Beware of the Post Feed Redirect URL Setting!Blog Feeds are used to deliver blog updates to subscribers. The new Layout Blog Templates contain a big "Subscribe to Posts : Atom" link at the bottom of the post. However it is better to put a big orange RSS feed icon at the top of the sidebar to attract subscribers.
When Google bought Feedburner Blogger introduced a new setting in the Settings--->Site Feed subtab : The Post Feed Redirect URL (See picture below) :
This is a sensitive setting and due to lack of understanding of how it works many Bloggers are closing down their blog feed by putting wrong links in this box..........................The Blog Feed URL
Each blog feed has a link or address where it is located. Subscribers have to enter this link in Google Reader or any other feed reader so they can read the latest blog updates. In Blogger your feed URL or link is :
(Atom Feeds)
http://MYBLOG.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default
http://MYBLOG.blogspot.com/atom.xml
(RSS Feeds)
http://MYBLOG.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss
http://MYBLOG.blogspot.com/rss.xml
Replace 'MYBLOG' with actual blog name. Blogger does not allow any customization of Feeds except for choosing 'Short', 'Full' or 'None'. Also you cannot know number of your subscribers. To customize your feed you have to 'burn' blog feed at Feedburner.comFeedburner Feed URL
Feedburner takes your blog feed and gives the blog feed a new link or address. You can customize this address also. For instance the feedburner feed address for this blog is :
http://feeds.feedburner.com/DummiesGuideToGoogleBloggerBetaThe Post Feed Redirect URL
To get to this setting follow these steps :
Login at Blogger.com
Click Settings link for your blog on Dashboard.
Click Site Feed subtab.
Scroll down on page and paste the Feedburner Feed URL for your blog in this box :
What it does is to redirect all other feed addresses to the Feedburner feed address. So subscribers getting updates through :
http://MYBLOG.blogspot.com/atom.xml
or
http://MYBLOG.blogspot.com/rss.xml
or
http://MYBLOG.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default
or
http://MYBLOG.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss
are ALL redirected to the Feedburner Feed URL.Precautions to Follow
1. Do NOT paste Blog Feed URLs in this box!
2. Copy and Paste the Feedburner Feed address for your blog here. Do NOT type it as typing is prone to typo errors.
3. Do NOT enter Feedburner address of some other blog here!
4. Do NOT enter any other URL here! It Is meant ONLY for the Feedburner Feed URL for the same blog. OR if you are using some other service like Feedblitz.com you can also enter their feed URL here.Wrong URL Results In
If the wrong URL is entered in the Post Feed Redirect URL box it causes :
1. Prevent blog feeds from updating.
2. Gadgets dependent on blog feeds like Recent Comments Gadget, Previous Posts Gadget, Table of Contents gadget etc. will stop functioning.
3. Loss of blog traffic or visitors.
4. Gadgets on other blogs depending on your blog feed will stop functioning.
5. Yahoo Pipes or other Feed aggregators depending on your blog feed will break down.
6. The Blog List gadget depends on Blog Feeds. If someone has added your blog to their Blog List it will not show the latest blog update.
7. The Reading List on your Followers' Dashboard will stop getting blog updates.
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18 comments:
Hey Vin,
Again thanks to guide about Post feed redirect url setting.These are very important points to keep in mind.
Hello Vin,
I recently changed my blog template, and the new template came with a subscribe via email box already as a part of it. I do not know how to use that box, when I activated my feedburner account, I got a new box on my blog. Is there anyway in which I can use the box on my template? Also, there is no edit button next to the box in the layout section.
My blog url is http://satansdarling.blogspot.com
Satans Darling™,
Go through the instructions on the page from where you downloaded the template.
If there are no instructions try to contact the designer. If both not possible better not use such templates with uneditable codes. They may also contain other hidden Ad. codes earnings from which, will go somewhere else and not to you.
hello vin,
two days ago i changed it to http://feeds2.feedburner.com/whatifeelinside, its work. but until yesterday it isn't worked anymore. so i changed it to http://stella-cyan.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default and its still not work :(
i use feedburner by the way, and my url is http://stella-cyan.blogspot.com/, please help me (again)
thanks.
sorry vin,
i got it now, its late respond from blogger, thought.
sorry and still,
thank you :)
Stella Cyan,
The Settings---->Site Feed--->Post Feed Redirect URL box should be either empty or contain the Feedburner blog feed URL.
Anything else and blog feed will NOT work.
Hello! It's driving me nuts that my blog never shows any updates whatsoever in my friends' blog list widgets while other blogs in their widgets show updates and all. I don't understand what I did wrong.
I've already placed http://feeds2.feedburner.com/pink-crystal at the site feed settings box but still, nothing has changed. I've been trying to get it work for like... *pulls hair out* Really appreciate it if you could lend me a hand, thanks!
A-Sha de Kitty Lover,
You seem to have two accounts and two blogs :
http://pinkiex.blogspot.com/
http://pink-crystal.blogspot.com
Which one do you want to see updates of?
The http://pink-crystal.blogspot.com :D
A-Sha de Kitty Lover,
What is the address of the blog which does not show updates from your blog?
http://suzehanna.blogspot.com/ and http://nabbyp89.blogspot.com/ are 2 examples. Other blogs they link to have updates while mine doesn't...
I'm sorry for doing this but it confuses me why my blog doesn't show any updates when I did update, esp when my friends rely on their sidebar feeds to check whether my blog's been updated or not. Thanks so much.
Oh, I thought I've replied to your comment but I'm not sure xD Just in case, the two addresses are:
http://suzehanna.blogspot.com/
http://nabbyp89.blogspot.com/
Other blogs listed in their side widget show updates except for mine. Thanks!
A-Sha de Kitty Lover,
Try burning blog feed at Feedburner.com.
I need urgent help. This time, my rss feed whatever has made a 180 degree turnaround.
Try linking to me using the new layout feed sidebar whatever and my link will come out like this "http://pink-crystal.blogspot.com/[URL TO RSS FILE]"
Wtf is that?!? Not only I'd been having problem with my rss since before this (it was never solved) and suddenly it changed to this!
I tried copying all the html layout from my current blog to another blog and tested it out and the blog turned out to be fine, as in when my friend adds the blog to her sidebar, it updates and all. And if she links to the current one, it will come out with the link above [URL TO RSS...]
Please help me. Yes, I've burnt my feeds with feedburner (http://feeds.feedburner.com/pink-crystal) and I've placed the link at my settings. Thank you.
Hi, thanks for your great post.
You wrote that "6. The Blog List gadget depends on Blog Feeds. If someone has added your blog to their Blog List it will not show the latest blog update."
I have this problem with my blog because I use FeedBurner feeds. Have you find a solution for it? If yes, could you send me the solution, my email is j1975k at luukku.com
Wow! This might be 1 particular of probably the most useful blogs I have ever arrive across on this topic. Basically Superb.
All my blogs blogs feeds have been indexed by Google resulting in duplicate title issue..How can i 301 redirect them.Could you please help..
Hi Vin
Thank you for this informative post. I use feed burner account for my feeds. And they are working good til now.
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