IMARK Lesson 6: Subscriptions, Feeds and Syndication

Users get the ability to subscribe to their content by Really Simple Syndication (RSS) or XML feeds via most web 2.0 and social networking services. Instead of users checking on the website for new content, the content reaches the user through a feed reader.

Most content management systems follow web standards for publishing content. Modern content management systems can generate RSS automatically, every time a new content is published. RSS, XML and Atom are similar technologies. The process of generating these automated updates is called Syndication.

Others such as feed readers which are web or desktop applications allow a user to easily add, read and organize subscriptions. One can choose between browser based readers, feed reader clients, email clients with feed reading features or web based services to keep and organize one’s subscriptions. Feed readers present users and content creators with many advantages in terms of information control, format flexibility and reaching an audience for instance the FAO agrifeeds.