogs and news hubs) to keep readers up to date on the latest posts or the latest news. But RSS can do much more. Many companies and organizations fail to truly exploit the incredible properties of this technology, and in doing so leave countless opportunities on the table to create even greater value, sales and traffic for their company, product or service and the market share it represents. Below are some of the creative ways that businesses and other groups can harness the power of RSS and create new sources of revenue and interest for their organizations.

1. Create an “Ads and Special Offers” feed

If your business offers classes, seminars, products, services, specials, sales, essentially anything that changes, updates, or rotates throughout a cycle, then creating a dedicated RSS feed could save you (and your customers) time and money. . By creating an “Announcements & Special Offers” feed and offering access to your customers as an alternative to emails and print mailers, you can keep your customer base up-to-date as well as send exclusive and limited-time special offers. from “source only” and discounts, thus offering an incentive to “climb on board”. This not only saves you time by reducing the advertising cycle time it takes to update your web page/feed, but it also saves your customers money by allowing them to quickly scan the offer headers and select only the ones that interest them. – while your cost and time savings from paper and digital mailings (with their excruciatingly low conversion rates and sporadic delivery) gradually increase as the feed reader segment of your customer base grows.

2. Create a “Customer of the Week” feed

If you are in a business where this type of recognition is appropriate, then this could be a great success! Creating a feed that regularly highlights a different customer, your business, and any special offers you’d like to make available (exclusively to other feed members, of course) can be a great value-add for your customers—one that costs you quite a bit. further. than the few minutes it takes to create the “ad” and post it to your site/feed. Include a photo and business link and your customers will be singing your praises far and wide!

3. Create a training source or team

If you are part of a network marketing company or in charge of a large sales force or other team and need a way to get training aids, upgrades, incentives, sales copy, goals, meeting agendas and other items consistently and continuously for your downline. or members, consider setting up a feed just to serve this role. Since the actual content is hosted on a central site (subscribers only receive a “sneak peek” that they have to click to get the full message), you can upload any digital file of any size you need to the site itself and be safe. that everyone who receives the message will be able to retrieve the files, which is not always safe when it comes to email attachments and text messages.

4. Create an in-office feed

Memos, presentation materials, files, announcements, new policies, schedules – all of these can be collected in one central source (or split into departmental sources) which are then easily maintained in one central file and easily accessible to anyone who needs them . No one is left behind or out of the loop because they didn’t check their email (or because the message was leaked or bounced) and everyone gets just the information they need without having to deal with a lot of cross communication from people responding and clarifying.

5. Schools, non-profits and other organizations: RSS works for you too!

Schools: Consider a student feed, updated with activities, test dates, school closures, “students only” specials from local businesses, etc. Or how about a special assignment feed where each instructor uploads class materials for students who are sick, away from home, or unable to make it to class?

Churches: A congregational source can provide daily meditations, worship service times, prayer requests, special events, and the like right on your congregation’s desktop—a kind of continuous newsletter that you never have to wait for a full page or go out. calendar due to missed deadlines (items come out as they come in, it’s that simple). Members who are doing missionary work abroad can also access this, to help them feel more connected to home and allow them to contribute by sending updates on their work to add to the general feed.

Non-profit organizations: Volunteer feeds could provide a continuous update of available positions and work needed, as well as featuring special volunteer profiles and organizational wish lists; Fundraising sources can keep donors aware of giving events and how their donations are being used; and inter-organizational broadcasts can keep board members and other stakeholders up-to-date on meeting schedules, agendas, and projects. Great ways to use the powers of RSS for the greater good!

Consider these options the next time you need to send information to a dispersed and diverse audience, or need to publish material that never seems to arrive when you need it. RSS is a new technology, no doubt. But that only means that its true power to meet your needs is only now being discovered. One of the best ways to stay ahead of the crowd is to carve a path through new territory. Where will RSS take you?