sMoRTy71.com: Grounds for an RSS divorce

Grounds for an RSS divorce
Talk about timing. Just a couple of days ago, I commented on the inevitable pimping of RSS. Today, WIRED has an article on sites that are starting to use ads in their feeds.

Of course, advocates of RSS advertising spout the same old b.s. about users needing to understand that free content isn't really free. Rich Skrenta, CEO of Topix, said, "Folks understand that if there's not a way to monetize content, there's not going to be content." That's such a cop-out. If you can't create a business model where you can make money and meet your customer's needs (users choose RSS for the fact that don't see ads), then you need to get of that business. Taking money for ads in RSS feeds is low-hanging fruit that won't sustain your business long-term and will drive away your most loyal users.

Jason Calacanis, founder of Weblogs, doesn't seem to get it either. He recognizes that users of RSS feeds are the most loyal audience; however, he doesn't think they should be treated any differently (better) than those who use a website:

"Visiting the website is dating; getting a daily e-mail is going steady -- but subscribing to an RSS feed, well, that is like getting married to a news source," he said. "It's really the highest commitment you can make."

If using a site's RSS feed is like a marriage, then advertising in them will be grounds for divorce.

News is a commodity item. You're never going to be able to differentiate your product on the content. Why not differentiate yourself by taking care of your most loyal users or coming up with a sustainable business model that doesn't involve ads? I guess that be too much like work.