RSS For Dummies And Other Geniuses


by Titus Hoskins - Date: 2006-09-20 - Word Count: 726 Share This!

I get quite a few emails like the one below, asking
for a simple guide to RSS...


"I read your information on RSS. Frankly, it was
frightening, as new things usually tend to be.
What you need is a tutorial for absolute dummies.
Your article moves too quickly into a form that is
reminiscent of people who it for is assumed know more
about web sites, source codes, and the like."


...This email is so true for the majority of
webmasters and I will try to provide the
simplest explanation of RSS as possible.

Fastest and easiest route to take:

Go to www.blogger.com (owned by Google)
and create a free blog - in the process
you will create an RSS feed that you
can use to send your content/podcasts.
You can place this RSS feed on your site.

While there, look around, check out the FAQ and
read all the information on RSS and blogging. You
will discover every blog has an RSS feed attached
to it. It is a way of broadcasting/syndicating
your content to all interested parties.

Please understand, in most cases, your blog URL is
not the same as your Feed URL.

Also keep in mind, there are many ways to create
a blog/RSS feed on your site.

Another popular way is to use free blogging
software like WordPress (www.wordpress.org)
- you can download their files and then you
upload them to your server. This does require some
knowledge of handling server files and scripts
but everything is conveniently explained.

Besides, the WordPress installation is
very straightforward and most webmasters
and site owners should be able to set up
a blog/rss feed without too much trouble.
There is also an excellent help section/forum
if you're a complete novice with handling
server-side scripts.

You have to realize RSS is only simple code
that syndicates your content to all interested
parties, it originally stood for 'Rich Site
Summary' and was a way of summarizing your
content and broadcasting it. Most people
now refer to RSS as 'Really Simple Syndication'.

It was mainly used by news groups and sites.
Dave Winer of UserLand and Scripting News
fame - created RSS in 1997.

Then we had the blogging revolution, which
spread RSS around the web, and into the
mainstream. Well, sort of, we are not quite
there yet!

Many believe RSS will fully come into its own
when Microsoft finally releases Windows Vista,
it will have RSS embedded in its source code.
The ordinary surfer won't have a clue what RSS is
and will still be using it in tons of applications.
As it should be, how many Internet users know what
DOS or even HTML are?

Once RSS becomes totally integrated into
the Internet and our browsing experience,
it will become even more important for
webmasters like yourself to full understand
RSS and what it can do for you and your
site.

I believe every site should have at least
ONE RSS feed or blog.

There are only Three Questions/Problems
concerning RSS that keep popping up again and
again. These questions are answered simply
here:


1. How do I create an RSS and Blog?

Answered above... use a free site like Blogger.com
which lets you publish your blog files to your own
server or use free blogging software such as WordPress.
www.wordpress.org

2. How do I read my RSS or any RSS feed?

Several ways... you can read any RSS feed by using
an aggregator or RSS feed (news) reader like
Newsgator, Google Reader or you can use the Social
Bookmark feature present in some browsers like Mozilla
Firefox. As mentioned above, the next Windows will
have RSS embedded into its operating system.

3. How do I put my or anyone's RSS Feed or content
onto my site?


Several ways... you can try the popular
Feedburner.com to place your headlines and
feeds on your site. Another good one is
www.bigbold.com/rssdigest - no programming
required - you can use JavaScript, PHP, or an
IFRAME!

RSS for some unexplained reason, still remains
a little known and mysterious creature for most
webmasters and surfers. This is a bit troubling,
when you consider the growing importance RSS
will play in the overall function of the web.
A factor which makes RSS a subject that has to
be understood by webmasters, dummies and geniuses
alike.

Regardless of where you fit into that group, if
you need further help on RSS, see the resource box
for an online RSS tutorial and a simple downloadable
RSS Guide.

----

To add RSS to your Site within minutes - download this
simple RSS Report and Guide.
Or try this more technical RSS Tutorial
Copyright © 2006 Titus Hoskins. This article may be freely
distributed if this resource box stays attached.


Related Tags: rss, rss feed, rss for dummies

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