Is Webflow suitable for frequent article posting and editing without affecting the publication date and RSS feed?
TL;DR
- Webflow updates timestamps and RSS feeds when articles are edited, which can cause issues with publication dates and feed consistency.
- Add a manual "Published Date" field in the CMS to preserve original dates.
- Frequent edits can trigger RSS updates; use an external RSS generator to prevent reappearing articles.
- Automate stable publishing with Zapier, Make, or manual archiving to maintain content integrity.
Yes, Webflow is suitable for frequent article posting and editing, but there are limitations regarding publication dates and how edits affect the RSS feed. Below are key considerations and solutions.
1. Webflow CMS and Publication Dates
- Webflow does not automatically maintain the original publication date after edits. If an article is updated, the
updated_attimestamp changes, but the originalpublished_atvalue may not be preserved. - A workaround is to add a manual "Published Date" field in the CMS to store the original date and display that instead of Webflow’s automated timestamp.
2. RSS Feed Issues with Edits
- Webflow’s RSS feed updates whenever a CMS item is modified, which means the article may reappear as new, depending on how the RSS reader interprets changes.
- If ensuring a static RSS structure is important, avoid frequent updates or use an external RSS generator that pulls from your CMS collection without modifying existing feed entries.
3. Workarounds for Stable Publishing
- Use a third-party automation tool (Zapier, Make, etc.) to generate a consistent RSS feed unaffected by minor edits.
- Archive old versions manually if you need a historical record of edits instead of modifying existing entries.
Summary
Webflow allows frequent article posting, but editing an article may trigger unwanted RSS feed updates and alter timestamps. Using a manual "Published Date" field and external RSS tools can help maintain consistency.