My RSS was a Mess – Michelle Shaeffer Saved the Day!

Today’s post is not only about publicly thanking my brilliant friend, Michelle Shaeffer, for her help but also about the power of online connections.

For 23 days, starting January 1st, my RSS was a mess!

The problem:

  • Feedburner was not updating my blog’s feed
  • Comment Luv was displaying OLD posts
  • Aweber was not generating scheduled Blog Broadcasts to my list
  • Kindle could not publish my blog
  • Subscribers to my blog were not receiving updates

Those were 23 VERY LONG and frustrating days. To add fuel to the fire, being in the midst of a month-long blogging challenge, the timing of this pain-in-the-patootie issue couldn’t have been any worse.

Through Michelle’s expert knowledge of the web and websites and her “creative Google searching” talent, she discovered what was happening with my feed and fixed the problem for me.

So what are the biggest takeaways from this miserable RSS/blog feed fiasco?

  • The people you connect with online can be more precious than any gemstones in the world.
  • Value those in your center of influence.
  • Offer help to people when they need it.  If you can’t help, direct them to someone who can.
  • Don’t ever underestimate the power of online connections.
  • True and lasting friendships are priceless.

By the way, this isn’t the first time Michelle has come to my rescue.

And I want to proclaim, publicly, something magical and magnificent would be missing from my life without her in it.

You can follow Michelle on Twitter and become her Fan on Facebook.

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  • daniellemcgaw

    @MelanieKissell I found that. I’ve fixed your feed on my rss reader and on hootesuite. Hope it is working now.

  • Thanks, Martha. You and I can both personally attest to the power of social networking! 🙂

    And, yeah, I came pretty close to crying. But it’s awesome to know I have friends like you and Michelle I can always count on for help and support. AND … our relationships are a two-way street!

  • Wow! That was SOME list of problems you had. I felt you pain, girlfriend! I would have been crying in my milk, or beer, or something! Good going Michele and great post Melanie for letting us know how the power of social networking REALLY works!

  • If we all got together, Sheila — the fun would be non-stop! 🙂 Can’t wait to make that happen.

  • Melanie,
    First of all Michelle is great. Her blog is one of my favorites.

    The networking is so much fun. We need to all get together and meet. I bet we would have so much fun.

  • You know, Yvonne, this is the second time you’ve called me “Melissa” — and I still love you anyway! 🙂 All I can conclude is that you must have a lot of “M’s” you connect with online and it’s just too darn hard to keep them all straight. LOL!

    In the ophthalmology office where I work we have “Marty”, “Melissa”, “Maureen”, “Michelle”, “Mitch”, and me, “Melanie”.

  • Online friends are essential when you work from home. They are your network and it’s good to know you have someone you can call on. Beautiful public demonstration of gratitude, Melissa.

  • Thanks Melanie I’ll have a poke about…

  • Yes, Sandy — just visit Amazon and go to the “Kindle Store” and follow the instructions. Have fun!

  • Kindle publishes your blog?

  • I hear ya knockin’, Annie, and ya can come in!

    Social media venues have opened up a literal sea of opportunities to connect with the most fascinating, interesting, and talented individuals on the planet.

    Now I may be a little biased, but …

    I’m crossing paths with the majority of them in the blogosphere. 🙂

  • Good question, Eydie! Here’s what Michelle discovered:

    “I found the problem! Feedburner limits feeds and if yours is over that it stops pulling new feeds. Info here”: http://www.google.com/support/feedburner/bin/answer.py?answer=79626

    Keep this link handy — just in case — but I hope you never have this experience! 🙂

  • My experience has been the same Melanie through the power of the web and particularly social media my life will never be the same! New and great friends I have made have changed my life, added value to it and earned my eternal gratitude – nice post!

  • Would Michelle share her remedy – just in case the rest of us experience the same issues??

    Isn’t it great to have this network of talented friends?

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  • sanyt

    RT @MelanieKissell: [New Post] My RSS was a Mess – Michelle Shaeffer Saved the Day! – via #twitoaster https://www.melaniekissell.com/2011/01/my…