RSS Feed Tips and Its Advantages that Increases Web Traffic of Your Website

RSS Feed Tips

RSS feeds are a great communication medium and properly managed web feeds can generate significant Internet traffic. RSS feeds should contain compelling themed content with episodic titles that are united in a common broad theme. Use RSS feeds as an online marketing and search engine optimization tool. Just as optimizing an HTML web page will increase exposure, so too will an RSS feed that is properly optimized and promoted. In this article, Seogdk focuses on the importance of RSS feed in search engine optimization as well as precious tips about RSS feed. Use these simple SEO tips to improve your web feed exposure. First of all, we understand the concept of RSS feeds above image shows the brief history of RSS feeds.

RSS feed is an acronym for Rich Site Summary or Really Simple Syndication. It's an XML-based content format for distributing news, headlines, content, etc. You can also create feeds for your own website so your audience can subscribe to them. If you update your content frequently and promote the feed effectively, it can help drive more steady traffic to your website. 

RSS Feed History

The following RSS feed tips illustrate its importance in SEO:

1. Make Effective Channel Title

The channel title should be keyword-rich and contain information related to the general theme of the RSS feed. In order to maximize compatibility with RSS readers, it is best not to include any HTML in the channel title. The channel title is a website visitor’s first glimpse at the RSS feed, so it’s important to make an impression and attract the interest of casual browsers.

Additionally, many of the RSS feed directories and search engines use the information contained in the RSS feed's channel title and description to index the feed. In order for the feed to be properly categorized, it is important that the information contained in these fields be relevant to the contents contained in the feed.

2. Channel Description

The channel description field provides an opportunity to expand on the broad theme of the RSS feed. The channel description should contain related keywords and phrases, but it should be written to capture the interest of readers, not search engine spiders. HTML can be used to decorate and emphasize specific text in the description field. In summation, the channel description should provide a compelling overview of the RSS feed's contents.

3. Create Impressive RSS Feed Item Titles

The item titles should be 50-75 characters with spaces. In order to increase readability and compatibility with news readers, the RSS feed item titles should not be encoded with any HTML. Think of an RSS feed item title in the same way that you would a web page title. The RSS feed item title is your opportunity to capture the interest of your reader. Really an RSS feed item title is nothing more than a headline.

4. Optimize RSS Feed

Optimize all aspects of the web feed. While the feed should be optimized for search enginesusing the same techniques a webmaster uses on a website, the optimization should not be at the reader’s expense. The content in an RSS feed is often what leads readers to click or not click through? Readers will judge RSS feeds on the quality of the content. This means that grammar and punctuation do matter. Consistent grammatical errors will reduce the writer’s credibility and the number of subscribers.

5. Use Anchor Text

Using RSS feeds, publishers have the unique opportunity to determine the anchor text that will be used to link to internal website pages. RSS feeds are often syndicated, and even more often compelling feed items will often be reposted by other publishers. With that in mind, when including links back to a website in the item description field, use anchor text that is a relevant keyword or phrase. Anchor text is one factor that search engines use in determining a website's ranking for specific keywords and phrases.

6. Number of Feed Items

Routinely reduce the old items in RSS feeds and archive the content contained in the feed to ensure that feeds load quickly in RSS readers. If you are using a third-party service to host your feeds, keep in mind that FeedBurner will trim or not display RSS feeds that it finds to be too large.

7. Use Heading Tags

If you are displaying an RSS feed as an HTML web page it makes sense to use H1 or H2 tags to display the RSS feed's item titles. If the RSS feed is optimized, the website will benefit from the keyword emphasis by using the header tags.

8. RSS Feed URLs

As with HTML web pages, the URLs contained in an RSS feed should contain keywords if possible. Use hyphens not underscore, to separate the keywords in the RSS feed's URL.

9. Add an Image

Consider adding an image to your RSS feed to enhance its appearance in an RSS reader. The image should be no large 144x400 and it is recommended that the image is 88x31. Most RSS readers will display the feed image above the feed contents, this is a great way to highlight the brand and establish brand recognition. Additionally, you can add images to the RSS feed's description field.

Some of the RSS feed directories use the feed's website favorite icons to flag the RSS feed. The RSS feeds containing a favorite icon stand out from others in the directories so be sure to include a favicon in the domain's root directory.

Advantages of Creating RSS Feeds

1. Generating More Web Traffic

RSS feed increases the web traffic to your site. Because every time a user opens their RSS reader to get the headlines for all the sites they monitor that time they will also see your site's updates. Instead of relying on them to bookmark your site and return at a later date, their RSS reader keeps your site fresh in their minds. So when they open their reader to check the headlines for CNN, Yahoo, or any other feeds they subscribe to, they'll also get the latest updates from you.
         

2. RSS Feed Avoids Email Spam Filters

Many webmasters are now dumping their newsletters and switching to this method of content distribution because you don't have to worry about dodging spam filters. When you send an email newsletter more than 40-50% of the people won't even receive it due to spam filters or because of the fact it gets lost in all the junk mail your subscribers receive. With RSS feeds, you don't have to worry about that because you are not sending an email, you are simply sending out a news feed or press release for all the readers to pick up.
        

3. Export Your RSS Feed

The cool thing about these feeds is that other people can use them as content on their sites. So if you have a feed that is of particular interest to another webmaster, they can post your content on their site with a simple JavaScript code. This is another great traffic opportunity for your site.

Conclusion

These are some advantages of RSS feed. RSS feeds are a great marketing tool, but like web pages, they must be optimized so that you can reap the full marketing benefits. I think from this article you would understand the importance of RSS feed and how it helps search engine optimization. In the next article, Seogdk will focus on other SEO factors till then post your precious feedback about this blog via comments and emails. Take care and enjoy your life...!!!


Gangadhar Kulkarni

Gangadhar Kulkarni is an internet marketing expert and consultant having extensive experience in digital marketing. He is also the founder of Seogdk and Director at DigiTechMantra Solutions, a one-stop shop for all that your website needs. It provides you cost-effective and efficient content writing and digital marketing services.

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