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