Take Control of Your Details: Why RSS Still Matters & Owning Your Assets
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Seth Godin’s recent post highlights a crucial point in today’s digital landscape: the importance of owning your information consumption and creation. In a world increasingly dominated by algorithms and walled gardens, regaining control over how we access content and build our online presence is more vital than ever. This means prioritizing tools like RSS readers and consciously choosing too build assets you control, rather than simply renting space on someone else’s platform.
The Enduring Power of RSS
For two decades,the most efficient and empowering way to follow blogs has remained consistent: RSS (Really Simple Syndication).godin rightly points out its simplicity and freedom. Unlike social media feeds dictated by algorithms, RSS allows you to subscribe directly to the content you want, delivered to a reader of your choice.
Here’s why RSS is still relevant:
* Control: You decide which sources you follow, not an algorithm.
* Efficiency: RSS readers aggregate updates from multiple sources in one place, saving you time.
* Freedom: No ads, no tracking, no algorithmic manipulation – just the content you want.
* Cost: It’s free to use.
Godin provides a helpful explainer video and suggests an easy-to-use reader [link to explainer/reader from original post would go here if available].
Owning vs. Renting Your Online Presence
The core message extends beyond consumption. Godin challenges creators – bloggers, artists, brands – to consider where they are building their audience and assets. Are you building on platforms you control (like your own blog),or are you “renting” space on platforms like LinkedIn,Facebook,or X (formerly Twitter)?
Renting offers convenience and reach,but comes with significant drawbacks:
* Algorithm Dependency: Your reach is at the mercy of the platform’s algorithm,which can change at any time.
* Platform Rules: You are bound by the platform’s terms of service, which can restrict your content or even ban your account.
* Data Ownership: You don’t own the data about your audience; the platform does.
* Limited Customization: You have limited control over the look and feel of your content.
Owning your assets – your blog, your email list, your website – provides long-term stability, control, and the ability to build a direct relationship with your audience.
zapier & The LinkedIn Experiment
As an experiment, Godin is now using Zapier to automatically share his blog posts to LinkedIn. This is a pragmatic attempt to reach readers who may be primarily confined to the LinkedIn ecosystem.However, he acknowledges a limitation: LinkedIn often strips links from posts, meaning readers will need to visit the original blog (seths.blog) to access the full content and links.
This highlights a key point: platforms frequently enough prioritize keeping users on their platform, even at the expense of providing a complete user experience.
The Source of Truth: Your Blog
Godin emphasizes that his blog (seths.blog) remains the definitive source for his content. It’s where you’ll find the most up-to-date posts, with any typos corrected.
This is a crucial principle for anyone creating content: establish a central, owned hub for your work.
The Medium Is The Message
Ultimately, Godin reminds us that where we create and consume media matters. The platform itself shapes the experience and influences the message. By consciously choosing tools like RSS and prioritizing ownership, we can reclaim control over our information diet and build a more enduring and empowering online presence.
Key Takeaways:
* Embrace RSS: It’s a free, efficient, and empowering way to follow blogs.
* Own Your Assets: Prioritize building a presence on platforms you control.
* The Source Matters: always refer back to the original source for the most accurate and complete information.
* Be Mindful of the Medium: Recognize how the platform shapes the message.