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WordPress does not automatically maintain a general alert list for every new post. To notify readers, add a subscription or notification service: use Jetpack Newsletter for the simplest integrated email, MailPoet for branded emails and scheduled digests, or OneSignal for browser push notifications.
Choose the notification method that fits your audience
| Option | Channel | Timing | Message control | Audience controls | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jetpack Newsletter | When a new standard post is published | Excerpt or full text, with per-post overrides | General subscriber list | A quick, WordPress-integrated setup | |
| MailPoet | Immediately, daily, weekly or monthly | Branded templates and post criteria | Criteria such as categories or tags, where configured | Newsletters and digest schedules | |
| OneSignal | Browser push | Automatic or scheduled delivery | Custom push message and delivery settings | Segments and opt-in controls | Reaching visitors who prefer browser alerts |
No official source for these products establishes a universal open rate, click-through rate, deliverability percentage or subscriber limit, so those figures should not be used to choose among them.
Option 1: Send a new-post email with Jetpack Newsletter
Jetpack describes this feature as a way to “Transform blog posts into email newsletters.” It is the shortest path when you want an email to go out as soon as a qualifying post is published.
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- Install and activate the Jetpack plugin from your WordPress dashboard.
- In Jetpack’s settings, enable the Newsletter feature.
- Add a Subscribe block to a prominent location such as the sidebar, footer or a dedicated subscribe page.
- If you prefer a shortcode, add
[jetpack_subscription_form]in a Shortcode block or another location that accepts shortcodes. - Ask a test reader to subscribe and confirm that the opt-in message and confirmation email arrive.
Configure what subscribers receive
Jetpack supports excerpt or full-text delivery, and you can override the choice for an individual post when publishing. Select the format that matches your editorial cadence: excerpts keep the email compact, while full text lets readers consume the article without opening the site.
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Know what triggers a Jetpack notification
A notification is tied to publishing a new, standard post. Publishing a page, custom post type or an empty post does not trigger the notification, and updating an existing post does not send a new one. Confirm that the post is public and contains content before relying on the send.
Option 2: Use MailPoet for branded emails or digests
MailPoet’s Latest Post Notification campaign follows a Post2Email (RSS-to-email) pattern: it can automatically send newly published WordPress posts to subscribers while keeping the email design under your control.
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Create the campaign
- Install and activate MailPoet, then complete its sender and subscriber-list setup.
- Create a Latest Post Notification campaign.
- Choose a template and place the post title, image, excerpt or content blocks where you want them.
- Set the schedule to Immediately, Daily, Weekly or Monthly.
- Set any available post criteria, such as categories or tags, if only certain content belongs in this mailing.
- Send a preview to several mailboxes and verify links, images, sender information and mobile layout before activating it.
Understand MailPoet’s publishing rule
The first send establishes the campaign’s starting point. After that, later notifications are triggered by newly published posts; editing an already published post does not create another notification. A digest schedule can therefore reduce the number of emails without requiring you to manually assemble each edition.
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Option 3: Send browser push notifications with OneSignal
OneSignal uses browser notifications rather than email. Visitors first opt in through the site’s prompt; after setup, the WordPress plugin can notify those followers when you publish a new post.
Install and configure push delivery
- Create or connect a OneSignal app and install the OneSignal WordPress plugin.
- Complete the site and browser-connection settings required by the plugin.
- Customize the opt-in prompt so visitors understand what they will receive and how often.
- Enable automatic notifications for new posts, then define the message and destination URL.
- Use segments when different groups should receive different posts, and use scheduled delivery when an immediate alert is not appropriate.
- Review OneSignal’s real-time analytics to monitor delivery and engagement.
Account for the opt-in difference
Push subscribers are browser-level followers, not email contacts. A person can block notifications, change browsers or use a different device, so explain the value of opting in and avoid sending alerts for every minor edit.
How to prevent missed or unwanted notifications
- Verify the post status: publish the article publicly rather than saving it as a draft, private post or scheduled item that has not reached its release time.
- Check the campaign or notification setting: confirm that the post qualifies for the selected category, tag or other criteria and that the send is enabled for that post.
- Test the subscription path: subscribe with a real test address or browser, complete any confirmation step and check the spam or promotions folder.
- Check frequency: use MailPoet’s daily, weekly or monthly schedule, or OneSignal’s scheduling and segments, when several posts in a short period would overwhelm readers.
- Inspect the destination: make sure the email or push notification opens the public permalink and that images and excerpts display correctly.
- Separate new posts from updates: none of these documented workflows should be treated as an automatic alert for editing an existing post.
Which setup should you use?
Choose Jetpack when simplicity matters most
Use Jetpack if you want a basic subscribe form and an automatic email tied to each new standard post, with minimal campaign design work.
Choose MailPoet when cadence and branding matter
Use MailPoet if your publication needs a branded newsletter, a digest instead of one message per post, or rules that select which posts enter the email.
Choose OneSignal when readers want immediate browser alerts
Use OneSignal if your audience is likely to grant browser permission and you need segments, scheduled push delivery or push-specific analytics. It can complement email rather than replace it.
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