RSS vs. Email: Are they really in competition?

i have seen alot about the subjet. many have predicted that RSS will kill email because it is a pull technology and it can get around the deliverability issues. so far email is safe.

will that change?

when you look at RSS, it is about one to many communication - it is syndication. it does that well.

when you look at email, it can be used as a one to many broadcast tool however it is best as a one to one medium. the power of email lies in its ability to form conversations. RSS can't do that.

i think in the new world of marketing - building conversations, one to one relationships, dialog, trust, that is where the consumer is taking us. the broadcast model has it place and i am not ruling it out, but to reach the saavy, the weary online consumer, you have to go one to one.

so, will RSS kill email? i don't think so.

will it carve out its own niche and be another tool, that when used effectively is killer? yes.