A key ingredient to any successful blog (and by successful I mean popular) is attracting an audience (preferably one that is at least stable if not increasing in size).
A great way to syndicate your site is through an XML application called RSS (or Really Simple Syndication). In short, this language creates a standardized way for RSS aggregator bots to come by, grab your updates and place them in directories and into the hands of thousands of individuals around the globe. A good overview as to how the circle of syndication (from publishing to promoting), visit this thorough explanation.
If you look at my site, I have several different feeds that someone (or thing) can grab and instantly syndicate. I’m actually trying to get all 7 versions (.91-2.0) of RSS, but there is no central repository for premade feeds (lots of tutorials and How-To’s but nothing good-to-go).
This is primarily for Movable Type users (here are the template tags for MT). You only need those if you want to create your own template. Six Log placed the default templates online, so you can go back in case you mess up. Built into the latest version of MT are the .91 and 1.0 (RDF) versions of RSS (here is a good overview of what RDF is).
Here is the 2.0 version of RSS I found.
Now, you can do one of two things. 1) Goto the Templates section inside your Blog, open up the .91 Template and replace the text with the new script and rename it 2.0 Template. 2) Create a new Template and simply insert the new script in it. Name the output file something like index.xml (or whatever you’d like). Don’t forget to Save & Rebuild.
Jennifer placed the How-to on creating an 2.0 RSS feed with both posts and comments. She also made a comments only feed (some people just like reading comments), found here - scroll down a bit.
So now you have 3 major versions ready to be syndicated, you just need to place a link to them in a high profile place (where someone will see them). To do this, you need to go back into your Templates section in MT and look at the index.html file. Scroll down to wherever you’d like the links placed (for beginners find where the default one is located) and make sure to add the proper html tags.
And just to be weird, I found and placed a .92 comments script (I couldn’t find a .92 FullArticles/Posts template for MT). Note: there is really no need to do that one, it’s merely for bragging rights.
To verify that your feeds work, just place the url into this validator. If they turn out wrong, shake your head in shame and try try again.
If you know of any Movable Type template RSS feed that I have not mentioned or linked to, please let me know, I’d like to use it.
Special thanks to Jennifer at Etc. and the DotNetGuy. Now if only I could get more versions!