Three ways RSS can make your Web life better

By now, you've likely heard of RSS. Some say that it's nothing more than a flash in the pan, while others believe it's the second coming of e-mail. As far as Internet publishing is concerned, Web syndication is not only simple, it's smart, and not just for static content.

Tip 1: Get a more up-to-date search engine
Tip 2: Easy onetime contact info updates
Tip 3: RSS all over the place

MORE RESOURCES: RSS readers: the top 5

Tip 1: Get a more up-to-date search engine

Think about your favourite search engine for a second. Can it deliver a link to an article or a posting that hit the Web minutes ago? It should, and if it doesn't, might I suggest finding a new favourite?

RSS is an easy way for sites to syndicate headlines and links across the Internet. New search engines such as Feedster scrape results from RSS feeds, giving you up-to-the-minute results. There's no easier way to keep an eye on the indexing of your personal name, business, or competitors.

Here are a few of the RSS search engines out there:

• Feedster
• PubSub
• Waypath
• Blogdigger
• NewsGator Online Services

Tip 2: Easy onetime contact info updates

Virtual business cards (vCards) are a great way to keep contact information in sync. RSS can make the process much better, and you don't have to know anything about how RSS works to take advantage of it.

With Kunekt.com, you can harness the power of RSS to keep contact information constantly up-to-date.

If you sign up with the service, you can import your contact info from Outlook, Outlook Express, or vCard. People can then subscribe to your contact info.

If you make a change to your Kunekt Card, everyone who subscribes to your card will be automatically notified -- no more mass e-mail and conflicting information.

Tip 3: RSS all over the place

So, you understand that you don't have to know how RSS works to take advantage of it any more than you have to know hypertext transfer protocol to enjoy the Web.

Here are several more ways you can take advantage of RSS:

• Wish your non-iCal friends could see your schedule? RSSCalendar.com.
• Miss something on the tube last night? Bootleg RSS.
• Want to view headlines on the go? RSS Sync for Windows Mobile devices or JPluck for Palm OS devices.

If you haven't yet caught on to what RSS can do, you might as well turn in your geek membership badge right now. Consider putting it up for auction on eBay, then use RSSAuction.com to... never mind.

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Submitted by: Chris Pirillo Internet entrepreneur

Chris Pirillo is a best-selling author and creator of the award-winning Lockergnome series of online publications. He's proud of his number one ranking on Blogrolling, as well as high rankings on Blogster, Feedster, and other sites.