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The uses for webfeeds continue to expand. Here’s one I just learned about:

The Web search engine FindForward lets you create a custom webfeed (RSS or Atom format) based on keyword search terms. FindForward basically regurgitates Google results via Google’s own API tool, so in a way this is like getting RSS feeds for Google results.

So what? Well, here’s how this kind of service can be useful…

For a one-time keyword search, a FindForward feed offers no benefit. However, it offers considerable potential over time if you want to keep up on new or updated Web content on specific topics. This is useful for ongoing research projects, for ego surfing, and for journalists who follow a beat or particular newsmakers.

How to do it: In order to create a custom feed from a FindForward search query, simply enter your keyword(s) and select “Get RSS” or “Get Atom” from the drop-down list. FindFoward then returns a webfeed URL which you can subscribe to in your feed reader.

The FindForward custom feed service, which draws results from Web sites, is an excellent complement to Feedster’s custom search webfeeds, which draw results from other webfeeds.

(FindFoward is a search engine that bills itself as “Google with thumbnails.” By that, creator Phillipp Lenssen means that FindForward results include small “snapshots” of Web pages delivered via the open-source free technology of Thumbshots.org. Here’s what that looks like.)

WHY ISN’T GOOGLE DOING THIS?

Why indeed? Despite increasing popular demand and obvious revenue potential (via embedded advertising), Google continues to exhibit a baffling absence of webfeed services. See for yourself: Search Google’s “about” pages for the terms “RSS” and “Atom.” As of this writing, the only result you’ll get is a link to the Atom webfeed for Google’s own weblog. (I’ve written about this problem before.)

Not only that – Google also has been fighting third-party webfeeds scraped from its search results, particularly for GoogleNews. Recently, my favorite scraped GoogleNews webfeed was yanked for fear of reprisals from Google and for bandwidth concerns.

In a recent article about FindFoward’s custom feeds, WebProNews notes:

“…My only fear is that Google may oppose this RSS feed using its API because of its support of the Atom subscription format. Google has already required the shut down of an RSS feed for Ecademy.com that used GoogleNews as its source of information.”

So for now, feel free to experiment with cool new webfeed trick from FindForward. And let’s hope Google leaves it alone.

NOTE: Thanks to my friend Leo Noteboom for bringing the FindForward webfeed service to my attention.