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Use RSS with your campaigns

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Sarah N
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 With ActiveCampaign, you can add an RSS feed to your direct and automated campaigns with the RSS content block. Doing so lets subscribers receive and read updates to online content, such as news stories and blog posts. 

How the RSS block works

With the RSS content block, you will enter your RSS feed URL, set how many new posts will be displayed in your email, and which items from your post(s) will be displayed. Our platform will then pull these items directly from your feed and display them in your email.

Note that if you need to make changes to the information or images displayed in the RSS block, it must be done in the feed itself.

Using RSS in campaigns

There are two ways you can use RSS with your campaigns:

RSS triggered campaign

This is a recurring campaign type and is triggered to send when there is a new post in your RSS feed. On the Campaign Summary page, you can schedule the initial email to send immediately or schedule it for a future date and time. You will also set how frequently ActiveCampaign will check for new posts in your feed.

Only one RSS feed content block can be used in this campaign type.

You may wish to use this campaign type to keep your subscribers updated with your latest news and blog posts on a recurring basis.

Standard, Automated, Auto Responder, Split Test, and Date Based with an RSS content block

You can add one or more RSS content block(s) to a standard, automated, auto responder, split test, or date based campaign. If you choose to use this content block in one of these campaign types, we'll pull the latest information from your feed and include it in your email send. These emails are sent based on the type of campaign you're using.

Standard campaign types can be scheduled to send at a future date and time or can be sent right away. In addition, you can also enable recurring sending and set how often this campaign will send to your list(s). The email will send if your RSS feed has been updated or not.

Automated campaigns (automation emails) with an RSS block will be sent to each contact as they encounter this step in your automation. This email type will only be sent once to contacts. The email will send if your RSS feed has been updated or not.

Auto responder campaigns with an RSS block will be sent once to each new contact as they subscribe to your list. This email type will only be sent once to contacts. The email will send if your RSS feed has been updated or not.

Split test campaigns with an RSS block can be sent immediately to contacts or scheduled for a future date and time. This email type will only be sent once to contacts. The email will send if your RSS feed has been updated or not.

Date Based campaigns with an RSS block can be configured to send on, before, or after a date field you specify.

Create an RSS-triggered campaign

As a reminder, this is a recurring campaign and will send to contacts if you have a new post in your RSS feed. This campaign type can only support one RSS feed URL.

Click below to expand the sections.

Create an RSS-triggered campaign using the Email Designer (launched in 2022)
  1. Click Campaigns > “Create a Campaign.”
  2. Provide the campaign name, then click the “RSS Triggered” option.
  3. Complete the fields on the Campaign Summary page. Note that you can skip this step and start creating your design. However, you will need to complete these fields before your campaign can be sent.
  4. Click “Create with email designer.”
  5. Select a template type or click the “Start from Scratch” option.
  6. The Email Designer will open. Drag the RSS content block to your campaign layout. The RSS feed must be placed into a Section and not into a specific container or structure.
  7. On the right panel, enter your RSS Feed URL into the RSS URL field.
  8. Click the blue check mark button next to the RSS Feed URL to validate the feed. If the feed is valid, the RSS Block editing options will load under the RSS URL field.
  9. From here, you can edit how your feed looks with the following features:
    • Number of Items
    • Item background color
    • Feed Items
  10. Your changes will automatically be saved and your edits will be visible in real time in your campaign. When you finish customizing the RSS content block, click anywhere outside of the RSS Block panel to continue creating your campaign.
  11. Make any additional updates to your campaign and click "Next" to go to the Campaign Summary page.
  12. On the Campaign Summary page, ensure that all required fields are completed.

      If you wish to insert the post title into your subject line, type the following into the subject line field: %RSS:ITEM:TITLE%

  13. Select how often ActiveCampaign will check your feed for new posts. To do so, click the dropdown in the RSS section, then select your preferred frequency.
  14. Next, choose when to send the email:
Create an RSS-triggered campaign using the Classic Designer
  1. Click Campaigns > “Create a Campaign.”
  2. Provide the campaign name, then click the “RSS Triggered” option.
  3. Click “Next.”
  4. Complete the fields on the Campaign Summary page. Note that you can skip this step and start creating your design. However, you will need to complete these fields before your campaign can be sent.
  5. Click the down caret next to the “Create with email designer” button, then select “Classic Designer.”
  6. Select a template or click the “Start from Scratch” option.
  7. Drag the RSS Feed content block to your campaign layout.
  8. An RSS Feed Builder modal will appear. Enter your RSS Feed URL into the space provided. If your URL is valid, the feed will load and the latest item will be displayed.

    Enter_your_RSS_URL_into_Feed_URL_space.jpg
  9. Click the "Items to show" dropdown to select how many new posts you wish to have displayed in your email. We will only show new posts in your email. Meaning, if you select to show 3 posts, but only have one new post, we'll only display that one new post.

    Choose_how_many_RSS_items_to_show.jpg

    We will only show new posts in your email. Meaning, if you select to show 3 posts, but only have one new post, we'll only display that one new post.
  10. Click the "Customize" tab to set which items from each post will appear in your email. You can choose from standard items such as title, date published, long or short description, etc. You can also choose from items that are custom to your specific feed, such as enclosure or content URLs (to fetch specific images), category, links to comments, and more.
    • Selecting "Content Encoded" will display your entire post in your email
    • To remove any items, click the "x"
    • To add any items, click the "Add" button
    • You can only select properly formed RSS/XML tags from your RSS feed. Items available in the RSS builder are dependent on the items available in your RSS feed
  11. Once you've finished customizing the RSS content block, click "Update." The feed will be added to your campaign.
  12. Make any additional updates to your campaign and click "Next" to go to the Campaign Summary page.
  13. On the Campaign Summary page, you will be able to review your subject line, pre-header text, sender information, and more.

      If you wish to insert the post title into your subject line, type the following into the subject line field: %RSS:ITEM:TITLE%

  14. Select how often ActiveCampaign will check your feed for new posts. To do so, click the dropdown in the RSS section, then select your preferred frequency.
  15. Next, choose when to send the email:
    • Schedule the initial send for a future date or time.
    • Click the “Send now” button to send You can send the initial email immediately

The initial occurrence of the email will send at the day/time you select. Sends of subsequent emails will depend on when you choose to send the initial email, and what you selected for the "Check every" box on the Campaign Summary page.

If there are updates to your feed, the RSS-triggered email will send to your contacts. If there are no new posts, then we'll check again in X days or /weeks - whatever you selected in the "Check every" box.

How to add an RSS feed to a campaign

If you don’t want to create an RSS triggered campaign, you can add one or more RSS content block(s) to the following campaign types:

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

Each RSS content block can support one RSS feed.

Automated, Auto Responder, and Split Test campaigns can only be sent once to contacts. The Date Based campaigns can be configured to send on, before, or after a date field you specify. They can be sent once to contacts, or on a yearly basis. The Standard Campaign with an RSS feed can be configured to send on a recurring basis, or once to contacts.

These campaign types will send regardless if there are new posts in your RSS feed or not.

Click below to expand the sections.

Add an RSS content block using the Email Designer (launched in 2022)
  1. From the Email Designer, Drag RSS content block directly into a Section in your email. The RSS feed must be placed into a section and not into a specific container or structure.
  2. On the right pane, enter your RSS Feed URL into the RSS URL field.
  3. Click the blue check mark button next to the RSS Feed URL to validate the feed. If the feed is valid, the RSS Block editing options will load under the RSS URL field.
  4. From here, you can edit how your feed looks with the following features:
    • Number of Items
    • Item background color
    • Feed Items
  5. Your changes will save automatically and your edits will be visible in real time in your campaign. When you finish customizing the RSS content block, click anywhere outside of the RSS Block panel to continue creating your campaign.
  6. Once you're happy with your email, click "Next" to go to the Campaign Summary page. Here you'll be able to review your subject line, pre-header text, review your Spam score, and send yourself a test.

    If you're using the Standard Campaign type with an RSS feed, you will be able to enable recurring sending. To do so, click the toggle next to "This campaign will automatically recur" under the "Schedule" section.

    Schedule automatically recurring campaigns with toggle.jpg

    Click the dropdown under the toggle. Here you can set how often this campaign will send to your list.

    Recurring campaign options.jpg

    Automated, Auto Responder, and Split Test campaign types do not have a recurring send option. Dated based campaigns can be sent one time or yearly.
  7. If everything looks good on the Campaign Summary page, you can configure sending for your email.
Add an RSS content block using the Classic Designer
  1. From the Classic Designer, drag RSS content block into your email.
  2. Enter your RSS Feed URL into the Feed URL field.
  3. If your URL is valid, the feed will load. Click the "Items to show" dropdown and select how many posts you would like to have displayed in this box.

    Choose_how_many_RSS_items_to_show.jpg
  4. Click the "Customize" tab. This tab allows you to set which items from each post will appear in your email.
    • You can choose from standard items such as title, date published, long or short description, etc. You can also choose from items that are custom to your specific feed, such as enclosure or content URLs (to fetch specific images), category, links to comments, and more
    • Selecting "Content Encoded" will display your entire post in your email
    • To remove any items, click the "x"
    • To add any items, click the "Add" button
    • You can only select properly formed RSS/XML tags from your RSS feed. Items available in the RSS builder are dependent on the items available in your RSS feed
  5. Once you've finished customizing the RSS content block, click "Update." You'll then see your feed in your email:

    RSS_Feed_in_Campaign_Designer.jpg
  6. Once you're happy with your email, click "Next" to go to the Campaign Summary page. Here you'll be able to review your subject line, preheader text, review your Spam score, and send yourself a test.

    If you're using the Standard Campaign type with an RSS feed, you will be able to enable recurring sending. To do so, click the "Enable" button under the Delivery section.

    Enable_button_in_Summary_tab_of_campaign.jpg

    A dropdown will appear. Here you can set how often this campaign will send to your list.

    Dropdown_to_choose_how_often_the_campaign_will_recur.jpg

    Automated, Auto Responder, and Split Test campaign types do not have a recurring send option. Dated based campaigns can be sent one time or yearly.
  7. Once everything looks good on the Campaign Summary page, you can configure sending for your email.

How to edit the RSS content block

Once your RSS content block is created you have the option to edit the block before the campaign is sent. Note that you cannot make changes to a sent campaign.

Click below to expand the sections.

Edit the RSS content block using the Email Designer (launched in 2022)
  1. From your campaign, click into the RSS content block.
  2. On the right sidebar, the RSS block edit options will appear where you can make changes:

    RSS_block_edit_options.jpg

    RSS Block editing options
    • RSS URL
      This is where you insert your RSS Feed URL. You must validate any new URLs by clicking the blue checkmark button.
    • Number of Items
      Choose how many RSS Feed items to show in the campaign.
    • Item Background Color
      Change the background color of the RSS block.
    • Feed Items
      You will be able to edit the following:
        • Add additional feed items by clicking the + symbol
        • Change the item order. Drag and Drop the item into place using the 8 dots on the left
        • Edit field style. Click the pencil icon to change text, alignment, padding, spacing, and more
        • Delete the item by clicking the trash icon
Edit the RSS content block using the Classic Designer
  1. To edit how this block appears at any time, hover your mouse over the content block. and
  2. Click the RSS feed icon. This will pull up the RSS Feed Builder modal where you will be able to change the following:
    • RSS Feed URL
    • Choose up to how many new posts will be displayed
    • Choose which items from your posts will be displayed

      Hover_your_mouse_over_the_block_and_click_the_RSS_Feed_icon.jpg

RSS tags you can use in a campaign

The following are RSS tags that you can use in a campaign:

  • %RSS-FEED|URL: http://www.site.com/myfeed.rss|SHOW:ALL%
  • %RSS:CHANNEL:TITLE% - This is OPTIONAL and will show the title of the RSS feed.
  • %RSS:ITEM:DATE% - This is OPTIONAL and will show the date of the RSS entry.
  • %RSS:ITEM:TITLE% - This is OPTIONAL and will show the title of the RSS entry.
  • %RSS:ITEM:SUMMARY% - This is OPTIONAL and will show the summary of the RSS entry.
  • %RSS:ITEM:LINK% - This is OPTIONAL and will show the link to the RSS entry.
  • %RSS-LOOP% - This is the end of the loop that will show the RSS contents.
  • %RSS-FEED% - This is REQUIRED and will not be shown to the recipient.

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