Web logs, channel ezines, what's
difference?Web logs, or blogs, are a communication medium, gaining in popularity, through which RSS [Really Simple Sydication] technology has been introduced to populous. However, blogs and RSS are not synonomous. RSS technology is what gives life to blog. and, has been around for awhile. Blogging is a relatively new use for system. RSS has been used by media for quite some time, to bring Internet travelers news, stock updates, and such. But blogging has brought it into mainstream, making it a bit more user friendly for average traveler.
Put simply, a web log is a interactive, virtual diary, that can be read by anyone, and commented on, by its readers, as well. The technology, driving blog, is capable of so much more.
Publishing an ezine through a channel feed is another use that is picking up steam. Seeing benefits of channel publishing, more and more ezine publishers are either supplementing or replacing their email systems of distribution.
Since channel subscription is not subscriber bot friendly, and requires that one physically subscribe to channel of choice, without email reliance, it is only true 100% opt-in method for receiving information. Subscription forgeries cannot occur. Opting out is as simple as deleting channel from your computer. It is instant and non-publisher dependent.
Channel publishing also makes permanent, what used to end up in trash. Even ezines that manage to make through filters and into inboxes of readers, eventually wind up at virtual curb, when it has been read. Not so with channel publishing. Articles published on a channel are given an item number and become a permanent archive of channel. This allows reader to refer back to it, should need arise, at any time, without having to store piece on their hard drive.
