One of my favorite things about Jottings is that every site comes with a built-in RSS feed. No plugin needed, no complicated setup. Just a clean, standard feed that works with any reader you prefer.
But I realized a lot of people aren't quite sure how to get started with RSS readers anymore. It's been a few years since RSS was everywhere, and the landscape has changed. So I thought I'd walk you through adding a Jottings feed to some of the most popular readers today.
Why RSS is Having a Moment
Before we dive into the how-to, I want to say something about why I'm so excited about RSS. It gives you back control of your reading experience. Instead of being at the mercy of algorithms and recommendations, you choose exactly whose voices you want to hear. Your feed is chronological, clean, and always in your hands.
Plus, it's decentralized. A feed works across any reader you choose. Switch from Feedly to something else? Your subscriptions come with you. No lock-in, no data silos. That's the internet I want to build.
Finding Your Feed URL
Every Jottings site has two feed options:
RSS Feed: https://yoursite.jottings.me/feed.xml JSON Feed: https://yoursite.jottings.me/feed.json
Most readers support RSS, so start with .xml. The JSON feed is there if you prefer it or if a reader specifically supports it.
You don't need to do anything special—your feed is live the moment you create your site. No passwords, no authentication required. It includes all your published jots, ordered newest first.
Adding to Feedly
Feedly is probably the most popular RSS reader out there, and for good reason. It's clean, works across devices, and has a generous free tier.
On the web:
- Go to feedly.com and log in
- Click the big green "+" button in the left sidebar
- Paste your Jottings feed URL (e.g.,
https://yoursite.jottings.me/feed.xml) - Feedly automatically finds and subscribes you
- Name your collection, pick a color if you want, and save
On mobile (iOS/Android app):
- Tap the "+" button at the bottom
- Search for your feed or paste the URL directly
- Confirm the subscription
Feedly also lets you organize feeds into collections, which I love. I have collections for "Writing," "Tech," "People I Know," that kind of thing. It makes browsing much less overwhelming.
NetNewsWire (Mac & iOS)
If you're deep in the Apple ecosystem, NetNewsWire is fantastic. It's free, open-source, and syncs across your Mac and iPhone seamlessly. This is what I use personally.
On Mac:
- Open NetNewsWire
- Click File → Add Feed
- Paste the Jottings feed URL
- Hit Add Feed
On iPhone/iPad:
- Tap the + button in the bottom right
- Select Add Feed
- Paste the URL and confirm
One thing I love about NetNewsWire is that it's fast and doesn't try to be too clever. It just shows you your feeds, in order. The defaults work great, but you can customize read/unread appearance if you want.
The best part? NetNewsWire syncs with standard feed readers through iCloud or other backends. You're not locked into their ecosystem.
Inoreader
Inoreader is a powerhouse for people who want advanced features. It's like Feedly's more technical cousin—tons of filtering, automation rules, and integrations.
Setup:
- Log into inoreader.com
- Click the Add Subscription button (looks like a +)
- Paste your Jottings feed URL
- Click "Subscribe"
Inoreader lets you set up rules—like automatically starring posts with certain keywords, or moving feeds to specific folders based on content. If you're the type who likes to engineer your reading experience, Inoreader is your friend.
Other Popular Options
Apple News+: If you subscribe to Apple News+, you can add feeds there too. It's built into the Apple News app and syncs with all your devices.
Micro.blog: If you use Micro.blog (which I think is fantastic), you can add any feed directly. Just paste the URL in your settings.
The Old Reader: A bit nostalgic, very solid. Simple interface, good search, and it's been around for years. Works great if you want something minimal.
Newsblur: Another indie option that's been around forever. Free tier is generous, paid tier has bells and whistles.
Honestly, there are dozens of readers out there. The beauty of RSS is they all speak the same language. Try a few and pick whatever feels right.
Tips for Organizing Your Feeds
Once you're subscribed to a few feeds, here are some patterns I've found work well:
Create categories by source type: I organize mine as "People," "Publications," "Dev/Tech," "Creative Work." Makes it easy to browse what you're in the mood for.
Don't subscribe to everything: I'm serious. The joy of RSS is quality over quantity. Subscribe to feeds you'll actually read. Ten feeds you love beats one hundred feeds you ignore.
Check your reader settings: Most readers let you customize how feeds update (hourly, daily, real-time). Adjust this based on how much new content you expect. A person's Jottings feed might update sporadically, so maybe check once a day.
Use starring/bookmarking: When you find a post you want to revisit, star it. Your reader keeps these in a special collection. I use this like a lightweight read-it-later system.
Keep reading habits intentional: One reason I love RSS is that it's not designed to be addictive. You're in control. Some people set aside 15 minutes each morning to catch up. Others skim throughout the day. Whatever works for you.
Why Jottings Feeds Are Great
I built Jottings feeds to be clean and simple. No tracking, no ads, no weird meta stuff. Just your content in a standard format that any reader understands.
You get two feed types (RSS and JSON) so you can use whatever your reader prefers. The feeds include full content, not just excerpts, so you get the complete jot right there in your reader.
And because Jottings sites are lightweight and fast, your feed builds quickly and reliably. No waiting around for regeneration.
Getting Started
If you don't have a Jottings site yet, now's a great time to start one. You can create a free site in a few minutes and start publishing. Then share your feed URL with anyone who wants to stay in the loop.
Whether you choose Feedly, NetNewsWire, or something else entirely, I think you'll love the RSS experience. It's a reminder that the best tools for reading online don't need to be flashy or algorithm-driven. They just need to be honest and fast.
Have questions about setting up your feed? Feel free to reach out. I'm always happy to help.
Have you set up RSS feeds before? Do you have a favorite reader? If you've built a Jottings site and shared your feed with folks, I'd love to hear how it's going.