I recently got the chance to speak to Sally Falkow, who pens the PRoactve Report, and knows a thing or two about RSS. We discussed blogs and the appropriate (and inappropriate) usage of RSS feeds, and I asked for her take on the sky-is-falling claims we’ve been hearing that blogs are singing their swan song.
Sally will be speaking at SES San Jose on the topic of SEO through blogs and feeds.
OneDegree: Blogs are dead, right?
SF: No not at all. In fact in a recent survey of marketers 34 percent said blogs were the hot social media tool they planned to use in the next year. It’s true the conversation has broadened and spread to other places. But blogs are by no means dead.
OD: How do blogs contribute to SEO?
SF: Matt Cutts said in an interview at SES that one of the factors needed for good Google results is fresh, original content – he suggest you blog. Blogs are mainly text, constantly updated with fresh original content. They often have a narrow focus and they’re syndicated with RSS Feeds. That’s a perfect SEO recipe.
OD: I’ve heard people say that Twitter is going to make RSS obsolete – but that seems to be comparing apples and oranges.
SF: That’s an odd comment. Twitter uses RSS – it is a feed. RSS is like the blood vessels of the social web. Your Facebook status goes in a feed. Every blog has a feed. People may not know they are using RSS, but they do know what a feed is.
OD: What is the best content for an RSS feed?
SF: Something that you want people to get on a regular basis. Content that lends itself to a series or weekly updates Example: Travel destinations can do a feed with articles about their area each week. Tips, recipes, updates, press releases, articles all work well.
OD: Are lots of specialized feeds (e.g. Organized by keyword) better than one or two more general feeds?
SF: Yes, specific content in a feed works best. A reader may not want all your news. Nikon and Intel are good examples
OD: Is there any content that shouldn’t be syndicated in a feed?
SF: Something that is static and does not get many updates. Content that you would not want to send to a user, reader or customer.
OD: Bonus Question: What are some of your favourite resources for keeping up with the latest in search, blogs and feeds?