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Today begins another month here at Beginner’s Internet Marketing Strategy. Last month we had tutorials on how to create content. This month we’re going to work on how to drive some traffic to your site. 
Our first web traffic tip is how to use RSS. (You will find this entire series ~ as it continues ~ in the increase web traffic category on the right hand side)
I’ve written a couple posts on RSS when we were discussing Squidoo lenses, but from the emails and questions I get it seems people are confused by RSS itself. Which I get. So let’s talk about that first, then we’ll talk about how to use it to get you some traffic!
What is RSS.
RSS stands for really simple syndication. This syndication is just like syndication for TV. You know “Friends” is no longer on the air, but that doesn’t mean you can’t see an episode of “Friends” at least 3 or 5 times a day. It’s syndicated. They’ve used content that already aired, sent it out to the channels that want to show it and they can play it over again for people to see. (Look I’m not a TV person and I’m sure there’s more to it than that ~ but we’re using it as an example).
Ok so let’s say this blog is Friends. Even though it’s still live I want to be able to share it. I find “channels” (RSS directories/squidoo lenses/hubs) that are willing to “air” my show and I send them my already aired content (my published posts). They then “air” (publish on their site) my content for other people to see.
Live example:
Why use RSS?
I want to share the content from this site on another site that gets a lot of traffic. If people on that site see my posts they may click through and become regular readers of my blog. (this is good).
Where to put my RSS feed?
For this example I’ve added my blog feed to one of my lenses that gets a lot of traffic. The topics are related and people who are interested in learning about how to create backlinks will probably be interested in the content that I create here as well.
Here’s the RSS feed in that lens ~ does that content look familiar to you? It should. It’s the last posts from this blog!
Well that’s all fine and good because I have a lens that gets a lot of traffic. But what if you DON’T have a place of your own to put your RSS feed?
That’s where RSS directories come in.
What is an RSS directory?
We’re all familiar with ezinearticles.com, right? It’s a big site where you can post your articles and other people can find/read/share them with others right?
RSS directories are much the same. The only difference is you are submitting your RSS feed instead of an article you’ve written.
Why bother?
There are a few reasons you want to submit your RSS feed to directories, just like you want to submit articles.
1. People search these directories, just like article directories to find good information.
2. Links back to your site.
3. Each time you update your site your RSS feed automatically updates your submissions at the directories, giving you new content there for people to find, as well as new links back to your site.
4. People are already coming to these sites looking for information ~ you’ve got a built in high traffic site to place your content on.
5. It’s one of the quickest and easiest ways to create backlinks there is.
Where all can I submit my RSS feed.
- Squidoo lenses ~ any lens you do on a related topic, include your RSS feed as well.
- Hubpages ~ include your RSS on any hubpage you do on a related topic.
- Your search engine homepages ~ this one is a good one so listen up.
Every search engine pretty much allows you to create a personalized homepage now. Whether it’s Google, Yahoo, MSN ~ you can create a homepage that features your favorite content. This can include your content as well.
Make sure you add the RSS feed of your sites to your homepages. (This is also a great place to keep track of sites you want to blog comment on or read regularly). It will also help your site get indexed, and will be a nice link for your site.
(I will create a whole tutorial to show you how to do it, since it’s really important and this post is already getting long lol)
- RSS directories
- Homepages at communities. Some communities (like ning) will allow you to pull your RSS feed onto your profile page. This is great because when people check out your profile they’ll see your content. Even if you aren’t particularly active in a community it’s a plus to use your RSS feed anyway.
- Email signature ~ Feedburner has a widget that allows you to put your feed right in the signature of every email you send out.
Those are a bunch of options for using your RSS feed ~ now so we don’t get overwhelmed and do nothing
Here’s where you can start.
1. Grab your RSS feed for whatever site you’re working on right now. (the link will show you how) (If you are working on lenses you can do your lensmaster feed instead of individual lens RSS feeds)
2. Add your RSS feed to RSS directories. (just look for a link/button/tab that says “add feed” or “submit feed” or something similar, then fill in the necessary information and paste in your RSS feed where it’s asked for)
3. Add your RSS feed to at least one search engine home page.
4. As you build out your campaign/website and create more places online ~ add your RSS feed when you can (hubs/lenses etc)
5. If you haven’t done this for other sites you’re working on or have completed schedule it in to your day and do a little bit at a time until they are done.
I hope this helps you understand how to use RSS a little better, and why you want/need to. If you have specific RSS questions please feel free to ask them in the comment section. I’ll do my best to answer them.
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