The disadvantages of RSS use are brought about by its being a relatively new technology and some user-preference concerns.
1. Some users prefer receiving email updates over an RSS feed.
This may seem a little strange but some people are more comfortable with email.
2. Graphics and photos do not appear in all RSS feeds.
For conciseness and ease of publication, RSS feeds do not dispaly the images from the original in announcing the update except for some web-based aggregators.
3. The identity of the source website can be confusing.
Since RSS feeds do not display the actual URL or name of the website, it can be a little confusing sometimes to the reader what feed they are reading.
4. Unable to determine the number of subscribers.
Publishers cannot determine how many users are subscribed to their feed and the frequency of their visits. Moreover, they would not know the reasons why a subscriber may unsubscribe from the feed. This could be important in order to improve the content or the way they advertise the site.
5. RSS feeds create higher traffic and demands on the server.
Most readers still prefer the whole update rather than a brief summary of the entry. thus they will in all likelihood still access the site directly.
The above concerns should in no way stop you from employing RSS on your sites but should be considered when determing the methods of publishing your content on your sites to the wider internet world.
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