| This is the final installment in the RSS Mania - | | | | will no longer be an RSS feed document. |
| Understanding RSS Series. In this article we will | | | | RSS IN your Web Site - If you go to some sites on |
| discover just how to get your RSS Feed up on the | | | | the web, not only will they offer you their own |
| web, and what is possible and what is not with an | | | | orange button but you will see an RSS feed in fed |
| RSS feed.Naming your RSS file - Your file name does | | | | into their web pages. And when you see that you |
| not have to be rss.xml You are welcome to name it | | | | say "Hey I want this in my web site too!" Well you |
| to whatever your little heart desires, though the .xml | | | | can do that as well. But before I tell you where to |
| extension is kind of important for your editors to | | | | go on the net to get it (its for free too) I want to |
| know just what file the software is dealing with.Now | | | | explain two possibilities here. |
| that you have the file - what do you do with it? | | | | The reason why many sites (including my own) put |
| Okay first thing is first. Take the file and place it in | | | | an RSS feed on their web page, is because it creates |
| your Web directory where everyone can get to it. | | | | and adds content to the web site. After all the whole |
| Lets say we named the file "ballchain.xml" and we | | | | issue of content is what makes places like rock! If |
| move it (ftp) to our web directory under the address | | | | you are interested in content ONLY for your viewers |
| of Now we know and the rest of the world will | | | | than you don't have to worry about the following. |
| know where that file is. Don't put it in a secured or | | | | However, if you are interested in content for search |
| password directory UNLESS you are only granting | | | | engines as well be aware of the following two |
| secure, password access to it to specific people.Now | | | | possibilities. |
| before you do anything else, BEFORE you release | | | | |
| this great RSS feed to the world you MUST make | | | | Many places will offer you a Javascript code to put |
| sure it is valid. Of course you have been careful. Of | | | | in your web page. This is great, but be aware that |
| course you never make typos. Of course you got it | | | | search engines are "blind" to Javascript. What is |
| down pat. Still go and VALIDATE. How do you do | | | | placed within that code is simply not taken into |
| this? Well nothing can be simpler. There are many | | | | account. Therefore, all the content being picked up |
| validating engines out there. One very good one, | | | | by your link to the New York Times RSS Feed and |
| which will of course drive you crazy over every small | | | | put on your web site will not be indexed. |
| mistake, but it is good is at: When you have an error | | | | Some places offer you PHP code as well. This |
| it will lead you to the pages that explain your error. | | | | requires that your web server supports PHP, which if |
| You should get into the habit of validating your feed | | | | you are not a techie you will have to check. And |
| EVERY TIME you change the RSS file.Okay NOW we | | | | then you will have to usually make sure that your |
| can finally go get our little orange "XML" or "RSS" | | | | page is named say home.PHP and not home.html |
| button. That is easy. If you want to just go to a | | | | After that you can insert the PHP code into your |
| sight with the button already, and since it is public | | | | page (as short as the Javascript code). BUT the |
| domain just copy the image with your browser. Move | | | | GREAT thing is that search engines DO SEE the |
| it over to your Web, and put in on your page where | | | | content that is in that PHP code, and that content will |
| you will offer RSS to the world. Then add an href | | | | be indexed along with your web site. And search |
| command to the button, so that when a user drags | | | | engines LOVE CONTENT. |
| it into their aggregator the correct file will be | | | | |
| grabbed. The code will look something like this: | | | | For either possibility you can check out one such |
| | | | place. |
| < img border="0" src=" WIDTH="48" HEIGHT="14"> | | | | There are others and once again a search will reveal |
| You also have the option of going to a site where | | | | a world of possibilities. does have some really good |
| you can create your own button. | | | | options though both for Javascript and for PHP.RSS |
| One such internet site is: | | | | Aggregator - There are zillions of those. If you use |
| There you can make a standard size RSS button | | | | FireFox you can find some great RSS aggregators as |
| with your own logo on it.Now you have the file and | | | | Browser extensions. If you want a Desktop |
| logo and the hyperlink to your RSS feed on your | | | | Aggregator just do a search for them. And then of |
| main page. Now you have to go out and Submit your | | | | course there are Windows aggregators that work |
| feed address to the RSS Feed Directories. There is | | | | within your browser (not as extensions). I don't feel |
| also software that will do this for you as well. Instead | | | | right in suggesting one product over another, so I will |
| of listing the many RSS feed directories here, just | | | | not give a list here. They are readily available in any |
| Google or Yahoo for "RSS Feed Directories" and | | | | search on the web. Some are free, others you pay |
| submit your RSS URL to them. Remember the URL | | | | for. It is your decision. Well we have come to the |
| to your feed is NOT your home page. It is rather " | | | | end of our RSS Mania - Understanding RSS Series. |
| you are done? Hah! Now you want the major search | | | | Some things like CSS files and formatting your RSS |
| engines to know about your feed right? | | | | for HTML are not in the purview of this series and |
| | | | are a lot more technical. However, I hoped you |
| Yahoo - is where you begin. In the end you will have | | | | learned about RSS and why this mania is sweeping |
| your very own Yahoo RSS Feed button for your | | | | the web. |
| feed, which Yahoo will give you the code to add to | | | | This Article was Part Thirteen and the final |
| your web page as well. | | | | installment of the RSS Mania - Understanding RSS |
| Google - and again in the end you will have an RSS | | | | Series. All parts of this series are available at Ezine |
| Google button to add to your feed. | | | | Articles ( |
| MSN is a bit tricker. For some reason they keep the | | | | RSS Mania Addiction - An Introduction to RSS and |
| information on registering your feed with them a | | | | the TerminologyOutline of How to Create an RSS |
| universal secret. will tell you how to do it. | | | | FeedThe Template FileThe Basic Elements of the |
| Once you get more sophisticated you will see the | | | | Channel ElementHow The RSS Feed Works & Some |
| Newsgator button and a bunch of others. Since | | | | Programming ConstructsRSS Channel Sub-Elements |
| Newsgator is one of the major players in the market | | | | Specifically Image & How To Use ItUnderstanding |
| you should check them out at | | | | RSS - The Elements Within the "Item" |
| | | | ElementUnderstanding RSS - Podcasting, VideoCasting |
| UPDATE Your Feed - Now you created your xml | | | | & The Magic of the Enclosure |
| file, uploaded that and the image to the web, | | | | Sub-ElementUnderstanding RSS - Rounding Out The |
| submitted your feed, gotten a whole host of RSS | | | | Multi-Media - The CDATA CommandUnderstanding |
| feed buttons, from Google, Yahoo, MSN and | | | | RSS - A Basic Template File to Create Your Very |
| NewsGator. Now all you have to do is make sure | | | | Own RSS FeedUnderstanding RSS - A Full RSS |
| that you update your content on a fairly continuing | | | | Template File to Create Your Very Own RSS |
| schedule and that your RSS feed is constantly | | | | FeedUnderstanding RSS - A Full RSS Feed Template |
| available.Will you know how many people access your | | | | For Podcasting & VideoCastingUnderstanding RSS - |
| feed? This is a tricky and difficult question with no | | | | How To Get Your RSS Feed Up On The Web |
| real solution as of yet. So the answer is no, you will | | | | Copyright © 2005 Ted W. Gross. All rights |
| not. Unless you are a real techie and want to spend | | | | reserved. (You may publish this article in its entirety |
| time in mining your server logs or putting invisible | | | | with the following author's information with live links |
| images into your feed (like they do in email to see if | | | | only.)Ted W. Gross owns Virgin Earth a real estate |
| it was opened and in RSS that is not foolproof) | | | | brokerage firm in Jerusalem, Israel. Virgin Earth |
| forget it. You can of course mine your server logs | | | | represents residential and commercial real estate all |
| looking for hits on the ballchain.xml file but that is time | | | | over Israel. Virgin Earth also maintains an RSS Feed |
| consuming and an incredible amount of work. DO | | | | on its current properties and also operates Virgin |
| NOT EVEN THINK ABOUT PUTTING Javascript IN | | | | Earth - Israel Tourism & Information Portal on the |
| THERE OR SOME OTHER SCRIPT SO A HIT | | | | same site. Ted Gross is also a published author and |
| COUNTER CAN COUNT IT. It will destroy the well | | | | maintains a web site for his works. |
| formed XML and will not be aggregated or read as it | | | | |