You finished writing that brilliant post on your Jottings site. Then... crickets.
Nobody's reading it. Why? Because the algorithm isn't pushing it. You're not on Twitter's feed. Nobody followed a link from Hacker News.
The traditional web is broken that way. But there's a better way: get people to subscribe to your RSS feed.
Why RSS Still Matters
RSS isn't new. It's not trendy. But it's the closest thing to true audience ownership we have.
When someone subscribes to your feed, they get every post you write. No algorithm decides if they see it. No platform can suddenly change the rules and bury your content.
It's just you, your words, and the people who want to read them.
The Problem: Nobody Knows What RSS Is
Here's the ugly truth: most people under 30 have no idea what RSS means.
They grew up with algorithms. With algorithms that guess what they want to read. With notifications that feel like they're curated just for them (spoiler: they're not).
If you want them to use your RSS feed, you need to explain what it is—without making their eyes glaze over.
Explaining RSS to Mortals
Try this: "It's like following someone, but better."
When you follow someone on Twitter, Twitter decides if you see their tweets. You miss 90% of them.
With RSS, you see everything. Every post. Every update. Nothing filtered.
Better yet: "Think of it like email, but you control what shows up. The writer sends updates to your feed reader, and you see them when you want to read them. No ads. No algorithms. Just your favorite people's latest writing."
That clicks for people. Email is familiar. Control is appealing.
Where to Promote Your Feed
People will subscribe if you make it easy. Here's where to put your feed:
On Your Site
Add a "Subscribe" button somewhere obvious—usually the header or footer. Make it stand out. Use the orange RSS icon (the little radio waves symbol) or just write "Subscribe to my feed."
Links it directly to your RSS URL. Most feed readers can auto-detect it, but being explicit never hurts.
In Your Bio Everywhere
Twitter, LinkedIn, Bluesky, Threads—everywhere you have a bio, mention your RSS feed.
"Read my full writing at yourname.jottings.me — RSS feeds available"
Put your feed link in the link-in-bio. Some platforms even let you customize it. Use it.
Cross-Posted Content
You don't have to choose between platforms.
Post a link to your Jottings site on Twitter. Link your newsletter to your RSS feed. Link your podcast feed to your Jottings writing.
The goal isn't to abandon other platforms. It's to funnel people back to something you own.
Your Email Signature
If you email people regularly, add your feed link.
"You can read my regular writing on my Jottings site: [link]. Subscribe via RSS."
It's subtle. But people who care will notice.
The Feed Icon Problem
Here's something nobody talks about: the RSS icon looks ancient.
It's that orange square with radio waves. It screams "2005 technology."
Some people will recognize it immediately. Others will have no idea what it means.
So label it. Don't just put the icon. Say: "Subscribe via RSS" next to it. Or "Get updates in your reader."
If you're feeling bold, you can even replace it with a custom icon or emoji. But keep it simple.
Building Your RSS Subscriber Base
One subscription is nice. But a real audience is better.
Ask People to Subscribe
This might sound obvious, but most creators don't ask. They hope people stumble on their RSS button.
At the end of each post, add a line: "If you liked this, consider subscribing to my RSS feed so you don't miss future posts."
Or at the beginning: "I share ideas about [topic] here. The best way to keep up is to subscribe via RSS."
Asking works. People want to do what they came to do—they just need permission.
Consistency Matters
Post regularly. Even if it's twice a month, be consistent.
People who subscribe expect to get something. If your feed goes silent for 6 months, they'll unsubscribe.
RSS isn't about going viral. It's about building a small group of people who care about your work. Small, consistent audiences are more loyal than massive ones.
Share Your Best Work
Some people post to RSS but also put content behind paywalls or on Substack.
Don't do that. Your RSS feed should be your best foot forward. It's the relationship-builder.
Post your actual thoughts. Your real insights. The stuff you're genuinely excited about.
The Long Game
Building an RSS audience is slower than chasing algorithms. You won't wake up tomorrow with 10,000 subscribers from one viral post.
But you will build something real.
Six months from now, you'll have 50 people who actively read everything you write. A year from now, it might be 200. Some of them will reference your ideas in their own work. They'll email you. They'll become friends.
That's the real win.
Getting Started
If you're using Jottings, you already have an RSS feed. It's automatically generated for your site and any tags you create.
The feed URL looks like: yourname.jottings.me/feed.xml
Share that link. Make it easy to find. Ask people to subscribe.
And then keep writing. Because the best promotion for an RSS feed isn't marketing tricks—it's consistently great content.
Your future readers are waiting.