Configure Custom Notifications using IFTTT

The information presented below will get you well on your way to setting up your own customized notifications that meet your specific preferences and needs.  You can set up notifications based on specific authors, categories, or tags.  The notifications described below use a service called IFTTT.  IFTTT stands for “If This, Then That”, and you can find it at this address:  https://ifttt.com

In addition to their webpage, there are IFTTT apps available for both Apple and Android devices.  You can go to https://ifttt.com and set up an account for free.

(IFTTT can be used to automate all sorts of things, but for this page we are going to limit the scope to notifications for new posts on The Reloaders Network.)

Example Notifications Using IFTTT

IFTTT can be used to set up new post notifications that are delivered via email, push notification, text, phone call, or a number of other options.  We will concentrate on the first two, email and push notifications.

There are a few different pieces of information that may be included in the notifications you receive, and a few options in how they may be displayed.  Here are several examples of push notifications on a phone with slightly different configurations.  Setup and configuration instructions will follow these examples.

This first example shows two notifications.  The name of the post author, in this case ocean374, is listed on top in bold, and the titles of his new posts are listed on the second line.

In this next example the position of the name of the post author and the title were switched.  (Underneath the IFTTT notification you can see the notification provided by the phone’s Chrome Beta web browser by turning on the notifications using the ‘red circle/white bell icon’ that shows up in the lower right portion of the web page.  Notice that it does not list the name of the post author.)

In this example you can see the new video notification provided by YouTube followed by the IFTTT notification of a new post on The Reloaders Network.  For this particular IFTTT notification the text ” – TRN” has been added after the author’s name.

Here is another example of the IFTTT notification compared to the ‘red circle/white bell icon’ notification.

The IFTTT notifications can be customized in several ways.  Here you can see that the author name and post title were both combined into the top line, and the bottom has custom text.  (This particular notification was set up for any new post that contains the “Full-Auto” tag.)

Finally, here is an example of an email notification configured in IFTTT.  This particular notification was configured to include the text “New on TRN: ” in the email subject followed by the post author and the the post title.  The body of the email was then configured to include the post author and the the post title, followed by an excerpt of the new post, and finally by a link to the post.

Set Up and Configure the Notification

Once you have your IFTTT account created and you are logged in, you will want to select the “New Applet” button.

1. After you select the “New Applet” button, you should see this.  Click on the blue “+ this“.

2. You will be asked to choose a service.  Choose “RSS Feed”.

3.  You will be asked to choose a trigger.  Choose “New feed item”.

4.  You will be asked to complete the trigger fields by entering the “Feed URL”.  These Feed URLs will determine which notifications you receive.  If you want to receive a notification for every new post, then enter:  http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/posts/feed/

There are numerous Feed URL options listed below for setting up notifications for specific authors, categories, and/or tags.  If you do not desire to be notified of every new post, then you will need to go through this process for each item you desire notifications for.

After entering the Feed URL, select the “Create Trigger” button.

5.  Now that your “+ this“, or tigger is configured, it’s time to choose the type of notification you would like to receive.  Select the blue “+ that“.

6.  There are a number of listed services that you can choose to deliver your notifications to you.  For this example we will demonstrate two; “Email” and “Notifications”.

To set up email notifications:

To set up push notifications:

7.  Choose the action.

For email notifications, select “Send me an email”:

For push notifications, select “Send a rich notification…”:

8.  For email notifications:  configure the email Subject, and then configure the email Body.  You can enter your own text, and you can also add information from the new TRN post by selecting the “Add ingredients” button and choosing the desired information.

In the body of the email you must enter a special set of characters to force text to a new line, (the equivalent of pressing the Enter key while working in a word processor).  This special set of characters is:  <br>

For push notifications:  just like for the email configuration, you can enter your own text, and you can also add information from the new TRN post by selecting the “Add ingredients” button and choosing the desired information.  It is suggested that you leave the Link URL field as “EntryURL”, and the Image URL field empty.

9.  The next step will ask you to Review and finish.  You may adjust the name of your new IFTTT applet if you would like.  Once you are done reviewing, select the “Finish” button.

Your new IFTTT applet is now configured and working, and you should start receiving notifications according to your preferences.  The IFTTT applets have an “On/Off” button, and they also have a small gear icon in the upper right-hand corner which allows changes and modifications to be made.

Triggers for Specific Authors, Categories, and Tags

To set up a notification for every new post on The Reloaders Network, you only need one Feed URL:  http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/posts/feed/

Following are the specific “Feed URLs” for you to use as you set up your IFTTT applets for specific posts.  The first table lists the Authors, the second table lists the categories, and the third table lists several popular tags.  (There are several hundred tags in use – the third table is just a small sampling.)

Notifications by Specific Authors

Notification By Author
243 Outdoors (155)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/243-outdoors/feed/
76Highboy Reloading (5)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/76highboy-reloading/feed/
Alaska TRU Outdoors (0)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/alaska-tru-outdoors/feed/
Alaskan Ballistics (205)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/alaskan-ballistics/feed/
AlaskanGuy (0)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/alaskanguy/feed/
All Outdoors (0)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/all-outdoors/feed/
Amoozer (1)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/amoozer/feed/
Andy79Z28 (23)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/andy79z28/feed/
Backyard Inventor (24)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/backyard-inventor/feed/
Big Al (1)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/big-al/feed/
BigE (7)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/bige/feed/
The Big Man (48)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/the-big-man/feed/
Bigger behind the trigger (1)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/biggerbehindthetrigger/feed/
Bill Johnson (9)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/bill-johnson/feed/
Bolt Action Reloading (122)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/bolt-action-reloading/feed/
Brass Hoarder (4)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/brass-hoarder/feed/
Brody556 (3)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/brody556/feed/
Brokeloader (13)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/brokeloader/feed/
Buchanan Precision (4)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/buchanan-precision/feed/
Buffalo's Outdoors (305)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/buffalos-outdoors/feed/
CharlieBrassStuffer (86)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/charliebrassstuffer/feed/
Chicowize (49)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/chicowize/feed/
Coats Brothers Firearms (39)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/coats-brothers-firearms/feed/
The Colorado Reloader (0)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/the-colorado-reloader/feed/
The Copper Pill (2)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/thecopperpill/feed/
Cranky Cleatus (4)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/cranky-cleatus/feed/
ThecrazyScotsman (22)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/thecrazyscotsman/feed/
Creeker (37)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/creeker/feed/
cwlongshot (17)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/cwlongshot/feed/
DbqLuthier (2)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/dbqluthier/feed/
Dubya (16)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/dubya/feed/
Duncan (3)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/duncan/feed/
Eagle Eye Shooting (0)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/eagle-eye-shooting/feed/
Eddystone3006 (1)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/eddystone3006/feed/
elvis ammo (106)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/elvis-ammo/feed/
EWA Thoughts (6)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/ewa-thoughts/feed/
TheFirearmGuy (11)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/thefirearmguy/feed/
FortuneCookie45LC (255)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/fortunecookie45lc/feed/
Full.Lead.Taco (296)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/full-lead-taco/feed/
fuzztfork8 (44)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/fuzztfork8/feed/
Ghost Rider (8)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/ghost-rider/feed/
Gordons Reloading Channel (1)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/gordons-reloading-channel/feed/
GunFun ZS (15)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/gunfunzs/feed/
HappyCurmudgeon (1)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/happycurmudgeon/feed/
Hazzbro’s Hide (118)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/hazzbros-hide/feed/
Hunt Shoot Offroad (4)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/hunt-shoot-offroad/feed/
TheIdahoanShow (161)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/theidahoanshow/feed/
James Pollard (59)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/james-pollard/feed/
JCM45 (10)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/jcm45/feed/
Jerry 1911 (118)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/jerry-1911/feed/
Jesse B Outdoors (380)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/jesse-b-outdoors/feed/
JH586 (90)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/jh586/feed/
Joe leadslinger (5)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/joe-leadslinger/feed/
John's Hand Loading (82)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/johns-hand-loading/feed/
Johnny's Reloading Bench (183)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/johnnys-reloading-bench/feed/
karlb (0)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/karlb/feed/
Kentucky Ballistics (434)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/kentucky-ballistics/feed/
The Kentucky Patriot (178)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/the-kentucky-patriot/feed/
KFW (156)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/kfw/feed/
Kyle Lusk (42)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/kyle-lusk/feed/
Leon Guthrie (4)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/buck-and-slug-reloaders/feed/
Lever Action Gypsy (7)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/lever-action-gypsy/feed/
Leverguns 50-110 WCF (235)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/leverguns-50-110-wcf/feed/
Loads of Bacon (231)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/loads-of-bacon/feed/
The Magnum Channel (2)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/the-magnum-channel/feed/
mannyCA (112)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/mannyca/feed/
Mario Mosin (3)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/mario-mosin/feed/
Maxx Bear (41)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/maxx-bear/feed/
MCK (7)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/mck/feed/
Measure In Grains (7)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/measure-in-grains/feed/
Mike Treen (10)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/mike-treen/feed/
mr.revolverguy (290)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/mrrevolverguy/feed/
Mr. SPEE-DE-CAPPER (7)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/mr-spee-de-capper/feed/
Norton’s Ammo Bench (3)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/nortons-ammo-bench/feed/
NYC Reloader (45)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/nycreloader/feed/
ocean374 (97)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/ocean374/feed/
OK Shotgun Outdoors (6)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/okshotgunoutdoors/feed/
op25ttfd (3)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/op25ttfd/feed/
OzarkSpirit (20)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/ozarkspirit/feed/
PC Bullet Empire (0)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/pc-bullet-empire/feed/
Preferred Barrels (6)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/preferred-barrels/feed/
Quest for the perfect load (42)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/quest-for-the-perfect-load/feed/
The Range Squirrel (47)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/the-range-squirrel/feed/
rebel (7)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/rebel/feed/
Red Raider Reloading (8)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/red-raider-reloading/feed/
The Reloader Dude (83)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/the-reloader-dude/feed/
Reloadingallday (0)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/reloadingallday/feed/
Reloading Podcast (18)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/reloading-podcast/feed/
The Reloading Press (68)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/the-reloading-press/feed/
Rick's Reloading Bench (8)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/ricks-reloading-bench/feed/
Riorider (0)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/riorider/feed/
Shooting SoCal (8)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/shooting-socal/feed/
Sigurd the Ryder (10)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/sigurd-the-ryder/feed/
sixshootertexan (144)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/sixshootertexan/feed/
The Social Regressive (29)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/the-social-regressive/feed/
TATV Canada (111)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/tatv-canada/feed/
Thomas Pickering (19)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/thomas-pickering/feed/
Thorsaxe (53)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/thorsaxe/feed/
TinMan (30)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/tinman/feed/
treesablowin (226)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/treesablowin/feed/
TreeTopFlier (23)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/treetopflier/feed/
Vaughn Precision (40)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/vaughn-precision/feed/
The Way to Native Chronicles (131)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/thewaytonativechronicles/feed/
West Desert Shooter (53)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/westdesertshooter/feed/
WiederladerTv (27)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/wiederladertv/feed/
William C Chapin (219)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/william-c-chapin/feed/
Willie Bulletman (2)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/williebulletman/feed/
Zombie Head Hunters (34)	http://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/author/zombieheadhunters/feed/

Notifications by Specific Categories

Notifications by Specific Tags

Listed below are some of the more popular tags. You can use this same format to set up notifications for any of the hundreds of tags.