Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Google Feedburner


Feed 101

What are feeds? I see "RSS", "XML", and "Atom" out there, but I don't know how I might use these links when I find them.

Feeds are a way for websites large and small to distribute their content well beyond just visitors using browsers. Feeds permit subscription to regular updates, delivered automatically via a web portal, news reader, or in some cases good old email. Feeds also make it possible for site content to be packaged into "widgets," "gadgets," mobile devices, and other bite-sized technologies that make it possible to display blogs, podcasts, and major news/sports/weather/whatever headlines just about anywhere.

What Does This Mean?

You may recognize the universal feed icon or these "chicklets" from your favorite websites, blogs, and podcasts. These icons represent content in any format - text, audio or video - to which you can subscribe and read/watch/listen using a feed reader. What's that?

What is feedburner

Segment 1: Getting Started With FeedBurner

So you have a blog or podcast and want to check out using Feedburner. This segment will walk you through where to start and what will you see.

Segment 2: Analyze Your Feed Using FeedBurner: Part I

To ensure your feed displays correctly and so you can manage traffic spikes, first you need to burn your feed, then Feedburner provides tracking and monitor usage patterns, trends, etc. Everything you need to understand the numbers.

Segment 3: Analyze Your Feed Using FeedBurner: Part II

Continuing discussion from Segment 2

Segment 4: Let FeedBurner Optimize Your Feed For You

So you've got a blog or podcast, now what? Creating awareness for your feed isn't always as easy. Feedburner has some great tools that will help you dress up your feed for optimal awareness.