To ensure your feed is properly formatted, run it against an RSS validator. The validator provided by Userland is a good place to start. There's also a validator at feeds.archive.org that handles a variety of RSS versions.
Our example on the previous page is a bare-bones RSS feed. Even in old-school version 0.91, there are plenty of other, optional tags you can include if you wish. You can specifying things like language, publication date, and copyright. Be sure to real the official specification for RSS 0.91 to get the full details.
A quick aside: After things click for you with 0.91, you might consider upgrading to 2.0 or making a separate 2.0 version of your feed. Technically speaking, it's only a matter of copying your 0.91 code and making a two-character change: Just change the <rss version="0.91"> tag to <rss version="2.0">. Version 0.91 is upwards compatible with 2.0, so any valid 0.91 feed is automatically a valid 2.0 feed. There are additional options available in the 2.0 format — such as the the "guid" tag, a globally unique ID that's ideal for weblog permalinks — that make 2.0 a worthwhile upgrade.
Of course, the RSS file you've created needs to be updated each and every time you add content your site. To avoid the dull and error-prone task of updating RSS feeds manually, most Web builders use automated tools to update their RSS. Content-management systems like Blogger, Radio, and MovableType all feature starter RSS templates and tools.
There are resources on the Web which hand out free scripts and tools that you can use to spice up your RSS. Webreference offers a Web-based form that helps automate the RSS-building process. Webdevtips.com has a nice Web form, too. Additionally, a number of simpler server-side scripts to create RSS are available in PHP or another language of your choice.
Now that your RSS feed is all dressed-up, let's announce its availability to the world. Debutante ball, anyone?
next page»
