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December 17, 2007

Subscribe to Basecamp project feeds via email with Nourish

Want to get a summary of your Basecamp projects emailed to you? Then check out Nourish, a newsletter service which allows you to take any RSS feed from content you publish (like a blog) and convert it into an automated email newsletter readers can subscribe to.

They even have a theme specially designed for emailing Basecamp activity.

nourish themeNourish's Basecamp theme: "Here is how we have ‘mashed up’ Nourish + Basecamp to provide a better service for our clients who don’t regularly subscribe to RSS feeds. Now our clients get updates daily with what items have been completed. No more emails asking, 'Is this done yet?'"

Matt Browne, one of the app's creators, recently wrote a blog post detailing how Nourish integrates with Basecamp.

We are big fans of 37 Signals products, specifically Basecamp. The most common request we get from our clients using Basecamp is that they never know when to-do list items are complete. I am sure you have heard than one before.

We recently launched an RSS to email service called Nourish. We feel Nourish is the perfect vehicle to deliver updates automatically from a Basecamp RSS feed.

Here is how we have 'mashed up' Nourish + Basecamp to provide a better service for our clients who don't regularly subscribe to RSS feeds:

(1) Sign up for a free Nourish account: http://nouri.sh/
(2) Set up a campaign called Basecamp Updates
(3) Grab the RSS feed from Basecamp
(4) Make a list of people who should get the updates
(5) Set the delivery for daily (you can do weekly or monthly)

Now our clients get updates daily with what items have been completed. No more emails asking, "Is this done yet?".

Why bother with this when you've already got an RSS feed available? As Matt pointed out in an email, RSS is still a long ways away from mainstream adoption:

RSS is a fantastic technology which allows your readers to subscribe to your content and consume it on a regular basis. However, only 4% of Internet users knowingly sign up for RSS syndicated content, and only 12% are somewhat aware of the term RSS. In contrast, almost all of Internet users use email regularly. By offering your RSS content via email as well, you significantly increase your potential subscriber base.

campaign
A Nourish campaign overview.