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Streamline Your Content Strategy: Automating RSS Feed Posts with Hootsuite, Google Calendar, and Zapier

Published on Feb 28th, 2024

In today’s fast-paced digital world, content delivery needs to be both timely and efficient. Automating your social media posts can save you a significant amount of time and ensure your content strategy is consistently executed. If your goal is to schedule recurring RSS feed posts, integrating Hootsuite with Google Calendar and Zapier can create a streamlined process that works seamlessly in the background.


Hootsuite is a popular social media management tool that allows you to schedule postings across various platforms. By coupling Hootsuite with the power of Google Calendar for scheduling and Zapier for integration, you can automate postings from any RSS feed without manual input after the initial setup.


Step 1: Set Up Your Hootsuite Account
Before anything else, make sure you have a Hootsuite account. If you don't, sign up and link it to the social media accounts where you want your content to be posted.


Step 2: Configure Google Calendar
Create a new Google Calendar that will be dedicated to your posting schedule. This will give you a visual representation of when your content will go live and can be shared with team members for better coordination.


Step 3: Utilize Zapier for Integration
Zapier is an automation tool that connects your apps and services. Create a new Zap and select RSS by Zapier as the trigger. Choose the option 'New Item in Feed,' and enter the URL of the RSS feed you want to follow.


Step 4: Set the Action in Zapier
For the action part of your Zap, select Google Calendar and then the 'Create Detailed Event' action. Customize the event details to include the information from the RSS feed item, such as the post title and content.


Step 5: Link Google Calendar with Hootsuite
Back in Hootsuite, use the Publisher feature to schedule posts according to the Google Calendar you set up. Zapier will create events in the Calendar each time there's a new item in your RSS feed, which in turn tells Hootsuite when to publish.


Step 6: Test and Optimize
Always test your setup to make sure everything is running smoothly. Watch out for issues such as incorrect timing, missing content, or broken links.


Step 7: Monitor Performance
Once everything is up and running, it’s important to monitor the performance of your posts. Use Hootsuite’s analytics tools to measure engagement and tweak your schedule as needed.


In conclusion, integrating Hootsuite with Google Calendar and Zapier to automate your RSS feed postings is a powerful way to maintain a consistent online presence. The initial setup may require some attention to detail, but the long-term benefits of automating your content strategy can be immense, saving you time and ensuring your followers receive regular updates from your brand.


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