Use RSS with your campaigns

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Use RSS with your campaigns

With ActiveCampaign, you can enhance your email communication strategy by integrating an RSS feed into various campaign types, allowing your subscribers to receive regular updates from your online content, including blog posts and news articles. This feature is crucial because it automates the process of keeping your audience informed, ensuring they never miss out on any updates you create.

Introduction

The RSS content block in ActiveCampaign enables marketers to automatically deliver fresh and relevant content from an RSS feed directly to subscribers' inboxes. This functionality not only saves time but also engages your audience by providing them with curated content based on their interests. With the ability to set up triggered campaigns that send whenever new content is available, you can keep your subscribers engaged and informed without manual intervention.

How to access this feature

To use the RSS feature, navigate to your ActiveCampaign account and choose the desired campaign type where you would like to implement the RSS content block. This feature is accessible for various campaign types, including Standard, Automated, Auto Responder, Split Test, and Date Based campaigns.

Step-by-step instructions

This section outlines how to create both an RSS-triggered campaign and a campaign with an RSS block using the Email Designer and Classic Designer.

Create an RSS-triggered campaign using the Email Designer

1. **Click** Campaigns > Create a Campaign. 2. **Provide** the campaign name and select the RSS Triggered option. 3. **Complete** the fields on the Campaign Summary page (you can skip this step initially but will need to finalize before sending). 4. **Click** Create with email designer. 5. **Select** a template type or choose Start from Scratch. 6. **Drag** the RSS content block into your campaign layout. Ensure it is placed into a Section. 7. On the right panel, **enter** your RSS Feed URL in the RSS URL field. 8. **Click** the blue check mark button to validate the feed. If valid, the RSS Block editing options will appear. 9. **Edit** the feed appearance with options for the Number of Items, Item background color, and Feed Items. 10. **Click** outside of the RSS Block panel to continue editing your campaign. 11. **Finalize** other updates and **click** Next to proceed to the Campaign Summary page. 12. If desired, **insert** the post title into your subject line by typing: %RSS:ITEM:TITLE%. 13. **Select** how frequently ActiveCampaign checks for new posts from the dropdown in the RSS section. 14. **Schedule** the initial send for a future date or **click** the Send now button to send immediately.

Create an RSS-triggered campaign using the Classic Designer

1. **Click** Campaigns > Create a Campaign. 2. **Provide** the campaign name and select the RSS Triggered option. 3. **Click** Next. 4. **Complete** the fields on the Campaign Summary page. 5. **Click** the down caret next to the Create with email designer button and select Classic Designer. 6. **Select** a template or choose Start from Scratch. 7. **Drag** the RSS Feed content block into your campaign layout. 8. Enter your RSS Feed URL into the Feed URL field, and if valid, the feed will display the latest item. 9. **Choose** how many new posts you want to display using the Items to show dropdown. 10. **Customize** which items from each post appear in your email. 11. **Click** Update to finalize your feed within your campaign. 12. **Proceed** to review your subject line, pre-header text, sender information, and more on the Campaign Summary page. 13. If desired, insert the post title into the subject line: %RSS:ITEM:TITLE%. 14. **Select** the frequency for ActiveCampaign to check your feed. 15. **Schedule** the initial send for a future date or **click** the Send now button to send immediately.

How to add an RSS feed to a campaign

If you prefer not to create an RSS-triggered campaign, you can add an RSS content block to any of the following campaign types:

• Standard
• Automated
• Auto Responder
• Split Test
• Date Based

Each RSS content block supports one RSS feed and sends irrespective of whether new posts exist in your feed or not.

Add an RSS content block using the Email Designer

1. **Drag** the RSS content block into a Section in your email. 2. **Enter** your RSS Feed URL in the RSS URL field. 3. **Click** the blue check mark to validate the feed. 4. **Customize** your feed appearance and save the changes. 5. **Click** Next to access the Campaign Summary page, where you can review various settings and options.

Add an RSS content block using the Classic Designer

1. **Drag** the RSS content block into your email. 2. **Enter** your RSS Feed URL. 3. If valid, the feed will load. Use the Items to show dropdown for post quantity. 4. **Click** the Customize tab to select which items will appear in your email. 5. **Click** Update once customization is done, then proceed to the Campaign Summary page.

Configuration options and settings

When setting up your RSS content block, you may adjust the following options:

• Number of Items: Specify how many feed items will be displayed.
• Item Background Color: Change the appearance of the RSS items.
• Feed Items: Select specific elements to be shown from each RSS post (e.g., title, date published, descriptions).
• **Validation**: Ensure your RSS URL is valid by using the validation button.
• **Custom Tags**: You can use various RSS tags in your campaigns for more personalization and content control.

Best practices and tips

To optimize the use of RSS within your campaigns:

• Regularly update your RSS feed to ensure subscribers receive the latest content.
• Use engaging titles and descriptions to capture reader attention.
• Test your RSS feeds in advance to ensure they invalidate the expected data.
• Consider segmenting your audience to tailor content based on their interests.
• Monitor engagement metrics to refine the effectiveness of your RSS campaigns.

Troubleshooting

If you encounter issues:

• Ensure the RSS feed URL is correct and accessible.
• Confirm that the formatting of the RSS feed complies with standard RSS formats.
• Review the settings to ensure no configurations prevent content from being displayed.
• If items do not appear as expected, check that the correct tags are being used.

FAQ

Q1: Can I integrate multiple RSS feeds in one campaign? A: You can only support one RSS feed per RSS content block. However, you may add multiple RSS content blocks in a single campaign, each with a different RSS feed.

Q2: What happens if there are no new posts in my RSS feed? A: If there are no new posts, the campaign will still send, but it will only display existing or the latest information depending on the configuration.

Q3: Can I edit the RSS content block after sending the campaign? A: No changes can be made once the campaign is sent. Ensure all configurations are correct before sending.

Q4: Is there a limit to how many campaigns I can create using RSS? A: There is no specific limit to RSS-triggered campaigns you can create within your ActiveCampaign account; this depends on your plan's overall campaign limits.

Q5: Are automated and auto responder campaigns different when using RSS? A: Yes, automated and auto responder campaigns with RSS blocks are sent only once to contacts when they encounter the step in automation or subscribe to the list, respectively.

Q6: Can I personalize my emails using RSS feed data? A: Yes, you can use specific RSS tags, such as %RSS:ITEM:TITLE% or %RSS:ITEM:SUMMARY%, to personalize your subject lines or email content.

Q7: Do I need technical knowledge to set up RSS feeds? A: Basic understanding of how to find and copy an RSS feed URL is generally sufficient; however, understanding RSS formats can be helpful for more advanced users.

With the power of RSS feeds, you can significantly enhance your email campaigns, delivering timely and relevant content directly to your subscribers' inboxes. Use these tools and practices to engage your audience effectively.