Building Custom RSS Feeds in Wix with Velo
TL;DR:
- Wix includes a default RSS feed for blogs, but you can create custom feeds using Velo
- Custom feeds require datasets to manage your content and basic JavaScript knowledge
- You'll have full control over feed structure, appearance, and data formatting
- Custom feeds can improve load times and give you better SEO control
- This approach works best if you're comfortable with some coding
Wix blogs automatically generate RSS feeds for your content, but sometimes you need more control. Maybe you want to filter which posts appear, change the formatting, or create feeds for different content types. That's where Velo comes in.
Velo is Wix's development platform that lets you add custom functionality to your site using JavaScript. Combined with datasets, you can build RSS feeds that work exactly how you want them to.
Setting Up Your Custom RSS Feed
Start by enabling Velo in your Wix site if you haven't already. You'll find this in your site's settings under the Advanced section.
Next, create a dataset to hold the content you want in your RSS feed. This could be blog posts, products, events, or any other content type. The dataset acts as your content source and automatically updates your feed when you add new items.
Your dataset needs fields that match standard RSS requirements. At minimum, you'll want title, description, publication date, and URL fields. You can add custom fields for categories, author information, or any other data you want to include.
Building the Feed Structure
Create a new page for your RSS feed and set it up as a dynamic page connected to your dataset. This page will generate the XML output that RSS readers expect.
In your page code, you'll write JavaScript that formats your dataset content as proper RSS XML. This means setting up the standard RSS tags like <channel>, <item>, <title>, and <description>. The code pulls data from your dataset and wraps it in the correct XML structure.
You can customize how your content appears in the feed. Format descriptions, add custom categories, or include additional metadata that standard Wix RSS feeds don't support.
Testing Your Feed
Once your code is ready, test the feed URL in an RSS reader to make sure it displays correctly. Check that new items appear when you add content to your dataset, and verify that the XML validates properly.
Most RSS readers are forgiving, but it's worth running your feed through an RSS validator to catch any formatting issues early.
FAQs
Do I need Velo to create any RSS feed in Wix?
No, Wix blogs include automatic RSS feeds. You only need Velo if you want to customize how your feeds work or create feeds for non-blog content.
Can I style how my RSS feed looks?
RSS feeds are XML files that appear however the RSS reader chooses to display them. You can't control the visual styling, but you can control the content structure and formatting within the standard RSS format.
Will this help my SEO?
Custom RSS feeds can help by giving you control over what content gets syndicated and how it's formatted. They can also improve site performance if you create more efficient feeds than the default ones.
What if I'm not comfortable with coding?
This approach requires JavaScript knowledge. If you're not ready to code, stick with Wix's built-in RSS feeds or consider hiring a developer to build the custom functionality you need.
Jargon Buster
Velo – Wix's development platform that lets you add custom code and functionality to your site
Dataset – A collection of structured data in Wix that can power dynamic content across your site
RSS Feed – A standardized XML file format that lets people subscribe to your content updates
Dynamic Page – A page template in Wix that generates different content based on database information
Wrap-up
Custom RSS feeds give you complete control over how your content gets syndicated, but they do require some technical knowledge. If you're comfortable with basic JavaScript and understand how datasets work in Wix, this can be a powerful way to improve how your content reaches your audience.
The effort pays off when you need feeds that work differently than Wix's standard options. Whether you want to filter content, add custom fields, or create feeds for specific content types, Velo gives you the flexibility to build exactly what you need.
Ready to dive deeper into Wix development? Join Pixelhaze Academy for comprehensive courses on Velo and advanced Wix techniques.