Web Marketing with RSS Feeds

It is predicted that by the end of 2006 RSS feeds, like blogs, will replace email marketing campaigns. There are several reasons given for this, and they all make sense:

• Microsoft's new browser will be able to detect any RSS feed on any web page you visit, and allow you to subscribe to the feed.
• The latest Google toolbar, at least for Firefox already has that feature integrated.
• Email campaigns have saturated the market, except for very tiny niches.
• Spam is caught and deleted by the user, and in some cases before it gets to them by their ISP's mail program. Your unsolicited email is considered spam because, well, it's unsolicited.

RSS feeds get your information and articles out to search engines as new content. Do I have to mention again how much that counts in your rankings?

RSS allows your information to be distributed more widely than your opt-in newsletter. Feeds are also picked up by publisher's looking for new content, as yes, your name and contact info remain on the article. These publishers aren't looking to steal your content, they just want to collect articles and provide fresh information to their web site visitors, making their web site more useful.

If you aren't blogging, you'd better start soon. Even the smallest brick and mortar business can benefit by writing about their industry and things associated with it. Give short hints and tips that people can use. Talk about trends. Review and talk about product comparisons.

The Web was and still is about information. The one thing people want before making a purchase is information. Give it to them and you'll get a following as an expert. Offer it for sale somewhere else on your web site, and you'll sell more.