Customized RSS/Email notifications (Beta/Trial)
This is something new, messy and still just a tad buggy, which is why it’s very much a Beta. It’s also something i’m not sure i’m going to end up using long term, so it’s also a bit of a trial. If it works well, and people end up using it, it will stick around. Otherwise……
Every time a post goes up on the site, the site’s RSS feed is updated. This RSS feed can be picked up by any RSS reader, and there are a number of people who have been consuming deals this way since the site went live.
There are RSS to email services that can then turn that RSS feed into emails. This is what i’m trying out right now.
Every time RSS is updated, an email goes out… that type of thing.
Feeds currently available…
PFD – Full Site Feed
PFD – Plastic Fantastic Posts Only
PFDbot – Alt. Filament Feed (Amazon)
PFDbot – Main Filament Feed (Amazon)
PFDbot – Deal Schedule (Amazon, Additive Manufacturing)
PFDbot – Today’s Deals (Amazon, Addditive Manufacturing)
There are currently two authors on the site – Plastic Fantastic (me), and PFDbot (everything automated). PFDbot feeds are all from automated posts. Plastic Fantastic Posts Only is….. self-explanatory 🙂
I would recommend staying away from the full site feed, unless you plan to filter the hell out of it. It will choke otherwise (messages will come in ok, then stop for like 12 hours, then try to catch up, etc).
You can filter each feed by keywords in title or body, tags and categories. Notifications options include email, custom RSS, and more…
Email notifications are delayed by 30-40 minutes from post on average (sometimes much faster, sometimes a bit slower), which is not ideal, but more than fine for most deals.
For the crazy deals that tend to go poof in a minute, Discord and Telegram are still your best bets.
So, filtered/customized notifications is something that interests you, try it out. And if you have time, drop by #site-related. I could use some feedback.
Ultimately, it’s up to all of you whether this stays or goes 🙂
