Tuesday, November 29, 2005
Read this article to get the straight goods on RSS Feed Marketing and how this technology is affecting Email Marketing
A few weeks ago our Email Marketing Club talked a lot about RSS Marketing. If you missed the article you can check it out here:
‘RSS Feed Me’
RSS refers to a technology that is commonly called Really Simple Syndication. In layman’s terms RSS uses XML format (a programming language which you need to know nothing about to use it...) for distributing news headlines and other content on the Web. You have probably seen RSS in action on many websites and never realized it.
The Email Marketing Made Easy Blog uses RSS technology. If you are picking up the Email Marketing Made Easy Blog with your My Yahoo! or another customizable webpage/RSS reader you are using RSS technology.
Some online marketers are really excited about RSS technology because they feel that Email Marketing can be enhanced (or even replaced) by RSS Feed Marketing. At Email Marketing Made Easy we agree that RSS technology is important and can, in some cases, be a great addition to Email Marketing. We don’t however encourage any of our clients to throw out Email Marketing and dive into the pool of RSS Feed Marketing blindfolded.
Why?
Go ask 10 people if they know what an RSS Feed is, and if they subscribe to any RSS Feeds. You will most likely quickly realize most people don’t know what RSS is or have ever heard of it.
But that will change. When Microsoft gets around to releasing their next Internet browser RSS Feeds will most likely become more popular. Netscape, Opera and other Internet browsers already support RSS Feed additions but currently these browsers are not widely used. For those who are RSS Feed hungry the hope is that Microsoft’s new browser will saturate the minds of all who use it to adopt RSS Feed Marketing into their life.
So what does all this mean?
Some of the very large, an expensive, Email Service Providers that cater to big business have recently launched technology that basically sends personalized marketing messages (like lots of the Email Marketing messages you receive and send today) using RSS technology. The major selling points are:
-The subscriber does not have to give their email address to get the marketing messages (they simply subscribe to the RSS feed - a process which does not require providing any personal information).
-The messages are Spam proof (at this point in time you can not Spam an RSS Feed reader).
-There is no chance of phishing (Spam emails trying to access login information for online accounts – PAYPAL, EBay, Banking, etc.).
-The RSS Feed marketing messages can be personalized just like an Email Marketing message.
All of this is wonderful and we agree that as time progresses RSS marketing of this nature will become more widely accepted.
So what do Joan Pasay and Email Marketing Made Easy recommend?
If your company can afford the fees of one of the large Email Service Providers ($1000 a month or more...) we encourage the adoption of RSS technology in a controlled environment. Joan Pasay and her team can help you develop an RSS Marketing Strategy and roll out a successful campaign.
If your company is like most, and is unable to pay the hefty fees associated with the larger Email Service Providers we recommend the following:
Wait.
But don’t be idle.
Email Marketing Made Easy uses the services of a great Email List Provider that offers RSS Feeds archives of all the Email Newsletters that get sent. This means you can encourage your subscribers to ‘pick up’ (a common term for adding an RSS Feed to a customizable webpage or RSS reader) your e-newsletter archives. We know this all sounds a little technical but it isn’t. If your readers are into RSS Feeds and you provide the RSS URL your RSS savvy customers will know what to do with it and in less than 10 seconds your archived e-newsletters will be resident in your customer’s RSS Feed reader.
The Email List Provider's name is AWeber.
We highly recommend getting into RSS by using AWeber’s services. Here is how to do it:
Will AWeber ever offer personalized RSS Feed Marketing like the large expensive Email Service Providers? We’ll have to wait and see. We have been told that they are working on it and we expect they will keep up with the trends as they always have. AWeber is one of the oldest Email Service Providers on the Internet and they have yet to disappoint us and we are sure they will launch technology that will be cutting edge.
A note of caution:
There are a few smaller unknown companies that offer personalized RSS Marketing service and software at a reasonable fee . These companies usually run Email Marketing list management services in tandem with RSS Marketing. If you choose to try one these services please use the same selection criteria you would use for any business transaction you do. While we won’t mention any names in this blog (become our client and we will happily tell you who to stay away from) please exercise caution. Make sure the company:
-Offers a 1-800 customer service number.
-Has a street address and phone number posted on their website.
-Offers a money back guarantee policy (make sure the policy can actually be executed)
-Is an established business
-Actually has employees (including technical help – this is VERY, VERY, VERY IMPORTANT!!!)
In the event you purchase software to perform this function make sure there is 1-800 technical help number available for installation and upkeep.
***Search online for feedback re any company you are checking out. If there are unsatisfied customers you will quickly find them on various business forums. Read the feedback! You might save yourself some time, money and heartache.
Need help getting adding RSS Feed Marketing to your Email Marketing efforts?
We can help: Check out Email Marketing Made Easy's services here
Want to check AWeber and get your e-newsletters archived in RSS? Check out AWeber here, and yes they more than meet the criteria above!
PS. There are other great ways to add RSS Feed Marketing into your online mix. Check out our Services page for more information.
Have you signed up for our Email Marketing Club yet? What is your excuse? Signup here.
Email Marketing Made Easy
‘RSS Feed Me’
RSS refers to a technology that is commonly called Really Simple Syndication. In layman’s terms RSS uses XML format (a programming language which you need to know nothing about to use it...) for distributing news headlines and other content on the Web. You have probably seen RSS in action on many websites and never realized it.
The Email Marketing Made Easy Blog uses RSS technology. If you are picking up the Email Marketing Made Easy Blog with your My Yahoo! or another customizable webpage/RSS reader you are using RSS technology.
Some online marketers are really excited about RSS technology because they feel that Email Marketing can be enhanced (or even replaced) by RSS Feed Marketing. At Email Marketing Made Easy we agree that RSS technology is important and can, in some cases, be a great addition to Email Marketing. We don’t however encourage any of our clients to throw out Email Marketing and dive into the pool of RSS Feed Marketing blindfolded.
Why?
Go ask 10 people if they know what an RSS Feed is, and if they subscribe to any RSS Feeds. You will most likely quickly realize most people don’t know what RSS is or have ever heard of it.
But that will change. When Microsoft gets around to releasing their next Internet browser RSS Feeds will most likely become more popular. Netscape, Opera and other Internet browsers already support RSS Feed additions but currently these browsers are not widely used. For those who are RSS Feed hungry the hope is that Microsoft’s new browser will saturate the minds of all who use it to adopt RSS Feed Marketing into their life.
So what does all this mean?
Some of the very large, an expensive, Email Service Providers that cater to big business have recently launched technology that basically sends personalized marketing messages (like lots of the Email Marketing messages you receive and send today) using RSS technology. The major selling points are:
-The subscriber does not have to give their email address to get the marketing messages (they simply subscribe to the RSS feed - a process which does not require providing any personal information).
-The messages are Spam proof (at this point in time you can not Spam an RSS Feed reader).
-There is no chance of phishing (Spam emails trying to access login information for online accounts – PAYPAL, EBay, Banking, etc.).
-The RSS Feed marketing messages can be personalized just like an Email Marketing message.
All of this is wonderful and we agree that as time progresses RSS marketing of this nature will become more widely accepted.
So what do Joan Pasay and Email Marketing Made Easy recommend?
If your company can afford the fees of one of the large Email Service Providers ($1000 a month or more...) we encourage the adoption of RSS technology in a controlled environment. Joan Pasay and her team can help you develop an RSS Marketing Strategy and roll out a successful campaign.
If your company is like most, and is unable to pay the hefty fees associated with the larger Email Service Providers we recommend the following:
Wait.
But don’t be idle.
Email Marketing Made Easy uses the services of a great Email List Provider that offers RSS Feeds archives of all the Email Newsletters that get sent. This means you can encourage your subscribers to ‘pick up’ (a common term for adding an RSS Feed to a customizable webpage or RSS reader) your e-newsletter archives. We know this all sounds a little technical but it isn’t. If your readers are into RSS Feeds and you provide the RSS URL your RSS savvy customers will know what to do with it and in less than 10 seconds your archived e-newsletters will be resident in your customer’s RSS Feed reader.
The Email List Provider's name is AWeber.
We highly recommend getting into RSS by using AWeber’s services. Here is how to do it:
- Signup for AWeber account.
- Send your e-newsletters as you normally would via AWeber.
- Encourage your subscribers and customers to pick up your RSS archived newsletter feed.
- Monitor the activity and usage of the RSS feed.
- Use this data to make an educated decision as to when it would be appropriate to add personalized RSS Marketing into your marketing mix.
Will AWeber ever offer personalized RSS Feed Marketing like the large expensive Email Service Providers? We’ll have to wait and see. We have been told that they are working on it and we expect they will keep up with the trends as they always have. AWeber is one of the oldest Email Service Providers on the Internet and they have yet to disappoint us and we are sure they will launch technology that will be cutting edge.
A note of caution:
There are a few smaller unknown companies that offer personalized RSS Marketing service and software at a reasonable fee . These companies usually run Email Marketing list management services in tandem with RSS Marketing. If you choose to try one these services please use the same selection criteria you would use for any business transaction you do. While we won’t mention any names in this blog (become our client and we will happily tell you who to stay away from) please exercise caution. Make sure the company:
-Offers a 1-800 customer service number.
-Has a street address and phone number posted on their website.
-Offers a money back guarantee policy (make sure the policy can actually be executed)
-Is an established business
-Actually has employees (including technical help – this is VERY, VERY, VERY IMPORTANT!!!)
In the event you purchase software to perform this function make sure there is 1-800 technical help number available for installation and upkeep.
***Search online for feedback re any company you are checking out. If there are unsatisfied customers you will quickly find them on various business forums. Read the feedback! You might save yourself some time, money and heartache.
Need help getting adding RSS Feed Marketing to your Email Marketing efforts?
We can help: Check out Email Marketing Made Easy's services here
Want to check AWeber and get your e-newsletters archived in RSS? Check out AWeber here, and yes they more than meet the criteria above!
PS. There are other great ways to add RSS Feed Marketing into your online mix. Check out our Services page for more information.
Have you signed up for our Email Marketing Club yet? What is your excuse? Signup here.
Email Marketing Made Easy
