How To Make An RSS Feed

Posted by Marie-Louise

To produce an RSS feed, all you need is the content or the article that you want to publicise and a validated RSS text file. Once your text file is registered at various aggregators (or ‘news readers’), any external site can then capture and display your RSS feed, automatically updating them whenever you update your RSS file.

1.Create a file for your feed.
Using a certain format, you’d have to create the XML version of your feed. It should include the title or the headline, the body’s short description, and the link where it can be read. There are a lot of different RSS web channel editors you can use for this. Some programmes just require you to write news and articles down on a notepad and when placed on the editor, it will show up with the necessary formatting ready for upload. It would be advisable to make at least 10 articles for your feed.

2.Save and Upload the file.
After creating your file, save your work as an XML, RSS, or an RDF file. Then you are ready to upload it. Upload the file using your FTP programme and place it on your web server. This process now makes the file readable by RSS news aggregators.

3.Validate the file.
Make your RSS programme error-free. RSS is programming, so errors could lie unseen. Again, there are different programmes that can assist you in this process. You just need to place the saved and uploaded RSS file for the programme to test it against wrong and missed code and tags. It is essential for you to check your work. This way, you can be sure that what you have is readable and usable.

4.Create a directory.
Now that you have created the file, saved it, and made sure it works, you are ready to let other people see it. The main purpose of an RSS feed is to broadcast it to all RSS-enabled sites. So go ahead and look for a directory where you can place your feed. Some may require fees for uploading a directory. Some offer it for free. Scout around and round up all the free sites you can and place it there. If you have some marketing budget, you might want to subscribe to sites that charge a minimal amount. Don’t forget to place an icon of your RSS feed on your website for those people who visit you directly.

5.Update regularly.
With RSS, you know that the feed changes automatically every time you change the main file. Don’t let your RSS feed sit there for a month without modifying it. Maintain it. Add new articles. The more exciting your topic is, the more people will check your feeds and visit your website.

Creating an RSS feed for internet marketing is made very simple nowadays. Even people who are not computer savvy can create RSS feeds, based on the steps provided above. The applications that were created for RSS are the ones that make it easy for everyday computer users to make an RSS feed. All you need is familiarisation with the process.

Start creating your own RSS feeds today. RSS feeds give your website more traffic than usual web hosting. And web traffic means more people seeing your products. Add strength to your marketing strategy. Make RSS feeds and be ready to sell.

Category : Articles (2) Comment

Comments

Karin H. 24 March, 2009

Why not automate the whole process and start a dynamic and interactive website (aka blog)?
You can edit the design templates very easily to ‘copy’ your existing website’s design and even ‘domain-map the blog to a subdomain of your website.

Karin H. (Keep It Simple Sweetheart, specially in business)

Jerry Whiting 13 May, 2009

Another way to configure and edit RSS feeds is to use AzaleaRSS (www.AzaleaRSS.com/download/) It’s free and it’s written in Excel!

Leave a comment

Recent Comments
  • James Sessa: I like the laid back, new you Jonathan. This style really en...
  • Pete: I do affordable websites based on the brilliant Wordpress pl...
  • Sally: I have a home automation business which i know is the future...
  • Duanna Pang-Dokland: Hi, What do you think are the success traits of top entre...
  • Linda Davis: I offered our product completely free of charge using 50% go...