What RSS do you use?

ronnie · 2008-02-25, 08:25 PM

I am trying to put some sponsor feed on some blogs, in the sidebars. I am using the default rss widgets that come with WP 2.3.3.

Problem is I noticed links at the top of the list that are not right. One sponsor feed showed the title and it was linked to the paysite, no affiliate link or anything. Talk about losing sales. Another one, the title was linked to sponsors feed provider rss, or so it seems, comes up just a blank page.

Question is, are these because the sponsors feeds are not done right, or should I be using a different rss widget? What does every one else use?

I sure don't like links that do not have my affiliate code.

walrus · 2008-02-25, 08:52 PM

First off, I've never gotten widgetized (just to lazy to learn something new I guess) so I can't comment on that.

Your biggest problem doing this is that adult feeds don't seem to follow any type of standard. Some of them put the whole post in the <item description> area. Some put a post synopsis in that area and put the post information in the <content:encode> area, some simply put the post in the <content:encode> area and no description and some put all the post information in both area's. I'm not even going to talk about what they do with some of the other area's of the feed...it can be crazy!

My preference is the second of the four as it give me the most flexability with the feed.

I use the free version of RSS2HTML for doing this kind of thing. Either that or I do have some niche RSS aggregators that will give me a java script output.

RSS2HTML is the only program I've found that lets me decide which parts of the feed I want to use and lets me format them the way I want to.

I also like the Simple Pie plug-in for WordPress. It is configurable but does not read the <content:encode> part of a RSS feed.

Actually I don't think most of the WP plugins will read the <content:encode> part of a feed.

ronnie · 2008-02-25, 11:46 PM

Thanks Walrus.

I've been testing a few feeds and it sure can be the feed itself, as you said, what I was leaning towards. Funny how so many sponsors say their feed will work in any thing. Course they don't say how well they work..

The built in RSS widgets for WP work perfectly with a "proper" feed.

Actually there is one plug-in I found that lets you do pretty much everything, least from what I can tell, it's almost over kill. One reason I don't use it right now as it's quite complicated. Called Khanh's Quick Feeds. I can post a link it any one wants it, though sure G will bring it up.

As you probably know, there is no learning about widgets, just get a widget ready theme and drag and drop. I love them! I've actually gotten into theme's with Asides, nice column above two columns, nice place to fit sponsor feeds as there is more room. Just not many themes yet and I'm no CSS coder. Maybe I'm going overkill..

doc-evil · 2008-02-29, 05:02 PM

HI,
the problem with sponsor hosted feeds and the wp wIdgets is that the widget cuts the parameters (...like &webasterid=12&lalala=0) off

RageCash-Ben · 2008-02-29, 07:15 PM

Ronnie - nice webmaster blog you have. Bookmarked!

ronnie · 2008-02-29, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doc-evil

HI,
the problem with sponsor hosted feeds and the wp wIdgets is that the widget cuts the parameters (...like &webasterid=12&lalala=0) off

I haven't noticed that, but I better double check.

Thanks Ben..

Simon · 2008-03-01, 08:16 AM

I was going to try out Khanh's Quick Feeds, but saw this message posted on the website (snipped to shorten):

*** Important ***
It is a shame, but I just can't afford the time to work on my plugins anymore these days. So what does this actually mean? It means the plugins are basically at their final versions. ... I definitely won't have time to test for clashes with the hundreds of other plugins out there in the wild. This software is provided 'as-is', without any express or implied warranty. In no event will the author be held liable for any damages arising from the use of this software. You are free to use this software, but don't expect timely updates, bug fixes or free tech support.

Something to consider if you plan to use this for anything important.

Checking WordPress Plugins Compatibility pages, looking from WP version 2.1 onwards, I can't find any reports of it being checked and verified okay to use.

Anyone using this who can give a first-hand report of how it works for you?

ronnie · 2008-03-01, 01:37 PM

I was able to get KQF 1.7.6 to work with WP 2.3.3, somewhat. It installs itself under the main dashboard. One compatibility issue right off the bat, most of the original WP dashboard seems to disappear.

To use, you simply add a feed, the feed has an ID. With that ID you are suppose to be able to call the feed anywhere. I used it in a sidebar widget and worked okay. Only okay, because it did not display like I wanted. Think it showed the date of each entry, which you don't need in a sidebar, nor have the room.

It's has templates for each feed, which as I guess you can set to display what and how you want of the feed. I found the template (pop-up window) confusing and complicated. There are like 20 little boxes for all kinds of settings. I didn't feel like spending a ton of time trying to figure it out, it's not real user-friendly if you ask me.

Course since the plug-in is not really being supported any more, it might not worth messing with. Though it seems like it could be powerful if you wanted to really customize your feeds. With a learning curve..

Simon · 2008-03-01, 04:13 PM

Thanks, Ronnie, I was thinking of trying KQF out somewhere today, but I think I'll hold off for a while and take a closer look at RSS2HTML and Simple Pie that Walrus mentioned.

With version 2.5 of WordPress due this month, I'm trying to stay away from the older, unsupported stuff. If v2.5 has the promised unlimited number of Widgets and the search which looks in both posts and pages, it's definitely what I'll be using. The new widget-based dashboard might be pretty cool too. It'd be nice to be able to make better use of that admin page.

webpimp · 2008-03-02, 09:42 PM

Here is a great RSS plugin for recent versions of wordpress: http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/...ed-rss-widget/

I love this widget because it allows you to fully customize how your feeds appear on your blog. Hope this helps.

ronnie · 2008-03-03, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by webpimp

Here is a great RSS plugin for recent versions of wordpress: http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/...ed-rss-widget/

I love this widget because it allows you to fully customize how your feeds appear on your blog. Hope this helps.

Wow, thanks webpimp. that is a nice feed widget. Actually this one helps take care of some problems I mentioned with sponsor feeds. One being the title, you have the option to link it or not. It also works with some feeds that did not work for me with the standard WP RSS Feed Widget. Plus looks like just about any other option you could want, and up to 20 widgets? lol

Thanks again, this will come in handy!

papagmp · 2008-03-04, 05:52 AM

I had ROFL build ma a custom plugin - we've worked the bugs out and I love it - I can schedule posts, delete a post and have it not re-appear, and a bunch of other fun things. No problem with the aff id's carrying through either.

As for widgets - I use them on some blogs and don't on others. These days, I find myself coding the sidebars as often as not........

2008-02-25, 08:25 PM	#1
ronnie Wheither you think you can or you think you can't, Your right. Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: midwest Posts: 2,274	What RSS do you use? I am trying to put some sponsor feed on some blogs, in the sidebars. I am using the default rss widgets that come with WP 2.3.3. Problem is I noticed links at the top of the list that are not right. One sponsor feed showed the title and it was linked to the paysite, no affiliate link or anything. Talk about losing sales. Another one, the title was linked to sponsors feed provider rss, or so it seems, comes up just a blank page. Question is, are these because the sponsors feeds are not done right, or should I be using a different rss widget? What does every one else use? I sure don't like links that do not have my affiliate code.

2008-02-25, 08:52 PM	#2
walrus Oh no, I'm sweating like Roger Ebert Join Date: May 2005 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 1,773	First off, I've never gotten widgetized (just to lazy to learn something new I guess) so I can't comment on that. Your biggest problem doing this is that adult feeds don't seem to follow any type of standard. Some of them put the whole post in the <item description> area. Some put a post synopsis in that area and put the post information in the <content:encode> area, some simply put the post in the <content:encode> area and no description and some put all the post information in both area's. I'm not even going to talk about what they do with some of the other area's of the feed...it can be crazy! My preference is the second of the four as it give me the most flexability with the feed. I use the free version of RSS2HTML for doing this kind of thing. Either that or I do have some niche RSS aggregators that will give me a java script output. RSS2HTML is the only program I've found that lets me decide which parts of the feed I want to use and lets me format them the way I want to. I also like the Simple Pie plug-in for WordPress. It is configurable but does not read the <content:encode> part of a RSS feed. Actually I don't think most of the WP plugins will read the <content:encode> part of a feed. __________________ Naked Girlfriend Porn TGP free partner account Last edited by walrus; 2008-02-25 at 09:00 PM.. Reason: add shit I forgot to say

2008-02-29, 07:15 PM	#5
RageCash-Ben No offence Apu, but when they were handing out religions you must have been out taking a whizz Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Australia Posts: 286	Ronnie - nice webmaster blog you have. Bookmarked! __________________ Meat Cash 8 Week $100 PPS Promo

2008-03-01, 08:16 AM	#7
Simon That which does not kill us, will try, try again. Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Conch Republic Posts: 5,150	I was going to try out Khanh's Quick Feeds, but saw this message posted on the website (snipped to shorten): * Important * It is a shame, but I just can't afford the time to work on my plugins anymore these days. So what does this actually mean? It means the plugins are basically at their final versions. ... I definitely won't have time to test for clashes with the hundreds of other plugins out there in the wild. This software is provided 'as-is', without any express or implied warranty. In no event will the author be held liable for any damages arising from the use of this software. You are free to use this software, but don't expect timely updates, bug fixes or free tech support. Something to consider if you plan to use this for anything important. Checking WordPress Plugins Compatibility pages, looking from WP version 2.1 onwards, I can't find any reports of it being checked and verified okay to use. Anyone using this who can give a first-hand report of how it works for you? __________________ "If you're happy and you know it, think again." -- Guru Pitka

2008-03-01, 04:13 PM	#9
Simon That which does not kill us, will try, try again. Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Conch Republic Posts: 5,150	Thanks, Ronnie, I was thinking of trying KQF out somewhere today, but I think I'll hold off for a while and take a closer look at RSS2HTML and Simple Pie that Walrus mentioned. With version 2.5 of WordPress due this month, I'm trying to stay away from the older, unsupported stuff. If v2.5 has the promised unlimited number of Widgets and the search which looks in both posts and pages, it's definitely what I'll be using. The new widget-based dashboard might be pretty cool too. It'd be nice to be able to make better use of that admin page. __________________ "If you're happy and you know it, think again." -- Guru Pitka

2008-02-25, 11:46 PM	#3
ronnie Wheither you think you can or you think you can't, Your right. Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: midwest Posts: 2,274	Thanks Walrus. I've been testing a few feeds and it sure can be the feed itself, as you said, what I was leaning towards. Funny how so many sponsors say their feed will work in any thing. Course they don't say how well they work.. The built in RSS widgets for WP work perfectly with a "proper" feed. Actually there is one plug-in I found that lets you do pretty much everything, least from what I can tell, it's almost over kill. One reason I don't use it right now as it's quite complicated. Called Khanh's Quick Feeds. I can post a link it any one wants it, though sure G will bring it up. As you probably know, there is no learning about widgets, just get a widget ready theme and drag and drop. I love them! I've actually gotten into theme's with Asides, nice column above two columns, nice place to fit sponsor feeds as there is more room. Just not many themes yet and I'm no CSS coder. Maybe I'm going overkill..

2008-02-29, 05:02 PM	#4
doc-evil Internet! Is that thing still around? Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 2	HI, the problem with sponsor hosted feeds and the wp wIdgets is that the widget cuts the parameters (...like &webasterid=12&lalala=0) off

2008-03-01, 01:37 PM	#8
ronnie Wheither you think you can or you think you can't, Your right. Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: midwest Posts: 2,274	I was able to get KQF 1.7.6 to work with WP 2.3.3, somewhat. It installs itself under the main dashboard. One compatibility issue right off the bat, most of the original WP dashboard seems to disappear. To use, you simply add a feed, the feed has an ID. With that ID you are suppose to be able to call the feed anywhere. I used it in a sidebar widget and worked okay. Only okay, because it did not display like I wanted. Think it showed the date of each entry, which you don't need in a sidebar, nor have the room. It's has templates for each feed, which as I guess you can set to display what and how you want of the feed. I found the template (pop-up window) confusing and complicated. There are like 20 little boxes for all kinds of settings. I didn't feel like spending a ton of time trying to figure it out, it's not real user-friendly if you ask me. Course since the plug-in is not really being supported any more, it might not worth messing with. Though it seems like it could be powerful if you wanted to really customize your feeds. With a learning curve..

2008-03-02, 09:42 PM	#10
webpimp With $10,000, we'd be millionaires! We could buy all kinds of useful things like ... love! Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 316	Here is a great RSS plugin for recent versions of wordpress: http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/...ed-rss-widget/ I love this widget because it allows you to fully customize how your feeds appear on your blog. Hope this helps. __________________ Let's trade on Linkspun \| I'm on the Twitter \| Adult Webmaster Resources

2008-03-04, 05:52 AM	#12
papagmp That'll teach you to leave your sister unattended..... Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Colorado Springs Posts: 1,803	I had ROFL build ma a custom plugin - we've worked the bugs out and I love it - I can schedule posts, delete a post and have it not re-appear, and a bunch of other fun things. No problem with the aff id's carrying through either. As for widgets - I use them on some blogs and don't on others. These days, I find myself coding the sidebars as often as not........ __________________ Submit: OutlawFreePorn