Content Syndication Methods

[crosenblum]

I am a web developer, so I am looking, researching for new ways to syndicate content between my company and our affiliates.

The problem is we need it to be dynamic, and controllable, and still be searchable by search engines...

There are so many ways to try.

XML Data Islands - Only works in IE 5 and up or Netscape 6 maybe
Javascript - Not everyone has javascript on, and it isn't searchable
Iframes - Can be a pain for usability, but some people disable dynamic content.

I am not finding the answer I want...

For examples the big issue with delivering xml content, is that the source has to be on the same website/domain as the recipient.

Which makes no sense...It's based on some Active-X stuff built in IE.

Any thoughts or ideas?

[bcolflesh]

Why not tried and true RSS?

mnot.net/rss/tutorial/

[crosenblum]

Yes but how can affiliates who know next to nothing about html or javascript, put it on their site?

I'd be fine delivering it in RSS format.

but the key is how my affiliates can have it on their site.

Also, is there anyway to make it searchable by search engines?

[bcolflesh]

If they have PHP, they can use CaRP:

mouken.com/rss/carp/

Comes with a web setup script that is quite simple.

There are numerous RSS display scripts for any language - check Hotscripts.

Google reads blog rss files, so I'm guessing they are not a problem in general.

[crosenblum]

You are missing the point completely...

They can either use plain html, javascript which we would have to give them or iframes...

Or anything else that requires no programming on their end...

for example something like xml data islands. but that will only work on ie.

I need a cross-browser compliant, ability to deliver dynamic content that is also searchable by search engines...

We currently have a system for grabbing static content. However if images, descriptions, pricing changes, they have to re-update it.

So we want to go dynamic, and need a non-programming solution...

Where we do the programming and give it to them in form of, html, javascript, or iframes...

We can not give php, coldfusion, asp, or any thing else. Because our affiliate are low-tech.

Understand?

[bcolflesh]

I see, then the simpliest method is to send them simple Server-Side include code pointing to a script on your site - that will GET the variables necessary for custom configuration - like Moreover works (or worked when I last used it).

[Dreamquick]

The problem you've got is that you can't effectively deliver content that appears to be a searchable part of your affliates site by using client-side script - it needs to be server-side in order to appear to achieve the sort of seemlessness & searchability you sound like you're after.

- Tony

[crosenblum]

I figured it might be an impossible to fulfill request...

Because if i even did it in flash, the fact that the data came from a different domain, would still prevent it from working...

so javascript or ifames it is....