Table of contents
What is an RSS feed?RSS feed benefitsHow to findHow to set upHow to importHow to promoteHow to checkFAQsNext stepsAdditional resources
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WordPress Guide → Build → RSS Feed

WordPress RSS feeds: A beginner’s guide

Your guide to bare metal management best practices.

RSS feeds may not make headlines like social media, but they’re still a powerful way to share and consume content. With WordPress, every site already comes with built-in RSS support—you just need to know how to use it.

Let’s look at what RSS feeds are, why they matter, and how you can get the most from them in WordPress.

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What is an RSS feed?

An RSS feed is a standardized stream of website updates that lets readers automatically receive new content in their feed readers or apps without visiting the site directly.

RSS stands for Really Simple Syndication. It’s a way of distributing website content in a standardized format so that people can subscribe and receive updates automatically. Instead of checking your favorite sites one by one, you can use an RSS reader to pull new posts into a single feed.

WordPress automatically generates RSS feeds for your posts, categories, tags, and even comments. These feeds are usually in XML format, which RSS readers and apps can easily interpret. That means anyone can subscribe to your content and stay updated without needing to visit your site directly.

RSS feed benefits

Using RSS feeds with WordPress has several advantages for both site owners and readers.

  • Convenience for readers. People can subscribe to your site and see new content automatically in their RSS reader.
  • More traffic. Subscribers who discover your content in a feed may click through to read full articles, bringing steady traffic.
  • Content syndication. Other websites can republish or highlight your content through your RSS feed, helping with reach and backlinks.
  • Stronger engagement. By providing an easy way to keep up with updates, you’re more likely to retain readers over the long term.
  • Automation opportunities. You can connect your feed to tools like Zapier or Buffer to automatically share posts to social media or newsletters.

How to find your WordPress RSS feed URL

WordPress generates RSS feeds by default, but you need the correct URL to share it. Here’s how to locate it:

  1. Go to your WordPress site’s homepage.
  2. Add /feed/ at the end of the URL. For example, https://example.com/feed/.
  3. If you want a category-specific feed, visit that category page and add /feed/. For example, https://example.com/category/news/feed/.
  4. You can do the same with tags or comments. For comments, use https://example.com/comments/feed/.

You don’t need to enable anything. WordPress takes care of this automatically.

How to set up an RSS feed in WordPress

Since WordPress already comes with built-in RSS support, setup is simple. What you can do is customize how feeds appear or enhance them using plugins.

  1. Go to your WordPress dashboard and navigate to Settings > Reading.
  2. Under Syndication feeds show the most recent, choose how many items should appear in your feed.
  3. Choose whether each article should display the full text or just a summary. (Summaries are often better for encouraging click-throughs.)
  4. If you want more control over feed display, install a plugin like WP RSS Aggregator or Feedzy RSS Feeds. These plugins let you import, merge, and customize RSS feeds directly in your site.

How to import RSS feeds into WordPress

Sometimes you may want to display RSS feeds from other websites on your own site. Here’s how you can do it:

  • Install a plugin such as WP RSS Aggregator or Feedzy RSS Feeds.
  • Go to the plugin’s settings page in your WordPress dashboard.
  • Enter the RSS feed URL you want to import (for example, https://othersite.com/feed/).
  • Configure how you want the feed displayed, such as in posts, pages, or widgets.
  • Save the settings, and the feed will now appear on your site automatically.

How to promote your RSS feed

Simply having a feed isn’t enough: you need to make sure people know about it.

  • Add an RSS icon to your site header, footer, or sidebar that links directly to your feed URL.
  • Offer an RSS subscription option alongside your email newsletter.
  • Submit your feed to directories or aggregators where readers can discover it.
  • Integrate with automation tools like Mailchimp or IFTTT to use your RSS feed for newsletters or social media posts.
  • Encourage readers to subscribe by explaining the convenience of RSS on your About or Blog page.

How to check if your RSS feed is working

Once you set up your RSS feed, how will you know if it works? Here’s how to test your RSS feed. You can either use your browser or an online tool.

Use your browser

You can validate your RSS feed URL using your browser. To do so, copy and paste the URL into your address bar. Your feed should display in its original XML format.

Use W3C validator

You can also use the online tool W3C validator to test your RSS feed URLs.

Once you copy the link into the address bar, click on the check button. On the next page, you should tell if your feed is valid or invalid. Moreover, this tool will also give you tips on how to optimize your feed for readers.

Test your RSS widget

You can also test for validity if you’ve added an RSS widget to your sidebar on the website front end. Click on the feed, and it should redirect your request to your feed.

WordPress RSS feed FAQs

Yes, every WordPress site comes with RSS feeds automatically enabled for posts, categories, tags, and comments.

You don’t have to. RSS is built in and works out of the box. You just need to share your feed URL, usually https://yoursite.com/feed/.

Not at all. While it’s less mainstream than in the early 2000s, RSS still powers newsletters, podcast distribution, automation tools, and content syndication. It remains widely used.

Both plugins are popular. WP RSS Aggregator offers powerful import and feed management features, making it great for advanced use. Feedzy is lightweight and easy to set up, ideal for beginners. The best choice depends on your needs.

Additional resources

How to build a WordPress site →

A complete beginner’s guide that covers 9 key steps to a successful launch

WordPress Slug: What is it and what should you do with it? →

Learn how to optimize WordPress slugs for better SEO, readability, and user experience.

How to use WordPress Gutenberg blocks →

A complete beginner’s guide to Gutenberg blocks

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Maddy Osman is a WordPress expert, WordCamp US speaker, bestselling author, and the Founder and SEO Content Strategist at The Blogsmith. She has a B.A. in Marketing from the University of Iowa and is a WordCamp Denver organizer while also operating The Blogsmith, an SEO content agency for B2B tech companies that works with clients like HubSpot, Automattic, and Sprout Social. Learn more about The Blogsmith’s process and get in touch to talk content strategy: www.TheBlogsmith.com