RSS stands for Really Simple Syndication, or whatever you want it to stand for. I have seen it also stand for RDF Site Summary, but it really doesn't matter. What's important is what it does.

Here's how RSS works:

Every site that has constantly changing content has one big problem: How do you notify your visitors when you've posted new content without them having to scour your entire site every 30 mins? You could send them an email, but that has several drawbacks.

First, you might not get your messages through spam filters. Filters are snatching more and more messages, and just to keep up anymore you have to run all your content through rating systems just to find likelyhood of it getting blocked. What a pain in neck!

Second, people are so hesitant to give out their closely guarded email address. I know I guard my email address with my life. How can your visitors trust you if they just clicked to your site? You could be an underground spam operation for all they care.

This is where RSS is awesome!

Okay, email will always have its purpose in life. But many people are realizing that RSS is an excellent alternative to email for newsletters or other mass-distribution lists.

Here are three HUGE advantages of RSS over Email:

1) RSS is totally spam-proof.

It cannot be blocked by any spam filter no matter what! Because RSS is a web page, you simply cannot block it. I like to think of it like difference between a telemarketer and a TV commercial.

A telemarketer can initiate call, just like anyone can send an email. Any unwelcome message or phone call can be filtered or screened, but there is always that chance that something important will be deleted! So end result is that it still takes your time and effort to filter email or screen calls, and there still is no guarantee that your efforts will be 100% accurate!

A TV viewer on other hand must turn on TV and find a channel first, just like an RSS feed must be entered into an RSS Reader. It is totally at viewer's discretion. If you ever get sick of a TV channel, you can change it immediately, just like you can delete an RSS Feed!

2) RSS eliminates all fear of being spammed.