Table of Contents
Key Takeaways
- Connecting an RSS feed to your social media accounts allows you to automatically share your latest content and drive more traffic
- The process involves finding your RSS feed URL, copying it, and pasting it into the appropriate settings on each social platform
- Using tools like Buffer or Hootsuite can help you connect multiple RSS feeds and schedule automated posting across networks
As an experienced content marketer and social media manager, I understand the importance of syndication and cross-promotion to maximize your reach. Connecting your RSS news feed to your social channels is a powerful way to ensure your latest blog posts, articles, and updates get automatically shared with your audience on platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
What is an RSS Feed?
RSS (Really Simple Syndication) is a web feed format used to publish frequently updated content like blog posts, news articles, podcasts, and videos in a standardized format. An RSS feed contains a summary of the content along with links leading back to the full posts on your website.
Most blogging platforms and content management systems generate RSS feeds by default. For example, WordPress sites typically have a main feed at yoursite.com/feed.
Benefits of Connecting RSS to Social Media
Increased Content Distribution: By connecting your RSS feed to social platforms, each new piece of content you publish gets automatically shared, helping you get more eyeballs on your latest work.
Saves Time: Instead of manually sharing each post, the RSS integration handles distribution for you, saving you hours of effort.
Consistent Posting Schedule: RSS feeds ensure a steady stream of content populating your social accounts, keeping you top-of-mind for your followers.
Drives More Traffic: Social posts with links back to your site can yield a steady flow of referral traffic and help grow your audience.
How to Find Your RSS Feed URL
The first step is locating the URL for your main RSS feed. Here are some common locations:
WordPress
yoursite.com/feed
Blogger
yourblog.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default
Squarespace
yoursite.com?format=rss
If you can’t find your feed URL, try Googling “your site RSS feed” or check your content management system’s settings.
Connecting RSS to Social Accounts
Once you have your feed URL, here are the steps to connect it to major social networks:
Facebook Page
- Click Settings > News Feed Preferences
- Add RSS feeds you’d like to share
- Paste your feed URL and assign a category
- Use a third-party tool like Dlvr.it, Buffer, or Hootsuite
- Connect your Twitter account
- Add your RSS feed URL
LinkedIn Page
- Click Admin Tools > Manage Updates
- Click “Designate a Third-Party Publisher”
- Paste your RSS feed URL
Instagram (via third-party tools)
- Connect your Instagram account to Buffer/Hootsuite
- Add your RSS feed URL
- Posts will be scheduled for sharing
Many social media management tools like Buffer, Hootsuite, and Dlvr.it offer native RSS integration, allowing you to connect multiple feeds and schedule automated posting across all your connected accounts from one dashboard.
Advanced Tips
Categorize Your Feeds: Most social platforms allow categorizing your RSS feeds (e.g. “Blog Posts,” “Videos,” etc.) so you can share different types of content separately.
Schedule Windows: Set specific time windows for your RSS posts to go out. This prevents overwhelming your audience if you publish a high volume of content.
Use Tracking Links: Many RSS tools allow adding UTM tracking codes to posted links for better analytics on social referral traffic.
Curate Other Feeds: In addition to your own content, you can add RSS feeds from other trusted sources in your industry to share a mix of your original and curated content.
By connecting your RSS feed to your social media accounts, you’ll amplify your content’s reach, maintain an active presence, and drive more traffic back to your website – without the hassle of constant manual sharing. Give it a try and watch your content spread like wildfire across the social web!
