It’s coming! So, what is the difference between the new Google Chrome FOLLOW BUTTON and a Content Aggregator Site?
July 8, 2021 | Category: Digital Marketing, Tips for your Business
As a business owner, you must always be aware of the latest ways to attract new clients, and the internet never disappoints in that department. Google Chrome is testing a new FOLLOW button to give people what they want from their phones and laptops; more quality content in easier ways.
With websites climbing over each other’s content, this button will allow users to follow your site, but how is this FOLLOW feature different from Content Aggregator sites that we all use?
Content aggregator sites and other collection-and-supply-type websites have been providing collected lists of readable content forever it seems through the magic of Really Simple Syndication / Rich Site Summary (RSS).
Your website likely uses RSS. It allows any person access to content such as your blog posts, vlogs and podcasts through content aggregator websites.
- The Chrome FOLLOW feature /Chrome Web Feed is a passive feed; users can FOLLOW the websites they choose to, using a blank tab on Chrome’s Canary web browser.
- Content Aggregator sites display content that is submitted from websites and gives users access to their feed using a blank tab of a website browser.
What is the Chrome Web Feed FOLLOW button?
It’s like a fresh new ‘MAILING LIST 2.0’
With the Chrome Web Feed, (for now, on Android only), information addicts can have their favourite websites’ newest articles delivered to them without filling up their inbox.
Articles, blogs, vlogs and podcasts can now be accessed with the new FOLLOW feature of CHROME’S WEB FEED. It will debut on Google’s appropriately named Chrome Canary web browser, where experimentative features are tested.
“More guidance for publishers will be available when this feature leaves the testing phase and becomes a part of Chrome.”
What are Content Aggregator Sites?
Content aggregator sites can be accessed with most web browsers, such as Firefox, Google, Safari, Internet Explorer and Microsoft Edge, to name but a few.
Content Aggregator sites accept content from websites and provide it on their sites. Typically, the user or reader is given options for the type of subject matter they would like to receive and once put in place, their feed of managed articles comes up when they open a blank tab on their search engine.
If any of the following types of content aggregator sites apply to the subject matter your business puts out, you should also consider submitting your website for approval. Although the competition is steep, it is another chance at improving your audience reach.
Here is a list of some well-known sites, and their links:
- Google News, News 360, Feedly: news and article aggregator sites
- Pocket: article and blog aggregator site that allows the user to save articles and videos
- Panda: aggregator site for web designers and entrepreneurs
- Rotten Tomatoes: collects movie reviews from all over the web
- Techmeme: technology-themed aggregator
- Metacritic: compiles movie, music and game reviews
- Science News: aggregator of science breakthroughs
- Curator: a social network aggregator
What does Chrome Web Feed’s FOLLOW button and Content Aggregator Sites mean for your content and articles?
The short answer is, they provide a way for you to attract followers by creating exclusive content.
With so much competition online, the quality of your content will help set you apart. Your articles will be even more important when people can have them land directly into their Chrome Web Feed.
Content aggregator sites use algorithms to ascertain the kinds of articles that their millions of users save and read. Unsurprisingly, compelling writing and meaningful and engaging articles are always read more often.
Your website’s RSS feed can be picked up by whatever content aggregator site you have submitted your website URL, so the use of topic keywords is relevant for these sites to sort your content. Author attribution a website link will also be displayed.
You are also able to pay these sites to have your content aggregated and fed more widely among a pool of larger aggregator websites.
How the Chrome Web Feed FOLLOW button will work:
When a person chooses to FOLLOW your website RSS, that person has access to your readable content, which is downloaded for now, to the Chrome Canary browser. If people find your information engaging and helpful, your site will be more widely recommended.
To open the access for the feed, you must first open Chrome, then type in chrome://flags into the address bar. Then type Web Feed into the search bar. From there, you’ll follow a few more prompts.
Click this link to read the whole set of instructions.
Three options come up by tapping the gear icon: Manage, Learn-more and Turn-off. Selecting MANAGE allows people to click FOLLOWING, where they can add which websites they want to follow.
What, oh what, is Google Chrome trying to achieve?
“Our goal for this feature is to allow people to follow the websites they care about, from the large publishers to the small neighbourhood blogs, by tapping a Follow button in Chrome.” – someone at Google
Google Chrome, a browser, is soon to be its own content feeder. This feature ties more users to the Chrome system, at the same time adding credence to its entity.