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.
Copyright © 2006 Titus Hoskins