| The core use for RSS is generally considered | | | | for mentions of your company, product, |
| news headlines and blog syndication, but | | | | competitors, or other specific keywords. |
| innovative businesses are learning to use RSS | | | | Conducting ego searches, not only allows you |
| in different ways. Consider RSS as a | | | | to stay informed, but also allows you to |
| communication channel that can provide | | | | maintain a strategic advantage over competing |
| current, targeted information as it appears | | | | companies. A number of new Internet services |
| within a very targeted audience. | | | | are freely available that make these 'ego |
| | | | searches' painless and easy. |
| Monitoring Newsgroups/Usenet | | | | |
| | | | Many of the services allow you to create a |
| Google Groups is a free online community and | | | | keyword based feed. Each time new information |
| discussion group service that offers the | | | | containing the keyword appears in the |
| Web's most comprehensive archive of Usenet | | | | searched resources, the RSS feed updates. |
| postings. Google Groups can be monitored | | | | |
| using RSS feeds. In order to monitor a | | | | More on Ego Searches: |
| specific newsgroup simply add "/feed | | | | |
| msgs.xml" to the end of the Google Group URL. | | | | Shipments |
| Add the new URL to a newsgroup reader and | | | | |
| receive updates each time a new post is added | | | | Receive notification via RSS feeds when |
| to the newsgroup. | | | | packages are delivered. Custom RSS feeds can |
| | | | be created to monitor delivery progress. |
| Example Feed: | | | | Track the status of packages shipped via US |
| | | | Postal Service, USP, DHL or Federal Express. |
| Calendars | | | | |
| | | | Simple Tracking - |
| Build a calendar for public or private use | | | | |
| and receive calendar updates via an RSS feed. | | | | Site Checks |
| Calendars can be created for personal | | | | |
| reminders to pay bills or attend social | | | | Initially used by search engines to indicate |
| functions. Calendars can also be used for | | | | new websites with top ranking for specific |
| specific groups like schools, sporting | | | | keywords. Many webmasters provide RSS feeds |
| events, or industry events. The calendar can | | | | to let visitors know when web content changes |
| be syndicated and shared using RSS feeds. | | | | occur. |
| | | | |
| CalendarHub - | | | | Coupons or Specials |
| | | | |
| Example Feed - | | | | Everyone loves a bargain, RSS feeds that |
| | | | promote time sensitive discounts or offers |
| Weather | | | | are becoming increasingly popular. |
| | | | Restaurants convey lunch specials while |
| Enter a zip code and obtain the weather | | | | travel companies convey last minute deals to |
| information in a specific region. Click the | | | | prospective travelers using RSS Feeds. |
| orange RSS icon and add the feed to your | | | | |
| reader. Each morning you will receive local | | | | Sample Restaurants Feed - or Sample Travel |
| and regional weather reports as they are made | | | | Feed - |
| available. RSS feeds can be customized to | | | | |
| include current local conditions, local | | | | Auction Monitoring |
| Doppler radar, pollen trends, regional video | | | | |
| forecasts with expert commentary, and | | | | Items on eBay are time sensitive, few |
| extended forecast details. | | | | individuals have time to make daily auction |
| | | | checks of new auctions for specific products. |
| - or RSS Weather - | | | | Create an RSS feed using keywords to monitor |
| | | | products as they become available for |
| Classifieds (Homes/Jobs) | | | | auction. |
| | | | |
| Curious about the availability of specific | | | | Bidding Tools - |
| employment opportunities in a specific | | | | |
| industry? Receive notification when positions | | | | Example Feeds - |
| are made available. RSS feeds can be created | | | | |
| for regions, salary ranges, or positions. | | | | RSS is still very young. Both publishers and |
| | | | consumers are actively seeking ways to |
| RSSJobs - or Craigslist Example Feed - | | | | exploit this communication medium. Additional |
| | | | uses of RSS feeds are popping up daily. |
| Ego Searches | | | | Consider how your business might use this new |
| | | | communication medium to increase sales, |
| Ego searches are free and simple searches | | | | increase productivity, and reach new |
| designed to monitor blogs and news portals | | | | customers. |