Steps To Creating and Promoting RSS Feeds

RSS, or Really Simple Syndication as it is commonly known, is a technology that gives webmasters the ability to easily distribute and publish syndicated content on the Internet. It seems like all Internet businesses now have RSS feeds available; at least your competitors do. You have finally made the decision that you have to have one. Where do you start?

Steps to Creating an RSS feed

1.) Build a Feed

There are a number of desktop and web applications available that make feed creation easy. I would encourage anyone creating a feed to use one. Though not overly complicated, hand-coding an RSS feed can become a bit confusing and time-consuming. Most desktop software applications for building a feed include a wizard and contact-sensitive help, simplifying the process of creating a feed. Following a few simple steps in a wizard generally will produce an RSS feed in just a few minutes.

Publishers control what information is syndicated in the RSS feed, so ultimately it is the publisher's decision as to whether to include teaser copy or full articles. Consider what you are trying to accomplish and who your target audience is when building the feed.

Software to Build a Feed - http://www.feedforall.com
Tutorial for Creating Feed by Hand using XML-
http://www.make-rss-feeds.com

2.) Transfer the Feed Onto Your Server

Once you have constructed an RSS feed you will need to transfer the feed to your server. This can be done using a standard FTP client (if it is not built into the feed creation software). The feed is usually placed in the domain's root directory like this:

http://www.mydomain.com/nameoffeed.xml, but as long as you know where it is it doesn't really matter.

3.) Display the Feed on Your Website Using a Graphic of Some Sort

In order to signal to website visitors that an RSS feed containing content related to the website is available, include a colorful graphic on the website. It has become a standard that nearly all websites that have RSS feeds available use colorful graphics such as flags as indicators that RSS feeds are available for specific content. The flags were initially bright orange rectangles but as the popularity has grown, webmasters have bent the rules a bit. NotePage has made a free online RSS graphic tool available that allows users to quickly customize buttons by selecting the text on the button and the color scheme of the button. Once the color and text is entered, a custom graphic is instantly created. Webmasters can easily match the style of the RSS button to a website's theme. Graphics experience is not required. Simply select alternative colors and insert text to personalize RSS feed graphics. The RSS graphics tool can be used by clicking the following URL

http://www.feedforall.com/public/rss-graphic-tool.htm or choose ready made graphics fom: http://www.rss-specifications.com/rss-graphics.htm

4.) Include Information in the HTML of the Web Page So RSS Readers Auto-Detect Your Feed

After publishing an RSS feed it is important to let visitors know that the feed exists. Aggregators will automatically detect RSS on a website if you add a small bit of code in the header field of an HTML page.

<link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="RSS"
href="http://www.yourdomain.com/rss.xml">

Be sure to replace http://www.yourdomain.com/rss.xml with the URL to the RSS feed.

5.) Display the Feed's Content on a Website

Contents contained in an RSS feed can be added to a website, providing site visitors an alternative method for viewing the content. The information will also help increase search engine interest. Displaying the feed as HTML can be accomplished. Providing fresh content on a regular basis will encourage site visitors return.

Tutorial for Displaying Feeds - http://www.small-business-software.net/display-rss.htm

6.) Submit the Feed to RSS Directories and Search Engines

As a rapidly increasing number of content sources, new and old, migrate or add RSS as a key distribution channel, and as more people utilize RSS newsreaders and aggregators to keep themselves informed, the ability to maintain high exposure and visibility is gradually shifted from complete attention to major search engines and content optimization techniques to an increasing awareness of RSS feed directories and search tools.

In order to increase exposure of an RSS feed it should be submitted to RSS search engines and directories. This can be done manually. Just as you would submit the URL of a website or web page to a search engine you will need to submit the link of the actual feed located on your website to the RSS directories. There is a large list of RSS directories at http://www.rss-specifications.com/rss-submission.htm. If you prefer to automate the submission process try RSS Submit at:

http://www.dummysoftware.com/rsssubmit.html. An evaluation version is available.

About the Author:
Sharon Housley manages marketing for FeedForAll http://www.feedforall.com software for creating, editing, publishing RSS feeds and podcasts. In addition Sharon manages marketing for NotePage http://www.notepage.net a wireless text messaging software company.

Stuff.tv
Stuff.tv's top blogging tips
Stuff.tv, UK - 7 hours ago
Remember to add RSS feed options and plenty of social networking buttons so that folks can share. Looking to make some moolah from your endeavours? ...

This Time Syndrome
Feministe - Jul 3, 2008
This entry was posted on Thursday, July 3rd, 2008 at 3:07 pm and is filed under Guest Blogging. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS ...

Samsung SGH-G800
PC Magazine - Jul 3, 2008
Add PC Magazine Cell Phones Product Guide RSS feed to your feed reader so that you don't miss another headline! Editor's Note: Product not yet tested by ...

study tools,
CNET News, CA - Jul 2, 2008
It's a good bet a chunk of those active users are taking advantage of the service's built-in blogging tool instead of going to another service like ...

Introducing Inquisitr iQ Alpha
The Inquisitr, Australia - 13 hours ago
The second page offers a summary of the best news in the blogging world, an early passion of mine. The third page is a summary of all the major meme ...

I’m On Vacation From 7/3 to 7/6
Donklephant - Jul 2, 2008
This entry was posted on Wednesday, July 2nd, 2008 and is filed under Blogging. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. ...

lazy blogging
CNET News, CA - Jun 30, 2008
One directed a comment to Technorati's management and said, "Please fix RSS feeds on search queries first, before you do anything else. ...

Google Makes Tweaks To Blogger
InformationWeek, NY - Jul 1, 2008
Since the last time I checked, Google has added a number of nifty updates to its set of blogging tools, including the ability to add lists of other blogs ...

What is a company blogger good for?
ZDNet Blogs - Jun 30, 2008
Simply repost marketing material and press releases in blog format with RSS feeds. Not really blogging, just a use of the tools to make press access easier, ...

developer tools
CNET News, CA - Jul 1, 2008
It's a good bet a chunk of those active users are taking advantage of the service's built-in blogging tool instead of going to another service like ...

Wind Chimes and more...

Windchimes for great gifts!

Get Website Visitors From Blogs