RSS: SEO tool, submitting

RSS: What should one do to get the maximum SEO benefit. RSS feed submission

[FranceFan]

I've created and published my first RSS feed. To get the maximum SEO benefit, what things should I be doing?

I've heard that one can submitt a RSS feed to search engines and directories. What is the best (but free) way to do this? Are RSS feeds the same as sites in that the major search engines will eventually find them through links?

What are the major RSS directories I should submit to?

Finally, what is accepted practice in terms of RSS articles formats? I've put the article in a MicroSoft word file which I load onto my server and then given the HTTP address of the word file. I've also created a web page on my site and given the HTTP address of the web page. Not sure if either is the accepted standard. I