Tips For Promoting RSS Feeds
By S. Housley
©2006 All rights reserved
Publicize your RSS feed. There is little argument from webmasters and publishers that RSS brings in traffic. So once
you've made the leap and created a feed, how do you tell your visitors about the feed?
1. Submit your RSS feed to RSS directories
This will not only increase the number of sites linking to your web site and increasing your link popularity, it will
also increase the RSS feeds profile. A number of RSS search engines and RSS directories exist that allow you to freely
submit RSS feeds. Feeds are generally categorized and grouped together by subject. Web surfers looking for RSS feeds about
a specific subject will often search the RSS directories, to locate a feed that matches their specific criteria. Topic
specific RSS feed and podcasting directories are also emerging. Choose a web feed's category carefully and only submit
relevant feeds to topic specific directories.
A large list of directories is located at
http://www.rss-specifications.com/rss-submission.htm.
Example of Topic Specific - http://www.realty-feeds.net or
http://www.religious-podcasts.net.
2. Explain RSS
While you have finally figured RSS out, some of your visitors may not have. The concept, while brilliant, can be a
bit confusing for the beginner. The concept of RSS feeds might be completely new to some of your web site visitors.
Hence, it is generally good practice to walk web site visitors through the steps of locating, subscribing and reading
an RSS feed. It is generally a good practice to include a page on your web site that contains a general explanation
on RSS and details how web site visitors can subscribe to an RSS feed.
Sample explanation page that can be used to on your web site:
http://www.rss-specifications.com/rss-subscriptions.htm.
RSS specifications has authorized the replication of this web page. It can be republished; simply insert your RSS feeds
or otherwise customize the material to explain RSS to your web site visitors.
3. Graphic on web site
Since the conception of RSS, bright graphic flags have been used to denote the location of an RSS feed. Now instinctively,
web site visitors frequently look for a colorful flag on web sites. The looks of the flags have changed, but a variety
of options exists. When you add the image, be sure to link to the location of the RSS feed.
Some webmasters use chicklets to indicate the presence of feeds. Web surfers click on the chicklet that relates to
their RSS feed reader or news aggregator and the feed is added to their list of feeds. Others feel that the volume of
chicklets simply adds confusion, and opt for a single relevant RSS graphic.
4. Press
As with any important addition to your company, it is completely appropriate to send a press release to let the media
know you have RSS feeds available for specific content. This will often garner a little attention. Additionally, key
news editors may opt to subscribe to your RSS feed in order to stay abreast of your latest corporate news. Considering
the possibility of these subscriptions, makes a press release to signal the availability of an RSS feed simple common
corporate sense.
5. Newsletters
Include a mention in your e-mail newsletter that content is now available via an RSS feed. Many newsletters subscribers
appreciate an alternative subscription method and will subscribe to a web feed aswell.
6. Auto discovery
Some of your web site visitors might be web savvy. Be sure to include an auto-discovery tag in the HTML header of each
web page. Many RSS Readers will automatically discover that an RSS feed is available for specific content and notify
the web site visitor and ask them if they wish to subscribe.
7. Brand a newsreader
Distribute pre-loaded RSS readers branded to your company name. The big benefit to brandable newsreaders is that you
can include all of your RSS feeds in it. Any downloaders will have immediate access to your RSS feeds in the branded
news reader.
Brandable readers - http://www.deskshare.com or
http://www.customreader.com
8. Blog
If you have a blog or know bloggers, be sure to share with them that you have added an RSS feed for specific content.
Blogs are a great vehicle to spread the word. Marketers instantly understood the power of word of mouth, but few
marketers understand the movement of blog to mouth. This growing phenomenon has added credibility to online blog
endorsements.
In order to reap the benefits of an RSS feed, it is important the feed be properly publicized. Taking simple
steps to promote an RSS feed will go a long way in ensuring a feeds adoption.
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