Publishing Newsletters with RSS Feeds
E-mail newsletters have begun to over-populate inboxes around the world. This is not to say that they don’t contain interesting and engaging content for subscribers. It simply means that e-mail newsletters have some limitations. However with the use of RSS, really simple syndication, feeds, e-mail newsletters can become as individual as the person who is receiving them.
RSS feeds are being used to augment websites to personalize content to the site visitor. What is to say that this same technology can’t be incorporated into e-mail newsletters. These newsletters are typically written and sent on a pre-determined date to a list of subscribers. Oftentimes by the time the subscriber has read the newsletter, the information has become outdated. One of the best ways to reduce this irrelevant content is to have it automatically update. By incorporating RSS feeds, which directly steams information from websites, into an e-mail newsletter, readers will receive information that is more timely.
But how to begin publishing newsletters with RSS feeds. It is not as hard as it may seem. In fact, e-mail newsletter publishing software now come with templates that allow you to easily integrate these feeds directly into your newsletter. This will help not only cut down on labor spent publishing the newsletter, but also the relevance of the information. Not only will this ensure your subscribers read the newsletter, it also makes them feel as if the newsletter was directed just to them.
RSS feeds allow you to improve your e-mail newsletter with a combination of targeted information via the feeds and standing articles. As the content becomes fresher, your click-through-rate will raise. One of the many reasons subscribers stop reading e-mail newsletters is because the information has become stagnant. Using feeds to freshen up the content will reinvigorate your readers, thereby increasing traffic to your site.
Incorporating RSS feeds into your e-mail newsletter allows you to send it out on an increasing basis. Additionally, by setting up a template at the onset of inserting RSS feeds into your newsletter you don’t have to worry about the format after the initial set-up. As well, with the various types of e-mail formats, such as html and rich text, the RSS feeds will minimize distortion of the original formatting. This is important when you spend much effort to produce a nicely formatted newsletter, that doesn’t translate to your subscribers’ e-mail server.
By reducing the time to publish with automatic information feeds, it enables you to spend your time more efficiently. It will also help increase traffic to your website because you will be viewed as providing information that is perceived as specific to the reader, thus adding to their confidence in your overall website.
In the advent of so many e-mail newsletters, integrating RSS feeds into your newsletter will distinguish yours from the rest of the masses. It also enhances the marketability of your website because often your newsletter serves as the image of your entire site. Reminding subscribers that you are constantly adjusting to meet their needs can be seen through the content of your newsletter. Keep it original by using RSS feeds and maximize your e-mail newsletter and website traffic.
