• by Lynn Russo , September 27, 2005

Suddenly, there are more and more new media specialists: agencies with blogging practices, and specialists in podcasting and RSS. Now there's iFeed Media, which launched recently to help companies optimize their use of new media. Founded by Adam Kaufman, owner of interactive agency Pinpoint Media, the Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.-based firm writes, produces, distributes, and maintains RSS feeds, blogs, and podcasts. The firm also sells ad space in podcasts, monitors blogs for client mentions, and then helps clients craft responses.

Kaufman expects RSS to explode next year when RSS readers are embedded into Internet Explorer 7. He also predicts that large enterprises will leverage podcasts in a major way. For example, universities can use podcasts to distribute curricula, and corporations might find them helpful in disseminating information prior to shareholder meetings and Webcasts.

The online travel category is an early adopter of RSS. For example, Qantas Airlines plans more than 100 RSS feeds. Others jumping onto the RSS bandwagon include Trump Casinos, Aramark Parks and Resorts, USAToday.com/Travel, and Kayak.com. Among iFeed's clients are a radio station, along with news and information companies. iFeed Media is also using RSS to create intranets for a technology firm and a brokerage company.

Kaufman expects iFeed Media to generate between $3 and $5 million in revenues by the end of its first year. The company plans to launch an ad network for RSS feeds this quarter. At press time, 40 sites had been signed.