Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 2: Using software to create an RSS
• Method 2 of 2: Write your own feed
• Warnings

If you want to increase the readership of your website, or if you want to become known with a podcast, you need an RSS feed. The RSS feed keeps your site visitors up to date with the latest articles on your blog or episodes of your podcast and can greatly increase the traffic of your site. Creating an RSS feed is quick and easy, whether you use a program for this or create the RSS yourself. Follow the guide below to find out how.

To step

Method 1 of 2: Using software to create an RSS

1. Find a program for creating an RSS. There are several options and services. You can use an online service to automatically create and maintain an RSS feed for a monthly fee, or you can download an RSS feed program and do it yourself manually. Popular programs are:
   • RSS Builder - A free open-source RSS program that allows you to create RSS files that you upload to your website. It also allows you to automatically manage the RSS feed on your website, without having to constantly upload the file.
   • Feedity and Rapidfeeds - These are online services that allow you to manage multiple feeds with automatic updates. You do not have to manually update your feed if you have changed the content of your website. Feedity creates an RSS file without you having to enter each item.
   • FeedForAll - A commercial program that allows you to create RSS feeds that you can upload to your website. It also features specialized tools for creating podcast feeds for iTunes.
2. Create a new feed. Once you've selected a service, start creating your first feed. This process varies from program to program, but the general idea behind it is the same for all software. All feeds must have some form of metadata:
   • Create a title for your feed. This should be the same as your website or podcast.
   • Enter the URL of your website. This will give the visitor a link to your homepage.
   • Enter a description of the feed. This should be no more than two lines describing the general content of the feed.
3. Add an image to your feed. You can choose an image that represents your feed. This image will need to be sent to your website in order to load. Adding an image is optional, but highly recommended for podcasts.
4. Add content to your feed. Once you've entered the information for the podcast, it's time to start filling it with content. Enter the title of the article, blog post, podcast episode, etc. Enter the URL that directly links the content and the date of publication. In the case of Feedity, enter the URL of your website and your content will be automatically filled in.
   • Each entry should have a short and catchy description. This is what your readers will see before they choose to click on a news item in their RSS readers.
   • The GUID is a unique identifier for your content. Usually you can also place the URL in this field. If both pieces of content have the same URL, then they need unique identifiers.
   • You can add information about the author and comments.
   • Add a new entry for each piece of content you want to advertise.
5. Create the XML file. When you have finished filling in all the content in the feed, you will have to export it as an XML file. This XML file allows your readers to subscribe to your RSS feed.
6. Publish the feed. Upload the XML file you created to your website and place it on your homepage. Some sites create a URL to your feed that you can place on your website instead.
   • In RSS Builder you can enter your website's FTP to ensure that your feed is automatically updated when you have updated it. To do this, click the FTP button in the top toolbar, then click the New Site button and then enter your FTP details. When you're ready to send the XML file to your website, click Publish Feed.
7. Submit your RSS feed. There are several aggregation websites where you can send an RSS feed. These sites collect articles on the same topics and can greatly add to the size of your readership. Search for RSS Feed Directories that match the topics of your feed and submit the URL to the XML file of your feed.
   • If your feed is a podcast, you can also send it to iTunes so that iTunes users can search for it and subscribe to your feed through that program. Your podcast will first need to be approved in order to appear in search results.

Method 2 of 2: Write your own feed

1. Update your feed. If you create and maintain the RSS manually, you will have to update it every time new content is posted to the site. You do this by opening the latest version of the XML file in a text editor and adding your new content, at the top of the list, using the code above. Save the file and upload it to your website.
   • Try to prevent your feed from getting too long. This makes the RSS load faster, which is more pleasant for your readers. When you add new content to your feed, remove the oldest news. If you always add news to the top of the list, you can quickly drop the bottom item to limit the length of the feed.

Warnings

• Be careful not to get your tags removed if you use a program like Dreamweaver to design and maintain your website. Sometimes Dreamweaver removes tags that look repetitive. All tags must be in the right place to create a correct RSS feed.