RSS sounds so exotic.  Real Simple Syndication, or 'RSS' feed, is used to create live links to a web site which update themselves in a subscribers bookmarks.  The use extends into RSS readers like Google reader, Yahoo Reader RSS and many other services that publish your blog articles.  RSS can also be used for podcasts which provides an excellent method of distributing sermons, audio stories, poems, self help, inspirational non-denominational and the list is only limited by one's imagination.  Real Simple Syndication allows the web site to reach out to new subscribers and social media sites that allow you to post your feed.  RSS is an extension of your blog that can be subscribed to and viewed.

Getting Started:

1. You need a RSS feed!  Blogs typically have a RSS generator built in or as an add on.  This is your raw feed.  You can use it raw or burn it with Google FeedBurner.  Services like FeedYes can help scrape content from a non-RSS web site.
2. Optimize your feed.  Use a service like Google FeedBurner to manage and optimize your feeds.  Add a raw feed and you have created a new optimized feed.
3. create great blog content with links.

Google FeedBurner lets you rename your feed to a optimized short name and add some great features like renaming the blog name and description.  Along with that FeedBurner lets you add other RSS feeds in a salad mix.GoogleFeedburner also supports emailing RSS updates to subscribers which is very handy in providing active alerts.  BuzzBoost lets you create a little script widget you can put into another site which provides current post updates. These are actual headlines with hyperlinks to the other site that 'updates' itself.  This is great for promoting your blog and can be mixed with other feeds.

Reading a feed can be done through a web browser or online services like Google Reader, NewsGator (Online), My Yahoo!, Bloglines, Pageflakes, Netvibes and others. this allows for reading a lot of information in a short period of time. Mobile devices and various web based widgets can be used to display the output of Real Simple Syndication.