RSS Feeds

I've been asked on numerous occasions, by friends and family - "What are those 'feed' buttons on the right side of your blog?" This is a valid question for most people (even though RSS 2.0 has been available since 2002). This technology, or a form of it, will mostly likely revolutionize the way we receive our information. It has already done so for me...

What is RSS Technology?
RSS (which stands for Really Simple Syndication) enables bloggers like me and other web publishers to provide content in a standardized XML format which can then be uploaded by software or other web sites. Many blog readers want to be updated when their favorite blogs have new posts. An RSS Feed allows users and readers to do so when they "subscribe."

How to Subscribe to RSS Feeds
There are different ways to subscribe to RSS Feeds. The most common way is to use an "aggregator" - which is a software application or a service that will automatically "pull" the latest news headlines, blog posts, and site content. By "aggregating" your RSS feeds into one place, be it a program running on your computer, or an online service, you can quickly and easily keep up with changes to your favorite blogs or websites. I use an RSS reader which aggregates the news headlines and recent posts from my favorite web destinations (see screenshot).

Simply look for a button ( - - ) or a link that says "RSS" or "XML" and click it. You will be taken to a web page that looks like a really simple version of the blog or website. You can copy the URL in the address window and paste it into the subscribe area of your reader. Continue with the validation of the feed (aggregators usually do this automatically) and add it to your aggregator. You have now subscribed to the feed and are ready to receive all updates without having to visit the site to find out what's new. Pretty neat huh?

Need Help with DMOZ?

If you recently submitted to The ODP Directory, aka DMOZ, chances are you have not heard back from them or your submission was rejected. A thread over at WebmasterWorld was started by an Internet Marketing newbie looking for tips to get listed in DMOZ.

The respondents offered a mixed bag of advice - but the gist of it is pretty much what I gathered from my own experience with submitting to the Open Directory Project:

1. Make it as easy as possible for the DMOZ editors to review your site. Carefully follow the submission guidelines.
2. Submit a site only once
3. After you submit, forget about DMOZ and move on to other directories. Do Not continually submit the same site if you do not hear back from the editors. It is clearly stated that this will not help your cause.
   
4. If your site is rejected from DMOZ try to find out why and fix it; then re-submit.

In my opinion, the above is good advice when submitting to any human reviewed directory.

Writing the Perfect Description

A human reviewed and edited directory should always provide unique and up-to-date descriptions for its listings. To me, the perfect description gives the user a brief overview of what the site contains and/or what the site is about. This way the reader can anticipate what information he or she will receive upon a click-through to the site. Descriptions should not include excessive keyword repetition and read like advertisements - which are commonly found in most new directories. Editors need to use logical sentence structure with proper punctuation. Spelling should always be checked and double-checked.

The description should also provide information that visitors might need in order to fully view or operate the listed web site. For example, editors should specify if the site uses Java or JavaScript; or if the listed resource is a PDF file which is only accessible via Adobe Reader.

In general, listings should be reviewed and updated every 3-6 months to ensure the directory provides the most recent and relevant information to it's users.

The Future of Search, from Time Magazine

I read an inspiring article "On the Frontier of Search" archived by Time Magazine. It gives us some insight as to where "search" is headed and explains how we have not even begun to experience the power of this technology. Here's a taste...

"You did not have time to book a hotel, your luggage has not turned up on the carousel--and the plane's air conditioning gave you a sore throat. What to do?
With your cell phone, you first Google your suitcase--it has a small implanted chip that responds to radio waves with a GPS locator--and it turns out that your luggage has been deposited 200 yds. away in the next terminal. As you walk over, you search for a hotel room; the screen of your cell shows you pictures of several hotels in your price bracket, with views from individual room windows. Your search engine gives you a list of pharmacies that are still open at this hour, and tells you that your favorite blues band will be playing at a festival in the city's park over the weekend. The engine can search your desktop back home, and it reminds you that a college friend e-mailed you a year ago to say he and his wife were moving to this city (you had forgotten). You decide to invite them to the festival."

Pretty amazing, huh? No wonder Google, Yahoo, and MSN are dumping billions into developing their search technology.