By Colby Horton
Shop Site of the Month
A.C. Automotive - Seattle
www.goacauto.com
This site may have a simple look, but the functionality and interactivity put it a step above the rest. The dynamic navigation system allows the site to have many sections without overwhelming the visitor. The complete service menu and parts section provide insight into the shop's capabilities. Customers can make an appointment and request an estimate through the site. An employment section makes this site appealing to prospective employees.
Web Wise
RSS Keeps You Informed
Syndicated content, also known as Really Simple Syndication (RSS), is finding a permanent place on the World Wide Web. Many industry professionals are referring to the technology as the Web's "Next Big Thing." Although first created in 1997 by a company called UserLand, this technology is suddenly being used by top news organizations to distribute new information to a user's desktop. By visiting sites such as CNN (www.cnn.com), Sports Illustrated (www.si.com), National Public Radio (www.npr.org) and Reuters (www.reuters.com) to name a few, visitors can subscribe to what is being called RSS feeds. Using RSS, a news site can feed any new headlines and articles to a group of subscribers.
Using RSS on Web sites is relatively new, so not all Web sites can publish in RSS. However, there are many resources that can help you find an RSS feed that's appropriate for your preferences. For example, there are hundreds of automotive feeds available from all over the Internet. Do a search in Google for "Automotive RSS" to find such feeds. Or when you're visiting a Web site, look for an orange "XML" or blue "RSS" button. Both buttons are industry standards to show Web site visitors that the site publishes in RSS.
To read RSS feeds, you must have an RSS reader. Some readers are client-based and can be downloaded onto your desktop. Others, such as Yahoo and MSN, publish the feeds directly on their Web site. In the tech world, these readers are referred to as "aggregators," whether they are Web-based or software-based. You can subscribe to the appropriate feeds directly from your aggregator. Once subscribed, the headlines will be available to you immediately.
There are many RSS readers available and most are free of charge. Some of the readers are designed to resemble an e-mail in box, while others look like Web browsers. No matter the format, all readers are used to collect, update and display the RSS feeds.
Subscribing to an RSS feed is similar to subscribing to a magazine, and many feeds are free of charge. Simply find the sites that offer the feeds and follow the instructions they provide. Once you have your reader and you subscribe to RSS feeds, headlines, summaries and links will immediately be streamed to your computer.
Net Numbers
In a recent survey, 73 percent of respondents say they will increase their use of RSS feeds in the next year.
Source: Slashdot
ASA Web Ways
ASA Adds RSS Content Syndication
The Automotive Service Association (ASA) recently launched five syndicated content feeds on its Web site at www.asashop.org. Visitors to the Web site can add these feeds to their Really Simple Syndication (RSS) readers free of charge. The five feeds include "ASA News," "AutoInc.," "CARS News," "NACE News," and "Automotive Legislative News." Learn the latest news about your association as it happens by subscribing to these new feeds. Visit ASA's home page, or the Members Only area of ASA's Web site, for more information on adding ASA's feeds to your newsreader.
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