Convert Email to RSS Feed & Embed as Blog Widget
The Evolution of Technology and a New Discovery
It's a common experience to find that once-innovative technologies become commonplace. What initially felt novel and exciting eventually integrates into our daily routines.
Consider the ability to send text messages via the internet, maintain a blog from a mobile phone, or utilize cloud storage for computer synchronization. These were groundbreaking concepts in their early stages.
However, as adoption increased, they simply became standard practices, blurring the lines between previously separate technological spheres.
This raises a question: are we approaching a point where genuinely new and exciting technological advancements become increasingly scarce?
Necessity Drives Innovation: Emails to RSS
The ancient philosopher Plato famously asserted that necessity is the driving force behind invention. This principle was recently demonstrated in my own experience.
I'd like to share a recent discovery with you – a method for transforming email content into an RSS feed and subsequently publishing it directly on your website.
This process offers a unique way to leverage existing email communications and present them in a readily accessible format for your audience.
Understanding the Process
Converting emails to an RSS feed allows you to repurpose content and expand your website's offerings without creating entirely new material.
By following a specific set of steps, you can effectively bridge the gap between email and web publishing, enhancing your online presence.
The following guide will detail the necessary procedures to successfully implement this technique.
Utilizing Email Updates Through an RSS Feed
Initially, the intention was to develop a sidebar widget for a website, enabling the dissemination of concise, single-line updates to visitors. This would function as a rapid alert system, bypassing the need for full-length posts until a later time – conceptually similar to an integrated Twitter feed.
Generating an RSS File from Email Correspondence
The process of transforming incoming emails into an RSS feed is not novel, yet readily available solutions that are both efficient and straightforward are uncommon. A valuable resource discovered was the online service mmmmail!, which facilitates the addition of any received email to an RSS file.
Users simply input the desired email address and verify its availability within the system. Upon confirmation, a repository is established for all incoming messages, alongside an associated RSS file where these messages are published.
The resulting XML file is accessible at http://www.mmmmail.com/yourprofile.xml. As an illustration, a created profile might conclude with /topsecretwriters.xml. The system's output appears as follows.
To begin, an email is sent to the newly created mmmmail.com address, with the intended display text placed within the email's Subject line.
Following email transmission, the XML file should be checked. The output will resemble this:
This functionality – and a realization that followed – suggests a potentially valuable feature for readers: a unified RSS feed to which anyone can contribute a brief update. This could prove beneficial as an internal tool for companies, allowing multiple employees to email project updates, or for news organizations, enabling reporters worldwide to submit concise status reports to editors.
Integrating the RSS Feed into Your Website
The capacity to populate a feed with numerous incoming emails presents a diverse range of applications. In particular, an RSS feed is exceptionally effective when directly embedded on a webpage, eliminating the need for a dedicated RSS reader.
Numerous methods exist for embedding RSS feeds. RSSInclude is a useful service, and Amit's solution on Labnol is also commendable. However, a preferred method involves creating a public folder within a Google Reader account and utilizing an embedding script.
- Navigate to settings and select the "Folders and Tags" option.
- Establish a new folder specifically for this purpose, set its visibility to "Public," and then locate the "add a clip to your site" link on the right side of the screen.
- Customize the sidebar widget with the desired title and the number of recent updates to display. Subsequently, copy the script provided in the box below.
- Paste the script into any location on your website, and the feed will automatically publish the latest emailed updates. The resulting widget on a site's sidebar is shown here. All updates displayed were submitted via the mmmmail! account.
As observed, the subject lines function similarly to a Twitter feed. Clicking a link directs users to the complete email content on the mmmmail! website.
It's important to note that the site displays the sender's email address. Therefore, utilizing an anonymous or disposable email account solely for this purpose is advisable.
Currently, this appears to be the most rapid and convenient method for issuing sidebar content updates via email. This allows updates to be sent from mobile devices or any location with email access.
Consider implementing this setup and evaluating its suitability. Are there alternative approaches to enhance this system? Share your insights in the comments below.
Image credits: Svilen Milev