More blogging tips and advices are available at www.bloggingmix.com.
RSS is an abbreviation that has evolved into the following, depending on their versions:
- RDF Site Summary (also known as RSS 0.9; the first version of RSS)
- Rich Site Summary (also known as RSS 0.91; a prototype)
- Really Simple Syndication (also known as RSS 2.0)
Today, RSS stands for 'Really Simple Syndication', and it has the following 7 existing formats or versions:
- 0.90
- 0.91
- 0.92
- 0.93
- 0.94
- 1.0
- 2.0
RSS tools refer to a group of file formats that are designed to share headlines and other web content (this may be a summary or simply 1 to 2 lines of the article), links to the full versions of the content (the full article or post), and even file attachments such as multimedia files. All of these data is delivered in the form of an XML file (XML stands for eXtensible Markup Language), which has the following common names:
- RSS feed
- Webfeed
- RSS stream
- RSS channel
They are typically shown on web pages as an orange rectangle that usually has the letters XML or RSS in it.
RSS feeds can be used to deliver any kind of information. Some of these 'feeds' include:
- Blogs feed - each blog entry is summarized as a feed item. This makes blog posts easier to scan, enabling 'visitors' to zoom in on their items of interest.
- Article feed - this alerts readers whenever there are new articles and web contents available.
- Forum feed - this allows users to receive forum posts and latest discussion topics.
- Schedule feed - this allows users (such as schools, clubs, and other organizations) to broadcast events and announce schedule changes or meeting agendas.
- Discounts or Special feed - this is used to enable users (such as retail and online stores) to 'deliver' latest specials and discounted offers.
- Ego or News Monitoring - this enables users to receive 'filtered' headlines or news that are based on a specific phrase or keyword.
- Industry-specific feed - used by technical professionals in order to market, promote, or communicate with current (and prospective) customers and clients within their specific industries.
RSS feeds enable people to track numerous blogs and news sources at the same time. To produce an RSS feed, all you need is the content or the article that you want to publicize 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.
RSS tools are useful for sites that add or modify their contents on a regular basis. They are especially used for 'web syndication' or activities that involve regular updates and/or publications, such as the following:
- News websites - as used by major news organizations such as Reuters, CNN, and the BBC.
- Marketing
- Bug reports
- Personal weblogs
There are many benefits to using RSS feeds. Aside from being a great supplemental communication method that streamlines the communication needs of various sectors, RSS tools and feeds can also have tremendous benefits in your business, particularly in the field of internet marketing.
RSS tools and feeds provide Internet users with a free (or cheap) and easy advertising or online marketing opportunity for their businesses. Below are some of the RSS features that can help make your internet marketing strategies more effective.
1. Ease in content distribution services. With RSS, your business can be captured and displayed by virtually any external site, giving you an easy way to 'spread out' and advertise them.
2. Ease in regular content updates. With RSS, web contents concerning your business can now be automatically updated on a daily (and even hourly) basis. Internet users will be able to experience 'real time' updates as information in your own file (such as new products and other business-related releases) is changed and modified simultaneously with that of the RSS feeds that people are subscribed to.
3. Custom-made content services. With RSS, visitors can have personalized content services, allowing them total control of the flow and type of information that they receive. Depending on their interests and needs, visitors can subscribe to only those contents that they are looking for (such as real estate or job listings).
4. Increase in (and targeted) traffic. With RSS, traffic will be directed to your site as readers of your content summary (or 1 to 2 lines of your article) who find them interesting are 'forced' to click on a link back to your site.
These are just several of the many things that you can do with RSS. The possibilities are endless, and they are all aimed at providing you with an effective internet marketing strategy for your business.
MORE BLOGGING TIPS
The Sponsored Post Phobia - Are You SP-Phobic?
Round II - 50 Directories With Good Google Page Rank To Submit Your Website (No Reciprocal Link Required!)
Link Love Sunday - Useful Blogging Tips
New Review Site - Make Money Blogging With SnapBomb
Special Contest - FruitfulTime Task Manager Giveaway!
Netizens - Immune To Advertisements
MiddlePost - Manage Your Online Documents Safely and Efficiently
50 Directories With Good Google Page Rank - Submit Your Blog For Free With No Reciprocal Link Needed
Make Money From Your Blog With BlgAds.com
Sunday Link Love - The Better Blogging Platform (Blogger vs. Wordpress)
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Blogging Tips - Reading RSS Feeds With An RSS Aggregator
Get updated with what's up in the blogosphere. Read www.bloggingmix.com for all the latest blogging tips in the blogosphere.
RSS or Really Simple Syndication or Rich Site Summary is the latest information management tool that is gradually earning popularity among web users and website owners. With RSS technology, it is possible to get the latest postings from your favorite websites. But clicking on the RSS or XML button in a homepage is not enough to give you the service you need. An RSS feed or code displayed in the pop-up screen if not on the main page is composed of symbols and words that would only make sense to advanced RSS users and computer programmers and software enthusiasts. Another software tool called an RSS aggregator or reader is needed.
An aggregator works by scanning the worldwide web with latest postings based on the RSS code (containing the website's URL) provided or added by the user. When it finds a new posting, news, or update, it will publish the RSS feed on your home page containing the title of the posting, which also serves as a clickable link to the website source. This RSS feed may or may not contain the whole article, a summary, and photos, depending on what RSS aggregator you are using.
Aggregators come in two types: the downloadable program or desktop-type and the online or web-based type. The desktop aggregator usually charges a certain amount for its services; this would include regular updating in the form of upgrades or patches to the original version. This type of RSS reader allows more customization of RSS feeds as well as page format or design over its on-line counterparts. But of course, price can be a drawback.
On-line or web-based aggregators are free of charge. All you need to do is register an account with them then you can start enjoying their services. Depending on the "brand" of the aggregator, customization is more limited. Some even do not allow you to customize at all.
Product and service advertisers are realizing the potential of RSS aggregators in internet marketing. In fact, several submit RSS codes to several popular web-based aggregators to reach the growing technophile and internet-based market. My Yahoo has been instrumental in popularizing RSS technology to both users and website owners and advertisers.
At present, there are many aggregators to choose from and newer versions of the same aggregator are constantly developed by its programmers.
Below are some of these desktop and online aggregators:
Desktop Aggregators
1. AmphetaDesk
Advantages:
- free
- supports Linux, Mac, and Windows
- easy addition of RSS feeds
Disadvantages:
- not maximized use of screen display
- few options for customizing
2. FeedDemon
Advantages:
- user friendly
- free trial version
- contains prepared popular feeds
- allows filtering of RSS feeds
- configurable "watch list" to manage junk RSS feeds
- search channel feature that incorporates other RSS services e.g. Feedster
- allows feed storage for future use
- tabbed browsers for channel navigation
- built-in podcast receiver
Disadvantages:
- supports only Internet Explorer (embedded)
- paid software (`$29.95)
Online Aggregators
1. Bloglines
Advantages:
- all major browsers supported (e.g. Netscape Navigator, Internet Explorer, Firefox)
- user-friendly especially for beginners
- free, web-based aggregator
- easy registration
- no advertisements
- contains its own directory of RSS feeds of thousands of websites
- personal email account for subscribing to newsletter emails (optional)
- allows privacy adjustments for personal blogs
- allows saved searches
- mobile version available
- 10 languages supported
- Additional add-on tools for automated blogrolls and subscription buttons
2. NewsGator
Advantages:
- free (consumer-standard version)
- provides personalized news channel
- allows translation of RSS articles into email format
- synchronization of feeds in several devices possible
- browse and search feed capabilities save time on surfing
- allows keyword filtering
- blog headlines
- button-click automatic subscription to news feeds
Disadvantage:
- Outlook-based thus limited to Windows
3. My Yahoo
Advantages:
- Free web-based aggregator
- user-friendly
- customizable home page design
- button-click subscription to RSS feeds
- built-in directory and search tool for feeds
- wide variety of feeds e.g. news (science, technology, local), weather
- connects to all Yahoo features and services
Disadvantage
- banner advertisements
There are also lightweight RSS aggregator extensions which are actually plug-ins to existing internet browsers. An example of which is Sage aggregator.
Advantages:
- free of charge
- beginner-friendly
- reeds both RSS and Atom feeds
- allows feed discovery
- can be assimilated to Firefox bookmark (storage and live)
- allows OPML feed lists imports and exports
- customizable style sheets
- supports a wide range of locales e.g. Catalan, Italian, Japanese, Spanish, Korean, Polish, Slovenian, etc.
- easy installation
Disadvantages:
- good for about 12 RSS feeds
- limited use to Mozilla-Firefox and Mozilla-Firefox supported browsers
RSS developers promise better features in future versions of their aggregators. Microsoft is planning to include a built-in aggregator in their next Windows version. These developments are definitely something to look forward to by all internet aficionados.
MORE BLOGGING TIPS
The Sponsored Post Phobia - Are You SP-Phobic?
Round II - 50 Directories With Good Google Page Rank To Submit Your Website (No Reciprocal Link Required!)
Link Love Sunday - Useful Blogging Tips
New Review Site - Make Money Blogging With SnapBomb
Special Contest - FruitfulTime Task Manager Giveaway!
Netizens - Immune To Advertisements
MiddlePost - Manage Your Online Documents Safely and Efficiently
50 Directories With Good Google Page Rank - Submit Your Blog For Free With No Reciprocal Link Needed
Make Money From Your Blog With BlgAds.com
Sunday Link Love - The Better Blogging Platform (Blogger vs. Wordpress)
RSS or Really Simple Syndication or Rich Site Summary is the latest information management tool that is gradually earning popularity among web users and website owners. With RSS technology, it is possible to get the latest postings from your favorite websites. But clicking on the RSS or XML button in a homepage is not enough to give you the service you need. An RSS feed or code displayed in the pop-up screen if not on the main page is composed of symbols and words that would only make sense to advanced RSS users and computer programmers and software enthusiasts. Another software tool called an RSS aggregator or reader is needed.
An aggregator works by scanning the worldwide web with latest postings based on the RSS code (containing the website's URL) provided or added by the user. When it finds a new posting, news, or update, it will publish the RSS feed on your home page containing the title of the posting, which also serves as a clickable link to the website source. This RSS feed may or may not contain the whole article, a summary, and photos, depending on what RSS aggregator you are using.
Aggregators come in two types: the downloadable program or desktop-type and the online or web-based type. The desktop aggregator usually charges a certain amount for its services; this would include regular updating in the form of upgrades or patches to the original version. This type of RSS reader allows more customization of RSS feeds as well as page format or design over its on-line counterparts. But of course, price can be a drawback.
On-line or web-based aggregators are free of charge. All you need to do is register an account with them then you can start enjoying their services. Depending on the "brand" of the aggregator, customization is more limited. Some even do not allow you to customize at all.
Product and service advertisers are realizing the potential of RSS aggregators in internet marketing. In fact, several submit RSS codes to several popular web-based aggregators to reach the growing technophile and internet-based market. My Yahoo has been instrumental in popularizing RSS technology to both users and website owners and advertisers.
At present, there are many aggregators to choose from and newer versions of the same aggregator are constantly developed by its programmers.
Below are some of these desktop and online aggregators:
Desktop Aggregators
1. AmphetaDesk
Advantages:
- free
- supports Linux, Mac, and Windows
- easy addition of RSS feeds
Disadvantages:
- not maximized use of screen display
- few options for customizing
2. FeedDemon
Advantages:
- user friendly
- free trial version
- contains prepared popular feeds
- allows filtering of RSS feeds
- configurable "watch list" to manage junk RSS feeds
- search channel feature that incorporates other RSS services e.g. Feedster
- allows feed storage for future use
- tabbed browsers for channel navigation
- built-in podcast receiver
Disadvantages:
- supports only Internet Explorer (embedded)
- paid software (`$29.95)
Online Aggregators
1. Bloglines
Advantages:
- all major browsers supported (e.g. Netscape Navigator, Internet Explorer, Firefox)
- user-friendly especially for beginners
- free, web-based aggregator
- easy registration
- no advertisements
- contains its own directory of RSS feeds of thousands of websites
- personal email account for subscribing to newsletter emails (optional)
- allows privacy adjustments for personal blogs
- allows saved searches
- mobile version available
- 10 languages supported
- Additional add-on tools for automated blogrolls and subscription buttons
2. NewsGator
Advantages:
- free (consumer-standard version)
- provides personalized news channel
- allows translation of RSS articles into email format
- synchronization of feeds in several devices possible
- browse and search feed capabilities save time on surfing
- allows keyword filtering
- blog headlines
- button-click automatic subscription to news feeds
Disadvantage:
- Outlook-based thus limited to Windows
3. My Yahoo
Advantages:
- Free web-based aggregator
- user-friendly
- customizable home page design
- button-click subscription to RSS feeds
- built-in directory and search tool for feeds
- wide variety of feeds e.g. news (science, technology, local), weather
- connects to all Yahoo features and services
Disadvantage
- banner advertisements
There are also lightweight RSS aggregator extensions which are actually plug-ins to existing internet browsers. An example of which is Sage aggregator.
Advantages:
- free of charge
- beginner-friendly
- reeds both RSS and Atom feeds
- allows feed discovery
- can be assimilated to Firefox bookmark (storage and live)
- allows OPML feed lists imports and exports
- customizable style sheets
- supports a wide range of locales e.g. Catalan, Italian, Japanese, Spanish, Korean, Polish, Slovenian, etc.
- easy installation
Disadvantages:
- good for about 12 RSS feeds
- limited use to Mozilla-Firefox and Mozilla-Firefox supported browsers
RSS developers promise better features in future versions of their aggregators. Microsoft is planning to include a built-in aggregator in their next Windows version. These developments are definitely something to look forward to by all internet aficionados.
MORE BLOGGING TIPS
The Sponsored Post Phobia - Are You SP-Phobic?
Round II - 50 Directories With Good Google Page Rank To Submit Your Website (No Reciprocal Link Required!)
Link Love Sunday - Useful Blogging Tips
New Review Site - Make Money Blogging With SnapBomb
Special Contest - FruitfulTime Task Manager Giveaway!
Netizens - Immune To Advertisements
MiddlePost - Manage Your Online Documents Safely and Efficiently
50 Directories With Good Google Page Rank - Submit Your Blog For Free With No Reciprocal Link Needed
Make Money From Your Blog With BlgAds.com
Sunday Link Love - The Better Blogging Platform (Blogger vs. Wordpress)
Friday, February 22, 2008
Make Your MySpace Blog Readable - 3 Simple Tips
I know what you're thinking: "Who's anyone to tell me what I should write in my blog!"
You've got it wrong. I'm not concerned about the content of your blog; I'm just interested in the form it takes and how hard it is to look at it for any length of time.
Have you tried to read a blog that is more than a hundred words and given up?
How come?
There are three main reasons:
1. The font is waaayyy too small.
2. The font color makes it blend into the background.
3. There's no paragraphing.
Fixing any one of these on your blog will make it more readable, more enjoyable, more understandable. Fixing all three will get you lots more attention and more comments. Isn't that what you want in the first place? to get your thoughts out there and get a reaction from all your friends on MySpace?
When you choose to post a new blog entry, you're presented with your input page. You'll see pulldown menus for "font" and "size." Choose 3 or 4 for the size. This gives you an easily readable font--a joy for your viewers!
In the toolbar, you'll notice the letter "A" with an underline: this is your font color. What are we looking for here to get a good readable color? The answer is CONTRAST: if your backround is dark--choose a light font color; if the background is light--choose a dark font color. Sounds almost logical, right!
Now- paragraphing. Who wants to read one loooong mess o' words? Not me. When I see a paragraph of hundreds of words without a break--I give up. I just think it's too much work to read to the end and say, "I'm just not THAT interested."
You don't want that to happen to YOUR work--thoughts you've broken a sweat over to express.
So, add some line breaks. Hit the return button on your keyboard once in a while. To make a clean, new paragraph, hit the button TWICE to add a blank line between paragraphs.
Do those three things above, and you'll have blog that your viewers will devour with pleasure instead of skipping over.
Dave Diotalevi is the author of the mystery, MIRACLE MYX
"How far would you go to create a miracle?"
http://wheresmyx.blogspot.com/
http://myspace.com/davediotalevi
MORE BLOGGING TIPS
Special Contest - FruitfulTime Task Manager Giveaway!
Netizens - Immune To Advertisements
50 Directories With Good Google Page Rank - Submit Your Blog For Free With No Reciprocal Link Needed
Make Money From Your Blog With BlgAds.com
Sunday Link Love - The Better Blogging Platform (Blogger vs. Wordpress)
Simple Blogging Tips To Improve Your Blog’s Page View
Entrecard Traffic - Disliked By Advertisers
How I Broke Alexa Top 100K In Less Than 3 Months
How To Get More Information About Your Blog Readers
The 3 Benefits Of Knowing Your Blog Readers
You've got it wrong. I'm not concerned about the content of your blog; I'm just interested in the form it takes and how hard it is to look at it for any length of time.
Have you tried to read a blog that is more than a hundred words and given up?
How come?
There are three main reasons:
1. The font is waaayyy too small.
2. The font color makes it blend into the background.
3. There's no paragraphing.
Fixing any one of these on your blog will make it more readable, more enjoyable, more understandable. Fixing all three will get you lots more attention and more comments. Isn't that what you want in the first place? to get your thoughts out there and get a reaction from all your friends on MySpace?
When you choose to post a new blog entry, you're presented with your input page. You'll see pulldown menus for "font" and "size." Choose 3 or 4 for the size. This gives you an easily readable font--a joy for your viewers!
In the toolbar, you'll notice the letter "A" with an underline: this is your font color. What are we looking for here to get a good readable color? The answer is CONTRAST: if your backround is dark--choose a light font color; if the background is light--choose a dark font color. Sounds almost logical, right!
Now- paragraphing. Who wants to read one loooong mess o' words? Not me. When I see a paragraph of hundreds of words without a break--I give up. I just think it's too much work to read to the end and say, "I'm just not THAT interested."
You don't want that to happen to YOUR work--thoughts you've broken a sweat over to express.
So, add some line breaks. Hit the return button on your keyboard once in a while. To make a clean, new paragraph, hit the button TWICE to add a blank line between paragraphs.
Do those three things above, and you'll have blog that your viewers will devour with pleasure instead of skipping over.
Dave Diotalevi is the author of the mystery, MIRACLE MYX
"How far would you go to create a miracle?"
http://wheresmyx.blogspot.com/
http://myspace.com/davediotalevi
MORE BLOGGING TIPS
Special Contest - FruitfulTime Task Manager Giveaway!
Netizens - Immune To Advertisements
50 Directories With Good Google Page Rank - Submit Your Blog For Free With No Reciprocal Link Needed
Make Money From Your Blog With BlgAds.com
Sunday Link Love - The Better Blogging Platform (Blogger vs. Wordpress)
Simple Blogging Tips To Improve Your Blog’s Page View
Entrecard Traffic - Disliked By Advertisers
How I Broke Alexa Top 100K In Less Than 3 Months
How To Get More Information About Your Blog Readers
The 3 Benefits Of Knowing Your Blog Readers
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