How to Use a WordPress RSS

With over 40% of live websites built with WordPress, millions of people across the globe use this website builder and content management system each day. The best websites require a superb level of detail, from the appearance of the WordPress site to how visitors can interact with your content. One of the best ways to expand your website's reach is to enable an RSS feed, which allows users to aggregate content from your site to a personal feed.

This tool can be a game-changer for content distribution. People who enjoy your site can get the content they want delivered automatically, and you don't have to worry about pulling visitors back towards your site. In short, using an RSS Feed is a win-win.

But what exactly is an RSS feed? And how can you use it effectively on your WordPress site?

This guide will answer these questions. We'll provide a step-by-step walkthrough on how to use a WordPress RSS feed. In addition, we'll introduce IFTTT, our free automation platform that helps bloggers, content creators, and digital marketers across the world streamline their workflow.

Automate your WordPress site with IFTTT

IFTTT is an automation tool that connects WordPress sites to 1000 different services across the internet. That means you can automatically add content to your WordPress site or automatically share your content when it is published on your website. For example, you can automatically share your new blogs to Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin or add them directly to a Google Sheet. Here are a few Applets to get started.

Understanding WordPress RSS feeds

An RSS Feed (Really Simple Syndication) is a type of web feed that enables users to quickly access a web page's content without having to browse multiple websites. Instead of checking your favorite social medias and news sites for information, an RSS feed can compile all these into one convenient space.

An RSS allows websites and major blogs to broadcast their content in an organized manner, which can then be "fed" into a reader or aggregator program. This makes it easy for users to keep up with the latest news, updates, and other information from their favorite sites all in one place.

RSS Feeds are generally formatted using XML code, which gives them a consistent look and feel across different digital platforms. This makes them easily recognizable no matter where they appear online. RSS Feeds also usually contain summaries of content along with links back to the source website so readers can easily access more detailed information if needed. Additionally, RSS Feeds often contain metadata about the content such as the author's name, publication date, keywords, and so on.

WordPress automatically generates an RSS feed for your website. This feed includes your posts, allowing readers and other platforms to fetch the latest updates from your site.

Benefits of using WordPress RSS feeds

1. Easy content sharing

With an RSS feed, your content can reach audiences on various platforms and devices without manual updates. Your supporters will be able to customize when they receive these updates and tailor the RSS feed to match their preferences.

2. Improved engagement

Subscribers receive updates automatically, encouraging repeat visits and consistent interaction with your site. Similar to how a mobile app will send you notifications, RSS feeds are very effective at drawing a larger viewer base to your site.

3. Automation opportunities

RSS feeds can integrate with tools like IFTTT, allowing you to automate sharing posts to social media, email newsletters, or other platforms.

4. SEO benefits

Search engines value fresh content. RSS feeds can help improve your website’s visibility by keeping your content indexed and updated.

5. Streamlined user experience

Visitors don’t need to check your site manually for updates—they can access your latest content conveniently through their preferred RSS readers.

How to enable and use RSS feeds on your WordPress site

Step 1: Locate Your Default RSS Feed

WordPress generates RSS feeds by default. You can find your site’s RSS feed by navigating to:

https://yoursite.com/feed/

However, you must set your site to public. A private site does not offer RSS functionality.

Step 2: Customize Your RSS Feed

To make your feed more appealing, consider customizing it. You can use plugins like:

WP RSS Aggregator: Aggregate, import, and display feeds from multiple sources.

Yoast SEO: Add additional metadata to your RSS feed to improve its usability.

Step 3: Promote Your RSS Feed

Add an RSS feed icon to your site for easy access.

Include your feed URL in newsletters or social media.

Step 4: Automate with IFTTT

IFTTT (If This Then That) is our free automation platform that connects your RSS feed to more than 1000 services.

Using RSS feeds with IFTTT

As a visitor to a webpage, you may have questions about how exactly to go about creating an RSS feed. Maybe you've heard that you need to know a programming language or shell out cash for a paid RSS tool. Fortunately, with IFTTT, you can get started with an RSS feed in just a few minutes, and for free.

With IFTTT, you have two options. You can browse our library of millions of user-made Applets (feeds that have already been set up by the community) or create your own in just a few minutes with our Applet builder. We encourage users to check out what the community has already set up, because oftentimes your perfect bot idea is already a reality! Keep your eyes peeled for our small Applet cubes throughout the article, which you can click on to get started.

Building your own RSS Feed with IFTTT

WordPress pages come built in with RSS feeds for all public pages. This means setting up your own Applet with these RSS feeds is as easy as it gets. First, make sure you have an IFTTT account or create one.

Step 1: Coverting a URL

Locate the website URL: For a website that you want to create an RSS feed for, you'll need the URL. This can be located in the search bar when you are on a site.

Set up in RSS form: Simply add "/feed" to the end of the URL. For example: https://domain.com becomes https://domain.com/feed.

Step 2: Set up an IFTTT account

Create an account: Sign up or log in to IFTTT. Connect services: Connect the services you want to use (e.g., RSS Feed, email, social media, or notifications).

Step 3: Create the IFTTT Applet

Start creating an Applet:

Go to the "Create" section in IFTTT. Click on "If This" to set the trigger.

Set the Trigger to RSS feed:

Choose the RSS Feed service. Select "New Feed Item" as the trigger. Paste the RSS feed URL you created earlier.

Set the Action:

Click on "Then That" to set the action. Select the service where you want the updates to appear. Some examples are:

Email: Send the RSS feed item to yourself as an email.

Slack: Share updates from the stock RSS feed in a Slack channel.

Twitter: Automatically tweet news for your followers.

Push Notifications: Notify users on their mobile devices.

Customize the Action:

For example, if using Twitter, customize the tweet to include the feed title, link, and hashtags. For email, format the subject line and body with the feed details.

Step 4: Test and refine

Trigger the applet manually by checking for new items in the RSS feed. Ensure that the action (e.g., sending an email or posting a tweet) works as intended.

And congratulations, just like that you've set up your first RSS feed Applet with IFTTT!

Troubleshooting common issues

RSS Feed not updating

If your RSS feed isn’t updating as expected, ensure the feed URL is correct and check our status page for any known issues.

Email not received

If you’re not receiving emails, verify that your email address is correct and check your spam/junk folder. You may also need to adjust your email filters.

Applet not triggering

Ensure that your Applet is turned on in the IFTTT dashboard. If there are still issues, try recreating the applet to resolve any configuration errors. You can always visit our support page here for more help.

We hope that this guide has helped you set up your first RSS Feed with IFTTT! Remember, feel free to reach out if you need help with any of the steps.