Are you always looking for new and better ways to marketyour web site? Search engines are always on the look outfor fresh content. When doing a search you dont want oldcontent popping up, you want to have the most up to dateinformation. Search engines will generally reward thosesites which provide new content on a regular basis ie dailyor even bi-weekly.
On of the best ways to provide fresh content is to createan RSS Feed.
What is an RSS Feed?
RSS stands for "really simple syndication". For example Iwrite articles every 2 weeks and place them on my web site.I then link to that article from my home page and from myarticle headlines page. I make that article available toothers as an item in my RSS file. People who use RSSreaders or news aggregators can read then link to yourarticle from their web site.
To explain further about RSS readers visit:
http://www.isitebuild.com/rss/what-are-rss-feeds.htm
You have now syndicated your content for others to view. This is a great way to improve or maintain your search engine rankings by naturally getting incoming links. Every time you write a new article it will be instantly available to 1000s of web site owners.
How to create an RSS File
RSS files use the XML language. This is similar to htmlexcept you must be careful to use closing tags and be sureto validate it before you use it. An XML file contains theinformation (Title, Description and Link URL) that youraudience will receive through a RSS reader.
Here is all you need to create an RSS file:
-Title
-Description
-Link
1. Open notepad on your computer, then copy and paste theinformation below replacing it with your own title,description and link information.
The first part contains information about your web site.The second part contains information for one of your articles.You can also include optional information in your headlines such as language, copyright info, contact email addresses, or an image.
Try to limit the number of articles you wish to include in yourRSS file to 5 or less. Enclose your RSS information withthe xml and rss versions you are using followed by thechannel and item tags. Finish off with the RSS closing tag.
Heres the example:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1" ?>
<rss version="0.91">
<channel>
<title>Web Site Design | Hosting | Marketing</title>
<link>http://www.isitebuild.com</link>
<description>Affordable Web Design in Maryland</description>
<language>en-us</language>
<item>
<title>How to Add a Search Engine to Your Site </title>
<link>http://www.isitebuild.com/add-search-engine.htm</link>
<description>
When visitors arrive at your web site you want them to findthe information quickly otherwise they will lose patienceand move on. A great way achieve this is to add a searchengine or search box to your web site.
</description>
</item>
</channel>
</rss>
You have now created your first RSS file that is almostready for syndicating.
Read Part 4
How to Syndicate Your RSS Feed
About the Author
Herman Drost is the Certified Internet Webmaster (CIW)owner and author of Maryland Web Design, Hosting, Marketing Subscribe to his "Marketing Tips" newsletter for more original in-depth articles at: http://www.isitebuild.com/articles