RSS Directories & Feeds for Beginners

Content has always been important on the Internet, but these days it is more important than ever. Why else would content syndication programs like RSS (Really Simple Syndication) be implemented to help spread content?

RSS is a way that just about anyone can promote websites and spread content throughout the Internet. Although it has been around for some time, it is just beginning to gain popularity. When you go to a content-based website and see the RSS icon, you’ll know that the site offers RSS to their surfers. Now, not only can you submit your website URL to search engines for website promotion, but you can also make sure your content is read by submitting it to RSS feed-specific directories.

There are several different types of RSS feeds, all geared to specific purposes. Some RSS feeds are general-topic feeds, which allow content to be submitted freely without adhering to specific guidelines. Others are categorized by popular topics - such as Parenting, for instance - and content creators can gain the attention of a specific audience more readily.

A relatively new trend is the pod-casting RSS feeds, which can come from news, product or service sources and are generally geared toward newsworthy events or promotions, such as press releases.

Just like with the search engines, however, RSS is an art that needs to be learned by those who hope to use it to their advantage. Submitting to random RSS feeds without verifying their reputation or quality won’t garner nearly the results of a well-researched RSS campaign. You can check a directory’s placement by looking at its Google page rank. If it has a poor page rank, your content won’t be read because it will be more difficult to find on the web. Similarly, a directory with a high page rank will increase your link popularity, which is becoming more and more important as the number of available directories increases.

When submitting content to RSS feeds, make sure that the feed code is compliant with that specific directory’s guidelines. Websites such as FeedValidator can assist you with that goal, and can help to streamline the RSS process.