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Web Developer Methods 1
Using rss feed technology to distribute site content,
discovering your internet niches on the Web, writing Catholic articles within a multidisciplinary context,
using SEO (Search Engine Optimization) Formulas and Tactics.
Web Developer Methods 2
Learn systematic way of publishing Catholic articles online, know
the SEO (Search Engine Optimization) importance of the key word "catholic",
learn to create and publish your own eBook.
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Catholic RSS Feeds - Using RSS Feeds in Catholic Web Site
Introduction
Syndicating the content of a site (using rss feed technology) is part of basic web
site development. It may not be as popular as the web 2.0 technology of Twitter
and Facebook, but its use for information sites like a Catholic web site or blog,
is still basic for creating a channel for distributing your content and articles
on the Web. This short tutorial will help you learn how to create your own rss feed
using a learn-by-example method. If you want to get your rss feed up and ready without
learning the meaning of all the elements in its coding, then just follow the example
given below. The example is for any basic and standard RSS Feed that can be used
by your site's readers to update themselves on your site through their favorite
RSS Feed Readers in My MSN, My Yahoo, and Google Reader!
Example code of an rss feed using a .xml file extension
Given below is an example code presently required by in Feedvalidator.org as the
standard for any rss feed . The standard number of items that can be placed in a
feed are 15 items.
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<rss version="2.0" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom">
<channel>
<title>Your Catholic rss feed Title goes here....</title>
<link>http://www.yourdomain.net/</link>
<image>
<title>Your Catholic image title goes here....</title>
<url>http://www.yourdomain.net/images/yourimage.jpg</url>
<link>http://www.yourdomain.net/</link>
<width>88</width>
<height>31</height>
</image>
<description>The description of your Catholic rss feed goes here....</description>
<language>en-us</language>
<atom:link href="http://www.yourdomain.net/rss.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
<item>
<title>The title of the first item in your Catholic rss feed goes here....</title>
<link>http://www.yourdomain.net/subdir/yourfilename.html</link>
<description>The description of your first item goes here....Note: you can
create as many as 15 items in this rss feed format. Studies discovered that having a full
description on each item of a feed is very beneficial and gives a positive experience to
subscribers...</description>
<guid>http://www.yourdomain.net/subdir/yourfilename.html</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 26 Jan 2009 14:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
</item>
</channel>
</rss>
This standard rss feed code is your guide to create your own Catholic
rss feed. With this basic code format, you can already start syndicating all
the content of your Catholic web site for subscription by readers. To complete
the creation of your rss feed, save the file in .xml format (through NotePad or
any text editor).
Once your have finished and completed your rss feed, placing all the 15 items
for distribution of your content, you can then validate if your feed meets the
standard of the Web through Feedvalidator.org.
Content that you can publish in your rss feed
You can publish any item in your rss feed - from html files to video files and audio
files. If you want your readers and subscribers to be enriched with information and
ideas from your feed, you can also include a few items from other web sites related
to the Catholic faith. This will make your rss feed filled with both text and
multimedia content. Your readers and subscribers can obtain an updated and a more
comprehensive picture of the Catholicism as it is presented on the Internet.
A few pointers when you update your rss feed
- for each item's title tag, do not exceed the maximum of 60 characters
- for each item's description tag, you would give good service if a full
description of the item is given; readers gets the essential information in
one reading; if he wants to learn more, then he can open the item for more details
- for each item's pubDate, you need to find out the time zone difference
so that your rss feed will be valid and delivered at the time you want it
to be published for your subscribers
- the more regularly you update your rss feed, the better it would
be for all your readers and subscribers
- make it a good habit of updating your feed regularly and never forgetting
to validate it through Feedvalidator.org; in case something is wrong in the feed,
Feedvalidator.org can assist you to make the necessary adjustments
Placing RSS Feed Subscription Buttons in your Catholic Web Site
or Blog Template
There are many RSS Feed Aggregators that provide Subscription buttons for your
rss feed. These subscription buttons makes it easier for your readers to subscribe
to your feed
Placing an orange XML button
To place an orange XML button on your site, just use this code,
<a title="RSS 2.0"
href="http://www.yoursite.com/your-rss-filename.xml">
<span style="border:1px solid;border-color:#FC9 #630
#330 #F96;padding:0 3px;font:bold 10px
verdana,sans-serif;color:#FFF;background:#F60;
text-decoration:none;margin:0;">
XML</span></a>
Placing an Add to My Yahoo RSS button
To place a Yahoo button, just use this code,
<a href="http://add.my.yahoo.com/content?url=
http%3A//www.yoursite.com/your-rss-filename.xml">
<img src="http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/my/
addtomyyahoo4.gif" width="91" height="17"
border="0" align=middle alt="Add to My Yahoo!"></a>
Note
Don't forget to change the "www.yoursite.com" with the domain name of your
Catholic web site or blog. Also switch the "your-rss-filename.xml" with your rss feed's
filename. Remember to save the your rss feed as a .xml file. To do this
in NotePad, select the "all files" option in the "save as type"
function, and then save the file.
When you finally accomplish all of the coding, the buttons will appear as
below:
XML
New ways for promoting and syndicating your content
Given above is the standard way for a small Catholic web site developer
to syndicate all the content of his site. Another way is by "burning" a feed with
Feedburner.com. When you burn your Catholic rss feed with Feedburner.com, the site will
provide you with a landing page, where there are many rss subscriber buttons to
choose for your readers to choose from. "Burning" a rss feed involves giving
the URL of your feed to FeedBurner, and then they give you a new URL with your
own well-designed landing page.
More information from this network
Get regular updates on basic and small Catholic web site
development, blogging, social networking, and web applications from:
- Friendfeed: Provides content ideas from
Catholic news and technology updates
- The Site feed:
Discover ideas on blogging, web site development, social networking, and
web applications
- A post at Catholic Internet Mission
blog: This blog periodically summarizes all the articles and content produced in the
network.
Published Articles Directory
Harvest ideas on basic web development, computing and emailing,
mobile technology, blogging, web content writing, web2.0 and social
networking, site enhancement, and writing scripts
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