How to Ask Your Web Designer to Enable Your Website’s RSS Feed
If you want to make your website’s content available via an RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feed, and you’re not sure how to enable it, here’s a step-by-step guide to effectively communicate your request to your web designer.
- Understand What an RSS Feed Does
Before asking your web designer, ensure you understand what an RSS feed is and how it benefits your website. An RSS feed allows readers to subscribe to your content using feed readers or email services. It can also be used to syndicate content to other platforms, automate social sharing, or distribute updates to audiences easily. - Check If RSS Is Already Enabled
Most modern WordPress sites have an RSS feed enabled by default. You can check this by adding /feed/ to your site’s URL. For example:
https://yourwebsite.com/feed/
If a page loads showing XML data, your RSS feed is already active, and no further action is required. If it isn’t working, your web designer may need to configure or troubleshoot it. - Write a Clear and Specific Request
When contacting your web designer, clarity is key. Use a professional tone and include relevant details to avoid back-and-forth communication. Here’s a sample email or message template:
Subject: Request to Enable RSS Feed on Website
Hi [Web Designer’s Name],
I hope this message finds you well! I’d like to make sure that an RSS feed is enabled on my website so that my visitors can subscribe to my content updates.
Could you please check if the RSS feed is active? If not, would you mind enabling it for me? Here are some specifics for the request:
Platform: My site is built on WordPress.
Default Feed: I’d like the default WordPress RSS feed activated (e.g., https://mywebsite.com/feed/).
Additional Features (if applicable): If there’s an option to customize the feed (e.g., include featured images, post summaries, or exclude certain categories), I’d love to discuss those as well.
Please let me know if you need more details from me to get this set up. I look forward to hearing from you!
Best regards,
[Your Name]
- Follow Up with Questions or Clarifications
If your web designer responds with technical terms or options you don’t understand, don’t hesitate to ask for clarification. For example, you could ask:
“What plugin or method are you using to enable the feed?”
“Can we customize the feed to only include certain types of posts?”
- Verify Once Enabled
After the RSS feed is enabled, test it using an RSS reader (like Feedly or an RSS validation tool) to ensure it’s working as expected. Share the feed URL with your audience or integrate it with services like Mailchimp if needed.
Bonus Tip: RSS Plugins for Enhanced Functionality
If your site needs a customized RSS feed, you can suggest a plugin like:
Category Specific RSS Feed Subscription (to create feeds for specific categories).
Let your designer know if you’re interested in any of these options to further enhance your site’s RSS capabilities.
By following these steps, you’ll provide your web designer with clear instructions and ensure a smoother process to enable and optimize your website’s RSS feed.