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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jetpack Newsletter | When a standard post is published | Excerpt or full text, with per-post overrides | Subscriber list; integrated with WordPress | |
| MailPoet Latest Post Notification | Immediately, daily, weekly or monthly | Branded template and post criteria | Subscriber lists and selected post criteria | |
| OneSignal | Browser push | Automatically on publication or on a schedule | Custom notification content and delivery settings | Segments and opt-in controls |
These services deliver the notification; they do not all reach the same people. Email requires an address and subscription, while push requires a visitor to grant browser permission.
Use Jetpack Newsletter for the shortest email setup
Jetpack’s newsletter feature is designed to “Transform blog posts into email newsletters.” Enable the newsletter feature, then place a Subscribe block where visitors can join. If you prefer a shortcode, add jetpack_subscription_form to the relevant post, page or widget area.
What triggers a Jetpack email
Jetpack sends the notification when you publish a new standard WordPress post. Publishing a page or custom post type, updating an existing post, or publishing a post with no content does not trigger the notification.
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Control what subscribers receive
Configure the newsletter to send an excerpt or the full post. Per-post overrides let you change the default for an individual publication, which is useful when a short announcement should link readers to your site while a substantial article can be read in the email.
Jetpack checklist
- Enable the newsletter feature.
- Add and display the Subscribe block or the
jetpack_subscription_formshortcode. - Confirm that a test address completes the opt-in process.
- Publish a public standard post with content.
- Check the post’s notification setting before publishing if you do not want the default behavior.
Use MailPoet when branding or digest timing matters
MailPoet’s Latest Post Notification campaign follows a Post2Email (RSS-to-Email) pattern: it can automatically send newly published WordPress posts to subscribers in an email template you control.
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Pick a delivery cadence
- Immediately: send a message for each qualifying publication.
- Daily: collect that day’s qualifying posts into one email.
- Weekly: provide a recurring roundup.
- Monthly: create a less frequent digest.
Set post criteria and template content
Use MailPoet’s campaign settings to define which posts qualify and design the email’s branding, layout and content. This is the better fit when categories, tags or a publication schedule should determine what enters a digest rather than sending every post immediately.
Important trigger behavior
After the first campaign email is sent, later sends are triggered only by newly published posts that meet the campaign criteria. Updating an existing post does not trigger another notification.
Use OneSignal for browser push notifications
OneSignal’s WordPress plugin lets visitors opt in to browser notifications. After setup, opted-in followers can be notified when you publish a new post, without requiring an email address.
How the push flow works
- Install and configure the OneSignal WordPress plugin.
- Customize the visitor opt-in prompt and explain what notifications contain.
- Allow visitors to grant browser notification permission.
- Enable automatic post notifications for new publications.
- Use segments or scheduled delivery when different audiences need different messages.
OneSignal also provides real-time analytics, so you can monitor delivery activity and adjust frequency or audience rules. Push subscriptions are browser-specific: a visitor who blocks permission will not receive notifications until that permission is changed.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Decide between immediate alerts and digests
Choose immediate delivery when
- The post is time-sensitive, such as a service announcement or breaking update.
- Subscribers expect one message per publication.
- You publish infrequently enough that individual alerts will not feel excessive.
Choose a digest when
- You publish several times per day or week.
- Readers would prefer one roundup instead of multiple messages.
- Your editorial workflow benefits from a consistent daily, weekly or monthly rhythm.
MailPoet is the clearest fit for scheduled email digests. Jetpack is the simpler choice when each standard post should produce an integrated email alert, and OneSignal is appropriate when browser push—not email—is the goal.
Test delivery before announcing the system
- Subscribe with an address you can check, and separately opt in to push from a supported browser if you are testing OneSignal.
- Verify that the test post is public and contains content.
- Publish a new standard post rather than updating an older one.
- Confirm that the campaign, automatic notification or per-post setting is enabled for that publication.
- Check the email’s spam or promotions folders and verify that the push permission was granted.
- Review sending frequency so readers are not overwhelmed by repeated alerts.
Do not use a private, scheduled, page or custom-post-type publication as the only test of a standard-post notification; those cases can follow different trigger rules.
A practical recommendation
Start with Jetpack Newsletter if you want the fewest moving parts and a straightforward email subscription form. Choose MailPoet when your publication needs branded templates, category-based selection or a daily, weekly or monthly digest. Choose OneSignal when your readers are more likely to accept browser alerts than share an email address, and you need segmentation or scheduled push delivery.
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