hAtom is a microformat created to identify semantic info in syndicated content feeds much like an xml file does.
The concept sounds a lot less geeky if you put it this way: hAtom will allow readers to subscribe directly to your html (at your primary url, i.e.: http://charisma18.com) rather than to an xml/rss/atom file (at a secondary feed url, i.e.: http://feeds.feedburner.com/Charisma18.)
If you need proof that this is a big concept, ask the first non-geek you run into if (a) they can tell you what rss (or xml or atom) is. Then ask the same person if (b) they know what a blog is. (Expected answers can be found at bottom of article.)
Subscribing directly to the primary url of a blog rather than finding the feed url is going to make a hell of a lot more sense to the general public, and removing the xml obstacle will spike readership (especially if you’re targeting a non-geek audience.)
If this all smells like the future to you, don’t worry, there are immediate benefits as well.
Enabling your blog gives readers more options to discover, read, and share your content. I posted a while back about Tails, a firefox (/ flock) extension that allows users to spot microformats and act upon them (see the post for a bit of explanation.) I use the extension, a few built-in scripts, and two clicks to add posts to del.icio.us, check for related content at technorati, and/or submit them to digg.
But this is only possible at blogs (and other syndicated content sources) that are hAtom enabled.
If you’ve read enough to be convinced of the benefit, tweaking your blog to implement the hAtom spec is pretty straightforward. If you’re using WordPress there are available themes with hAtom already enabled. I’ve also run across at least one good step by step process to help you make the move.
Semantic markup is making a lot more sense to a lot more people every day. You might as well start implementing microformats now – you’re going to feel pretty lame if your mom beats you to it.
answers
a. What the hell are you talking about?
b. You don’t know what a blog is?
2 Responses to “hAtom, making your blog more accessible”
I would have guessed that you were a fan of RSS, being one of the feedrinse guys and all. You think it’s being ushered out? I’d disagree, by the way.
I’m a fan of structured data.
RSS is great, but why reformat and republish content as a second file when it could be accessed directly? I could give you a 1,001 better uses for rss than delivering blog content. hAtom is the better way.
A change like this will act about as fast as wind erosion, though, unless it gets a big push.