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Blogs without any doubt are powerful tools to promote products, services and thoughts and idea. The idea of blogging has been around for many decades even the internet became as famous as it is today. However, during the old days, people had to struggle quite a bit if they wanted to be in touch with the blogs that were the favorite to them. Posting of blogs was also a big problem. It was done by bookmarking the URL link. The site had to be visited daily for new updates and contents. It really was a big effort. Hence, if you ask those who belonged to the old world, they will tell you how tough and how much of an effort was needed for it. Checking on contents and blogs each time by making use of the bookmarks was certainly not the way forward.

How Have Things Changed Now

The emergence of new technologies and the growing popularity of RSS feeds has changed the way in which people now view and read blogs. RSS stands for Rich Site Summary while some others also prefer to call it as Really Simple Syndication. This is a simple, effective and wonderful way that bloggers could use for boosting readership. It also will allow them to make their content accessible than ever before. Further, readers who are in touch with these blogs will also be able to connected and be in the loop always. RSS is becoming critical and indispensable and even big names like The Huffington Post, New York Time and others are offering their readers and stakeholders RSS subscription options. However, this depends on choosing the right RSS Plugin. There are many of them and you could look at the likes of Theme Mason who is considered to be one of the best. You can check the product out here https://thememason.com/plugins/rss-retriever/

What Is The Function Of RSS Feed?

Whenever a new content is published, having a blog feed helps the readers to post a stream of comments and posts. It also helps readers to keep tab of the blogs and does away with the need for physically visiting the site and checking for new blogs. Therefore, it certainly is a win-win situation both for the readers and also blog writers and publishers. The blog writers will be able to reach out to more number of readers and information seekers, who could later become prospective customers or stakeholders. On the other hand, the readers will stand to benefit from quality blogs and they will get notification whenever a new blog has been uploaded on the site and is ready for reading. Feed retrievers like Theme Mason could help in both the blog posters and individuals to take advantage of the functions associated with RSS feed.

Some More Benefits Of Blog Feed

There are obviously a number of advantages as far as blog feeds are concerned. To begin with they are extremely east to set up and manage. Further, whether it is news feed or wordpress blog feed it does provide quite a bit of value to the readers. We are listing down a few obvious advantages of RSS blog feeds. We will then try and learn the basics that may be able to answer the question how to add a blog feed to a WordPress website.

• Contents become more accessible. There are many readers who have the habit of reading at least 20 blogs a day. For such readers, visiting different sites and finding out fresh blogs is not feasible. Hence, for digital marketers, this is a big problem because their contents and blog articles would get lost in the crowd. Readers will not be able to check it whenever blogs are published. When the blog publishers offered a feed, it will be possible to check the blog regularly and they also will get notifications whenever a new blog has been posted.
• It could be useful when the internet connection is slow. Though ideally we would like to have razor sharp and fast internet connections, this is not possible for many. Having a feed comes in handy for readers who often have to encounter slow internet connection. It prevents the need for visiting each and every blog and loads each page individually.
• It facilitates in constant searches. RSS feeds are extremely useful for digital marketing purposes. If you are into marketing of health supplements and regularly post blogs on your websites, having a RSS feed certainly helps. Readers can use the right key words such as health supplements in the feed. The will instantaneously grant them with results page that are full of health supplement related blog posts. The reader also has the option of feeding it in a feed reader. It will help to create a readymade and constant search for health supplements.
• Contents can also be retrieved easily. Quite often readers like a blog article, read it and then forget about it. At a later point in time, they would like to have a look at the article once again for various reasons. In many cases this may not be possible because the article might get lost in the din. In such situations, having the right knowledge for adding a blog feed to your WordPress website could indeed play a big role. You have feed readers that come with archiving possibilities and it can retrieve old blog posts. This makes the reader and information seeker happy because they can have easy access to blog that are weeks, months or even years old.
• When you have the right RSS feed coupled with a good WordPress website, as a reader you can easily share contents. The RSS feed permits the user to export the feed and post the same on their site with the help of a Javascript code. This certainly is a great way to reach new readers and also promote wide sharing of contents.

Hence, it is quite obvious that there are obvious advantages and benefits associated with RSS feed. However, the important point is to how to add a feed to your blog and with a WordPress website it is possible to do it quite easily. It therefore does make sense to contact RSS retrievers like Theme Mason for some of the finest themes and RSS feeds.

The method and type that you choose for adding a feed to your blog would depend on a number of factors. The most important factor is the blogging platform you use. There is no denying the fact that of all the platforms, WordPress is considered to be the best. You also should bear in mind that most blogging platforms come with their own built in feed readers. There are sites like BlogSpot and Blogger which are static websites. Here as a poster of blogs, you may have to put in that extra effort.

Why Choose WordPress

As is the case with most blogging platforms, WordPress comes with an inbuilt provision for RSS feeds. This is suitable for comments and content. Whenever a page is published on WordPress, it has a meta tag embedded into it. This meta tag points to the location of the RSS feed of the site. In other words, WordPress users have things quite easy for them. They do not have to do anything difficult or additional for adding an RSS feed to their blog. They can instead promote their RSS feeds quite easily. All that they have to do is to incorporate a simple RSS icon into the sidebar of the blog content. This does increased the visibility of the feed quite significantly. Further, it also helps readers to discover and also subscribe to it. Further, those who use WordPress can also boost the efficiency and productivity of their feeds. They can do it by adding post thumbnails or even separating the RSS into different categories or also based on different post types.

Hence, it is quite obvious that there are a number of advantages and benefits using WordPress website. However, you must know how to add blog wordpress blog feed. This again is not very difficult and we are happy to share some of the simple tips and steps that could help you to answer the question how to add a blog feed to your WordPress website.

There are basically eight steps that you must follow for adding a blog feed to your WordPress website. They are being listed below. We will also have a brief look at each of the steps in some detail so that the readers are able to get a reasonably good idea about adding blog feeds to their WordPress websites.

1. Add a new blank page
2. Have a name for the blank page
3. Blank text boxes
4. Publish button
5. Settings the “Settings” right.
6. Choosing the right page that has been created
7. Decide on the number of posts you want to display
8. Have the blog page and other settings saved

1. Add A New Blank Page

You will have to go to the dashboard. In the dashboard you have to choose Pages>Add New. Once this has been done, the Add New Page will appear. This blank page can be used for writing a new post to your WordPress blog or website.

2. Have A Name For The Blank Page

Each blog page must be unique for easy identification and readability. You must understand that this will be the main page as far as your blog is concerned. You must name the blog appropriately. This will automatically set the page slug to blog option.

3. Blank Text Boxes

The text box has to be left blank. This is because you would not want to have any contents displayed on the blog. On the contrary, WordPress has the facility to display your blog posts making use of this page. This happens after you have assigned it as your blog.

4. Publish Button

The next step is to save the blank blog page. Once it has been saved to your database, it has to be published to your WordPress websites. There is a link that helps you with the publishing process. You also then need to assign the page that has been created as the Blog Page. This will make your blog visible to the readers.

5. Settings the “Settings” Right

The reading setting page has to be opened and necessary changes to the settings have to be made. This is self-explanatory and flexible. You can change the settings according to your specific needs and requirements.

6. Choosing The Right Page That Has Been Created

You have a post page drop-down list and can choose this for the page that has just been created. To cite an example, you can select the blog page and consider it as a posts page, or you can even choose posts and blogs that have been created earlier and posted.

7. Decide On The Number Of Posts That You Want To Display

This is also referred to as the Blog Pages Show Section. It helps you o decide on the number of posts that you wish to display in the text box of the posts. It has unique setting facilities. This allows you to specify and mention the number of posts that you would like to appear at that page at any given point in time. For example, if you enter 7, the blog page will show the last seven posts that you have made to your blog. This is a free field and it will allow you to input the number of posts based on your preference. However, you must bear in mind that it will display only the blogs that are there in the page. If the number is less than 7, it will show only the as many number of blog posts as available.

8. Have The Blog Page And Other Settings Saved

The options that you have set are saved and your blog will be located in the actual domain name you have created. For example if the domain name is XYZ, then it will also be saved under http://yourdomain.com/blog (where XYZ.com is your actual domain name. The link can be added to the blog under the navigation menu and it can be done by adding it the custom menu.

The Final Word

We are sure that the above would have given a reasonably good and clear idea about wordpress blog feed and how to go about it. It also would have given the readers an insight into the various reasons as to why it makes sense to go in for RSS feeds for the various blog posts that are posted on your WordPress website. It will help in reaching out to more customers and also the readers will be able to get access to new blogs and avoid searching for the same in the websites like searching for a haystack in a needle.

Nowadays, staying updated with the latest news is a breeze, thanks to plenty of useful RSS readers. In case you don’t yet know, RSS Reader stands for ‘Rich site summary’. It constitutes a family of web feed formats that are used for transferring information from blogs, websites and other similar platforms. RSS feed was developed to simplify the process of transferring information between websites and users in an easy and readable form, and going by their current popularity, they definitely seem to have met their goal. But with so many RSS readers out there, how do you know, which one makes the cut? Well, that’s what we will find out in the next few sections.

Feedly

If you’re looking for an RSS reader with a simple, clutter-free interface- Feedly is a great option. Featuring an option called ‘add content’, this RSS reader helps you to seamlessly filter out new content. In this way, you also come across the content that you are actually looking to subscribe. Although Feedly is free to use, it also has a paid subscription plan. Available at $5, this plan comes with more features while also allowing you to integrate the feeds on web platforms like Dropbox and Evernote.

Inoreader

Inspired by Google reader’s demise, Inoreader is a simple and incredibly functional RSS reader that comes with plenty of configurable settings. Like other RSS readers in the market, Inoreader too has a simple interface and highly navigable features. You can use this nifty tool for subscribing to your favorite blogs, Google+ feeds, news portals and other websites. What’s more, you can also tailor personalized rules that’ll perform tasks like sending emails or sending to instapper. Currently, Inoreader comes with four different view modes, and four themes for user interface.

Newsblur

Available in both free and paid plans, Newsblur lets you subscribe to more than 64 feeds. You can read the entire text of these sites on the web reader, and also save those stories that you are looking to read later on. The best part: you won’t even have to click aggressively while using Newsblur, simply scrolling will work. Articles will display one after another thereby ensuring glitch-free reading. One of the defining aspects of Newsblur is the fact that it allows sophisticated filtering. With this feature, you can automatically underline or hide stories according to your mentioned criteria. This way, you only get to see the content you’re actually willing to read.

The Old Reader

If you’re fond of devouring every kind of content, The Old Reader is just the right platform for you. Not only does it come with some awesome content, but this tool also allows you to share recommendations with friends more comfortably. Unlike most other RSS readers, The Old Reader will also suggest you the content read and liked by your buddies. The free plan of this app lets you read articles as and when you want to, while also allowing you to subscribe to up to 100 feeds.

Feeder

With a compelling and intuitive interface, Feeder is one of the best RSS readers out there. With extended support for integrations like Gengo, Upwork and more, the dashboard of this tool improves your productivity to great lengths. If you’re using the web version, the up and down arrows can be used for browsing through stories. There’s also another feature called Simple few that only lets you see text and the multimedia contents.

Digg Reader

Digg Reader is an online RSS Reader that comes free of cost. This news aggregator boasts a clean and highly navigable user-interface that lines up every feature that you’d need for reading and sorting your RSS feeds. Since this RSS reader also integrates with alternative web services like Instapaper, it gets easier for you to bookmark all the posts that you are planning to read later.

RSSOwl

RSSowl is a solid application for organizing, listing and reading all the content you love. The interface of this tool is extremely comfortable, and this alone, makes it easier for you to sort through the articles that you are looking to read. With cross-platform functionality, news filters and a feature for instant search, this application comes with every other feature that you’d expect from a premium grade RSS reader. What’s more, it also lets you save your searches, and notifies you about the kind of content you are looking to read.

FlipBoard

One of the best RSS reader apps, Flipboard comes with a magazine-style interface and is designed to offer an entirely new kind of experience than your regular RSS feed reader. While it isn’t as well-assorted as Feedly, you will still find a wide range of stories from whole new perspectives. In fact, there’s a special section called ‘What’s your Passion’ that lets you follow the topics and ideas that interest you. Despite functioning like a news aggregator, this is one tool that’ll allow you to transform your RSS feeds to a perfectly curated magazine.

Flow Reader

Flow Reader is a web-based RSS reader that lets you stay in sync with all the publications you love. Additionally, it also keeps you updated about the trending topics on Reddit, Youtube and Twitter. With this web application, you get the chance of subscribing to as many blogs as you’d want. What’s more, you’d also get a feature where you can check posts in a reverse chronological order. This will not just let you go through headlines faster but will also connect you with the ones that actually draws your attention.

NewsFlow

With a simple interface, this is one of those RSS readers that offers you a truly seamless reading experience. From letting you organize categories, to allowing you to add your favorite sources as feeds, this is one of the best RSS readers out there. As you add an RSS feed here, you will find ample options to tweak it according to your preference.

Bottom Line

So now that you know about the best RSS readers, explore your options, and pick the one that perfectly lives up to your needs.

Overview: Create RSS Feed in WordPress

WordPress comes with default RSS feeds built into the website builder. WordPress can generate feeds for all your website posts as well as corresponding comments on default. WordPress has vast plugins that make it easy to create new RSS feeds as well as modify existing ones. The default feeds which are added to website pages tend to be enough for most people; however, you can customize the feeds accordingly. 

Creating custom WordPress RSS feeds

If you are interested in creating custom WordPress RSS feeds from scratch; you’ll need to move beyond the beginner WordPress user level. Before you get started, create a complete site backup to avoid losing critical site data.

To get started, create a new feed in your theme’s “functions.php” file. Alternatively, you can do this in a site-specific plug-in. To trigger the custom RSS function which adds a new feed, use the code below;

After adding a new feed, you must create a callback function to generate the required feed. Use the code displayed below in your theme’s “functions.php” file or site-specific plug-in. 

The purpose of the code above is linking to a separate template file via the get_template_part function – keeping functionality separate from the layout. The code can also be used directly. The get_template_part has a slug and name argument that simply “tells” WordPress to look for specific file templates. 

It is advisable to define the slug to correspond to the type of feed being created – RSS in this case. The name should match the feed name configured earlier. After “telling” WordPress to search for the feed template, you can proceed and create it using the code below;

The above code will generate a custom WordPress RSS feed that can be amended as you wish to display any kind of information required from comments to post images. The post count variable in the code allows you to control the no. of posts displayed in your feed. The excerpt_rss function displays excerpts for every post. Posts without excerpts will show the first 120-words of content.

Displaying the WordPress RSS feed

To display your new custom feed, you should proceed and flush WordPress rewrite rules. To do this, login to WordPress admin then click on permalinks under settings. Proceed and save the changes to flush the rewrite rules. 

Your custom RSS feed can be accessed by visiting: yourdomain.com/feed/feedname. Your feedname is the name given to your add_feed function.

RSS feed plugin: An easier alternative to creating custom WordPress RSS feeds

The above guide on creating a custom RSS feed in WordPress can be complicated to a person with beginner WordPress knowledge. If that sounds like you, installing an RSS feed plugin is a better option.

WordPress RSS Feed Retriever is a great alternative to customizing WordPress RSS feeds from scratch. The plugin fetches a feed/s and displays them using a short code. Simply; copy and paste, replace the URL among other properties, as you wish.

Installing the WordPress RSS Feed Retriever is easy. Simply download the zip file to your WordPress directory plugins, unzip the file and activate the plugin via your WordPress plugins menu. Proceed by using example codes anywhere in your website content. You can change the URL among other properties as you wish.

Benefits of using an RSS feed plugin to create an RSS feed in WordPress

The RSS Feed Retriever has notable benefits that include, but aren’t limited to; easy setup and unmatched control on display. You can control how you display feed content, i.e. as an excerpt or entirely. You can control excerpt word count, add a “read more” link and display feeds as you wish using a short code including text widgets. 

There are no limits to the number of feeds when using the RSS Feed Retriever. Other notable benefits revolve around simplicity and speed when creating feeds. You can also control item order, put multiple feeds in one list, set cache time and much more!

This RSS feed plugin is also lightweight which ensures your website speed remains optimal. You can use the RSS feed retriever to create custom news aggregators. The plugin can also be used to create and post RSS parsing feeds on any site page/s you choose.

Introduction to RSS feeds

RSS feeds have revolutionized the way we interact with online content. RSS which stands for Rich Site Summary or Really Simple Syndication has made it easy to browse a vast web. Instead of repeatedly checking different sites for updates or new content, RSS feeds offer you automatic updates.

How RSS feeds work

RSS feeds are simply text files which feed directories allowing subscribers to see content immediately it is published or updated. Content can be viewed even more easily using an RSS feed reader or RSS aggregator which is a simpler way of viewing all your RSS feeds at once using one interface.

Getting started

Although some websites don’t publish an RSS feed, most do. To set up a personal feed, follow the steps below;

Step 1: Download an RSS reader or RSS aggregator: There are many free and commercial RSS readers, apps and extensions available online. Download any of these on your mobile device or computer.

Step 2: Visit your favorite sites and search for an RSS link. In case you don’t find one, search the name of your favorite website on Google and include the word RSS. Doing this should bring you an RSS link if one exists.

Step 3: Copy and paste the RSS link of your favorite website on your RSS reader. Repeat for all your favorite websites.

Important: Some RSS aggregators are designed to offer suggestions of related sites that have feeds available. To use your RSS reader, login to the webpage of the respective reader or run the reader software or app. This should allow you to scan the feeds of websites you love visiting instantly. You can make customizations such as arranging feeds into different folders, just like emails. You can also set alerts to get instant updates when specific web feeds are updated.

Custom RSS feeds have sites of your choice delivering the latest directly on your screen. Instead of visiting multiple sites to view the latest in sports, weather, gossip, politics, etc., your just need to visit your RSS aggregator and see the latest in all those sites displayed on one window.

Types of RSS readers

1. Web-based RSS feed readers: These types of readers allow website visitors to read feeds via a website browser. Web-based readers are the most convenient to use. They are also easy to setup. Feedly is a good example of a web-based reader.
2. Built-in browser feed readers: The main browsers in use today have built-in RSS readers with countless plug-ins and extensions offering unmatched functionality.
3. Desktop readers: These types of RSS aggregators are recommendable to individuals who prefer installing something, i.e. an app or software that offers desktop updates.
4. Email-based RSS feed readers: If you prefer updates delivered via mail, you should consider using an email-based feed reader. Google Alerts and Mozilla Thunderbird is a great example of an email-based reader. The reader has countless custom options offering both website owners and visitors unmatched functionality.
5. Mobile feed RSS readers: Most people today browse the internet via mobile devices that include Smartphones, tablets, and laptops. If your website is visited by mobile device users, you should consider incorporating RSS readers that are mobile-friendly. The same applies for website visitors who use their mobile devices to access the internet. A mobile feed reader is better for such internet users. Feedly and Flipboard are great examples of mobile readers.

Benefits of RSS readers

RSS feeds are beneficial to both website owners and visitors. Displaying an RSS feed on a website is beneficial to a website owner because it allows website visitors to get updates on new content in a faster and more convenient manner. Since the internet is vast and competition is stiff, having a better way to deliver new content offers website owners unmatched competitive advantage. From a website visitor’s perspective, RSS improves the user experience. Website visitors don’t need to waste time visiting every single website to check if there are updates or not.

Popular RSS aggregators

It’s advisable to try several readers before selecting a preferred reader. As mentioned earlier, there are many readers out there. Some are free while others have both free and paid versions. Examples of popular RSS readers are listed below in regards to the operating system or browser in use.

• Feedly: Recommendable for Android, iOS or webPanda: Chrome extension recommendable for web and iOS.
• Feeder: recommendable for Chrome, Android and iOS.
• Reeder 3: recommendable for iOS and Mac.