How to Use RSS Feeds to Automate Newsletters and Share Your Articles

 

RSS feeds make it easier to share your published articles across multiple platforms without having to manually copy and paste content each time.

For example, you can connect your website's RSS feed to an email service like Mailchimp to automatically include your latest articles in newsletters. You can also share feeds with other websites and organizations that want to feature your content.

What Is an RSS Feed and How Does It Work?

An RSS feed is a special link that allows other websites, email platforms, and compatible services to automatically access your published articles.

Instead of manually copying articles into multiple places, you can provide your RSS feed link to a compatible service, such as Mailchimp, to help distribute your content and reach more readers.

What happens when you click an RSS feed link?

You may see a page filled with text that looks like computer code. This is completely normal! RSS feeds are designed to be read by other applications rather than displayed as a traditional webpage.

The feed itself does not create a newsletter or allow website visitors to sign up for emails. It simply makes your published content available to other services.

What Does "Subscribe via RSS" Mean on My Website?

Locable includes a built-in Subscribe via RSS link on publishing websites.

This link gives visitors access to your RSS feed so they can follow your published articles using a compatible RSS reader or other service.

When someone clicks Subscribe via RSS, their browser may display the feed's underlying code instead of a traditional subscription page. This is expected behavior and does not mean something is broken.

 

RSS Feeds vs. Email Newsletter Subscriptions

Although both can help people receive your latest content, they work differently:

• RSS Feed: Allows compatible services, including RSS readers and email platforms, to retrieve your published articles automatically.
• Email Newsletter Signup: Allows visitors to provide their email addresses and subscribe to receive emails from your organization.

Want visitors to subscribe to your email newsletter? You'll need an email signup form connected to your newsletter service, rather than a direct link to your RSS feed.

Want to automatically include published articles in your newsletters? You can connect your RSS feed to a compatible email platform that supports this functionality.

 

Choosing the Right RSS Feed

Locable provides different feed options depending on which articles you want to share and how you plan to use them.

1. Newsletter Feed

The dedicated Newsletter Feed is designed to make it easier to use your published articles in email newsletters.

This feed uses larger article images and removes the "Originally posted at" label, providing a cleaner presentation for email newsletters.

Your Newsletter Feed URL follows this format: https://www.yourdomain.com/newsletter_feed

Replace www.yourdomain.com with your actual website address.

View an example Newsletter Feed

When to use it: Choose this feed when connecting your published articles to an email service such as Mailchimp.

2. Category and Tag Feeds

Category and tag feeds let you share articles about specific topics rather than using a general feed from your website.

For example, you might want to:

• Include only business news in a newsletter.
• Share restaurant-related articles with a tourism organization.
• Provide a partner website with articles about community events or activities.

Each category or tag can have its own feed, making it possible to share content relevant to a particular audience.

How to access a Category or Tag Feed:

1. Visit the category or tag page on your published website.
2. Locate the available RSS or Atom feed link.
3. Copy the feed URL.
4. Add that URL to the compatible service where you want the articles to appear.

What's the difference between RSS and Atom?

RSS and Atom are two similar formats used to share updated content. Most people won't need to understand the technical differences.

If your preferred service supports both, either may work. Otherwise, use the format required by that service.

3. Homepage RSS Feed

You can also access an RSS feed associated with your website's homepage.

To access this feed, add /?format=rss to your website address.

For example: https://www.yourdomain.com/?format=rss

 

How to Use RSS Feeds with Email Newsletters

RSS feeds can help automate the process of including your published articles in newsletters.

Rather than manually copying article titles, descriptions, images, and links into each email, a compatible email platform can retrieve that information from your feed.

For example, Mailchimp supports RSS-based email campaigns.

Here's how the process works:

1. Choose your RSS feed. For general newsletter use, start with your dedicated Newsletter Feed.
2. Copy the feed URL. This is the website address your email service will use to retrieve your articles.
3. Connect the feed to your email platform. Follow your email service's instructions for creating an RSS-based campaign or automation.
4. Customize your newsletter. Choose your email design, audience, and sending schedule.
5. Test before activating. Make sure your articles, images, and links appear as expected.

Once configured, your email platform can retrieve newly published articles and include them in newsletters based on the settings you've selected.

Important: RSS feeds do not automatically send emails. Your email service controls when it checks for new content and when newsletters are sent.

For additional instructions, see Mailchimp's guide to sharing blog posts through RSS.

Using RSS Feeds to Share Content with Other Websites

RSS feeds aren't limited to email newsletters. They can also help distribute your published articles to other websites and organizations.

For example, a regional publication, community organization, or partner website may want to feature articles from your publication.

If their website supports RSS feeds, you can provide the appropriate feed URL so they can retrieve your content without requiring you to manually submit each new article.

This can help your content reach additional audiences while reducing duplicate work.

The receiving website or service determines how the articles are displayed and how frequently it retrieves updates.

Things to Know About RSS Feeds

• RSS feeds are generated automatically. You don't need to manually create or update the feed each time you publish an article.
• Feeds are intended for compatible applications. Seeing code-like text when opening an RSS feed directly in your browser is normal.
• RSS is not an email signup form. Visitors need a separate newsletter subscription form to receive emails.
• Feeds make published content available to other services. Those services determine how and when the content is retrieved.
• Not all services display feeds the same way. Images, article descriptions, and formatting may vary depending on the platform using your feed.
• Updates aren't always immediate. Even when your feed contains a new article, connected services may take additional time to retrieve it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does "Subscribe via RSS" take me to a page of code?

That's normal! RSS feeds contain information formatted for compatible applications rather than traditional webpages. Depending on your browser, clicking the link may display the underlying feed code.

Can visitors subscribe to my email newsletter using "Subscribe via RSS"?

No. This link is intended for people using RSS readers or other compatible services. Visitors who want to receive emails need to use your email newsletter signup form.

Do I need to update my RSS feed when I publish a new article?

No. Locable automatically makes your published articles available through the appropriate RSS feeds.

Can I use RSS feeds with services other than Mailchimp?

Yes. RSS feeds can work with many email services, RSS readers, websites, and content distribution tools that support the format.

Why isn't my newest article showing up in my newsletter?

First, confirm the article has been published and is included in the feed you're using. Your email service may not have retrieved the latest content yet, depending on its settings and schedule.

What if my email service can't access my RSS feed?

Double-check the feed URL and confirm you're using the correct format. If you're using the homepage RSS feed, try the dedicated Newsletter Feed instead.

If you're still experiencing issues, contact Locable Support for assistance.