Optimizing RSS Feeds

[dyn4mik3]

Couple tips for optimizing RSS feeds:

1. Use a descriptive <title> for each item. Use keywords.
2. Put just enough text in the <description> to entice readers to your site. Again use keywords.
3. Use a seperate <link> for each item. Make sure the url is absolute, since relative urls will break.
4. If you are using <image> make sure you add <title> text - this is used as the alt attribute when rendered as html.
5. Avoid too much html markup in <description>, but keep the html tags optimized (alts, titles)

Anyone else have some tips for optimizing rss?

[weppos]

Good tips.
Just some improvements. ;)

- About item 4 do the same as item 3. Make sure to use absolute URLs 'cause some newsreaders, in particular old ones, do not render images in the right way without this tip.

- Pay attention if you use entities. Some RSS parsers do not recognize some of them.

- If you use version 1.0 take the time to have a look at <texinput> element. With this tag you can provide a nice search service to your users.

- (Important!) Do not forget to advertise your feeds usinf the link rel alternate tag. It allows Mozilla and safari users (and many others spiders and clients) to easily discover your feeds. :)