You've probably noticed the new links at the top of the pages here at the SSWT Forum - one to subscribe to the XML Feed, another to add the Forum Feed to your My Yahoo page.
If you run a PHPBB Forum, it is really simple to set up a Feed using the mod. You can then go to www.FeedBurner.com and create the links & buttons for your Feed (and both are free to do).
This allows people to read a summary of the new posts at your Forum via their RSS Reader, or on their My Yahoo page (and apparently many people use this as their 'home' page or browser start-page).
A great post to read on this topic can be found at Mike's IM4Newbies Forum:
(Thanks, Mike, for all the great resources!)
As you can see, once you set up a Feed, you can then submit it to sites all over the web that list them... and your content can be syndicated across websites all over the web, as well. A very powerful way of expanding your reach! And with just a few clicks away from being set up, it could save you hours of time in promoting your forum/community
As a user, I am especially happy with this technology! What this means is that I can add all of my favorite forums (that offer a Feed) into my (one of many popular Feed Readers) - and can now surf both Forums and Blogs from one program. It cuts surfing time WAY down and gives me an opportunity to make my rounds on the 'net in no time!