Is RSS Too Geeky?

The geek factor of RSS is debated in a thought-provoking piece from Anita Campbell for Inc. Technology.

Campbell writes that RSS adoption is hindered by too much focus on how it works – instead of highlighting the user benefits:

It’s like asking people if they use PHP software.  Most people (except the techiest among us) would say, “No.” However, PHP is a common scripting language used in many popular websites today.  We can be using sites built on PHP—and never realize it.  And there is no reason we should know it.  As users, we don’t need to know the enabling technology. All we need to know is what the website does for us.

Typical web users are often overwhelmed when told about RSS: the unfamiliar acronym, the strange-looking XML pages, finding and using a feed reader. Campbell suggests the following tactics to improve RSS adoption:

• Use the new orange feed button
• Add descriptive links next to feed buttons
• Add simple explanations
• One-click subscribe buttons
• RSS auto-discovery

Whether new users learn from the Oprah explanation, useful media descriptions or attempts from marketers, RSS is getting closer to widespread adoption.