Add a forecast to your web site - Part 1

Introduction
If you've got your own web site or web page (for example on Facebook) you can quickly add weather forecasts from our site to it. I'll start with the easiest approach and show you a range of options in this and future articles.

1) Add a link
Browse to the forecast on our site by using the Check forecast box at the top of most pages. For example, enter London and then click on 16 day. This will display the latest 16 day forecast for London. In the address bar in your web browser you'll see a link something like this.

//www.theweatheroutlook.com/twoforecasts/forregdaily.aspx?postcode=London&selected=0

You can just copy it into your web page, but instead you may prefer to make the link clearer by giving it a name, such as London weather forecast, and make it open in a new browser. To do this you could use the following HTML code.

London weather forecast

Adding links is quick and easy and you don't need to ask us before doing it! Of course it's also completely free and you can add links to multiple locations.

2) Add an RSS feed
The RSS feeds we offer embed weather forecast content in your web site or web page. This is an excellent way for you to add content which gives people a reason to visit it your site!

To add an RSS feed you'll need an RSS 2.0 reader (many social networking sites such as Facebook make these freely available) on your web page. Once you've got this, just go to our data feeds page which is at the url below for your link.

//www.theweatheroutlook.com/twoother/othdatafeed.aspx

To generate your link enter your UK postcode or select a location and then press Create feed. For example, the postcode W1 for Central London will generate a link like this.

//www.theweatheroutlook.com/twofeeds/weatherforecast_detail.ashx?postcode=W1

Add this to your RSS 2.0 reader and you should be done. Your forecast should update itself!

Conclusion
Adding a link or an RSS feed is free and can be done in seconds! In Add a forecast to your web site - Part 2 I'll take a look at some other options, including subscription services which provide the ultimate in flexibility!

Issued 21/09/2009 © Brian Gaze 

Brian Gaze's blog

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