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RSS Blocks In Email Builder

Are you a business looking for a more efficient way to communicate with your customers? Consider using an RSS feed for emails! This powerful tool lets you easily distribute your content to subscribers, keeping them up-to-date on your latest news and pr

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On this page
  1. RSS Header
  2. Basic Vs Custom in RSS Header
  3. RSS Items
  4. Basic Vs Custom in RSS Items
  5. HTML Based RSS Feed
  6. Scheduling:
  7. Sending Options:
  8. Testing RSS Emails
  9. View and Edit RSS Campaign:
  10. Actions:

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Overview

The RSS Elements in the GHL Customer Care Email Builder allow you to automatically send emails containing dynamically inserted content when a new RSS (Real Simple Syndication) item is published. 

Usage

RSS Header

RSS Header (image 1 of 13) What this shows The RSS Elements in the GHL Customer Care Email Builder allow you to automatically send emails containing dynamically inserted content when… What this shows Illustrates the "RSS Header" section of "RSS Blocks In Email Builder". This screenshot appears in the "RSS Header" section of "RSS Blocks In Email Builder". The text alongside this image reads: The RSS Elements in the GHL Customer Care Email Builder allow you to automatically send emails containing dynamically inserted content when a new RSS (Real Simple Syndication) item is published. Immediately after, the guide continues: This will dynamically populate tags from your RSS Feed (learn more about the tag here). The RSS Header Element supports the following RSS channel tags - use their respective Custom Value to populate the email with the…. Image 1 of 13 What this coversThe RSS Elements in the GHL Customer Care Email Builder allow you to automatically send emails containing dynamically inserted content when a new RSS (Real Simple Syndication) item is published.
Buttons and menus referenced RSS Header BlockRSS TagsCustom Value For HL
Next stepThis will dynamically populate <channel> tags from your RSS Feed (learn more about the <channel> tag here). The RSS Header Element supports the following RSS channel tags - use their respective Custom Value to populate the email with the corresponding tag value:

RSS Header Block

This will dynamically populate <channel> tags from your RSS Feed (learn more about the <channel> tag here). The RSS Header Element supports the following RSS channel tags - use their respective Custom Value to populate the email with the corresponding tag value:

RSS TagsCustom Value For HL
<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, you'll see two options in the "RSS Editing Options" dropdown selector: Basic and Custom.
Basic Vs Custom in RSS Header (image 2 of 13) What this shows When using the RSS Header block, you'll see two options in the "RSS Editing Options" dropdown selector: Basic and Custom. What this shows Illustrates the "Basic Vs Custom in RSS Header" section of "RSS Blocks In Email Builder". This screenshot appears in the "Basic Vs Custom in RSS Header" section of "RSS Blocks In Email Builder". The text alongside this image reads: When using the RSS Header block, you'll see two options in the "RSS Editing Options" dropdown selector: Basic and Custom. This part of the guide covers 2 fields, listed below. Immediately after, the guide continues: Basic: adds the following non-editable text in Text Editor. Image 2 of 13 What to chooseWhen using the RSS Header block, you'll see two options in the "RSS Editing Options" dropdown selector: Basic and Custom.
Fields in this part of the guide Basic: adds the following non-editable text in Text EditorCustom: adds the following editable text in Text Editor
Buttons and menus referenced Basic
Next stepBasic: adds the following non-editable text in Text Editor
  • Basic: adds the following non-editable text in Text Editor
    <h1 class="h1">{{rss_feed.title}}</h1>    {{rss_feed.description}}<br />    <br />
    • Custom: adds the following editable text in Text Editor
    Updates from {{rss_feed.url}}    <h1>{{rss_feed.title}}</h1>    <strong>{{rss_feed.description}}</strong><br />    <br />    <strong>In the {{rss_feed.date}} edition:</strong><br />
NOTE: The four custom RSS <channel> variables can also be used in the subject field like this:
Basic Vs Custom in RSS Header (image 3 of 13) What this shows Updates from {{rss_feed.url}} {{rss_feed.title}} {{rss_feed.description}} In the… What this shows Illustrates the "Basic Vs Custom in RSS Header" section of "RSS Blocks In Email Builder". This screenshot appears in the "Basic Vs Custom in RSS Header" section of "RSS Blocks In Email Builder". The text alongside this image reads: Updates from {{rss_feed.url}} {{rss_feed.title}} {{rss_feed.description}} In the {{rss_feed.date}} edition:. This part of the guide covers 2 fields, listed below. Immediately after, the guide continues: The RSS Items block accepts the following Custom Values and will dynamically insert their corresponding RSS Tags. Image 3 of 13 What this coversUpdates from {{rss_feed.url}} <h1>{{rss_feed.title}}</h1> <strong>{{rss_feed.description}}</strong><br /> <br /> <strong>In the {{rss_feed.date}} edition:</strong><br />
Fields in this part of the guide Basic: adds the following non-editable text in Text EditorCustom: adds the following editable text in Text Editor
Buttons and menus referenced Basic
Next stepThe RSS Items block accepts the following Custom Values and will dynamically insert their corresponding RSS Tags:

RSS Items

RSS Items Block

The RSS Items block accepts the following Custom Values and will dynamically insert their corresponding RSS Tags:

RSS Tags Custom ValuesDescription
<title/>{{rss_item.title}}
The title of the RSS item, usually a blog post.
title
<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
<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`. We will provide support for custom formatting in the future.
<dc:creator>{{rss_item.author}}
The author of the RSS item
media:content
<media:content>{{rss_item.imageUrl }}
This will provide the src URL of image as text in order to render it as image, use {{rss_img}}
{{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 two options in the "RSS Editing Options" dropdown selector: Basic and Custom.
Basic Vs Custom in RSS Items (image 4 of 13) What this shows Basic Vs Custom in RSS Items When using the RSS Items block, you'll see two options in the "RSS Editing Options" dropdown selector: Basic and Custom. What this shows Illustrates the "Basic Vs Custom in RSS Items" section of "RSS Blocks In Email Builder". This screenshot appears in the "Basic Vs Custom in RSS Items" section of "RSS Blocks In Email Builder". The text alongside this image reads: Basic Vs Custom in RSS Items When using the RSS Items block, you'll see two options in the "RSS Editing Options" dropdown selector: Basic and Custom. Immediately after, the guide continues: {{#rss_items rss_items}} {{rss_item.title}} {{rss_item.content}} Read on &raquo; …. Image 4 of 13 What to chooseBasic Vs Custom in RSS Items When using the RSS Items block, you'll see two options in the "RSS Editing Options" dropdown selector: Basic and Custom.
Buttons and menus referenced RSS Items BlockRSS TagsCustom ValuesDescriptionBasic
Next step{{#rss_items rss_items}} <h2 class="mc-toc-title"><a href="{{rss_item.url}}" target="_blank"> {{rss_item.title}} </a> </h2> {{rss_item.content}} <br /> <a href="{{rss_item.url}}" target="_blank">Read on &raquo;</a><br /> <br /> {{/rss_items}}
    • Basic : adds the following non editable formatted text in Text Editor
          {{#rss_items rss_items}}      <h2 class="mc-toc-title"><a href="{{rss_item.url}}" target="_blank">   {{rss_item.title}}      </a> </h2>      {{rss_item.content}}      <br />      <a href="{{rss_item.url}}" target="_blank">Read on &raquo;</a><br />      <br />     {{/rss_items}}
    • Custom: adds the following formatted text and Text editor will become editable 
    {{#rss_items rss_items}}    <h2 class="mc-toc-title"><a href="{{rss_item.url}}" target="_blank">{{rss_item.title}}</a></h2>    <em>By {{rss_item.author}} on {{rss_item.date}}</em><br />    {{rss_item.content_full}}<br />    <a href="{{rss_item.url}}" target="_blank">Read in browser &raquo;</a><br />    <br />    {{/rss_items}}<br />    <br />    <br />    <h3 class="h3">Recent Articles:</h3>   {{#rss_items rss_items}}

HTML Based RSS Feed

The values returned by the RSS-based custom variable {{rss_item.title}} are HTML-escaped. For example, if the expression contains &, then the returned HTML-escaped output is generated as &amp; or if your RSS Feed has HTML-based text instead of plain text then it will be rendered as plain text.
If you don't want it to escape a value, use the "triple-stash", {{{:
Eg: if your RSS feed source is something like this
HTML Based RSS Feed (image 5 of 13) What this shows Eg: if your RSS feed source is something like this What this shows Illustrates the "HTML Based RSS Feed" section of "RSS Blocks In Email Builder". This screenshot appears in the "HTML Based RSS Feed" section of "RSS Blocks In Email Builder". The text alongside this image reads: Eg: if your RSS feed source is something like this. Immediately after, the guide continues: without "triple-stash" it will render like this. Image 5 of 13 What this coversEg: if your RSS feed source is something like this Next stepwithout "triple-stash" it will render like this
without "triple-stash" it will render like this
HTML Based RSS Feed (image 6 of 13) What this shows without "triple-stash" it will render like this What this shows Illustrates the "HTML Based RSS Feed" section of "RSS Blocks In Email Builder". This screenshot appears in the "HTML Based RSS Feed" section of "RSS Blocks In Email Builder". The text alongside this image reads: without "triple-stash" it will render like this. Immediately after, the guide continues: once you will use "triple-stash" {{{rss_item.content}}} it will render like this. Image 6 of 13 What this coverswithout "triple-stash" it will render like this Next steponce you will use "triple-stash" {{{rss_item.content}}} it will render like this
once you will use "triple-stash" {{{rss_item.content}}} it will render like this
HTML Based RSS Feed (image 7 of 13) What this shows once you will use "triple-stash" {{{rss_item.content}}} it will render like this What this shows Illustrates the "HTML Based RSS Feed" section of "RSS Blocks In Email Builder". This screenshot appears in the "HTML Based RSS Feed" section of "RSS Blocks In Email Builder". The text alongside this image reads: once you will use "triple-stash" {{{rss_item.content}}} it will render like this. Immediately after, the guide continues: To schedule RSS Feed based emails. Image 7 of 13 What this coversonce you will use "triple-stash" {{{rss_item.content}}} it will render like this Next stepTo schedule RSS Feed based emails:

 

Scheduling:

To schedule RSS Feed based emails:
  • navigate to the "Send or Schedule" tab
  • select the "RSS Email Campaign" sending option
  • give your campaign a name in the "Campaign Name" field
  • paste your RSS feed url in the "RSS Feed URL" field. 
Scheduling: (image 8 of 13) What this shows navigate to the "Send or Schedule" tab select the "RSS Email Campaign" sending option give your campaign a name in the "Campaign Name"… What this shows Illustrates the "Scheduling:" section of "RSS Blocks In Email Builder". This screenshot appears in the "Scheduling:" section of "RSS Blocks In Email Builder". The text alongside this image reads: navigate to the "Send or Schedule" tab select the "RSS Email Campaign" sending option give your campaign a name in the "Campaign Name" field paste your RSS feed url in the "RSS Feed URL" field. This part of the guide covers 1 field, listed below. Immediately after, the guide continues: "When we should send": Here you can determine whether RSS Emails should go out Daily, Weekly, or Monthly as well as at what time the emails should go out. Send on: Here you can choose the Day(s) of the week on which you want to send the…. Image 8 of 13 Where to gonavigate to the "Send or Schedule" tab select the "RSS Email Campaign" sending option give your campaign a name in the "Campaign Name" field paste your RSS feed url in the "RSS Feed URL" field.
Fields in this part of the guide give your campaign a name in the "Campaign Name" field
Next step"When we should send": Here you can determine whether RSS Emails should go out Daily, Weekly, or Monthly as well as at what time the emails should go out. Send on: Here you can choose the Day(s) of the week on which you want to send the campaign
All 4 steps in this procedure
  1. navigate to the "Send or Schedule" tab
  2. select the "RSS Email Campaign" sending option
  3. give your campaign a name in the "Campaign Name" field
  4. paste your RSS feed url in the "RSS Feed URL" field.

Sending Options:

  • "When we should send": Here you can determine whether RSS Emails should go out Daily, Weekly, or Monthly as well as at what time the emails should go out.
  • Send on: Here you can choose the Day(s) of the week on which you want to send the campaign
Once all inputs fields filled along with the recipient, in Review and Send side panel You will see following new information
    • Email type
    • RSS Feed URL
    • Repeat After
    • Sending Options: (image 9 of 13) What this shows "When we should send": Here you can determine whether RSS Emails should go out Daily, Weekly, or Monthly as well as at what time the… What this shows Shows what this covers for step 4 of 4 in the "Sending Options:" section of "RSS Blocks In Email Builder". This screenshot accompanies step 4 of 4 in the "Sending Options:" section of "RSS Blocks In Email Builder". For context, this section explains: "When we should send": Here you can determine whether RSS Emails should go out Daily, Weekly, or Monthly as well as at what time the emails should go out. Send on: Here you can choose the Day(s) of the week on which you want to send the campaign. This part of the guide covers 3 fields, listed below. Step 4 of 4Image 9 of 13
      Fields in this part of the guide Email typeRSS Feed URLRepeat After
      Example values
      Email type
      priya.raman@northgatedental.com
      RSS Feed URL
      https://northgatedental.com

      Illustrative values showing the expected format. They are not read from the screenshot.

      All 3 steps in this procedure
      1. Email type
      2. RSS Feed URL
      3. Repeat After

Testing RSS Emails

When using the "Send Test Email" functionality with an email that has RSS Elements, you will see a new "RSS Feed URL" field where you'll need to provide the RSS Feed URL from where you want to pull the content. Without this, all RSS tag based custom variables will replace by empty text.

  • Testing RSS Emails (image 10 of 13) What this shows When using the "Send Test Email" functionality with an email that has RSS Elements, you will see a new " RSS Feed URL" field where you'll… What this shows Shows what this covers for step 1 of 1 in the "Testing RSS Emails" section of "RSS Blocks In Email Builder". This screenshot accompanies step 1 of 1 in the "Testing RSS Emails" section of "RSS Blocks In Email Builder". For context, this section explains: When using the "Send Test Email" functionality with an email that has RSS Elements, you will see a new " RSS Feed URL" field where you'll need to provide the RSS Feed URL from where you want to pull the content. Without this, all RSS tag based custom variables will replace by empty text. Step 1 of 1Image 10 of 13
    Buttons and menus referenced RSS Feed URL"
NOTE: If you try to Schedule RSS Element based email template through normal scheduling options (send now, schedule for later, send in drip mode), all RSS tags based custom variable will replace by empty text.

View and Edit RSS Campaign:

You can see your scheduled RSS Campaigns in the Scheduled Tab, where you'll see the type listed as RSS. For other scheduled emails (send now, schedule for later, send in drip mode), the type will be Normal.
View and Edit RSS Campaign: (image 11 of 13) What this shows You can see your scheduled RSS Campaigns in the Scheduled Tab, where you'll see the type listed as RSS. What this shows Illustrates the "View and Edit RSS Campaign:" section of "RSS Blocks In Email Builder". This screenshot appears in the "View and Edit RSS Campaign:" section of "RSS Blocks In Email Builder". The text alongside this image reads: You can see your scheduled RSS Campaigns in the Scheduled Tab, where you'll see the type listed as RSS. For other scheduled emails (send now, schedule for later, send in drip mode), the type will be Normal. Immediately after, the guide continues: The example above is an RSS email set to send Daily and we can see the Next Execution time will be at 2 pm. Once the 2 pm email has been sent, it will be marked as complete and a new scheduling/execution will be scheduled with the same…. Image 11 of 13 What to fill inYou can see your scheduled RSS Campaigns in the Scheduled Tab, where you'll see the type listed as RSS. For other scheduled emails (send now, schedule for later, send in drip mode), the type will be Normal. Next stepThe example above is an RSS email set to send Daily and we can see the Next Execution time will be at 2 pm. Once the 2 pm email has been sent, it will be marked as complete and a new scheduling/execution will be scheduled with the same configuration (RSS Feed URL, send Daily) with the following day's date.
The example above is an RSS email set to send Daily and we can see the Next Execution time will be at 2 pm. Once the 2 pm email has been sent, it will be marked as complete and a new scheduling/execution will be scheduled with the same configuration (RSS Feed URL, send Daily) with the following day's date.

 

Actions:

With RSS type scheduling you can perform the following actions:
  • Edit: If you click the pencil icon to edit, you will see a confirmation modal asking you to confirm that you would like to cancel the currently scheduled email and re-schedule a new one.
    Step 1 of 1: Edit: If you click the pencil icon to edit, you will see a… What this shows Step 1 of 1: Edit: If you click the pencil icon to edit, you will see a confirmation modal asking you to confirm that you would like to cancel the… What this shows Shows how to confirm for step 1 of 1 in the "Actions:" section of "RSS Blocks In Email Builder". This screenshot accompanies step 1 of 1 in the "Actions:" section of "RSS Blocks In Email Builder". At this point in the walkthrough you edit: If you click the pencil icon to edit, you will see a confirmation modal asking you to confirm that you would like to cancel the currently scheduled email and re-schedule a new one. Step 1 of 1Image 12 of 13 How to confirmEdit: If you click the pencil icon to edit, you will see a confirmation modal asking you to confirm that you would like to cancel the currently scheduled email and re-schedule a new one.
  • Once you click Confirm, it will cancel the current scheduling and open up a Email Builder with RSS Scheduling options pre-filled with the current cancelled scheduling information
    Step 1 of 1: Once you click Confirm, it will cancel the current scheduling and open… What this shows Step 1 of 1: Once you click Confirm, it will cancel the current scheduling and open up a Email Builder with RSS Scheduling options pre-filled with the… What this shows Shows how to confirm for step 1 of 1 in the "Actions:" section of "RSS Blocks In Email Builder". This screenshot accompanies step 1 of 1 in the "Actions:" section of "RSS Blocks In Email Builder". At this point in the walkthrough you once you click Confirm, it will cancel the current scheduling and open up a Email Builder with RSS Scheduling options pre-filled with the current cancelled scheduling information. Step 1 of 1Image 13 of 13 How to confirmOnce you click Confirm, it will cancel the current scheduling and open up a Email Builder with RSS Scheduling options pre-filled with the current cancelled scheduling information
  • Pause/Resume: You can also pause and resume the execution through the Pause/Resume actions
  • Delete: You can also delete the RSS scheduling. Deleting will first cancel the scheduling then delete it permanently from the system

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