RSS - The Making a Feed

Everyday more more websites, news services blogs are adding RSS content. RSS a method syndicating content.The concept aggregating content one central location or repository very appealing. Consumers have become tired push technology, RSS allows users flexibility regain control their content. RSS feed creators provide content without forcing consumers. In fact with RSS consumers are able choose content they wish view.

How Make an RSS Feed

RSS feeds contain what are referred "items". The items are usually connected some way contain a common theme or other similarity.

The following feed http://www.notepage.net/feed.xml contains eight items. The items are all SMS paging related news articles would likely benefit someone interested wireless market.

Each item contains:

title

description

link

The title description should be written describe content link should reference webpage contains actual content.

Like html, xml file uses open close tags designate title, description link. Tags are enclosed brackets , like standard html close tag contains a forward slash /.

The following what an item a xml file looks like:

The Title Goes Here

The description goes here

http://www.linkgoeshere.com

As I mentioned earlier, an RSS feeds contains items like tags above, an open close tag used distinguish between items.

The Title Goes Here

The description goes here

http://www.linkgoeshere.com

Another Title Goes Here

Another description goes here

http://www.anotherlinkgoeshere.com

Now an RSS Feed a series items, these items are chained together create what called a "Channel".

The Channel appears at top file tells people how items relate each other. Like items channels use title, description link tags describe its content. The open channel tag occurs before first item close tag occurs after last item.

The Channel Title Goes Here

The explanation how items are related goes here

http://www.directoryoflinksgohere

The Title Goes Here

The description goes here

http://www.linkgoeshere.com

Another Title Goes Here

Another description goes here

http://www.anotherlinkgoeshere.com

Finally you will need designate file by indicating an XML file by inserting xml rss defining tags at beginning at very end.

The Channel Title Goes Here

The explanation how items are related goes here

http://www.directoryoflinksgohere

The Title Goes Here

The description goes here

http://www.linkgoeshere.com

Another Title Goes Here

Another description goes here

http://www.anotherlinkgoeshere.com

When you save file be sure save an xml file.

Warning

If you create file using Dreamweaver or a similar tool becareful that does not strip out tags feels are redundant. In order be be an RSS feed your file needs at bare minimum that tags that were discussed above, file will not be valid if tags are stripped out.

I found a cool little free program that helped xml file creation called First Object Editor http://www.firstobject.com/

Validation

As my math teacher use say, check your work! Once your file complete uploaded einter into feed validator at http://feedvalidator.org

Syndication / Submission

If you've made this far you are good shape time "syndicate" your content! Submit your RSS feed (the xml file you created) sites just like you would submit a web page. Some more popular sites that accept RSS files can be found under "Post RSS Feed"

About The Author

Sharon Housley manages marketing NotePage, Inc. http://www.notepage.net a company specializing alphanumeric paging, SMS wireless messaging software solutions. Other sites by Sharon can be found at http://www.softwaremarketingresource.com , http://www.small-business-software.net