Using RSS Blocks in the Email Builder

Overview

RSS blocks in the email builder allow you to create automated emails that dynamically populate with content from an RSS (Real Simple Syndication) feed. This is especially useful for sending updates whenever new content is published on your website or blog.

How to Use RSS Elements

RSS Header Block

The RSS Header block automatically fills in content from the <channel> tags of your RSS feed. It supports several key RSS channel tags, which can be used to display specific information in your email via custom values.

RSS Channel Tags & Their Custom Values:

<title> – Displays the feed’s title: {{rss_feed.title}}

<description> – Shows the feed’s description: {{rss_feed.description}}

<link> – Inserts the URL of the feed: {{rss_feed.url}}

<lastBuildDate> – Populates with the last updated date: {{rss_feed.date}}

Basic vs Custom Options in RSS Header

When adding the RSS Header block, you can choose between two editing modes in the dropdown menu:

Basic Mode: Automatically adds non-editable content to the text editor, such as:
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<h1 class="h1">{{rss_feed.title}}</h1>

{{rss_feed.description}}<br /><br />

Custom Mode: Adds editable content where you can further personalize the text, such as:
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Updates from {{rss_feed.url}}

<h1>{{rss_feed.title}}</h1>

<strong>{{rss_feed.description}}</strong><br />

<br />

<strong>In the {{rss_feed.date}} edition:</strong><br />

Using RSS Tags in Subject Lines

The four custom variables from the RSS <channel> tags can also be used in the email’s subject line, enabling personalized subject headings based on RSS feed information.

RSS Items Block

The RSS Items block dynamically adds content from individual RSS items. This block supports the following RSS tags, allowing you to pull in specific details about each post or item:

RSS Tags & Their Custom Values:

<title/>: Displays the title of the item, usually a blog post: {{rss_item.title}}
<description/>: Shows a summary of the item (from <description> or <content:encoded>): {{rss_item.content}}
<link/>: Inserts a URL linking to the full post: {{rss_item.url}}
<content:encoded/>: Includes the full content of the item: {{rss_item.content_full}}
<pubDate/>: Populates with the item's publication date: {{rss_item.date}}
<dc:creator/>: Shows the author of the item: {{rss_item.author}}
<media:content/>: Inserts the item's media content, typically an image: {{rss_item.imageUrl}}

For displaying the image, use this custom value:

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{{rss_img alt="alt_text" src=rss_item.imageUrl height="200" width="200"}}

Basic vs Custom Options in RSS Items

Similar to the RSS Header, you can choose between Basic and Custom modes when using the RSS Items block.

Basic Mode: Adds a pre-formatted, non-editable layout for your RSS items, like so:
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{{#rss_items rss_items}}

<h2 class="mc-toc-title"><a href="{{rss_item.url}}" target="_blank">{{rss_item.title}}</a></h2>

{{rss_item.content}}<br />

Custom Mode: Allows for more personalized editing, such as:
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{{#rss_items rss_items}}

<h2 class="mc-toc-title"><a href="{{rss_item.url}}" target="_blank">{{rss_item.title}}</a></h2>

<em>By {{rss_item.author}} on {{rss_item.date}}</em><br />

{{rss_item.content_full}}<br />

<a href="{{rss_item.url}}" target="_blank">Read in browser »</a><br /><br />

<h3 class="h3">Recent Articles:</h3>

Handling HTML-Based RSS Feeds

RSS feeds with HTML content will have their values HTML-escaped by default (e.g., & will be shown as &). To avoid this, you can use the "triple-slash" syntax ({{{), which renders raw HTML:

Example: Without triple-slash:
{{rss_item.content}}

With triple-slash:
{{{rss_item.content}}}

Scheduling RSS Email Campaigns

To schedule automated RSS emails, follow these steps:

Go to the "Send or Schedule" Tab:
- Select "RSS Email Campaign" as your sending option.
- Name your campaign and provide the RSS feed URL.

Set the Sending Preferences:
- Choose how often you want the email to go out: Daily, Weekly, or Monthly.
- Select the specific day(s) and time for delivery.
Fill Out Recipient Information:
- In the “Review and Send” section, make sure to provide all necessary information, including:
  - Email Type: RSS
  - RSS Feed URL
  - Repeat After settings for the campaign.

Testing & Reviewing RSS Emails

Before scheduling, you can send a test email to check how your RSS elements are displayed. During this test, you’ll need to manually input the RSS Feed URL to pull in the live content. Without the URL, all RSS-based custom values will remain empty.

Note: If you try to schedule an RSS email through standard scheduling options (e.g., "Send Now" or "Send Later"), all RSS tags will be blank. Always use the designated "RSS Email Campaign" scheduling option for RSS-based emails.

Managing RSS Campaigns

Once scheduled, you can find your RSS campaigns in the Scheduled Tab, with the type listed as “RSS.” Other campaigns will be listed as "Normal." For example, if you have an RSS email set to send daily at 2 p.m., it will show the next scheduled execution time and automatically schedule the following day’s email after the current one is sent.

Actions Available for RSS Campaigns:

Edit: Editing an RSS campaign cancels the current schedule and opens a new builder where you can adjust your settings.
Pause/Resume: Temporarily halt or resume the campaign as needed.
Delete: Permanently removes the RSS scheduling after canceling any upcoming sends.