RSS stands for "Really Simple Syndication". (It used to stand for "rich site summary" but hardly anyone uses that explanation these days.)

An RSS feed can be used to attract new visitors to your site, new subscribers to your newsletter, and new readers to your blog.

An RSS feed enables you to share headlines and articles with other sites and promote your products or affiliate links.

RSS feeds can also be used to help your pages rank highly in search engines.

Dozens of RSS directories make it easy for people to find sites that have RSS feeds.

People can either find your news items on these directory sites or they can subscribe to your blog or newsletter by using an RSS newsreader.

Savvy visitors to your site will see your RSS or XML graphic and know immediately that they can subscribe to your RSS feed and have your news bulletins delivered straight to their desktop, bypassing email.

Introduction to blogs

Priya Shah's Blog-Maniac addicted and loving it will give you good introduction to blogs. She really IS addicted - she runs several blogs.

Places to submit your RSS feed

Here are lists of places where you can submit your RSS feed or blog to get publicity:

http://www.masternewmedia.org/rss/top55/
http://www.rss-specifications.com/rss-submission.htm