By Ross Dunn
Expert Author
Article Date: 2010-04-22
If you have a blog or a website with a RSS (real simple syndication) feed and you haven't heard of the new PuSH protocol then I have a treat for you. A little while back, Google announced a new open source protocol quirkily called PubSubHubbub, or PuSH for short. In Google's own words PuSH is "a simple, open, server-to-server web-hook-based pubsub (publish/subscribe) protocol as an extension to Atom and RSS."
And now, without further adieu, here it is in English: this all means that any WordPress platform user can install a PuSH plugin which will automatically (no configuration required) notify subscribers of new content within seconds of the content being posted live. This is different than the standard process where each subscriber's RSS reader checks feeds constantly for new information (about as successful as a 24 hour door-to-door salesman selling insurance).
All-in-all, the PubSubHubbub protocol makes news feeds light-years more effective at delivering timely news to subscribers; both people and search engines/bots alike.
Note that this technology is not limited to WordPress (this post is focused on WordPress) but can be applied to any RSS/Atom feed.
Here is a great, tongue-in-cheek explanation of what the PuSH protocol is and what it does for the Internet.
So, what do you do next? If you are a WordPress user then either install the PuSHPress plugin from your plugin tab on WordPress or click here to visit the PuSHPress page and download install the plugin manually. Remember, there is no configuration required - just plug it in and voila! (well, at least according to what I read!)
Happy blogging and if you have questions, feel free to comment here or visit our free WordPress SEO step-by-step tutorial resource at www.WordPressSEO.ca
About the Author: Ross Dunn is the CEO and founder of StepForth Web Marketing Inc., an SEO firm that has been providing expert services since 1997. Rossīs considerable experience in the world of search has made him a respected writer for countless publications and an SEO consultant for small business and Fortune 500 web properties.
