Turner's Perspective

head_left_image

Ever Wonder How Oprah Would Describe An RSS Feed?

I must get asked this questions 5 times each week - "What the heck is an RSS Feed?"

Project Blogger LogoIf you've been on AR for very long, you know that lots of folks here have done a good job of trying to explain it in simple terms. Often, even the non-geek attempts go over some folks heads. I was about to take a whack at making it even easier to understand for a post on the RES blog. But, as is sometimes the case, I ran across a post out in the blogosphere that I think does a better job of boiling it down into plain English than I ever could have done. I wish I had written it! Luckily, I don't have to now.

Stephanie Quilao nailed it. It's on her Back In Skinny Jeans blog and it's entitled "How To Explain RSS The Oprah Way."

Here's an excerpt:

    "The technical acronym for RSS is “Really Simple Syndication”, an XML format that was created to syndicate news, and be a means to share content on the web. Now, to geeks and techies that means something special, but to everyday folks like you and me, what comes to mind is, “Uh, I don’t get it?”

    So, to make RSS much easier to understand, in Oprah speak, RSS stands for: I’m “Ready for Some Stories”. It is a way online for you to get a quick list of the latest story headlines from all your favorite websites and blogs all in one place. How cool is that?"
RSS stands for: I'm "Ready For Some Stories" -  that's just brilliant in its simplicity. Kudos, Stephanie! She has a great RSS illustration and sections on subscribing to RSS feeds and RSS readers as well. It's good reading even if you already understand RSS. But if you're still a little confused, or know someone who is, Stephanie's post may just clear everything up!

 

Jeff Turner aka respres

26 comments • Jeff Turner • May 29 2007 01:33AM

Comments

 "Ready for Some Stores" <-- Haha...That's great! So that's what it stands for...

 

Posted by Ricardo Bueno (Ribeezie Media) over 3 years ago
A great post. I will bookmark your post as I encourage others to Join AR. I am sure they will be asking me. I had to ask even after reading about it on the web. I felt stupid, but then........I simply changed my mind and now I am OK with it, LOL. Nice to see you on line. My new site should be ready soon. It is very unusual. Jim sent me a note over the weekend and said it was the most complex site he has ever worked on. Talk about nervous. Usually simple is better ??  :-)
Posted by San Diego Real Estate Voice authored by William Johnson GRI CRS e-Pro CDPE (RE/MAX Associates) over 3 years ago

Ricardo... :)

William... excellent. Who is doing your site for you?

 

Posted by Jeff Turner (Real Estate Shows) over 3 years ago
Oprah wouldn't describe an RSS feed for anyone.  She would pay a professional to explain it.  This professional would be interviewed by her best friend Gayle. The interview would take place in an exotic location so Gayle would get a trip out of the deal, too.
Posted by Chris Elizabeth Griffith ~ Bonita Springs Fl Real Estate (Downing-Frye Realty, Bonita Springs, FL) over 3 years ago

Jeff- I'm not sure of the AR 'rules', so please forgive me if I'm over stepping my bounds by adding another link here. I mean no ill will, just trying to push information.

The only explanation of RSS that ever made any sense to me being a left brained, visual learner, is from http://www.commoncraft.com/rss_plain_english. I posted this on TBR for my non-geek readers, and this was perfect for me.  I do hope it might help someone, as your link will.  Different strokes for different folks.

Posted by inactive AR account over 3 years ago
Jeff, here is one that explained it best to me. I sent it to my office and they finally got it. I'm still learning so if this is not right to post here. Just delete. Thanks!
Posted by Missy Caulk-Ann Arbor- Realtor(R)- Ann Arbor Real Estate (Keller Williams-Ann Arbor) over 3 years ago

Chris... you are SO right. And then I'd watch it and say, "Damn... why can't I be Oprah's best friend."

Theresa... on my posts, AR rules can take a flying leap. You may link in comments on my posts any time you like. Great link. I liked this for it's new definition... Ready For Some Stories. It's a heck of a lot easier to undestand than Really Simply Syndication. :)

Missy...  thank you. By they way, that is Paul linking to the same link that Theresa just sent.

Posted by Jeff Turner (Real Estate Shows) over 3 years ago
Hi Jeff- Ready For Some Stories- Great way of looking at it, I have my "google reader" set up for my "stories" and still can't keep up! Thanks for the new way of looking at it, since the RSS is supposed to make life easier.
Posted by Allison Werner (To Be Announced) over 3 years ago
Alison... it is supposed to make life easier... but I think I may have too many stories coming at me now. Time to weed out some of them.
Posted by Jeff Turner (Real Estate Shows) over 3 years ago
Jeff,Now if we can only have it read it to us while we sleep...we can take in more stories.  Filling our brain while we sleep...now that's multi-tasking
Posted by Bob Carney Licensed MD/PA Real Estate Agent (Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.) over 3 years ago
Bob... amen, brother. Amen.
Posted by Jeff Turner (Real Estate Shows) over 3 years ago
Nice, simple explanation.  I have an RSS feed on my Live in Los Gatos blog, but Website Grader doesn't "see" it. I have no idea what to do about that. (The technical stuff is not my strongsuit. I just prefer to write, write, write.)
Posted by Mary Pope-Handy, ABR, CRS, ePRO, SRES, ASP (Sereno Group Real Estate) over 3 years ago
Mary... if you just write, write, write... you'll be fine. I'll take a look at your blog.    
Posted by Jeff Turner (Real Estate Shows) over 3 years ago
Thanks Jeff. I appreciate it.
Posted by Mary Pope-Handy, ABR, CRS, ePRO, SRES, ASP (Sereno Group Real Estate) over 3 years ago
That's great, thanks for sharing this!!!!  I love Chris' comment!!!!
Posted by Burbank Real Estate Agent Ana Connell (Keller Williams Realty) over 3 years ago
Thanks Jeff. I'm now heading over to Stephanie's post =)
Posted by Lisa Hill (Daytona Beach Real Estate) (Florida Property Experts) over 3 years ago

Ana... Chris' comment is hilarious!

Lisa... I know you're going to enjoy it. I'm guess the rest of her blog is pretty decent as well.

 

 

Posted by Jeff Turner (Real Estate Shows) over 3 years ago

{SVW Hubba}...aka Tool Boy...

I wish I had this post three weeks ago when I was studying RSS Feeds. While studying I said HUH...More than a few times :) 

Thanks for bringing this up and showing us Non-Geeks that the explanations really are in ENGLISH. LOL.

TLW...ROAR!

Posted by "The Lovely Wife" (Broker Bryant's Wife) The One And Only TLW. (President-Tutas Towne Realty, Inc.) over 3 years ago
Hold on everyone... TLW [SVW] is on to this RSS feed thing now. Katie bar the door!
Posted by Jeff Turner (Real Estate Shows) over 3 years ago
LOL
Posted by "The Lovely Wife" (Broker Bryant's Wife) The One And Only TLW. (President-Tutas Towne Realty, Inc.) over 3 years ago

Ready For Some Stories is much easier to understand, 

That weblog, Back In Skinny Jeans, is a hoot.  The author writes well and kept my interest in what I would normally find to be a boring topic.

Posted by VA Mortgage Broker in California/858-777-9751 over 3 years ago
Brian... amen. It's a great blog.
Posted by Jeff Turner (Real Estate Shows) over 3 years ago
Oh my goodness gracious me! Now even I get it! I'm off to set up my RSS now! Not sure yet if this is going to save me time or glue me to my laptop for longer!
Posted by Anya Gertenaar - Kelowna Home Staging (DECOROLOGY Home Staging and Redesign) over 2 years ago

Thanks.  I still am having trouble settin up an rss feed onto my website.  Every post helps though.  One step closer!

Posted by Paul Chavez: Albuquerque Realtor, NM EcoBroker, and General Contractor (Earth Origins Realty) about 1 year ago

Fabulous explanation, and I loved the comment that Oprah would use Gayle in an exotic location to explain what her researchers did and of course, there would be a podcast.

Posted by Janice Roosevelt,Ecobroker, ABR, e-PRO ( - Keller Williams Real Estate -) about 1 year ago

great post. very informative, I have been asking for awhile now how it could benefit me. now I know.

Posted by Joshua Schaubach e-Pro YOUR YUMA, AZ REALTOR ONLY A CALL OR CLICK AWAY! (Coldwell Banker Crimson Sky Realty) 9 months ago

Participate

(optional)
What does the graphic say?