I know, the term "RSS Aggregation" sounds pretty boring. But once you understand it, it can change the way you use the internet and consume news and will increase your business blogging prowess.
RSS is an acronym for "Really Simple Syndication". It is a standard data format that allows websites to provide a package of all its articles to another website or computer program (syndication). This program, called an aggregator, lets you add these RSS feeds from any website that has one. Once it's added, the aggregator checks that website periodically and checks to see if anything is new. If there's anything new, the new item shows up in your aggregator.
Think of this whole system as your own virtual newspaper. You choose your sources (RSS feeds), and the updates are delivered to you. No more going to a website to check for an update. And when you get tired of that site, just delete the subscription to the RSS feed. Remember, you control your subscriptions. The website doesn't even know who its subscribers are. The power is with you, which is why it has been so successful. No more of "well, I'd like to subscribe, but they'll probably just send me tons of spam".
Here are some usage scenarios:
1) Financial: when I worked for H&R Block, I subscribed to the HRB Headline News feed from Yahoo. Any new public information that was released would instantly show in my aggregator.
2) Ego: I like to know who's linking to my own blogs. I subscribe to an RSS feed from BlogPulse that tells me whenever someone links to my personal website or this site. As long as my aggregator is open, I see it within a few minutes.
3) Competitive Analysis: Look, information is easy to find. Your competitors are finding information on you, so why not keep on top of them. Chances are hardly any of them are doing it efficiently by using RSS. You can do the same thing from example 2 above on your competitors.
Other than that, just about every blog has an RSS feed. It's usually an orange button that says "XML" "RSS" or "SUBSCRIBE" and looks like one of these:
Where to get started
The best way to start is to set up a free account at NewsGator Online and pick a few RSS feeds from their directory. As you get going I'd recommend purchasing their FeedDemon desktop reader, which synchs up to the online reader.
