How To Solve Common Blog Or RSS Import Issues

How Does the 'Import From RSS' Feature Work?

Importing from an RSS feed normally requires that you know the exact RSS URL and that you specifically enter it to set up the automated import.

At SmarterQueue, we wanted to go a step further in helping our customers work out how to retrieve their desired content. To do so, we've made the 'Import from RSS' feature look into the entered page's metatags, to detect the RSS feed from the blog or news site URL that you enter.

This can sometimes be tricky, as the feature won't find anything if you enter a general website URL instead of the one for the blog, or if the blog's RSS feed isn't included in its metatags.

How To Add An RSS Feed To Your Website

If you're trying to import content from your own website/blog, which you host and can edit yourself, you can make sure to add an RSS feed to it by adding the appropriate metatags to its header (between the <head> and </head> tags).

<link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="Subscribe to What's New" href="http://your-site.com/your-feed.rss" />

Note: If your blog is using ATOM instead of RSS, use this version instead:

<link rel="alternate" type="application/atom+xml" title="Subscribe to What's New" href="http://www.your-site.com/blog/wp-atom.php" />

How To Troubleshoot Common Issues With RSS

Issues With The URL You Are Entering

If you’re entering the URL of your blog’s main web page, and are getting an error that we couldn’t find an RSS feed at that URL, it means that the blog isn’t configured correctly.

If you manage the blog yourself, you should make sure that the correct metatag is added to the HTML/template, which links to the RSS feed for the blog. We will then be able to auto-detect this metatag, and find the RSS feed for the blog.

If the blog is not one you manage, you may try these tips to find the RSS feed. If there is still no RSS feed for the blog, then, unfortunately, you will not be able to import content automatically, and should use our Chrome Extension or browser Bookmarklet to share each page individually.

Issues With The URL Of An RSS Feed

You may find that some RSS feeds don’t work when you try to import them.

Usually, this is because the feeds contain invalid formatting, which doesn’t conform to the RSS standard.

Currently, SmarterQueue can only process valid RSS feeds.

If you’re having problems with one of your own blog feeds, you may wish to check if it’s valid using the W3C Feed Validator – you may be able to fix the feed content, so that your posts can be imported.

If your RSS feed is valid, please contact us with details of the feed URL.