Abstract :
Nowadays, many Websites have adopted the really simple syndication (RSS) technology to deliver online content to visitors. In this paper, I build an analytical model to examine how the offering of RSS feeds impact the number of visitors, total traffic load, and profit of Websites in a competitive setting. I show that although RSS can always attract more visitors, it may reduce the Website´s profit. Interestingly, in a competitive market there are cases that the RSS feeds hurt the offering Website but benefit the competing Website instead. The conditions under which these will happen are derived. I also study the simultaneous RSS-adoption game and show that different equilibrium outcomes will appear under different parameter combinations. Applying my findings to the practice, I suggest that offering RSS feeds could become a competitive disadvantage, and that certain types of Websites, such as Websites providing free content, should not offer RSS feeds.
