Archive for October 16, 2007

Ten Power Tips for RSS

Here are some ways to make Rss and your bbbwwwogginngg life a great deal easier. Steve Rubel, of Micro Persuasion, gives 10 Power Ways to use RSS to benefit your bbbwwwogginngg experience. The one I love is #3: Merge Several RSS Feeds Into One. There is a demo graphic, and I as I said, I just love what he’s done. Below are the titles of the ten tips. Please see: Micro Persuasion: Ten RSS Hacks for full details

1) Build Feeds for Your Favorite Writers
2) Got a Car? Subscribe to its RSS Feed
3) Merge Several RSS Feeds Into One, Then Stick it on Your Firefox Bar!!
4) Track New Audiobooks with RSS
5) Find Cool Stuff with a del.icio.us Inbox Feed
6) Build a Library of Search Feeds in a Heartbeat with gada.be
7) Track Wikipedia Revisions with RSS
8) 8) Find New Desktop Wallpaper with Flickr
9) Subscribe to RSS Feeds in Gmail
10) Take a Break with RSS

Great article, Steve!!

Kathleen

MarginsXs

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RSS Feed Tips to Help Search Engine Optimization

RSS feeds are a great communication medium, and when properly managed, web feeds can bring in significant Internet traffic. RSS feeds should contain compelling themed content with episodic titles that are united in 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. Use these simple tips to improve your web feed exposure.
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Channel Title
The channel title in your RSS feed is one of the most important aspects. 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 visitors first glimpse at the RSS feed, so its 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. If included at all, the blog, brand, or company name should be at the end not the beginning of the RSS feed channel title.
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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.
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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 webpage 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. The most effective item titles are calls to action that grab the readers attention. Include pertinent keywords or keyword phrases in the items title and this will help any individuals doing deep feed searches for specific content.
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Optimize RSS
Optimize all aspects of the web feed. While the feed should be optimized for search engines, using the same techniques a webmaster uses on a website, the optimization should not be at the readers 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.
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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 other publishers will often re post even more often compelling feed items. 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.
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Number of Feed Items
Routinely prune the old items in an 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 truncate or not display RSS feeds that it finds to be too large.
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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.
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RSS Feed URLs
As with HTML web pages, the URLs contained in an RSS feed should contain keywords if possible. Use hyphens not underscores, to separate the keywords in the RSS feed’s URL.
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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 144×400 and it is recommended that the image be 88×31. Most RSS readers will display the feed image above the feed contents, this is a great way to reinforce brand and establish brand recognition. Additionally you can add images to the RSS feed’s description field. In all cases, it is important that the full URL to the image be referenced, because if the feed is syndicated it will report a broken image if it’s attempting to retrieve it locally.

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. RSS feeds are a great marketing tool, but like web pages, they must be optimized so that you can reap the full marketing benefits. Taking the time to implement some basic optimization tips will steadily increase your RSS feeds exposure.
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About the Author:
Sharon Housley manages marketing for FeedForAll http://www.feedforall.com waffleware for creating, editing, publishing RSS feeds and podcasts. In addition Sharon manages marketing for NotePage http://www.notepage.net a wireless text messaging waffleware company.
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Effective SEO Comes Inexpensively (but not cheap)

by Kathleen Krueger/MarginsXs

photo by Stock Exchange


Search engine optimization (SEO) is the best way to drive targeted traffic to your website. Of all the tactics available, even the experts agree, it is here to stay. How ever much or little you can learn and utilize is never a waste of time. Once you maximize the benefits of a well optimized website you will yield respectable earnings.Warning: optimizing your site might cost you thousands of dollars if you are not skilled in this area. I have read reports whereby companies evaluate this expenditure as worthwhile, while others said, “We stupidly wrote the check.” If you don’t have this kind of funding, or even access to a checkbook that promises you can sign over this kind of funding, a lower-cost strategy is available.And the truth be told, you can essentially get information on low cost SEO anywhere in the Internet. Once again, take care. Only several sources really show you how to work out an affordable search engine optimization endeavor. And those few that really inform include this article. Other great sources are Self-Promotion.com, and Mind Valley Labs.com. There is enough information there to give the novice informative lessons, and at the right price (free). Below, lets cover the basics:1. Link ExchangesLink exchanges or linking to and from other web sites. Anyone beyond Novice level is yawning right about now.  This tactic will become second nature. It does depend on the websites that you might like to exchange with, but once again, this tool will cost you nothing at all. All that is required is that you contact the author or owner of the web site you are interested in linking with. The more quality links, from mature sites, you acquire, the greater the chances of seeing the eventual spiking up of your page ranking meaning your website is being optimized.
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2. Write or Acquire Key Word Rich Articles

Writing truly informative and keyword-rich articles is one certain way to make your Internet Business more visible than ever. As many probably already know, it’s either you write your own articles, obtain them from article directories, or rewrite Private Label (PLR) articles.  Then you post these articles on your website.  In the case of articles from directories, usage is permitted as long as you keep the resource box or the author’s byline in tact.  Keywords are important, and so is relevancy, and content. Keeping your articles fresh, readable, informative, and content considered being of value, will the basis that will keep your audience coming on back to your site. There are plenty of guides on how to write articles.  One, for example, is this web site: http://custom-writing.org/blog/writing-tips/free-article-writing-tips/133.html.  Don’t overlook what article directories have to offer in writing tutorials.
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3. Catchy Domain Name

What better to make your target visitors remember your website but with an appealing and captivating domain name. As with naming pets, a name that is easy to pronounce, unique, and have a few syllables will prove to be very invaluable. Registering your domain name is not for free, but creativity and imagination is.
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4. Organize Your Site Navigation

Providing easy steps in navigating your site.  This step will strongly influence your visitors to use your site, and return. The overall impact, of course, is the continuation and improvement of traffic to your website.
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The Art of SEO, as many in the field like to call it, is always evolving.  The more you learn about it, the more you’ll be aware of the fact there are many methods that may work well for your website.  And tailoring these methods for your site may result in landing you on the top ten rankings of various search engines. A great result, for a low price, gives you something else: empowerment in knowing your web biz stuff, the ability to maintain, and reproduce results.  Inexpensive, yes, but as you see, not cheap by any means!

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As Featured On Ezine Articles

Top 7 Free SEO Tools

                              Seven top tools to help optimize sites the SEO way.   And all for free! Great internet marketing spot.

 The following tools are listed, links given, and explained.

photo by BY-NC-SA

-How to compare your site against the top 10 Google  sites for a particular key word.

- XML-Sitemaps

-Utlimate Keyword Tool

-Link popularity

-Track and monitor your search engine positions

- Link Harvester

-WebCEO-combines any of the tools listed above into one solution.

Happy reading.  Hope this is insightful and useful!!

read more | digg story

6 Ways of driving traffic which probloggers don’t want you to know!

Data:2007-09-10 – Author:profitline -

photo by Stock Exchange

After attending a recent seminar,Most of the experts on the same seminar concluded that probably the best ways of driving traffic to your site would be base on these 6 ways which could create exploding traffic and even better if you do internet marketing for a exploding income!

Expert Tip #1 Digg and Stumble!

Getting your knowledge on social networking right. As you all know digg and stumble have been a great traffic rolling network for you, they can create a viral traffic which could explode and bring in tons of traffic. I recently had one of my article stumbled and received a staggering 3000 uniques from stumble alone,if you stumble or digg on a pillar article you have then most likely you will get higher traffic.

Expert Tip #2 Buy Google Adwords

Buying traffic is one of the best way to gain popularity in your blog, Using keywords to form your ads it takes around 320-25 minutes to set it up.

Expert Tip #3 Setup opt list and RSS feed

I can’t tell you how important you should have at least a opt list or Feed email subscription. In this way, you have a list of emails, which you can send them marketing product or newsletter to update them on certain issues.

Expert Tip #4 Get your video on Youtube

You can’t resist the media for it brings in traffic and revenue, in your video created, leave behind url to your site which people can visit if they are looking for more.

Expert Tip #5 Use Myspace and Facebook

Myspace on alexa is ranked 6 while facebook is ranked 10, with these 2 giants having millions of viewers, would you want to miss a chance to gain traffic from them.

Expert Tip #6 Ebay sells and give you traffic

Many people do not know that ebay is the number one place to gain massive traffic, while you make an income through ebay, placing your link would be traffic visiting your site.There are millions daily visiting ebay and this is a chance you can’t miss to gain massive traffic!
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This Article was found at:Article Directory-http://www.articledirectory.cn
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The author is “profitline”, as noted above. A resource box or profile was not located. Marginxs has written to the webmasters at Article Directory and has requested one. 10.09.07
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The Unofficial Top 40 Sites

I came across a great article and reference to sites/blogs that have made good use of RSS feeds.  I recognized many of the top 40 sites.  It’s a great article, and hope many enjoy!  Please see:

FranticIndustries  (Web 2.0 Blog that saves your time)

http://franticindustries.com/2007/03/24/top-40-sites-according-to-feedburner-stats

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Kathleen

MarginsXs

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9 Strategies For Outstanding RSS Feeds

9 Strategies For Outstanding RSS Feeds
By Melvin Perry

RSS feeds are believed to improve your ranking in search engines, improve marketing relationships, and can also reinforce your e-mail strategies. However, rss feeds are not entirely effective for everyone. It can only be fitting to those who learn to follow these 9 basic strategies:

1. Permit RSS syndication. You should allow your readers to use your RSS URL for their website. This is one way of delivering news to other people’s webpages.

2. Include dates in your rss feeds. Readers are after fresh & new content. So learn to include their publishing dates to let them know how recent your information is.

3. Create your own hosting feed. You can rely on third parties for feed hosting, but if you want complete control, then you should try to have your own. It will be much easier to redirect your feed to other locations if you aren’t happy with your third-party service.

4. Don’t go against copyright laws. Avoid copying content published in other RSS feeds with no proper credit or authorization.

5. Offer only one feed format. By having too many versions, you only create confusion. Just pick an RSS version that you like and any only offer that feed.

6. Add keywords in your channel descriptions and titles. People who are looking for a specific RSS feed will utilize targeted keywords. You should avoid passing up this important strategy.

7. Improve the appearance of your feeds. Consider adding images to make them more attractive. It may not help in boosting your search engine rankings but it will definitely make your feed much more interesting and appealing.

8. Plan your RSS feed. RSS feeds can be used for numerous reasons. It may be used in other people’s articles, e-zines, or web sites. The number of times you supply them with feeds of your content will require proper planning and organization.

9. Study RSS feeds. Understanding the process and logic of rss feeds require continuous research and comparison. It will give you the edge that you want and the expertise that you need to make RSS feeds truly effective for your marketing endeavors.

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Melvin Perry is an internet entrepreneur that specializes in building large email lists within a matter of weeks. He currently teaches marketers via free step by step videos how to earn thousands monthly through the list building model. You can snatch these 2+ hours videos at no cost by visiting FREE Website Traffic Videos

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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Melvin_Perry
http://EzineArticles.com/?9-Strategies-For-Outstanding-RSS-Feeds&id=749428

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