Can I run blogs on html pages?

[Webdetective]

Is it possible to run blogs - xml feeds on html pages? I heard they can only run on php pages.

I want to experiment with blogs on my pages to see if it can improve my ranking and traffic. I don't have much experience with xml feeds or blogs, so what would be a recommended free blogger script I would use?

[bill]

Different blog software outputs pages in different formats. It depends on the software as to whether the page is static or dynamic. MovableType, for example is known for outputting completely static pages by default. However it's not too difficult to set your server to output .php pages as .html and still be parsed if that is a concern to you.

The xml feeds you're referring to are to be displayed on your site or linked to for your visitors to use? Most sites simply place a link to their feed file...that's where you see all those little orange RSS and XML buttons.

MovableType and Blogger are some common platforms. There are a number of others that may fit your needs, but it really depends on what you're trying to do.

[Webdetective]

Bill,
My goal is to run dynamic feeds on a page that can automatically update every couple hours on their own, to bring in more visitors and boost ranking, but I don't know much about blogs. Any Javascript-based feed won't work, since search engines don't spider Javascript.

I am able to enable php parsing of html pages on one of 2 webhosts where I have some of my domains hosted, by adding a line to .htaccess, but this practice is strictly prohibited on the other webhost I use. Doesn't this put a strain on the webserver?

Isn't blogger a site where you publish your blogs? I looked there and didn't see any blog scripts I'd install on my site.

[bill]

A blog is essentially content that you generate yourself. It's a web log of information that you have complied. The great thing about the blog software is that it uses a web-based interface to allow you to simply post your information which is then published on your website. It sounds like you may be misunderstanding what blogs are.

I'm also getting the feeling that you are looking at blogs and xml feeds as ways to include other people's information on your website. This is possible to a certain extent. If that's the case I'd suggest looking over at someplace like hotscripts.com to find something that meets your requirements.

[rogerd]

I doubt if checking your HTML pages for PHP will slow things down much in a normal environment. For the host that won't let you change htaccess to allow PHP parsing, your only solution may be to change your file extensions. Or, change hosts. To have the external feed content appear as an integral part of the HTML page, that has to be done server side (as you point out) - hence, using PHP, ASP, or similar is the way to go. I'll second Bill's suggestion to check hotscripts for a suitable script.

[wshi88]

<snip>

[edited by: werty at 3:48 pm (utc) on Aug. 12, 2004]
[edit reason] Please no promotional or affiliate link drops (TOS #13) [/edit]

[Webdetective]

I'm really just looking for creative ways to increase hits to my affiliate pages so I can make more money. I have heard blogs can help get your pages ranked better on Google. I tried a few other ideas with refreshing or rotating content but those haven't really worked that well.

[bill]

The reason people are saying that Google likes blogs is because blog content is generally updated frequently. Also, blogs tend to have new and different content regularly. Refreshing or rotating content isn't always as attractive to Googlebot...or your visitors. You don't have to have a blog to update your content regularly. Some people find it easier to use a blog interface to add new content to a site, but you could do the same with a CMS, a database or even via NotePad and your FTP software. It's all about fresh content.

[5x54u]

I too would like to have a blog dispayed on a school site I am building. It would work like this:

It will be used for homework assignments.

The teachers will update their class's blogs daily with homework and reminders. The school's site will (if possible) display the blog on the particular classroom's page as well as the students being able to subscribe to the feed via email and or a desktop aggregator. Actually a pretty cool thing if it can be done.

[5x54u]

Quick Update:

If you are the owner of the blog you can put blog contents in full on what ever page you want via FTP.

IF you do not own the blog:

WIN2003 Server IIS6 SP1 will address ATOM feeds displayed on an asp page. But not until the SP1 is released (90 days or so)