RSS Tutorial

Generate a Website Feed

Summary

Websites generally do not create RSS feeds automatically. There are various ways to create RSS feeds. One way is to use a service or program to generate the RSS feed file.

Generate the RSS feed file using a program or service.
Some services that generate RSS feeds.
Some programs that generate RSS feeds.

Detail

Generate the RSS Feed file using a program or service.

There are services and programs that

accept the basic data for an RSS feed and RSS feed items
generate the RSS feed.

The Basic data

For each RSS feed: title, description, and link.
For each RSS feed item: title, description, and link.

This is the recommended way to create a RSS feed from a website because generating a website feed using a service or program

Is efficient and effective
Allows complete control over the feed
Allows the creation and maintenance of multiple feeds.

Example: This is how they work.

Some services that Generate RSS feeds.

FeedXS is a website that allows one to create and maintain multiple RSS feeds without Blogs or Websites. The service is free. The RSS Feed itself is stored on the FeedXS servers.

FeedXS has an interface that allows RSS feed items to be added using MSN Messenger by establishing a chat with the FeedXS bot. Clever!

This is a nice service. It allows one to use RSS directly without a Blog or Website. Each RSS feed item source links back to the FeedXS entry which is ok but unnecessary. It would also be nice to be able to point the source back to a URL of choice.

RSS HeaderLiner is a webpage where

You enter the basic information (title, description, link) into the website form.
The website adds the XML RSS Feed Tags and generates the RSS Feed code.
You cut-and-paste the code into the RSS Feed file.
FTP or Upload the RSS Feed to the server.

This is the standard online service to help create RSS feeds. It is simple and easy to use, but it is very limited. It offers little help in maintaining the RSS feed. It is effective for one RSS feed that is not often updated.

Some programs that Generate RSS feeds.

RSS Builder is a free, open source program, that downloads easily and works effectively.
It provides a nice user interface that lets you create and maintain multiple RSS feeds.
It provides for optional fields like author, copyright and date. It provides the capability to add your logo to the RSS feed.
You can update your RSS feed directly using the built-in FTP client.
RSS Builder has my cautious recommendation. It works just fine. I use it to maintain the RSS Tutorial RSS feed. It is free. It is open source with minimal support, so one must exercise some caution.

Feed Spring is a free program that generates RSS feeds. It runs only on Windows. It generates version RSS 2.0 feeds.
It has an eye-pleasing user interface.
It supports many optional statements for both the feed and feed items.
It does not have an FTP client as a part of the software.

FeedForAll is a complete program for creating and maintaining RSS Feeds. It was created to support an organization that created and maintained multiple feeds.
The program downloads, installs and runs professionally.
It costs $39.95. There is a free 30 day trial period.
There is an RSS feed tab, so you can select any of multiple RSS Feeds.
There is an RSS Item tab, where you can add or edit RSS Feed Items.
It provides the basic data items and a second screen for optional data items.
FeedForAll includes an FTP product, so you can upload the RSS Feed file directly to the server.

Conclusion:

Both RSS Builder and FeedForAll are excellent ways to create and maintain RSS Feeds.
Using either RSSBuilder or FeedForAll, it takes 10 - 15 minutes to create a new RSS Feed Item for an existing RSS Feed and upload it to an Internet server.

My recommendations:

FeedSpring has an nice interface and good functionality, but it does not have the FTP client built in.
RSSBuilder is free, solid, and function rich. It is a good place to start. I intend to keep using it as long as it is supported.
FeedForAll for $39.95 is a cool, professional product. It is for someone who maintains multiple feeds that are updated often.