Within the Email Builder, the RSS Elements feature facilitates sending emails automatically with dynamically added content whenever a new Real Simple Syndication item is published. This functionality streamlines the sharing process for updated information with subscribers, ensuring they receive timely and relevant content without manual intervention.

RSS Header Block #

The RSS Header Element will dynamically populate tags from your RSS Feed. It supports the following RSS channel tags, and you can use their respective Custom Values to populate the email with the corresponding tag value:

• <title> — {{rss_feed.title}}
• <description> — {{rss_feed.description}}
• <link> — {{rss_feed.url}}
• <lastBuildDate> — {{rss_feed.date}}

Basic Vs Custom in RSS Header #

When using the RSS Header block, the RSS Editing Options dropdown selector offers two options: Basic and Custom.

• Basic: Adds non-editable text in the Text Editor.
• Custom: Adds editable text in the Text Editor.

Use these options to adjust the padding and add background color to the RSS texts.

RSS Items Block #

The RSS Items block accepts various Custom Values that dynamically insert their corresponding RSS Tags:

• <title/> — {{rss_item.title}}: The title of the RSS item, usually a blog post.
• <description/> — {{rss_item.content}}: A summary of the RSS item in HTML format, which includes information inside the <description> tag. If there is no <description> tag in your feed, it will display the information in the <content:encoded> tag.
• <link/> — {{rss_item.url}}: The text link to the RSS item online, which can be displayed as text or used in a hyperlink.
• <content:encoded/> — {{rss_item.content_full}}: The full content of the information inside the <content:encoded> tag for an RSS item, in HTML format. If there is no <content:encoded> tag, it will display the information in the <description> tag.
• pubDate — {{rss_item.date}}: The date the RSS item was published, in format `MMM DD, YYYY hh:mm A`. Custom formatting support is planned for the future.
• <dc:creator> — {{rss_item.author}}: The author of the RSS item.
• <media:content> — {{rss_item.imageUrl}}: This will provide the src URL of the image as text; to render it as an image, use {{rss_img}} or {{rss_img alt=”alt_text” src=rss_item.imageUrl height=”200″ width=”200″}}.
• <item> — {{#rss_items rss_items}}: This tag doesn’t display anything. It’s used to open the customized formatting for individual RSS items.
• </item> — {{/rss_items}}: This tag doesn’t display anything. It’s used to close the customized formatting for individual RSS items.

Basic Vs Custom in RSS Items #

When using the RSS Items block, you’ll see these options in the “RSS Editing Options” dropdown selector:

• Excerpts
• Excerpts with image
• Title
• Full content
• Custom

Adjust the padding and add a background color to the RSS text using these options.

Visibility Tab #

This allows you to control where and under which conditions the RSS element will be visible. By enabling Conditional Sending you can set the parameters contacts have to fill to view the RSS elements.

The RSS Elements allow you to be more dynamic in your email game. They connect blog elements directly with your email campaigns, simultaneously helping you keep contacts engaged by feeding them centralized interaction with all web elements.

Frequently Asked Questions #

What do the RSS elements do? #

They let you send emails with content that updates automatically whenever a new RSS item is published, so subscribers receive timely content without manual work.

What is the difference between the RSS Header and RSS Items blocks? #

The RSS Header populates channel-level tags like title, description, link, and last build date, while the RSS Items block inserts the individual feed items such as title, content, link, and image.

How do I insert RSS values into my email? #

Use the corresponding Custom Values, such as {{rss_feed.title}} for the feed title or {{rss_item.url}} for an item’s link, in your Text Editor.

What is the difference between Basic and Custom options? #

Basic adds non-editable text in the Text Editor, while Custom adds editable text; both let you adjust padding and background color.

How do I display an RSS item’s image? #

Use {{rss_img}} or {{rss_img alt=”alt_text” src=rss_item.imageUrl height=”200″ width=”200″}} to render the image rather than just its source URL.

Can I control who sees the RSS element? #

Yes. In the Visibility Tab, enable Conditional Sending to set the parameters a contact must meet to view the RSS elements.